Richie Diamonds
There was numbness and silence,
Nothing was heard at all,
And I wondered why this particular hallway was so quiet.
"What the hell is that??
What kind of school is Alberto asking me to sign into???"
"A school industry is meant to be environmentally friendly, not as scary as this."
"Am I even in the right place? I better call Alberto (my manager)."
"Hi, buddy!" His voice came through.
"What's the name of the school industry again?" I asked with a smirk, climbing down the hallway stairs.
"Richie, don't panic.
The school's name is Daniels Royalties, and it's owned by Emily Daniels."
Alberto replied over the phone.
"Okay, who's Emily Daniels?"
I asked, feeling a little confused.
"You ask too many questions!"
Alberto chuckled.
"Just tell me who Emily Daniels is," I pressed.
"Alright, Emily Daniels is a very rich Asian villain... and she owns Daniels Royalties."
Alberto shrieked.
"Is that all?"
I asked.
"Nope!"
He replied.
"She has only one daughter in Daniels Royalties. That daughter is wicked and can be really nasty at times...
I've also heard that Mhesha Daniels (Emily's daughter) was trained under harsh conditions and drugs, which made her even worse than a nightmare."
"Richie, be careful in Daniels Royalties!
Remember why you're here: your script, ENCHANTED!
You didn't come here to study. You came here to find the perfect actress, someone who can play the poorest girl in your script."
"It'll boost our work's reputation and help us beat the competition!"
"Also, Richie, try not to act too arrogantly around people. You never know who'll be someone important tomorrow!"
Alberto ranted into the phone.
"You're not serious!!"
I replied, and hung up.
As I climbed down the stairs, my attention was diverted to the phone in my hand.
Soon, I raised my head and placed my foot on the last golden stair.
Then, I bumped into someone.
No, it was her that ran into me.
She made sure her long hair covered my face.
Her eyes were slanted, and her lips were the color of pure red.
"Pure red!"
I thought, "just what I needed for my script!"
I blinked my lashes as she ran into me, her hands on both my shoulders.
"Please hold me tight!
Hold me tighter!!
Alisha is coming to take me!
I don't want to go again!!!
She's going to tell Natasha to... to..."
She stopped speaking, releasing her grip from my expensive suit.
She backed away, making me realize how tall she was.
"She'll beat me!
She told me not to come outside!!!"
She quickly covered her face and ran past me, heading nowhere in particular.
I turned back, but she was gone.
I turned again, but still no sign of her.
I walked the same direction I saw her pass, but she wasn't there.
Not even a glimpse of her.
I turned back again and bumped into another person entirely.
Her hair was dyed yellow...
"Hi, I'm Mhesha!"
She waved.
I exhaled and walked past her, gently.
"He doesn't even give attention!"
I heard her mutter.
I turned back, gave a half-smile, and kept walking.
"Gosh, he's so cute!"
"He's perfect for a president!"
I overheard her again, still following me.
I got into my car, and she stopped following me, standing by the side of the car.
"Did you meet the admins already?"
One of my guards asked, ignoring Mhesha standing next to my car.
"Does it really matter?"
"I already saw what I wanted!"
I replied.
"Really?
You met her already...
Ah, that was fast."
My guard said, and Mhesha fumed before walking away from my car.
"Should I call Alberto?"
He asked.
"Not yet!"
I shushed him, getting into the car.
"Sir, your seatbelt?"
He bowed.
"Oh, right."
I interjected, fastening my seatbelt.
Minutes turned into hours, and we finally got home.
It was a little late, but I didn't care.
I stepped out and walked past all the maids bowing at the entrance until I reached my mansion.
I quickly scanned the place before rushing upstairs to my room.
"Richie, join us for dinner!"
My foster mom called out.
"I don't want to."
I replied.
"Why?"
Shasha (my foster sister) asked.
"I have a lot to do, and besides, I want to be alone for now!"
I answered.
"Is something wrong?"
Mom asked, concerned.
"I didn't say anything was wrong!"
I winked and headed to my room.
I locked the door and turned off the lights.
Slowly, I walked to the side, turning on a soft silver lamp.
I connected my earbuds to my phone, my notepad and pen resting in my other hand.
I wrote out some lines from the movie script to memorize:
"Like a dream,
I saw you walking around in circles.
At first, I realized it wasn't real, but reality told me it was...
Then, I realized it couldn't come true, even though it felt real...
It just seemed too late...
Too long...
Too scary to even tell you that I love you."
I memorized the first line perfectly and then started on the second, but I became dizzy and fell asleep, my face buried in the notepad.
---
Nanare Nanare
"Mhesha, I didn't do anything!!
I swear I didn't steal your golden bangles!!!
It wasn't me!!"
I begged.
"What's she saying?"
Alisha and Natasha walked into the living room, joined by the other maids.
"What do you expect?"
Mhesha lied.
"No, I'm not denying it!
I swear I didn't take any bangles!!!"
I cried.
"Shut up!!
What do you know?
You say you're not denying it!"
Mhesha laughed hysterically.
"Ha, ha!
She's a village girl; what else would you expect? She doesn't even know what 'denying' means!"
Alisha said.
Mhesha and Natasha laughed even harder.
"That's none of my business.
All I want is my golden bangles! Or else..."
Mhesha shouted, dragging my long hair.
I couldn't even imagine what would happen next.
Mhesha stood up, Natasha brought out something, and sprayed it all around the living room.
"Aaah, ma'am, stop, I'm asthmatic!"
Nanara pleaded, starting to seize.
"Go get my bangles before the count of five!!!"
Mhesha shouted.
It was a lie!
She wasn't looking for any bangles. She just wanted me to go and suffer outside in the rain.
"Why is Mhesha so wicked?"
I mumbled under my breath, unaware she'd heard me.
She slapped me hard across the face and called security to throw me out.
"Mhesha, that's pure wickedness. You should at least look for your bangles properly!"
Seesha entered the room.
"Nanare, get out!"
She said quickly.
"God, I didn't even hear what she said clearly."
"Throw her out!"
She pointed at Gangaa.
"I'll go!"
I replied.
"Sleep outside tonight!"
She added.
"What??!!
Can I join her?"
Nanara asked.
"I don't care!"
Mhesha blurted, as Nanara followed me outside so we could sleep together in the rain.
"Nanare, don't cry!"
She said as we reached the mansion gate.
"I know why Mhesha's like this."
Nanara grumbled.
"Why?"
I asked.
"Because... she's really ugly, that's why!"
Nanara said.
"I thought you'd say something sensible!"
I frowned.
She smiled and hugged me tighter.
"Nanare, if you cry, I'll cry too.
Let's close our eyes and cross our hearts together, and it'll be okay!"
Nanara said.
"Will it ever be okay?"
I asked, feeling confused.