TANGLED

CHAPTER ONE

There is always something about music that has this supernatural power that can take one into a totally different world.

To some, music is a healer, a soothing feeling to the soul.

To others, it’s purely a form of entertainment.

I feel like I fall into the others category.

Music entertains me like nothing I can describe, every time I’m listening to music, I feel like I can conquer the world.

And you haven’t seen me sing in the bathroom, I’m a performer.

But that’s where my singing talent stops, in the bathroom, because I’m sure no one would want to listen to me sing when the music is turned off.

I’m in my room enjoying the beats of the music and I can’t help myself but move to the beats of the sound when I hear my name being called.

“Olivia!”

The person is so loud that I feel like they are going to break my eardrums.

I tone down the music volume and give her a death glare.

That was so unnecessary.

“What.”

She is holding on a very straight face.

“Keep giving me that look, but when your mom walks in on this noise, you’ll be dead.” She says and I chuckle with an eye roll.

She is kind of right though.

My friend Rachel is always right about almost everything, I envy her at times for being so different from me but our indifferences are what makes us friends, and yea, she is so right, if my mom can hear the music and is on her way upstairs to my room, then I'm in trouble, but well, who cares?

She won’t say to me something she hasn’t told me before.

"This is my room I can do whatever I want," I tell her, and I can see her give me that judgy look.

“Anyway, here is my entry letter to the University, I’m so excited, I just can't wait for my first day on campus."

For a moment there I feel this slight pinch on my chest and I cuss at myself for having that feeling.

She is my best friend; I can’t afford to feel jealous of her when it’s clear she has worked so hard to get there given her background.

I force a smile.

“I’m happy for you,” I tell her and tone up the music.

I don’t like the feeling I’m having, so it’s better if I had a distraction.

“What about you?”

I shrug my shoulders.

I know whatever I’m going to tell her is just a lie, but I just don’t want to feel like m the only one that’s being left out.

All of my friends have received call letters, some have already joined and Rachel is the last one of my friends to join.

I would hate for her to know that I probably won’t be joining college like them, and as much as deep in my heart I could care less because school hasn’t ever been that much of a basic need to me I want to fit in with them.

“I'm working on going to USIU or probably the states.”

That is a pure lie because I remember bringing up that talk to my mom and she said I was a spoilt little brat that doesn’t deserve that kind of opportunity.

“Wow, I’m so happy for you, USIU is the most expensive University you know, it will fit your class.”

She says and I force a smile.

My parents can afford college.

Those are some of the privileges I get for being the governor’s daughter.

All my dad has to do is lie to the public and give them fake promises in some sort of agenda and then do twenty-five percent or even less of what they promised and keep the rest of the money.

Then people like us, we get to enjoy the rest of the money.

An advantage of being a politician’s family member. Especially if it’s one from my part of the continent where the family first rule applies a lot.

But I just wish I could get the opportunity to study abroad like my twin brother Oliver.

Who just happens to be the lucky ones in the family, the most loved one, the favorite child.

But I guess it’s because he is so different from me.

We might be twins, identical ones for that matter, but looks are the only thing we have in common.

Oliver is the introverted type, never gets into a conversation unless when necessary, he is the brightest when it comes to books, a bookworm, he is very hardworking never has friends, as far as I can remember I'm the only person he has closest to a friend. I wonder if he has a girlfriend or even if he knows how to get one. For a nineteen-year-old, I always think he is too calm for his age. At times he gets pissed off with my behavior, but I know he loves me so much. He is my family's favorite, especially mom.

Then, there is me, so opposite from him, an extrovert, I hate books, I hate silence, I hate calm people and I love partying and getting drunk like a fish, that's me. I love spending my family's fortune. I know my dad likes me a little, but my mom, well she always sees me as a disappointment, she dislikes me and I'm very sure she would exchange me for ten of my brothers, but I guess the feeling is mutual. That's why my brother is at Colorado State University in the US, and here I am, not sure if I will ever join campus at all.

I can tell that she doesn’t seem pleased that I kind of ignored her great news.

I didn't do it on purpose but I don't think she saw it that way.

This makes me feel bad because she is my friend, I’m supposed to be genuinely happy for her and not think about why she gets the opportunities when I can’t.

"Don’t give me that look girl, you know I'm so excited for you Rachel, I know you don't believe me but you are my friend and I love you so much, your happiness is my happiness."

I tell her and I can see that deep smile she gives me, she is such a pretty girl, so unfortunate that her parents died when she was just ten. She is a strong lady, and the only person apart from my brother who never judges me for who I am nor the things I do.

"I know you are, and I love you too."

I love how she softens so fast, she is not one to get mad that quick.

If she was, then we wouldn't be friends, I'm sure I would have said something off by now and she would have stopped being my friend.

Just then we hear a knock on the door, and I already know who it is, my mom, I knew it wouldn’t take long for her to come, but I'm not going to unlock the door.

I’m not in the mood to listen to her yelling at me.

At least not at this time of the day. She always makes my life in this house hell, just because it is her house, I can't play loud music, given it's the middle of the day, and my room is the farthest end of the hallway, it doesn't bother a lot of people.

The first knock, I ignore her.

Second knock, still no response.

I'm hoping she will give up and leave, but I should know better, her job is to frustrate me.

The third one and I’m holding back a burst of laughter.

Wait for it

And…

"Olivia I'm opening this door with my spare key if you don't open it right this minute!"

There, she said it, she always gives me that punch line when she knocks three times and I don't open it. I burst out laughing and rush to unlock it. All Rachel does is shake her head in disbelief and smile.

"Hi, mom," I say with a wide grin plastered on my lips.

I know it's sarcastic because at this moment she is very angry at me, but I never let her anger get to me.

"So you want to blow the roof with all this music? Can't you just lower the volume? No one is interested in listening to your disturbing music."

Okay, the music I listen to is not disturbing; it’s just a unique genre.

Her eyes always turn bloodshot when she is angry. It always makes me smile.

The woman of the hour; my mom, Mrs. Martina Ndumi, was also born in a rich family. Her late dad was a minister so she is no different from me, just that she is more civilized than me. She is a beautiful woman, although age is catching up with her, she always gives it that 'I'm still young' treatment. I must admit my mom knows how to apply makeup more than I will ever know and I really love the trick it does to her face.

"I'm so mad at you right now Olivia so don't you dare smile at me!"

I can tell she is, but I just can’t wipe off the grin on my face.

Oh, how I love this crazy woman.

"And why in the hell are you blocking the doorway? Who is in your room?" She cussed; I never thought she would do that.

Remember, she is so civilized.

She pushes me, I stumble almost falling down. I smile at her disappointment when she sees it’s Rachel. I know she expected to see a young naked man covered in my bedding or something like that.

"Hi, Mrs. Ndumi," Rachel says.

"Hello Rachel, I didn't see you come in, now could you please reduce the volume and teach your friend here some manners."

I shake my head in disbelief, so mature of my mom to tell her that.

As Rachel is toning down the volume, my mom leaves angrily banging the door behind her.

Again, really mature of her.

What follows is a burst of laughter from the two of us.

"I should be leaving; I have to pick up Ruby from the daycare in a few," Rachel says checking her wristwatch.

"I'll drop you off." I quickly offer as I grab a jacket and my car keys.

I would love to see that little girl.

The drive to the daycare isn't that long, because we get there in approximately ten minutes' time.

My heart is racing and I’m gripping the steering wheel a little too tight as I watch Rachel unbuckle her seatbelt and unlock the door.

I don’t know why I’m suddenly feeling so nervous.

Maybe offering to drive her here was a bad idea.

"You coming?" She asks and I quickly shake my head.

I don't want any attachments with kids.

"No I think I'll leave, I have somewhere to go." I wait for her to step out before I quickly start the car and turn the wheel, I can't help but see from my side mirror how lovely she is with her daughter.

Oh how sweet,

I can hear my subconscious tell me. I feel the lump on my throat rise, it's almost choking me, I have to leave this place immediately, I drive for a few minutes to an unknown location and suddenly pack on the sidewalk and break down. I never like this version of me, the weak one, but I just can't stop myself from crying.

I knew this moment would come, and I hate myself for being this weak.

I know there is only one way I can feel better.

He will probably be excited when I call him, but I just want to stop this stupid feeling.

So I call him and it’s obvious from the way he sounds excited that he had been waiting for this call for a very long time.

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