I Want You Given

I Want You Given: Revenge is Sweet (and red) Chapter 1 The morning sun streamed through my window, painting stripes of light across my room. "Seraphina, darling, it's time to wake up," Maria's gentle voice called from outside my door. She'd been with my family for almost ten years, and her warm, comforting presence was a constant in my life. "Good morning, Maria," I replied, stretching and yawning. Maria entered, her smile as bright as the morning sun. "What's for breakfast?" "Your favorite, pancakes with maple syrup and fresh berries," she said, her eyes twinkling. I grinned, already feeling the familiar warmth of my favorite breakfast. After a quick breakfast, I headed out to the school, the crisp morning air invigorating. It was a short walk, just a few blocks from our apartment. Maria followed behind, carrying my bag and Russ, my fluffy white Pomeranian. Russ, ever the gentleman, trotted beside me, his tail wagging happily. The school gates were buzzing with activity. The guards, Mr. Reyes and Mrs. Santos, greeted me with their usual warm smiles. "Good morning, Seraphina," they said, their voices filled with genuine affection. "Good morning, Mr. Reyes, Mrs. Santos," I replied, returning their smiles. I could feel the familiar warmth of the school grounds, a place I'd called home for the past four years. As I walked towards the building, I couldn't help but think about the project due on Friday. We had been working on it since Monday, and I was determined to present it well. "Good morning, Seraphina," a voice called out. I turned to see a junior, her eyes wide with admiration. "Your smile is so beautiful," she said shyly. I blushed, a little embarrassed by the compliment. "Thank you," I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me. Just then, a familiar voice called out my name. "Seraphina! Wait up!" Ara, my best friend, came rushing towards me, her brown hair bouncing with each step. She was always the life of the party, with her infectious laugh and boundless energy. She was also the most stylish girl I knew, always sporting the latest trends with her signature flair. "What's up?" I asked, catching my breath as she reached me. "I'm so excited!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "I'm finally going to Boracay after graduation! We're going to stay at this amazing resort, and I've already planned out all the things we're going to do." I smiled, listening patiently as she gushed about her plans. She was always so enthusiastic, and her infectious energy was contagious. "Look at this!" she suddenly shrieked, her eyes widening. "Seraphina, you posted a new laptop on your IG! It's gorgeous!" I laughed, shaking my head. "It's just a picture I found online," I said. "But I do want a new laptop, though." "You deserve it," Ara declared, her voice filled with conviction. "You're the best friend anyone could ask for." Our first and second periods were in different buildings, so we parted ways for a while. I headed to the gym for PE, my heart pounding with anticipation. We were having a fitness test today, and I was determined to do my best. Zander, the son of my dad's best friend, was already there. He had a casually sophisticated look about him; light brown hair, neatly styled, and a confident smirk playing on his lips. He was dressed in athletic gear, but even that seemed to exude a certain effortless style. He was always teasing me, and today was no exception. "Look at you, Seraphina," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're so slow, you're practically moving in slow motion." He laughed, and the other students joined in, their laughter echoing through the gym. I rolled my eyes, ignoring his taunts. Our coach, Mr. Johnson, a massive man with a booming voice, noticed Zander's comments. "Zander," he said, his voice stern. "You're supposed to be encouraging your teammates, not putting them down. Now, run a lap!" Zander groaned, but he obeyed, his face flushed with embarrassment. I couldn't help but smile, a little smug at his misfortune. As Zander ran, I snuck into my locker and grabbed a red ink pen and a bottle of water. I knew just how to get back at him. I waited until he was halfway through his lap, then I ran back to the gym, carrying a towel and the water. I quickly dipped the towel in the water, then used the red ink to color it a bright crimson. As Zander finished his lap, I handed him the towel, pretending to be concerned. "Here you go, Zander," I said, my voice dripping with fake concern. "You look like you need to cool off." He took the towel, oblivious to the ink. As he wiped his face, the red ink smeared all over his skin, turning his face a bright shade of crimson. He stared at himself in the mirror, his eyes wide with shock. Ara, who had just arrived, burst out laughing. "Oh my god, Zander," she said, her voice filled with amusement. "You look like a tomato!" Zander glared at me, his face burning with anger. I couldn't help but grin. He deserved it. "I'll get you back for this, Seraphina," he muttered, his voice low and threatening. I just laughed, my heart light with the thrill of victory. "I'm sure you will," I said, my voice dripping with playful sarcasm. Ara, still giggling, pulled out her phone. "I'm posting this on i********:," she said, snapping a picture of Zander's red face. "I'm tagging you, Seraphina." I smiled, knowing that this was just the beginning of our long-standing rivalry. We headed to the girls' room, Ara still chattering about her plans for Boracay. "This is the best revenge I've ever had," I said, my voice filled with satisfaction. "Three years of teasing, and I finally got him back!" Ara laughed, her voice echoing through the empty room. "You go, girl," she said, giving me a high five. "You deserve it." And as I changed into my next class's uniform, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Zander had finally learned that messing with Seraphina came with consequences. And I, for one, was ready for round two.