Torn between emotions

~CHAPTER ONE~

Her phone alarm beeped on her bedside table as she slowly opened her eyes and silenced it, getting up. She fixed her tiny feet into her slippers and raked her fingers through her black full lengthy hair in front of her mirror, twirling her index finger around her beautiful charm bracelet afterwards, with a loud scoff.

She abruptly shut her eyes at the feeling of the sharp pain that crossed her head and winced, "my God!"

***

"Gwen you're up. I was going to take care of the chores today," Mel, her foster sister, said to her while she was jogging down the stairs that was not even up to six steps with a grin on her face, that turned into a frown when she saw a male stranger in their cozy three bedroom flat, lying comfortably on the sofa.

"Good morning..." The stranger smiled at her.

Gwen, a little bit disoriented, just nodded quickly in response.

Mel cleared her throat like she knew what was running through Gwen's mind and chipped-" you look okay anyway-" but Gwen stoned her a death glare, shutting her up immediately. "You should leave Jason."

The stranger glanced at Gwen who threw her face away in guilt.

"At least-" he sprang up going closer to Mel for a kiss but she brushed his mouth away, pointing her hand towards the exit door, and mouthed I'll call you. He smiled and buttoned his shirt before walking out the door, but not without winking at Mel.

Gwen sighed in relief, still glaring at Mel for an explanation. She shook her head, disappointed.

"Sorry not sorry. He's cute." Mel stated plainly.

"He was a stranger."

"Remind me the rules again- we're ladies, not some freaking teenagers, and besides it was just a one night stand," she shrugged nonchalantly.

"Which makes it worse. Men suck!" Gwen snapped, trying to make a point.

"So now you're lecturing me?" Mel rolled her eyes. "That's funny. You've never even dated before, so what do you know about relationships?" She asked sarcastically.

Gwen squinted her eyes conspicuously. "You know you should be direct if you're going to insult me."

Mel raised her hands in defense. "I'm just curious, and trying to tell you to get a life. At least find someone who'll be glad to be a part of your boring activities"

Gwen hissed.

"about last night, don't you think you were too rude to that handsome man that wanted to dance with you? What's that his name again?" Mel dabbed at her temple like it would help her to remember.

"Handsome," Gwen helped.

"You see, his name is even handsome. How could I easily forget?" Mel shook her head in disappointment of herself.

"He was only trying to get in my pants- can you imagine?" Gwen threw her hands in the air, demonstrating.

"Yuck! How dare he?!" Mel clutched a hand around her throat and made a disgusted face. "I know that's how you want me to react-" she burst into laughter.

Gwen could not help but join her because she was not expecting the sarcasm. "You're not serious! Just dead that topic please. You know I still feel dizzy from that alcohol," she complained.

"Sorry.... I'll make you coffee okay?"

"Thanks. I need to go and check out a place I applied for work today and I can't go looking all messed up."

Mel frowned. "What work?" In no time the coffee was ready and she placed it in front of Gwen who made a grateful expression before replying. "I told you about it remember?" She blew on it gently and sipped small, dropping it down.

Mel sighed, "let's stay home together. Movie later, the bill's on me," she offered.

"Nice try Mel.. I have to look for work. I'm even up late." Gwen objected and sat on the kitchen counter, sipping her coffee again.

"It's weekend Gwen." Mel said bossily, stirring the food she was preparing on the stove.

"I know. It's a shift job at a diner." silence reigned for a minute before Gwen spoke again, "what are you preparing?" She stretched her neck to have a glimpse.

"What else would I be preparing on a weekend?" Mel chuckled and added, "your favorite, Oha soup."

"Yay!" Gwen's mood dropped and her expression started softening suddenly.

Mel frowned at her in observation. "Stop it Gwen," she warned.

"I need to work Mel. I want to appreciate you but that's a conversation you're not ready for. You've done more than enough for me. The economy is bad and I cannot be a liability-"

Mel sucked her teeth in annoyance- "I hate it when you start with that. Who said you're a liability? Why can't you just let me be the big sister that I'm supposed to be?"

Gwen chuckled at her whining. "I know that's what you'll say. Your mother gave me a roof over my head, sent me to the same school as you, you stood by my side even when I was being mocked at..."

"No one remembers that Gwen!" Mel curved her both hands around her mouth just to be loud and clearly heard, her voice echoed.

"Fine, but I'm working. I'm not a child." Gwen was insistent with pleading eyes, causing Mel to look defeated.

"You know I can't refuse you when you do that..." Mel groaned in frustration- "Ok!" She shut her eyes in thought of it before she decided and finally said, "in that case, there's vacancy at where I work-" with her arms akimbo, stretching away from each other. She opened her eyes back slowly. "Will that make you happy?"

"Yes!!" Gwen punched the air in triumph.

"I'm only having a good feeling about this because you're my sister and friend and I know you're very smart to begin with."

"I'm going to make you proud don't worry." Gwen assured at her and they both smiled at each other.

"I trust you. We have to get you ready you know." Mel quickly turned off the gas and cleaned her hands with a towel lying on the sink tap handle.

"For what? It's weekend."

"You can't start work dressed like that!!" Mel scanned her from head to toe. Gwen was dressed in a short jean skirt and fitted polo. "I work for a really influential family! We're going shopping."

"Uh, okay?" Gwen raised her brows in question.

"Yes...Gwen do you want this job or not?" Mel asked strictly with her hands resting on her hips.

"Of course I do." Gwen answered.

"We're going shopping then."

"Wait, Like now?"

"Aunty do you have something better to do?" Mel fired in a kind of tone any African parent would've.

"Fine. No." Gwen replied with a scoff.

A smile suddenly curved Mel's lips. "Then let's start the session."

Gwen also smiled and followed her lead out the door.

***

A Mercedes Benz W205 halted in front of a very large mansion. The driver of the car came out and rushed to go and open the back seat door respectfully.

A handsome young man in his late twenties stepped out, wearing an expensive male sneakers with his legit ankle socks hidden beneath, that was only exposed a little. He was putting on sun glasses worth a million naira. He stood defiantly wearing a dress shirt that exposed his fab body and built up muscles regardless, with his hands in the pocket of his pants, suddenly he nodded with a smirk at the amount of maids and house workers that had been waiting for his return.

"Marco!" A woman ran to throw her arms around him and he lifted her off the ground. "I missed you so much." She patted his back gently while standing on her toes.

"My little elder sister," he teased her, giggling with the base of his throat.

"You grew way taller and got more manly. Look at my little brotherrrr," she cooed, hugging him tighter to herself.

Marco giggled a little more. "You did this?" He let go of her, making reference to the crowd standing at his honour.

"Come on, you didn't expect me to just sit. My kid brother has been away from Nigeria for five years, that is enough torture for me," she rolled her eyes in laughter.

"Where's Allie by the way?" He asked with searching eyes through his shades.

"Allie misses you a lot Marco. She's inside. So excitedly waiting for your return." She gently removed the shades from his eyes with a smile. "I miss what your eyes look like. I remember you used to have dad's spark in them."

His hazel eyes reacted to the sun rays on them and dimmed, making them look as sexy as his face. Marco stared down at his sister expressionlessly without saying anymore words. He was indeed happy to be back home, wishing they would all move on from everything that has to do with the past.

"I'm supposed to be tripping right now but you're my brother," she teased and he looked away with a smirk that exposed his one-sided dimple.

"Give me a break Thea." He rolled his eyes, laughing-

"Uncle Marco!" A little girl exclaimed enthusiastically and ran to hug him. His beautiful niece.

"Allie!" He threw her up and caught her, dropping her back down on her feet. "You gained weight over the years. What has mum been feeding you with?" He widened his eyes at his elder sister in Astonishment of how matured and healthy his niece was looking. Allie laughed girlishly along with her mother. He squatted so their gaze could be leveled.

"Mum said I shouldn't worry about my diet because you'd still be manly enough to throw me up even when I clock twenty."

"She said that?" Marco raised his brows amusingly.

She nodded with a firm "yes" and laughed. "Uncle Marco, it's my birthday next month, and I'll be thirteen." She sounded excited about it.

"Allie? He just got back" Thea gestured at her daughter in disbelief.

"It's okay. No wonder you're almost as tall as me now Allie," he roughened her short black afro and she giggled. "Uncle's little girl is growing so fast and it's giving me the creeps." He sighed drastically, looking away and feigning sadness but she held his face in her little palms.

"Mummy says the same thing too but I promise to stay away from the bad boys." Her words amused him and it lightened up his mood even though he was never sad to begin with.

Marco grinned at her, exposing his perfectly white set of teeth. "Uncle is a bad boy," he whispered teasingly.

"I'll still date a guy like him regardless..." She whispered back.

"Allie?!" Her mum scolded and she used her tiny hands to cover her mouth quickly, giggling.

Marco laughed softly. "Uncle will be inside in a minute," he assured, and kissed her head, standing up. He could feel the numbness in his knees as he had been squatting for a long period of time- who was keeping time?!

Allie shrugged approvingly and ran inside.

Marco looked at his smiling sister. "She's growing rapidly," he remarked and sighed like it still surprises him.

"Yea. It scares me too Marco believe me. She's starting to know a lot of things above her age and she's taking after your looks which makes it even worse..." Thea concurred.

"What is wrong with my looks Thea?"

"She has your tempting smile, and I wonder how that got to be!" He just scoffed while she clutched his hand and they both walked in together.

"I think I am in love," a maid soliloquized dreamily to herself but unfortunately the chief maid heard her and stoned her a death glare, irritated by what she just said.

The maid in question gained her composure immediately.

"Get back to work! All of you!!" The chief maid commanded with a snap of her finger and they all dismissed themselves to go back to their various duties.