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👩‍🎓LEONA 👩‍🎓
"And our Valedictorian for this year 2019 goes to.." the emcee paused as he smiled mockingly at us.
He has us, especially me, right where he wants. In between his tight gripping suspense.
My heart hammered furiously against my ribcage as I exchanged looks with my best friend. She smiled nervously at me then her gaze went back to the man at the podium who in no time will be declaring the hero of this year.
It's the best student award. Valedictory, to be precise. At the end of the day, a student with the highest rank of the entire graduating class will leave here with a price and bragging rights.
Rhoda and I are anxious because we happen to just be one of the nerds who worked hard just to acquire the title.
For everything, I need it mostly for the money and the juicy offer that comes with it but for my friend, she seems to have the silver spoon already glistening in her mouth so surely, it's for the bragging rights. Whatever reason we both have, it's certainly going to make us happy.
Clearly, It was the day of graduation, and I'm just as excited as everyone here. After years of schooling, I can finally say bye to college.
Though I have come out with a first-class degree, my family and I will be done a great favor if my name should be called as it's going to open many possibilities for us. It will go a long way.
For someone who comes from a lower-class family, I surely need this greatly. After I lost my mom, my dad remarried and had three more children who are all girls with Tasha.
I'm Leona Grande, the second child and the only daughter my mom gave birth to before passing on. My dad got remarried to Tasha and they had three kids, all girls. I have a brother, Raymond who has made it out of high school only.
My dad is a fashion designer who manages a small shop which wasn't doing too well as my education ate deep into it.
Having a jobless stepmom made it worse because the burden was on dad alone which as a result, my step-siblings had to drop out of middle school.
As if that wasn't enough, my stepmom, Tasha, was quite a headache and her three girls are also something else. Especially the eldest who's called Elsie.
Now here's the deal, I have to shoulder my family's financial burdens once I am out of college since the family's greater wealth got invested into my education. It's now time to pay back every single dime and more.
I'd have to get a good job, send my siblings back to school, and take care of the family. This is why this award is very important to me because it comes with a job and a fixed salary. Which means I won't have to go searching for a job once I'm done. I've worked and sacrificed a lot for four years and almost all my life.
Only if my elder had agreed to this but he hates to be controlled. Not that I like it but I was my dad's only option.
At the early stage of sixteen, I was out of high school and now at the age of twenty, I made it out of college. My life was simple yet intense.
I was really serious with my books, they had me indoors most of the time. I earned the nerd title very easily way back in high school only that I didn't put on huge glasses.
I wanted to keep a low profile but my grades kept me popular.
Since my dad didn't make me work part-time, I had to really make it worth it. Friends will be a distraction so I entertained none until I met Rhoda at NYU.
Being the daughter of a wealthy family, I was shocked that she chose to befriend a church mouse like me.
I was not the normal teenage girl who chats and gossip about boys goes to parties and has sex. I lived my life differently, mentally, psychologically, physically, and emotionally.
My red platinum hair was overgrown because I had no time to attend to it and even if I had the time, there was no money for that. The length of my hair is almost below my butt anytime I lose it. Other than that, it was always wrapped on my head.
I had no time to apply makeup or wear beautiful clothes. I was always cladded in faded denim trousers and hoodies.
Well, let's say all the few clothes I have are all faded out of excess use. It didn't bother me because I had nowhere to go or someone to impress.
I'm under the no-boyfriend policy and my dad always makes sure that I wasn't seen around the opposite sex even now that I am 20. He's very protective over me.
Being a future breadwinner or should I say, caretaker or heir? Whichever way, it wasn't an easy task.
The way I lived my life should make it difficult for us to get along but Rhoda and I blended perfectly.
I looked around and admired the beautiful academic gowns we were wearing.
I can't wait to throw my cap out into the air with Rhoda. We have...
"As you are all aware, the student with the highest grades in all the subjects is the one considered as a Valedictorian and that is none other but our very own miss Leona Grande. She deserves.."
My heart leaped into the pit of my stomach just hearing my name. I can't breathe. I tried to process what I heard. But my heart was beating loudly and the noise from the students was also loud. I can't tell which one is louder.
I fan my face with my hand.
The whole graduate cheered and chanted my name wildly. I was overwhelmed. Now if I didn't hear the emcee correctly, the chanting of my mates cleared the doubts.
Rhoda's smile and the crushing of her body against mine as she screamed congratulations registered it in my mind.
My eyes darted to the gold medal and the sight teared up.
Oh my God! I made it! I made it! I made it! I chanted in my head.
The cheering was so loud that I can imagine my father doing a victory dance back home, my stepmom's relief smile, her children's happy faces, and my brother's proud smile.
I jumped up happily and muttered a YES! Meanwhile, I couldn't stop my tears.
With this award, I don't need to go searching for work because the government is gonna employ me instantly.
"Kindly come forward, Miss Grande." The emcee called.
I glance at Rhoda as if to ask for permission. She urged me on by pushing me off towards the podium. I took in deep breaths before beginning to walk towards the big stage but suddenly, everything began to spin around me and I felt oddly dizzy.
I tried to keep my eyes open as I walked and even though it was difficult, I somehow managed to get closer to the stage.
Finally, up there, I didn't know what happened and everything suddenly went blank. I felt my knees go weak beneath me and slowly let loose.
The gasps of my lectures and my colleagues were the last thing I heard as I succumbed to the pain from my fall and eventually darkness.
_________________________________ RHODAHearing Leona's name being called out as the best student, I wasn't surprised as I had expected it. What I didn't expect was her sudden fall when she got on the stage. The college authorities called for the first aid team and she got rushed to the school's clinic."I guess our new Valedictorian is overexcited and must've passed out due to that." The chancellor began.It better be the reason. She can't fall sick all of a sudden.
______________________________ ~RHODA~"Then how's this possible! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't done the test myself." I told her."Trust me, Rhoda, I never had sex! I didn't do anything." She wailed."I trust you completely Leo, in fact, more than myself but you know one can never get pregnant without having sex. I mean is not like Jesus is visiting the world again through you!" I reason with her."Shut up already! You're only making this worse." She chided. "I'm sure there's a mix-up somewhere other than that, how can I be pregnant?.""Alright but I think we should do a virginity test to prove that you still are.""Does that mean you don't believe what I am saying?" She sounds disappointed."Not that. I trust you. This is going to prove your innocence and th
_________________________________ ~ LEONA~"We can't expect everyone to understand us, little sis."He's right but this pain is unbearable."Have you seen Dad? Is he okay?" I asked."Yes, he's okay. You don't need to worry." He replied and paused for a minute." How's this possible, Leona? I know you wouldn't go and do something that will hurt our family so what happened?""I'm just as clueless, Ray. Although everything seems to be working against me now, I am certain about one thing.""Which is?" His brows raised curiously."I'm not pregnant and I'll prove it tomorrow.""Great! I'm glad there's a way. Come let's go home.""Which home?" Tasha has warned me not to go because my dad won't be happy."Our h
~LEONA~I dragged it till it reached my knees before I peeped."OMG!" There's actually blood.Oh Lord, I'm not pregnant. I just knew it."Ray..." I almost screamed but covered my mouth hastily.I got out of the washroom and shuffled through my bag and took a pad out.I went to the bathroom and had a quick bath and after that, I wore the pad happily.I once heard a group of girls discussing their fear anytime they have sex and their period delays.And when they think their period will never come but it finally appears, their happiness always knows no bounds. I didn't understand them then but now I do even though my circumstance is different from theirs.My happiness was inexplicable. I didn't plan on combing my hair but I suddenly loses it from its bondage.
~LEONA~ "Sister Leo, please help me with my assignment." Vera walked into my home office with her workbook. "I'm busy Vee. We'll do that later." I replied without taking my focus off my computer. "No no no!" She protested stubbornly. I sighed. "Okay fine. I will have a look." I took the book and looked through it. "This is simple, Vee." I looked up at the little blonde. "Here, I'll teach you." It was just simple algebra so I took some time and taught her. "Wow Leo, you teach so perfectly more than our teacher. Why didn't you become a teacher too?" She grinned at me happily. "But I'm already a teacher," I replied smilingly, looking at the youngest child among us. I love them all but I love her more. "Wow? Really? Where do you teach? And who do you teach?" She asked innocently. I chuckled. "I teach at home. Meaning, I'm your personal teach
LeonaThe security guards released me after the doctor had left and I just stood in the corridor as people stared at me strangely as if I was a new creature.Nevertheless, I waited. Waited to see the doctor again when he came out.His eyes met me when he came out of the ward he had disappeared to earlier. When he saw me, he motioned for me to follow him.Thank goodness.I followed him with hope as we entered the office."How can I help you ?" He sat down, staring at me."I'm pregnant," I stated.He raised a furrowed brow with a look that says. 'How's that my problem?'Nevertheless, he nodded for me to continue."I'm pregnant but I don't know who the father of my baby is," I added.He straightened up in the chair as if by interest but he looked bored."Were you raped? If you were raped, then you should be at the police station and not here." He said with a frown."I wasn't r
~LEONA~ "Alright, if you say so. Let's go home so that I can treat your wound." "Home? I do not have a home, Raymond." "Stop spewing nonsense and let's go." He ordered. "No Ray. Mom sent me packing." I said silently. "What? How dare she." "Let it be Raymond and don't worry about me. I'll be just fine." "Come, I'll take you somewhere else if you don't want to go back home. You'll be fine there." "Where's that?" "You'll live with me." Yeah, Raymond doesn't live with us. He always comes to visit but doesn't sleep over but I still don't know where he has been staying. I nodded. "If it won't bother you." "Are you serious?" "I just don't want to be some sort of burden." "Can you listen to yourself?" He stared at me quietly. "How can my only sister be a burden on me?" He sounds offended. "I'm sorry." Staying with him will
~DAVE~ "Drive faster, else I'll take charge and you know what that means," I commanded my driver. "I'm sorry sir but it has begun to rain and I can barely see what is in front." Oh, I never knew that it was raining. I didn't notice because of the car's tinted windows. I kept quiet and waited patiently. I checked my time over and over again, hoping that I wouldn't die while I waited. I have a deal to finalize at 4:00 pm and now it's 3:20 pm. I can't afford to lose that deal. After some time, the car stopped moving. "What's wrong?" My eyebrows shot angrily. "There's a lady lying in front of us sir." "Then pass her by." If she's lying there, then how's that my problem? Those stupid girls will never learn. They go out and drink unnecessarily. "It's a one-way road sir. I can't pass anywhere." "Then run her over. Who knows, she must be dea