Angela's POV

The plane shook violently in the clouds, like it was about to crash. People screamed, cried, and prayed out loud. But I just kept reading my magazine.

An hour later, we landed safely. While getting off, a woman looked at me and asked, “How were you so calm when everyone else was scared?”

I smiled and said, “The pilot is my boyfriend. I knew he’d land me safely.”

The woman smiled and nodded her head away, satisfied by the amount of trust I might have developed for my man.

The moment I stepped out of the airplane, my Mom instantly grabbed me by my arm from behind and I turned around to face her, “Did you just lie again? You just lied to that woman that the pilot is your boyfriend, huh?” she growled, she managed to keep her voice low so as not to pull attention.

I yanked my arm away from her, “Can't a girl use the lines from one of her fictional characters?” I sneered and walked away from her, leaving her alone to drag our luggage despite them being quite large.

Mom didn't tell me we were moving, she simply woke up this morning with our things packed, and just like that, she flung my flight ticket to my chest and told me our flight was scheduled and we will be moving out of the state in an hour time.

I was stunned why we were moving or where we were moving to, but Mom didn't explain anything to me. She simply had me move out of the state with her, leaving behind my school, friends, relationships and even the career I was beginning to build.

During the plane turbulence earlier, I was not scared because I wanted to die, I hated my life, I hate my mom, I just hate everyone. I just had an abortion some few months ago, and since then, I've been dreaming of the baby. He keeps screaming in my dream, and reigning curses on me for giving up on him and not bringing him into the world.

My mom didn't know about the abortion and I hope to keep it a secret from her until forever.

“PEEM!” My phone beeped inside my breast pocket and I tossed it out without hesitation. I just got a message from my boyfriend, Henry.

“I'm sorry, Angela. I'm breaking up with you, and please kindly get rid of that pregnancy because I'm not ready to be a father yet, and I can't settle down with you, that's bullshit.” The message read.

I scoffed, and yanked my sunglasses away from my eyes. I wasn't surprised Henry was breaking up with me, I knew he has been cheating on me with my best friend, Molly, I just decided to remain quiet because he fucks me different. He's the best thing that ever happened to me whenever we'd sex.

I stayed with my cheating boyfriend because he has a big dick.

I started to type back to him, “Motherfucker, I was never in a goddamn relationship with you. Help yourself, loser. I'm out of the state, so don't bother hiding your affair with Molly, you can have her all you want.” Without thinking twice, I pressed ‘sent’, and the message immediately beeped ‘delivered.’

Satisfied, I blocked the scumbag and found my way out of the airport while my mom struggled with the luggages behind me.

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

It took us three hours to get to our new home, and I started to put the house together while Mom prepared dinner.

After I was done, I went to set the table while Mom arranged the food on it. I wasn't smiling at all, she still hadn't told me why we suddenly moved out of the state.

I sat across the dinner table from mom but I wasn't eating. How could I possibly eat in a new house, new city, new life, and new shit I didn't ask for?

My eyes were darting around the table, and I was surprised by my mom's nonchalant behavior towards me. She didn't even care that I wasn't eating, she was busy scooping food into her mouth and sipping wine to digest and level her stress.

I remained quiet like everything was perfect, but I soon noticed something strange on my mom's finger.

“Wait…is that an engagement ring?” I asked with furrowed brows.

Mom paused, then nodded with a shy smile. “Yes, he proposed.”

My heart stopped for a second, “He who?” I scoffed bitterly, “Who proposed?”

“Your soon-to-be stepfather—and the wedding is in three days time.” She dropped the bombshell.

I stared at her in disbelief. My dad had only been gone for a few months, it's not even up to a year, and mom has already said yes to someone else?

Wait, could that be the reason we moved?

I can't believe this is happening.

“Stepfather,” I said again, softly this time, as if the word might hurt less if I whispered it.

Mom didn't say anything afterwards, she simply remained silent while she continued to eat her food.

“You’re getting married? Already? Mom… Dad just died.” My voice cracked.

She glanced up at me, then looked away immediately as if she didn't hear me speak.

“Mom, I'm talking—can’t you hear me?” I snapped angrily, tears were already filling my eyes.

Mom suddenly dropped her spoon against the ceramic plate and the loud clink made me flinch, “I know, Angela. I know. But life doesn’t stop. I didn’t plan this—it just happened.” she yelled back.

I stared at her in disbelief, “Really? Is that why we moved out of the state? What about Dad, the memories, the life he built for us before he died? You're trading it all out for your new love?” I bawled, my voice suddenly dropped low, and I could barely see through my blurry eyes.

“Honey—”

I didn't stay to hear what she had to say, I simply pushed my plate away and stood up.

“I’m going to bed. I can’t do this.” I sobbed and stormed out of the room.

“Angela—”

I didn’t wait, I walked away, slammed the door behind me, and curled into my bed with my clothes still on.

Mom didn’t even tell me we were moving until the day we packed(today). Now she tells me she’s getting married—to a man I’ve never met—and in just three days?

This isn't right.

Father will never be able to forgive us.

I fought my eyes to sleep, but I'd the dream again. The baby I aborted kept screaming and crying while he reigned curses on me for getting rid of him.

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

The following morning, mom came tapping lightly on my door before peeping in. I'd my earpiece tucked into my ears so I barely heard her knock, but I saw her walk in, however, I ignored her presence.

“Morning, honey.” She whispered as she slowly claimed the edge of my bed just beside me.

I rolled my eyes and plucked out the earphone from my ears, “Morning—” I grumbled like I was being forced to say it.

“I just wanted to let you know that they are coming for dinner tonight, so you might want to be prepared.” She tried to act nice, but damn, I can see through her, she's just a greedy woman who can't stand raising her child alone.

“Who are those coming?” I asked with a smirk.

“Your soon-to-be stepfather…and his son. He's your age, maybe a bit older than you. But I thought it'd be nice for you two to meet. You're practically going to be family, so it's all good, honey.”

I didn't say a word, I just kept staring at the ceiling while she spoke.

She noticed how uninterested I was. So she slowly lifted her ass off the bed and made her way to the door.

She paused at the door and turned around, “And Angela…” she sighed. “Try to be polite to them, please. For me.” she pleaded and walked out of the room, carefully shutting the door behind her.

I turned to confirm if she was really out of my room, then I hissed and stepped out of bed and to the bathroom to prepare for school.

Mom already had me enrolled in one of the most prestigious academies in our new state, also the school with all the spoiled brats and young ex-convicts—Dominic High School.

I can't believe mom enrolled me in such a school without discussing it with me beforehand.

As a new student, I was going to be sitting for my entrance exam today, so I need to make it to school early.

I hardly study, I have never really studied for exams back in my old school. It wasn’t that I couldn’t read—I just hated it.

Books bored me, and I never saw the point of reading when I can simply cheat my way out. I usually find a way to cheat and get through, and I was good at it. Now in this new school, nothing was going to change. I already had my small cheat paper under my sleeve ready for the entrance exam.

After I was done preparing, I stepped out of the house and took a cab to the school. Despite I thought I was early, I was surprised that the entrance exam had already started. I was ten minutes late.

The invigilator was quiet nice so he didn't question my late arrival, he immediately pulled out a question paper and answer sheet and handed it over to me.

“Get to work,” he groaned and I instantly walked to take the empty seat that was close to the window.

I slipped the cheat paper from my sleeve and started copying. I thought no one noticed—until I looked up and locked eyes with a guy outside the window.

Tall. Sharp. Handsome. Cold expression, And subtly unbothered. He’d seen everything.

My heart raced and I could feel my pulse stop for a second.

He kept staring and I started to shake while I squeezed the paper into my mouth and swallowed it. He shook his head and walked away with his hands inside his pocket.

Thank goodness I was done copying already, so I immediately stood up and went to submit my answer sheet.

After the exam, I started to search all the classes, hoping I would find him and beg him not to report me or do anything funny. I was just terrified that he might ruin my new start here in this school.

But he was gone, he was nowhere to be found.

“But he was wearing a uniform, he's definitely a student of this school.” I thought.

I still didn't give up, I went to the school entrance premises and stood there like a stray dog until it was closing time. I started to watch everybody as they rushed out of school, but I still didn't see him until the last student left the school. Disappointed, I strolled to the bus station with my bag dangling freely in my hand, then I boarded a bus back home.

And then, BOOM, I remembered tonight was the night my soon-to-be stepfather and stepbrother will be coming to visit.

“What a waste,” I thought.

I wish I could just vanish into the thin air.