CHAPTER 3

MIRABEL

"She's your sister? How's that possible? She's a loser!" Tania described, refusing to believe I was Derek's sister as he claimed.

She pointed at me, trying to make herself look sweet before Derek.

"Look, there's no need to protect her. She's not worth it. I'm just like you, Derek. This loser here isn't in our class."

"Where you deaf when I said she was my sister? " Derek questioned, pulling me behind while standing before Tania and her friends.

They stepped back in fear, staring at Derek, who stood his ground, defending me.

"Don't make me repeat myself. If I ever see you girls touching or bullying her, I'll make you regret it. Remember this," He threatened them.

I could see fear in Tania and her friend's eyes after hearing Derek's threat. They dropped their gaze on me, unable to speak.

I stood behind Derek, noticing how eyes around the school premises fell on us.

I didn't know if I should feel happy about Derek protecting me or feel the other way around.

"Be warned. Let's go," Derek said, taking hold of my hand before Tania and her friends.

I stared at him as he pulled me along from my bully's presence.

I followed him from behind, taking one more look at Tania and her girls. They were still in shock while watching me leave with Derek.

Others stared at us, muttering and gossiping among themselves about what just happened.

"Did he just call her his sister?"

"That's impossible. I thought Derek Hallman was the only son of his father?"

They all gossiped, unable to accept that Derek and I were siblings now.

I didn't care about them but about the one who was taking me along with him.

"I thought he didn't want to have anything to do with me? I guess he cares, " I smiled, feeling my heart flushing at this.

Derek took me away from the eyes of others and into the school building.

I wasn't paying attention to where he was taking me to, until I felt him grab me by the arm.

That got me lifting my eyes at once, only to be swayed to the corner with my back hitting the wall.

I gasped in fear, lifting my eyes at Derek. His gaze fell on me, revealing the intense anger in him.

But what did I do?

"What did you think you were doing back there, huh?" He tightened his grip on my arms.

I groaned on feeling the pain, calling out his name, " Derek."

"I know what you were doing!" He pushed me against the wall roughly.

"You purposely allowed them to attack you so I'd intervene."

"But that's not what I was..."

"Shut it!" He sparked at me, causing me to shiver in fear, lowering my head down.

I wanted to tell him what he was thinking wasn't actually true, but Derek wasn't ready to listen to my words.

He went all rude on me, making me weak at his presence.

"Learn how to defend yourself because the next time this repeats itself, I won't help you, understood? " He pushed me once again, finally letting go of me.

I had my arms wrapping my body, with tears welling in my eyes while nodding at his words.

I lifted my eyes to look at him and met his creepy gaze on me. I stepped back, as he walked away from my point.

At this moment, I saw my entire dreams flashing before my eyes.

My crush, the one I love and gave my whole self to, is going to be my step brother, and he doesn't even like me.

"Why is my life like this?" My eyes filled with tears as I leaned against the wall, shedding tears.

"I'll do as you want, Derek. I'll stay away from you. I won't trouble you," I promised, wrapping my arms tightly with pains in my heart.

.

The classes went well like always. But the only uncomfortable feeling I was having was with the students around me.

They didn't give me my personal space but had their eyes falling on me every single minute.

And I knew why.

They couldn't take Derek's words out of their head. They kept on gossiping and trying to get me to talk to them.

These are the same people that didn't see me as somebody. But after hearing what Derek said while defending me from Tania, they all wanted to be with me.

But I had no strength for them. I just ignored their presence, trying my best to be alone and heal my aching heart.

Derek's action had broken me, that all I could think of was my home and my mother's warm embrace.

"I can't wait for school to close," I wished, staying alone in the corner of the class.

As soon as the school came to a close, I immediately rushed out of my class, avoiding other students from nearing me.

"Hey, Mirabel. How are you?"

"Wanna hang out with us?"

"How about we hang out sometime?"

They all wanted to get nearer to me, yet I didn't give them that chance.

Once I managed to get away from them...

"Hi, sugar!" I heard a familiar voice that sparked fear in my heart.

That got me freezing at my spot to see Tania and her friends standing in my front with a smirk across their faces.

"Oh God! What does she want? Is she here to exact her revenge?" I panicked.

But to my greatest surprise...

"My sweet friend! Where have you been?"

"What?" I was shocked to hear that from her.

She came closer to me, wrapping her arms around my shoulder. Her friends came close as well, calling me sweet names.

This only planted more fear in my heart, making me suspicious of Tania's approach.

And I was right.

"So Mirabel, you are Derek's sister and you didn't bother to tell us?" Tania grinned at me, caressing my cheek.

"We are a fan of Derek. A family of his is our friend. Isn't that right girls? "

"You got that right, Tania."

They giggled.

I tried to make an excuse to get away from them, but Tania wouldn't let go.

She held me back, saying, " Not so fast, sweet cake. You are going to do something for me."

"What's that?" I asked.

"How about a proposal?" She smirked at me.

This got me feeling scared of Tania, asking what she wanted.

She and her friends giggled, before Tania responded.

"It's simple, Mirabel." She caressed my cheek.

"If you can get your sweet brother to be my boyfriend, I'll make you a member of my team. I know you really want to be with me. This is your opportunity, Mirabel."

What? Make Derek her boyfriend?