Thorns of Roses

Welcome to my f*****g life

Song for this Chapter:

12:51-Krissy and Ericka

CHAPTER 2

CORINNE

Sweat beading on my forehead as my eyes snapped open.

I was greeted by my dark humid room, opposite our house in that neighborhood.

My bed is, fortunately, comfortable and soft. Not like the other, we have that’s been creaking almost every move we made.

But sometimes, I wish I can hear every other noise this place can have. I don’t want this silence that surrounds me every minute of every day.

I didn’t move from where I am lying. I just close my eyes and took time to collect my breathing. I have to make myself compose, the way I have been doing for several years now.

No one should notice.

No one will ever have to find out the secret I am keeping.

Even if I die. No one will f*****g know.

That dream was supposed to be a happy memory for me. because that is when my Mother received the medical help that she really needs, up until now.

But it wasn’t. it wasn’t pleasant, it wasn’t happy at all. It’s where the ugliness started. And it will continue that way if I didn’t play my role right.

This needs to be perfect, this needs to be done, for Mom, at least.

I took a deep breath and made my way towards the bathroom, my own bathroom.

My room itself is like the size or bigger of the house we have in that neighborhood.

You must think that I am ungrateful for what my Father’s been giving me. You are right, I am ungrateful and I wasn’t thankful at all. Never.

I will still choose the filthiness of that neighborhood, actually somewhere but here.

A knock made me stiff from where I am standing, isn’t it too early to do this?

My chest pounds harder than before.

“Miss Corinne, are you ready?” I sighed, it’s just Nora. Our housekeeper was the one my father assigned to take care of me.

Actually, my step-sister has one too, and also my step-mother. We all have someone to look after us while we're here in this Mansion of a house. Not that I need someone, but Nora’s just doing her job, just like me.

I opened the door for her “Come in.”

I always lock my door shut every day, Nora knows why too. She knows everything that’s been happening in this very room for the past years that I am here.

"It's almost time to finish preparing your breakfast, I suggest you act quickly Miss, so your Father won't scold you again," Nora said worriedly, she’s just thirty-five years old and she doesn't have a family of her own. I also did not hear that she has a boyfriend. It's as if she dedicated her whole life to my Father's family.

I chuckle “Don’t worry No, I am quick as lightning in preparing myself.” I joke as I am heading to my bathroom.

“I am serious, Corinne.”

I looked at her and smiled “Okay, I will.”

As soon as I got out of the bathroom, the designated uniform that I will be wearing for only a year now is folded perfectly at the edge of my bed along with the high socks and a black stiletto.

I am not used to wearing these fancy shoes before, but living here with the elites made me learn how to.

Like I told you, everything needs to be perfect.

I finished preparing myself for school and just let my hair down while Nora kept on combing my black jet hair, treating it like fine silk. And she paired it with a black thin hairband.

As soon as we are finished, we go down straight to the dining area that’s where my stepmother; Martha, my stepsister; Carina, and my Father; Marcus are already waiting for me.

“You’re late, Corinne.” My Father shrug as he kept on eating his breakfast, not bothering to look at me.

I know he knows why I woke up late this morning but chose to blame it all on me.

I took a sit as Nora positioned herself standing behind me, just like Cristy, Carina’s help, and Matilda, Martha’s own. And for my father, there’s Arthur.

Cristy and Matilda looking at me like how Carina and Martha are looking at me. like they held some secret for me to keep.

The only people here in this house who treated me like a real human being is Nora and Arthur, oh and also Rico, My Father’s driver. Then no one else.

I have been living with them for almost five years now, but they still look at me like a prostitute like my Mother.

But no matter what, they can never use that against me; my mother is a prostitute. Never. Because my mother raised me more sensibly than the people around me today, no matter how expensive and fancy the clothes that wrap around their personality. No one can match the goodness of the heart that my mother has. That's why I will do everything for her.

No matter what it takes.

She is a very good person, it just happened that she had no other choice. She has to sacrifice herself for me, to give me a not luxurious life, at least a decent life.

This is the least I can do.

I can do it too, for her to live.

So that good people don't get lost in this world. And the wicked will survive. Even though I am no longer among those good people. Even if it will break her heart when she finds out what I have to bargain in exchange for her life. She shouldn't know. No one should know.

It will be my burden to carry, not anyone else.

Just one more year.

I think to myself as I start eating with these people around me.

From time to time, I can see Carina looking at me like she’s disgusted by my presence. Technically, she is my little sister. Only a year younger than me. but we’re not look alike. She has the same hair and eye color as my Father does. Blonde hair and Blue eyes.

Her Mother has the same. But maybe, I took resemblance to my own Mother because she has the same jet-black hair as I have. And a pair of black eyes.

"You probably already know what to do at school. I keep reminding you of that, Right, Corinne and Carina?" Dad starts.

“Yes, Dad.” Carina and I said in unison.

Dad, calling him that makes me want to vomit right here, right now.

"You carry the last name that I have. And whatever action you take, it is attached to my name. If you don't want us to get into trouble. Adjust all your actions. I'm telling you that almost everyone is looking at you, Big or small. Especially now that I have publicly exposed my alliance with Cosa Nostra."

Yes, my Dad is a successful senator here in the United states, and has a very good alliance with the American mafia; La Cosa Nostra.

That is not unknown to all of us. Given that we are always with the Mayhems every weekend. Not that I'm complaining, because I get to see Diesel. Nephew of Havoc, the leader of the American mafia La Cosa Nostra.

Diesel is my first love. He was the one who saw me crying the first night of the ugliness in my life that happened when I am only fifteen years old.

He tried to wash the ugliness all over my body. And it did.

But he holds my heart after that.

I am not a romantic kind of girl or a very clingy one. Diesel and I don’t have a relationship of some sort. That was only one time we did that. And I am thankful he did.

At least my first got to be so special. Or so I thought.

But I think if soulmates were true. He’s mine.

He loves painting and art as much as I do. Loves black coffee, loves the rain, loves r&b music, loves the whip in a frappe. Everything.

I feel like he’s the other half of my soul.

And in this world full of vague color. He’s my sunshine.

My very own sunshine even if the weather is gloomy.

But Diesel has his own rain too.

His uncle took him under his wing because his parents were killed by the Russian mafia.

He even told me that he doesn’t want anything to do with the organization and wanted to be a soldier someday, but he says he needs to pay off his debt to Havoc; His uncle.

He wasn’t the Heir of the La Cosa Nostra.

It’s Axel Matthew “Blaze” Mayhem. Everyone here in Brooklyn called him Blaze because he’s fired when it comes to everything.

He’s the only son of Havoc and the only heir of Cosa Nostra.

A living angry god, I may say. Because he was always so mad at the world and always had this brewing personality on him.

Everyone is afraid of Blaze.

If Diesel is the football sunshine of the campus; because he’s always happy and smiling.

Blaze is the Madman quarterback. A wreaking ball in the field.

I don’t know why there are so many girls who wanted to whip this Mafia prince. But believe me, I am down to the Sunshine. Kneeling for him exactly.

So, back in my Father and the Cosa Nostra.

That’s one of the many reasons why I don’t intend to tell anyone what’s been happening with me.

Because he’s powerful.

He can even kill me in a blink of an eye and no one will ever find me, just my Mom.

He can make me vanish without a trace.

And the last thing I want is to leave my mother in this filthy world, sick and alone.

No thanks.

"I don't want what happened next year to happen," Dad said as if distorted.

I can see Carina and Martha smirking as if they are enjoying this.

I nod as I touch the only evidence of the accident that happened last year; With me, Blaze, and my best friend, Gian. “Yes, Dad.”

“Blaze is a fine man. Be his friend.”

I looked at him, why does suddenly he want me to befriend the Mafia prince? “Why would I?”

His eyes got hard looking at me “Because I f*****g say so, Corinne. You don’t want the mayhems to be your enemy.”

My blood boils “What about Gian?”

“What?” Dad snaps as I looked at the scar on my arms, it’s healed but the pain of why I got that still remains.

“Gian, what about her?” I didn’t look at Dad because my vision got blurry, it was torn. Even saying her name makes me in so much pain.

“Don’t you f*****g say her name again, Corinne,” Dad said. And I see everyone stiffing.

I don’t want to make Marcus Lewis mad at this early morning and made everyone suffer.

Oh, wait that’s a good idea too.

I sighed and wipe my tears. I can feel Nora’s hands on my back. “Sorry, Dad.”

“Promise me you won’t do something stupid this time, Corinne. Blaze will be attending the university too.”

I nod “I will, Dad. I promise.”

“Good girl.”

My eyes went wide and my body stiffened. I don’t want her calling me that. It’s making my insides churn.

I close my eyes, trying to compose myself again. “I need to go.” I stood up.

“Rico will drive you.”

“I’m heading out too, Dad.” Carina kissed our father comfortably. Maybe I am just the only one?

"I'll deliver them," Martha said while looking at me evilly.

Oh great, just when I thought I can escape this pit of hell.

Welcome to my f*****g life.