Divine_Darlington

Ixora never missed what she never had—at least, that’s what she believed.
Raised by a single mother after her parents’ quiet divorce when she was just nine months old, Ixora thought she had made peace with the absence of a father. Her life was built on strength, distraction, and silence… until the day of her middle school graduation shattered the illusion.
That day changed everything.
Now in college, Ixora surrounds herself with loyal friends, laughter, and distractions—but the questions she buried years ago won’t stay hidden. What really happened between her parents? Why did he leave? Why did no one ever tell her the full truth?
As Ixora begins to unravel the secrets of her past, she’s forced to confront memories she never made, truths that cut deeper than silence, and a love she never knew she needed.
But even in the middle of emotional chaos, she learns that healing doesn’t always come gently—sometimes, it comes through fire.
Thankfully, she’s not alone.
With the support of her college clique—and one best friend who sees through the cracks—Ixora must choose whether to stay buried in the pain or rise from it.
Because even in the harshest soil… still, she blooms.

Ixora:what I lost before I could speak.

The next day at school, Ixora was already stepping into her new role as class vice president. With calm authority, she passed instructions and helped organize her classmates for the morning assembly prep. But, as expected, Maya and her crew—Zara, Genevieve, Mira—were less than cooperative. Instead of paying attention, they whispered loudly, giggled, and kept disrupting the class.

"Ladies, could you maybe give the rest of the class the chance to hear what's being said?" Ixora said, her tone polite but firm.

Maya scoffed. "Oh sorry, Madam Vice President. We didn't realize we were in military school."

"Well," Ixora raised an eyebrow, "if this were military school, I suppose you'd have been discharged for insubordination by now."

The class burst into laughter. Maya's cheeks flushed, and her group exchanged furious glances.

Later that day, in their secret hideout hallway—a place no student dared to pass through—the girls gathered.

"She thinks she's smart," Zara hissed.

"That smirk of hers needs wiping," Genevieve snapped.

Maya leaned on the wall, arms crossed. "Then let's do it. At lunch. A little reminder that pretty faces don't equal power here."

Meanwhile, Ixora was with the teacher in the staff office, helping arrange lesson notes and organizing the timetable. It was only when her stomach grumbled that she realized lunch had already begun. She quickly excused herself and made her way to the cafeteria.

The moment she stepped in, tray in hand, Maya bumped into her deliberately. The tray's contents splashed across her crisp school uniform. Gasps echoed.

"Oops," Maya said with mock sweetness. "You should really watch where you're going."

Zara chuckled. "Maybe they should teach that in vice president training."

Mira leaned in, her voice low and threatening. "Stay in your lane if you wanna survive here, princess."

The laughter and whispers stung. Ixora, humiliated and blinking back tears, ran out of the cafeteria and into the nearest bathroom. She stood at the sink, trying to clean the stains, her breath hitching.

"I didn't sign up for this," she whispered to herself. "But you shouldn't let them get to you like this again."

She was about to scream in frustration when a calm voice spoke up from behind.

Ixora turned, startled. A slim girl with soft eyes and braids stood behind her.

"You should've shown them who's bigger—like you did in class earlier," the girl said with a small smile. "Forget them. I've known them since kindergarten. If you don't stand up for yourself, they'll never stop."

Ixora stared at her for a second. "What's your name?"

"Cool name," Lucy said. "Now, let's clean you up and get back out there."

Together they left the bathroom. Ixora was surprised at how someone could be that welcoming and warm. They chatted throughout lunch, and for the first time since school resumed, she went home with someone walking by her side.

A flex an only child doesn't usually enjoy.

She got home very happy,Ms Orlah couldn't help but thank God that things were going well in school for her daughter.

Ixora penned down her heart in her journal that night ,for God's sake I did nothing to those meanies ,they don't open the school,so why should I care about who they are.

She scoffed as she remembered the threat ,you'd better remain in your lane if you wanna survive princess.

I'm no princess ,ixora thought so they gat to be ready for what's coming.

Drama queens