Alchemy could hardly sleep throughout the cold night, she woke up the next morning feeling tired. She picked herself up and looked at the mirror.
Her heart sank as she dialed her mother's number, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mom..."
Her mother's warm voice answered, "Yes, sweetheart, how's everything? Is everything okay?"
Alchemy's words tumbled out, "No, Mom, I think Marvel overheard us talking."
Her mother sounded puzzled, "What conversation, dear?"
Alchemy's cheeks flushed, "When I told you I had a crush on him, the first time I saw him."
Her mother gently reminded her, "But you called later, saying he was rude and arrogant."
Alchemy nodded, even though her mother couldn't see, "Exactly, Mom."
A soft knock interrupted them. "I'll call you back, Mom, someone's here."
Her mother whispered, "Okay, be careful. Love you.
"Come in," Alchemy said, ending the call. Tansy's voice drifted in, "Breakfast in ten minutes."
Alchemy headed to Marvel's room after Tansy left.
She pushed open the door, calling out, "Marvel?" Silence greeted her.
As she turned to leave, a diary on the bed caught her eye. Curiosity got the better of her, she sat down, her fingers tracing the pages.
She read Marvel's scribbled confession, her heart thumping like a bass drum in a nightclub.
The words burned: Marvel's scribbled words echoed in her mind, "Love at first sight? Nah, that's just trash... until Alchemy stormed into my life like a hurricane.
Silly name, maybe, but it's as enchanting as she is. I've been trying to piece myself back together after what happened with Giji, and now this.
How can I let myself fall for someone this fast? It's like I'm begging to get my heart shattered again.
But there's something about her... I can't give in. If she breaks me like Giiji did, I'll be done.
Maybe it's better if I push her away. Treat her cold, make her leave. Self-preservation, right? Problem solved."
She dropped the diary like it was hot coal, tears flooding her eyes. Wiping them away with the back of her hand, she stormed back to her room, slammed the door shut, and locked it like she was sealing a secret. Then she snatched her phone and dialed her bestie, Samantha.
"Sam," she whispered, voice shaky.
"I hope you're not calling because of some boy drama again?", Samantha asked hilariously.
Alchemy's voice cut through, sharp as a remix, "Sam, I need your help now. Everything's messed up."
"Pls don't tell me you cheated on Kwame", Samantha asked.
Alchemy replied, "I didn't cheat on Kwame. I just went to Marvel's room to talk to him and found his diary opened so I read it."
Samantha fired back, "Why did you go to his room though? You're trying to make this dude, understand you don't love him?"
Alchemy snapped, "I was gonna set things straight with him."
Samantha laughed, "Girl, in his room?"
"I know I was wrong, but you gotta listen to this, he actually fell in love with me at first sight", Alchemy responded.
Samantha replied, a lace of anger in her voice, "So what? This guy was so mean to you, forgotten?"
Alchemy, "He was being mean because he wanted to get rid of the feelings he had for me. I kinda understand him,he was heart‑broken."
Samantha, "So what now? You'd break up with Kwame?"
Alchemy, "No! I love Kwame so much I can't just leave him."
Samantha, "Good, so just go ahead and set things straight with Marvel. Please, not in his room!"
The two friends burst out into laughter, the call ended."
Kwame and Alchemy took a walk around the house after having breakfast.
"I want us to tell Marvel about our relationship," Kwame said.
"No, let's wait for sometime," Alchemy said immediately.
"Why no? You wanted this sometime ago, what changed?" Kwame asked, looking confused.
Alchemy sighed, "Nothing changed, Kwams, I just don't want to hurt Marvel."
"I'm tired, I want to be free, I also don't want to hurt him. He's my brother, but all this is hurting me too," Kwame explained.
"I said no!", Alchemy fired.
"You don't have to yell, what has come over you?", Kwame replied.
"I'm sorry", Alchemy apologized but Kwame just walked away.