CHAPTER 5

~Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change ~

~Confucius

SERAPHINA'S POV

"I'm thinking more along the lines of using the whistle."

"Hell no. I did that once and it didn't end well. let's just go with icy water."

"And you think that's better? you're a joke."

"Fine you do yours and I do mine."

"No, we'll agree on one and it has to be mine."

"No, it'll be mine."

I opened my eyes but immediately shielded them from the intense glare of the morning sun. Who even drew the curtains at such an early hour?

"Great you've woken her up."

I picked the small remote from the nightstand and drew the curtains close before adjusting my eyes to the early morning light in the room.

"Me?  You were the one who wouldn't stop shouting at seven am."

I was confused until my eyes fully opened and took in the scene before them. Severina stood with a whistle in hand and Tiffany a bucket full of ice. I was still in oblivion until the chains linked in my head. It wasn't a dream. Evil masterminds.

"So, am I a part of the plan? Tell me how we should wake Seraphina. Should we blow the whistle in her ear or soak her in icy water?" My fake smile was award-winning.

"I preferred soaking you in the icy water but this fool here had to act dumb. Such a buzz kill." Tiffany scoffed and left with her bucket.

I glared at Severina who flopped on my bed and covered herself with my blanket. The nerves and confidence are real.

"Get your fat ass off my bed Severina." I pushed her off, making her butt plant on the carpet with a loud thud.

"Bitch, my bones." She moaned, gripping her glutes.

"Serves you right."

"We're twins!"

"And what does that have to do with you barging into my room at seven am like a lost termite?"

" Meaning I've equal rights in this room as you." Seriously?

"Says the girl who nearly threw me out the window for sitting on her couch."

"I told you I wasn't in the mood by then Phina. Would you ever let that go?"

"And grandma is a virgin." I snorted.

"She could be. Who knows? Maybe Mom came from a different planet. That woman is too cold-blooded to be human."

Talk about rudeness and She'll hit google's search bar.

"She's our mother Severina." I giggled. We were sprawled on the floor without the slightest intention of getting up and school was in two hours.

"C'mon, we've school in two hours. Don't want Mr Harts narrating stories to dad again." Severina voiced out my thoughts.

Since it was still early and our school wasn't that far, I decided to work out a bit before taking a quick shower. I towel dried myself and threw on a random outfit. It was the beginning of a new week, hence I opted for a more elegant look in a slit body corn, denim pencil skirt and a strapless top.



Seraphina's outfit.

I wore my hair down, leaving it in its natural waves before slipping on black elephant heels. I applied some chapstick and sprinkled on perfume to finish the look.

"You sure take forever to get ready."  Severina's voice came in, nearly making me jump out of my skin.

"You scared me. How long have you been standing there?" I placed a hand on my chest to calm my pounding heart.

"Long enough to see you twirling in front of that mirror like a compass." 

She rocked in a black slinky, ruched-front, long-sleeved cropped top and blue denim Jeans.



Severina's outfit.

"You look, hot sis." She cringed at my compliment and opened the door. Ass.

"C'mon Asher's already in the car." My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Since when does Asher ride with us?.

"Since when does Asher ride with us?" I voiced out my thoughts.

"Since his clutch got broken during a one night stand with some chick." 

Casanova. Figured as much.

"Uh uh. No more detailed explanation for me." I wasn't going to start my morning with my brother's sexual escapades.

"Your choice, meet us outside."

I double-checked my room and made sure everything was in place before leaving.

Upon reaching downstairs, I went to the kitchen to steal a granola bar only to find a very sleepy Tiffany swaying on the counter.

"And what in God's name are you still doing in the house? I thought you've woken up before?" Her school was farther than ours. An hour's drive approximately, and she's yet to even shower.

"Fuck off, I want to sleep." She mumbled and placed her head back on the counter. I was about to query again until dad entered the kitchen in his business suit. All ready and set.

"Dad why is she still in the house, her school's an hour's drive away, you know that right,?"

"Good morning to you too kiddo." He ruffled my hair.

"Not the hair dad." I swatted his hand away.

"Well it's the hair for me, but to answer your question, she's sick. Her words, not mine." He whispered the last part to my hearing.

Yeah right, as if. I swear on my life that Tiffany's merely running away from a test she didn't study for.

"Sure," I smirked and left.

"Sup sis? we're running late." Severina said from the passenger's side of the car. I climbed into the back seat and almost moaned when my butt made contact with the leather seat.

"Morning bro." Asher didn't so much as twitch an eye in acknowledgement to my greeting but instead took off at a maddening speed. I shrugged and continued nibbling on my granola bar.

I wasn't going to let anybody ruin my mood. No matter who they're.

We reached the campus in less than fifteen minutes despite the traffic and Asher parked at the teachers' parking lot. I wanted to remind him that it was out of bounds to students but decided against it. Severina alighted and went inside,  leaving us behind. I was having a mental debate in my head on whether to approach Asher or not but ultimately sucked it up and tested the waters.

"Ash, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Sorry for the attitude earlier, wasn't in the mood." He forced a small smile. At least he talked to me and that's enough.

"Yeah, that's obvious but you'll be okay." I comforted and pulled him into a hug.

"Thanks, sis." He kissed the side of my head.

"Anytime."

"See you later." He jogged over to his friends.

I was so lost staring into space that I almost missed the warning bell. I rushed into the building and headed straight to the classroom.

Upon reaching the noisy room, I peeped at the lecturer's desk but noticed it was empty. Either he was late or absent. No doubt the class was unusually noisy. I silently thanked God and exhaled in relief. I took my seat and propped my legs on Maya's desk. She frowned at me and I gave her a toothed grin in response.

"Oooh, seems like somebody's in a bright mood. Wanna share the tea?" Miskha wiggled her eyebrows. Gossip freak.

"When am I ever in a bad mood?" I smirked.

"Boring." She drawled.

"I've tea! Honey sweetened tea!" Leila shrieked,  attracting unwanted attention.

"Spill bitch." Miskha could hardly contain her excitement.

"Okay. New lecturer in school, drop-dead gorgeous, not to mention fucking British. "

Not having any particular interest in the conversation, I tuned them out and resorted to manipulating my phone.

"British men are worth drooling over. Where's the lie Phina?"

I momentarily lifted my gaze to Malu and shrugged in response to her question before going back to my phone.

"Please don't tell me she doesn't find British men attractive," Lalia exclaimed in disbelieve.

"She finds no guy other than her boyfriend attractive. " Maya chuckled.

"Shhh. He's here." Leila hushed.

That caught my attention.

The sight I was met with when I lifted my head was one belonging to the imagination. Tall and buff guy, 6'4 approximately. Midnight dark hair, tan skin, high cheekbones, accentuated with a Sharp and strong jawline. Full pink lips and striking grey pools, not to mention a perfectly sculpted body. Beauty to some extent is level.

"Is the Seraphina gawking at another guy?" Maya gushed, making me immediately regain my composure. I wasn't going to let a stranger make me feel this way. All the girls were swooning, hell even some guys were fazed. I couldn't help but look back at him but regretted my decision when I found him staring right back at me. I flushed at the fact that he'd caught me shamelessly checking him out. Way to go Seraphina.

"This is the class, Torres. In here,  we've all the brainiacs of the school. A quick warning though, they are extremely lousy and cunning." Mr Harts introduced in his gruff voice. Torres threw his head back and laughed. God, not his teeth too, please.

You have a boyfriend girl. You have a boyfriend. He's handsome, loving and hella hot. Dwayne Johnson typa hot.

But he isn't 6'4. My subconscious piped in. She'll be my doom, no cap.

"I'll hump him in a heartbeat." Miskha cooed.

"Students, this is Torres Black but you are only allowed to call him Mr Black and he'll be your new health teacher until Mr Wayne is strong enough to take over. Mr Harts patted him on the shoulder and left.

Mr Black took in the class, observing every face before settling his heated gaze on me, making me squirm a little in discomfort.

"You, what's your name?" He pointed to my row but I wasn't exactly sure whom he was referring to, so I remained silent.

"Madeline." If I was surprised then Whitney Houston is alive. Attention freak.

"No, not you. I'm referring to the pretty brunette." Now that was embarrassing.

"Burn." Sophia jeered. Snickers emanated from the four corners of the class but no one dared to cackle. It won't look good on us if Mr Harts found out that we scared away a new lecturer on his first day.

Maya kicked my shin and gestured towards Mr Black.

"Answer. "

"What? he isn't talking to me."

"I'm most definitely referring to you." I joggled in my seat and whipped my head to the source of the voice. Mr Black casually leaned against my desk, boring my soul with his unwavering gaze.

"Seraphina," I murmured and hid my face behind my hair.

"Seraphina, nice name. Age?" All the attention was on me and Mr Black's intense stare wasn't helping either. Girls threw daggers at me and  I  wanted nothing more than to bury myself six feet under.

"I'm waiting Seraphina or should I say Phina?" He rasped out, licking his lips.

"Twenty-one."

I silently prayed for him to leave. My cheeks were flaming from embarrassment. As if sensing my discomfort, he chuckled and left, but not before sending a discreet wink my way.

"I'm sure you're all eager to get to know this "stranger" standing before you." He chuckled, putting air quotations on stranger.

"Yeah, handsome stranger." Someone voiced out. If it wasn't Miskha.

Mr Black chortled and sat on Lisa's desk who wouldn't stop adjusting her already very cropped top every chance she gets. Whore.

" Torres Rauw Black are my full names. South African- British is my nationality. Mid-twenties is where my age falls and doctor is my career, but I do lecturing just for fun. Anyone has questions to ask? Today's the first day so we'll use this time to get to know each other more, capiche?"

Excitement radiated off the corners of the huge room.

A boy at the front desk raised his hand and Mr Black nodded to him.

"How old are you exactly?"

"Old enough." He smirked.

"But..

"Yes, the blonde at the back." He interrupted the guy whom I later learned was James.

"Are you married?" If I wasn't expecting this from Malu.

His gaze shifted to me before responding. "Nope. Single and searching."

I looked away, pretending to be on my phone.

"I think Mr Fine guy has eyes for you." Maya giggled.

"Oh please. He's probably hating on me already. I mean have you seen the looks he'd been casting my way in the past half an hour?"

"If you mean the lustful ones then sure, everyone noticed."

I groaned and dragged my palms down my face. Can't wait for health to be over.

The questions and answers lasted for the remainder of the period and there were some brief awkward exchanges between me and Mr Black. My discomfort was evident to my friends and it's no surprise when I fled out of the classroom when the bell went off.

I sprinted into the girls' restroom and slammed the door shut, leaning my back against it. I closed my eyes and exhaled, trying to steady my abnormally beating heart.

"Who the hell i...oh, you again". An all too familiar voice sneered. Like my day could get any worse. First the creepy lecturer and now maleficent.

"What do you want?"

"Me? You're the one who barged in like a mother fucking spoilt brat and you have the nerves to ask me what I want." Zara coldly retorted. I don't have time for this shit.

I went to the sink and splashed water on my face. I could feel her presence behind me and as usual, I ignored her, but when an individual has no shame, they just don't. She stared at me in the mirror, without so much as blinking.

"It's rude to stare you know, not that I expected more from a mannerless person." I calmly stated, applying a gentle amount of face moisturizer.

"You're still the same attention-seeking whore." 

"Whore? You indeed are perfect in describing yourself."

"Honey, I'm not the one trying to sneak my way with every guy on campus. Everyone knows the game you're playing Seraphina.  Babe relax. You're fake."

I clenched my fist so hard that my knuckles strained.

"And I'm not the one who slept with my best friend's boyfriend just because I was tired of my boring- ass single life." I spat out with venom.

She smirked and leant in, tracing my jawline with manicured fingers.

"I can't believe Tyler went for cheap stuff like you. Good thing he'd a nice wake-up call. And that day, damn, the things he did to my...

Out of fury and vengeance, I didn't think twice before landing a sharp slap on Zara's left cheek.

She winced and repeatedly blinked, pressing a hand to her cheek.

" Did you... Did you just slap me?" She stuttered, completely caught off guard.

"I don't know, but I could give it a try again and maybe your brain might improve this time around."

"Bitch you wouldn't d...

I cut into her statement with another hard slap on the other cheek.

She gasped and whimpered, her chest noticeably heaving in frenzy.

" This is me showing you just how daring I can be."

She gritted her teeth the same time the door flung opened, revealing a concerned-looking Maya.

"Is everything okay in here?" Her eyes darted between us in suspicion.

"Yeah, everything's fine. Zara and I were just bonding over some childhood memories." I smiled.

If looks could kill, I would've been six feet under.

"Okay then. Well, meet us in the IT room  when you're done." Maya didn't look convinced with my answer but she didn't press it either.

I turned to the fuming electric kettle and grinned, crossing my arms over my chest.

"So, do you still need more demonstrations?"

************************************

Don't you dare😅

what do you think of the new lecturer?

give your thoughts in the comments.

Xoxo,

~Mina.