~Only enemies speak the truth, friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty ~
~Sun Tzu.

Motive X Promiscuous👆

SERAPHINA'S POV
"Phina! bring your ass down!"

I ignored Severina's annoying screams and continued curling the last strand of my hair. I placed the curling pin on the counter and took a once-over of my outfit. Satisfied with my looks, I picked my bag and took off downstairs.

"Seraphi...
"Hush, geez." I huffed at an annoyed-looking Severina.

"Do you honestly have to take an eternity to get dressed?" She scowled. I playfully bumped her shoulder on my way out, which resulted in a sharp smack on my butt.

"Ouch." I yelped and held the sore spot.

"What was that for?" I glared at her.

"Serves you right. " She taunted, struggling to maintain a straight face.

"If it isn't my favourite twins." A familiar voice called. I squealed and ran to the source. I missed him so much.

"Mr Hawthorne!" I jumped in his arms, making him stagger back a bit.

"Where is my baby girl." He laughed, twirling me.

"Jesus! Seraphina, get your fat ass off the poor man."

"And here I thought she had developed filters for that mouth." My Hawthorne scolded.

"Sup old man?" Severina went to fist bump him, but he caught her fist and twisted it behind her back until she whimpered.

"What have I said about you calling me old huh? Your father's two years older than I am."

And he wasn't wrong. Mr Hawthorne's our next-door neighbour, but we hardly see him, considering he's always away on business trips. He lost his wife during childbirth and ever since had been skeptical of getting remarried. With the misconception that he might be responsible for another woman's death. I felt sorry for him, but it seemed as though he's living his best life so far. He's a good friend of my dad and during holidays, both men take time off to vacate in Africa.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mr Hawthorne." Severina pleaded. I took my phone out and started recording the scene.

"Good. Now scurry off, would you? Don't need your dad yelling my head off for getting you late." He laughed after releasing Severina.

We bid him goodbye and promised to visit him sometime soon. Severina called for a shotgun and I ended up in the backseat, much to my dismay.

"Hey, big bro." I greeted. Asher looked taken aback but returned my greeting nevertheless.

Unlike our previous car rides, this one was very interesting. We sang the lyrics to random songs until we reached campus.

"What do you have right now?" Severina inquired on the way to class.

"Health, why?"

"Boring. I have a free period and was wondering if  we could  sneak in dance and prank Zara, but all thanks to your stupid Health class."

I laughed and swung my arm around her shoulder.

"You're something else, Sis. Can't you just let it go?"

"Severina doesn't pass up revenge." She smirked.

Once a Del Varia, always a Del Varia.

"You got that right." She winked and I was perplexed for a split second until I realised I must've said that out loud.

"For real though, forget Zara. She isn't worth it." I tried to convince her.

"No." She replied in a monotone and I dropped the subject. No, meant no to Severina. Nothing could change that.

"Don't worry, we've got enough time for that. We'll plan just the perfect prank.
One she'll live to narrate to her great-grandchildren."

The warning bell went off right then, and I bolted down the hallway.

I reached the class in five minutes and was surprised to find it empty. I sat at my usual seat at the back and scrolled through my phone to kill time before the rest of the students arrive.

"Punctual, aren't we?"
I accidentally dropped my phone on the desk and couldn't help the gasp which escaped my lips. I turned my gaze to a smirking Mr Black, who had his legs now propped up on my desk while leaning back on the seat opposite mine.

"You scared me."

"That was the intention. " He chuckled and stood up.

"I missed you." He said in a husky voice, hovering over me. I shifted my gaze from him and gulped.

"So pretty." He whispered right next to my ear, and before you know it, he'd slipped his hand under my sweatshirt.

I yelped and out of instinct slapped him. I went running out of the class but he caught my waist and pushed me, sending my back colliding with the hard desk.

"You bit...

He raised his hand to hit me, but stopped upon hearing the close chattering of students and stormed to his desk. Almost immediately, students started filling the class in groups. That was close.

The class lasted for thirty-five minutes and Mr Black was moody the entire time. This surprised everyone since he was usually cheery and funny. Noticing his sour mood, everyone remained cautious around him and no one spoke until he permitted them. The class eventually ended and I was the first to flee out, followed by Miskha and Caleb.

"What got Mr fine guy's panties in a twist today?" Miskha asked, and I shrugged in response.

"I almost thought he was drunk." Caleb chuckled. I remained silent during the conversation, not for once uttering a word until Biochemistry.

This class lasted for two damned hours, and I could almost feel a headache gradually building. How I made it through the next one hour without collapsing, I still couldn't make out.

"How many minutes until break." I yawned.

"Biochemistry must've drained you huh? Two minutes. " Maya replied.

"I regretted majoring in Biology," I grumbled and laid my head back on my bag.

"I can relate, but the hard work will pay off."

"Are you sure it's two minutes bec...thank God. " I sped out the door at a maddening Speed when the bell went off. I stopped at my locker and placed my books inside before running to the cafeteria to feed my grumbling stomach. To my utmost luck, there wasn't any queue.

"Your usual, dear." The lunch lady, whom I often buy from said with a smile. On reaching our table, I  was surprised to find it half-filled already.

"You guys haven't had classes?" I asked and Malu shook her head while sipping on an orange drink. I sat down beside Sophia and placed my head on her shoulder.

"Get your cantaloupe-head off me Seraphina." She shrugged her shoulders, making my head slip.

"Bitch." I muttered and placed my head on the table instead.

The guys arrived later, followed by Maya and Miskha who were staring at me in amusement.

"What?" I snapped.

"Nothing. Just the way you Usain-bolted from Biochemistry is trending ." Miskha countered, sitting beside Ahmed.

"What happened?" Enrique asked. I yawned and laid my head on his shoulder.

"Your girlfriend was apparently very exhausted today for some reason still unknown to me, and not-so-nicely exited the class. " Maya explained

"Oh boy, the poor man's face." Miskha laughed and I was astounded because I didn't see her in class.

"You were there?" She nodded.

"I didn't notice."

"How could you when hunger was invading your system." She scoffed.

"Babe." I looked up at Enrique with a pout.

"Leave her alone you fools. Don't mind them." He said and gave me a short but lingering kiss on the lips.

"Jesus, get a room," Nathan yelled, causing Enrique to flip him the bird.

My stomach grumbled again. Okay, that's enough talking and more eating. I took a bite out of the sandwich and moaned when the heavenly taste exploded on my tastebuds. I quickly finished the sandwich and gulped down a generous amount of almond milk, too hungry to take sips.

"Where's the sandwich Seraphina?" Maya asked. I grinned and pointed to my stomach.

"You're something else girl." Ace laughed.

"Full?" Enrique asked and I nodded with a toothed grin.

"Damn, desperate much." Lalia snickered and I looked at her in question.

"Madeline's throwing daggers at you Seraphina." She whispered. I turned my head and sure enough, Madeline was eying me with pure distaste. I stuck my tongue out at her before turning back around, satisfied with the look of fury on her face. Everyone cackled at the stunt I pulled, including Nathan, who rarely smiles. Madeline had always been a pest but, she's landed on the wrong crop this time around.

Out of nowhere, I started feeling weird. Nausea was slowly building up, but I ignored it and continued chatting, hoping it'll go away soon. But how wrong was I? Almost instantly, a sharp pain hit my stomach. I gasped and sucked in a sharp breath.

"Babe, you okay?" Enrique was the first to ask and I opened my mouth to speak but realised I have lost my voice.

"Oh my God! her face is getting red!" Sophia exclaimed and the entire cafeteria turned to our table but attention, at the moment, was the least of my problems. I was slowly dying. The pain was so immense that all I could do was gasp and clutch my stomach, unable to breathe. My stomach clenched sharply and my throat closed up.

" She's paling! Somebody help! security!" Maya screamed, full-on sobbing.

My vision was blurring and my eyes stung.

"She's bleeding!" Another voice rushed, and it was then I felt the familiar metallic taste of blood on my tongue.

"Don't just stand there and stare! call the fucking paramedics!" Asher bellowed.

"Don't worry babe. Everything will be fine, stay strong for me okay." Enrique desperately blabbered in a shaky voice, placing my cold hands on his chest.

Black spots clouded my vision, and the last thing I heard was Enrique's pleading voice and my friends' screams before darkness consumed me.
************************************
🤫🤫🤫
Vote, comment, and share.
Next chapter coming right up.

Xoxo,
Mina.