"Stella, honey, get ready for school, you don't wanna be late for your first day."
In a green-tiled covered wall a short dark-skinned chubby girl watched the mirror, straight faced and panting mildly, shoulders raised in rhythm.
From her frozen eyes, you could tell something didn't seem alright with the girl as her mouth was dormant. Did she make the right choice? Farouk isn't that bad of a guy, right?
She then later shook her head. Something didn't seem right. Stella just walked out the small room from the white sink, shutting the door.
***
Later on, at an open grassy field in the late afternoon sun and breezy area, almost looking damp, Farouk in his red jersey and loose black shorts with matching lines just stood still, swinging his arms slowly as the same girl from the previous scene met him. She just walked swiftly past him, in her yellow clothes like Farouk's, avoiding eye contact.
Farouk then turned back, following her. "You, what the heck was that?"
Silence.
He then rushed to her front. "I'm talking to you."
"Get out." Stella retorted, turning back. "Segun told me about what you plan to do with Gloria… are you stupid?" Her eyes glared. "Everytime, you're always being a baby and you're embarrassing me already… Just leave me alone."
"Yeah Farouk, take a hint."
It was Segun, coming from behind him, in sportswear like theirs but red. "And just ditch my girl already… you're so low these days."
She held Stella's hands. Farouk backed away, mouth open.
Then words cut in.
"Leave him alone… you haven't hurt him enough?"
The trio turned to Farouk's left. It was Gloria.
"How many times will you keep doing this?" She turned to Stella.
"Babe, do you know what he was about to do?"
"Don't 'babe' me." He chuckled, stepping forth. "Farouk is a guy like anyone else and as his brother, I will simply make sure he doesn't exploit me."
Stella and Segun stared, as if puzzled.
"Now move."
Gloria flung her hands, warding them off. Farouk kept his mouth shut with shocked eyes. Okee.
"And please, grow up." Gloria turned to him, with mutely glaring eyes. "You really gotta work on your insecurities."
She then walked away, as Farouk followed suit.
Really, what's going on?
***
Later, in the evening, Farouk was in his room dressed in a simple blue night gown, then a sharp knocking came.
He then revealed Gloria, wearing a red night gown. Then they sat atop the bed.
Gloria moved her eyes to Farouk's face, pouting lightly as if angry.
"What you did was wrong." She sternly gazed. "But there's something I've been meaning to tell you, well, I guess now."
Farouk stared. Night pressed in as he swallowed hard as if he thought of what's at risk—not just pride, but her heart.
"Farouk." Gloria looked down. "I think I'm in love with you."
"Meen, shut up."
Gloria jerked up, with a glance shot at Farouk.
"What do you-"
"Me… a whole me." Farouk swiftly stood up, pointed hard at himself. "After all the rubbish, you think I'll listen to you."
"Hey, I can explain."
"Go jare… lemme not see you here again." He shook his hands, moving back. "Or rather, I can do that myself, you're pathetic."
"Watch your mouth." Gloria's voice cried as she approached him. "What you were about to do was extremely annoying."
"And so?" Farouk's brows raised as he frowned. "You haven't done worse… humiliating me with Stella in the past."
"The past Farouk. The passsstt." The girl stressed, heaving with waving hands. "Do you think we are gonna be kids forever?"
"Well, you're annoying." Farouk's body calmed, his tone almost like Gloria's. "What do you want with me now?"
"I love your mom and your brother and all I want is you but you can't even love yourself."
"Before all this love problem started, you were foolish while I was playing games and now you wanna come with your rubbish." He chuckled, eyes closed, pointing to Gloria. "Now what do want-?"
"I want you to grow up." She fisted, tears in her eyes a little. "I always had a crush on you but honestly, you've been slipping… I hate you!"
Silence filled the place. That quiet, as if pain coated it. Farouk just focused his eyes on the lady. Is this what it was always like?
Gloria sniffed, shaking her head with arms on her lap, opposite him who stood. "I'm sorry, I'm just very sad right now and all I wanna do is-."
"Stop." Farouk spoke, raising his arm as he sat by her left. "I get what is going on, but why were you such a jerk?"
"Because I was alone." Gloria's tone lowered. "And I'm also scared that Segun is a horrible friend who might actually hurt me if I'm not careful with him now."
Farouk squinted, as if pondering as they held hands.
"Farouk." Gloria whispered audibly. "I think it's time you helped me stop him before he black mails me… Please."
Now his brows raised slowly. This is a pretty big one, huh?
He then turned Gloria's face to his.
"Just tell me then," he said, his voice low. Her silence stretched. The truth waited, heavy in the shadows
THANKS.
Thank you so much for going this far in the book. This was originally planned to be a romance book, but as a fantasy guy and a Minecraft nerd, I decided to take this bad boy for some upgrades and from the looks of it, I hope you see this unfolding massively.
Farouk was inspired by life actually, pretty much someone I used to be a few years ago and the rest of the characters will be showing to have some really crazy stuff going on which could hint a massive break-throughs through development from many angles.
Also, I'll be creating hand-drawn art for key moments in this franchise, so buckle up! With time, a future of high-end Minecraft lore will be on the way with novels and the likes.
Chao.