Aliyah
I struggled to hold back tears as I replayed the events of the night before. How could I have given my virginity to a stranger? It felt wrong, so wrong. But I couldn’t turn back time, I couldn’t erase what had happened. Still, I tried to find some solace in the fact that I had given myself willingly, to a charming stranger, rather than to just any unemployed individual, right?
I pushed aside the unsettling thoughts, forcing myself to focus on the things that mattered: my studies, my family, and the man I’d been searching for. Wait a minute… had his servant called him Raige? Could he be the Raige I’d been searching for all along? My mind was a jumbled mess, a tangled web of confusion and fear. I couldn’t even remember why I was at that party in the first place! Ugh! I’d even told him I didn’t want to see him again.
As I stepped into our small house, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. At least I was home, safe and sound.
Our house was small, true, but it was a haven of warmth and love. My mom had filled the outside with an abundance of plants and flowers, creating a beautiful and serene oasis. After Allison’s passing, she had found solace in gardening, and I supported her in this endeavor, hoping to distract her from the grief that consumed her.
“Oh, you’re back?” my mom said, her voice filled with relief. “How was work?”
“Just fine, Mom,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’m going to freshen up for a bit. I need to head to school to get my class schedule.”
“Alright, sweetie,” she said, her voice laced with concern. “But don’t forget to have your breakfast.”
I managed a smile, hiding the turmoil within. I needed to put on a brave face, pretend everything was okay.
Once I’d had breakfast, I bid farewell to my mom and headed to school.
The school was abuzz with activity, but it wasn’t for the usual reason of collecting schedules. Everyone was gathered around someone in the center, their faces filled with excitement. I ignored the commotion, focusing on my own anxieties.
“Oh, we’re in the same school,” a rough voice whispered in my ear. I turned, startled, and found myself surrounded by a group of students. I didn’t have time for this, so I ignored them, focusing on getting my schedule.
“I can’t believe Raige Victorious chose our school,” one of the students said, her voice filled with awe.
I spun around, my heart pounding in my chest. Raige Victorious? Could it be? Had he really enrolled here? Where could he be? I’d believed he was studying abroad, returning only for important events like the one yesterday.
“Who are you looking for?”
I exhaled audibly, ignoring the man behind me. His imposing stature meant nothing to me. I held him at bay, a deep-seated animosity filling every fiber of my being.
I continued scanning the area, but the students who had gathered around earlier had dispersed, lining up like me. If only I’d known they were clamoring for a glimpse of Raige, I would have joined them. Had the party last night been in his honor? If he was truly studying at my school, then there was a chance I might run into him. This could provide me with more opportunities to delve into the mystery surrounding him. I needed to gather information, to uncover the truth about my sister’s death.
“I’m asking, who are you looking for?”
I shifted my gaze to the man, his voice tinged with annoyance, perhaps even anger at being disregarded. His once bright blue eyes now darkened, reflecting his escalating frustration. Fortunately, his words were uttered in a whisper, escaping notice from those around us.
The teacher at the counter prompted me to acknowledge the man with a smile before turning back to her.
“Your name?” she inquired, her voice polite but distant.
I responded swiftly, providing my name. The teacher entered my information into her computer and, within a minute, handed me the paper containing my schedule.
But before I could even glance at it, the man snatched it from my hand, returning it to the teacher with a curt command. “I want you to duplicate this schedule for me. Make mine the same as hers.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Excuse me?” I gritted my teeth, my reluctance to engage with him evident. If he was indeed a student here, then that was acceptable since I had no say in the matter. He might be wealthy and capable of manipulating situations, but couldn’t he simply leave me be? Hadn’t he caused enough turmoil by taking my virginity? Must he continue to disrupt my daily life?
I observed the teacher’s reaction as she glanced at him, detecting a hint of panic in her eyes. Was she feeling afraid or uneasy? Could this man be so infamous that everyone reacted with panic and fear in his presence?
“Yes, Mr. Victorious,” the teacher acknowledged, her voice barely a whisper.
My jaw fell open, astonishment washing over me as I heard the surname that I was all too familiar with.
Wait… was he? Could he really be...?
I glanced around, noticing the students staring at me, their faces a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
I hadn’t done anything wrong, had I? This man was the one at fault, not me.
But could he really be… No… Why would it be him, of all people?
“Raige Victorious,” I whispered, the words escaping my lips in a shaky breath.
“Yes, that’s me, babe,” he said, his voice laced with a touch of arrogance. “At your service.”
I felt as though the ground could open up and swallow me whole, offering a desperate escape from this unsettling encounter. The world must be playing a cruel joke on me. How could it be him? The man who’d taken my virginity was the very person I’d been searching for over the years. He was the only lead I had in uncovering the truth behind my sister’s death.
How could I bring myself to be near him when I couldn’t shake the memories of what had transpired that night?