1 The Rosy Beginning

It's been 5 years since they were brutally murdered and taken away from me, no one knows anything about the mystery of their death.

My name is Magic and I have lost everything I don't even know if things would ever be the same again.

You see, I have heard so many stories about love and the regret that fills your heart once you lose the people that mean everything to you.

My parents were brutally murdered in cold blood with their eyes plucked from the socket and I have no clue who decided to make me an orphan, I was just 18.

My father papa Magic always has frowns on his cute face whenever I call him papa Magic. He told me that love could be a curse and a blessing.

He said loving someone is giving that person the right to destroy you but trusting them not to. He told me that one day I would understand because that was how he felt when he met my mother.

As I recall all of these memories, my heart broke because there was reality looking at me with pain. I am on a quest to find who the killers are but then come let's go back to the beginning, the secret that papa Magic and mama Magic left me.

It was a beautiful Monday morning, cold and the sky looked like it was going to rain all day.

I remember looking out the window to the dark cloud with one hand dipped into the pocket of my night robe smiling with satisfaction.

At the pit of my stomach was an untold joy because the rain would be a fine excuse to miss school for the day.

Suddenly I heard a knock on the door, it was my mom looking so beautiful and elegant as the door opened for her to come in.

What are you still doing in your robe she asked surprised as she sprinkled the water on her hands on my face.

Ma' I don't think I will be going to school today because it is going to rain and Dr. Ting warned me during my last check-up not to go into cold weather.

So I think I will pass on this one because I am feeling a little bit feverish today after KD's party last night.

You know how if you are smart you could have the key to your mother's heart any time any day, right?

Well, you are about to find out my secret key to my mother's heart, and guess what, it works every time I deploy it.

Immediately the words left my mouth saying that I wasn't going to school for the day, her face turned red with anger.

You are not staying in this house if you won't go to school she said with her white eyeballs shooting flames from her cold gaze.

Ma, I just told you that I am not feeling good. you should be taking my temperature with the back of your palm as usual. so, why are you angry?

Magic, don't play with me boy because I am not buying the BS you are selling, now get your ass to the bathroom she said.

I called her Mama Magic, Mama Magic, beautiful, sexy Mama Magic with a bright smile on my face.

Don't call me that boy, don't call me that, this is how you fool me and always get your way.

Son, that ain't gonna happen today because you see this mama, she is ready to bring hell on you if you don't get your filthy ass to the bathroom.

While she was still talking, I ran into her hands, hugged and kissed her on the cheek, and said "mama Magic I just want to say I love you".

Her anger turned into smiles like a crying baby the mom appeased with a strawberry flavor ice cream.

Look, son, I love you too but you can't keep missing school like this and it is your last year in high school so you need to have good grades.

I will cut you a deal she said, I will only let you skip school today if you won't skip school for the rest of the week.

I nodded hastily but little did I know I was about to get undiluted off the bath epic scolding.

On turning my head to go to the restroom, where he was papa Magic's volcano gaze hitting me as a lion focused on its prey.

I stood motionless as he rolled his eyes, adjusted his hat, and lit up his cigar before saying anything.

My mom knew what was coming at this point so she hurried to the kitchen leaving me to my fate with dear old dad.

He cleared his throat, broke eye contact with me, put me a bit at ease, and then looked at me again.

Who is paying your tuition fees in this house? I replied it's you papa Magic. He nodded, thank God you know.

I will only say this once and I hope you have your ears wide open and let it sink in because you would be doing yourself a huge favor.

He walked down to me, held me on the shoulders, and asked me to lower my head as he screamed into my ears, get your filthy ass to the bathroom, watch up because I am personally driving you to school.

It was exactly 7 a.m when papa Magic got to my school Army Day High School with the acronym ADHS.

Getting prepared to exit his Mercedes Benz SL 200 he asked me do you have a girlfriend?

What? Papa Magic NO I stuttered, why not he asked with a chilling voice, you are 18 already, right?

Look, I know you need to go now but you and I will pick up this conversation again because I need you to be able to talk to me about anything, do you understand?

I was lost for a minute there but after regaining myself, I gave him the gentle nod of approval while still basking in my world of surprise.

Good, now get your filthy ass off my car (that's his favorite curse word by the way) he said as I reached for the doorknob, opened it, and got down.

As I turned to leave, he lowered the passenger front door class, Magic he called out, go get a girlfriend and stop disgracing me he said before zooming off.

Orange Crease my friend Austin called out with a big laugh on his face while running towards me.

He nicknamed me Orange Crease because in his words I press my trousers like his late uncle Tim George who passed on two years back.

You really need to stop calling me that with your fucked up feminine voice. I need to look for a nickname with which to return the favor don't you think brother?

Don't ever try that Austin said, otherwise, I will beat the living daylights out of you so that Papa Magic would be forced to call the cops on me.

wow, slow down feminine voice, you are getting ahead of yourself. Aren't you forgetting that my punches are faster than yours?

Oh yeah, that's true but guess what I am really working my ass off so I can match that speed you pulled off the other day said Austin.

If you want I can show you how I did it and you still won't be able to match me. I joked resting my hands on his shoulder as we walked down the hallway.

Who are you checking out, Huhn? no one in particular Austin replied. You know that's a lie, right?

I have known you since Junior High and there is no way you are not checking out a girl whenever you turn in between our conversations.

Okay, you got me, I was just checking Zoey out. He held my head and turned it in the direction of Zoey.

She has the right features, smart, beautiful, and heck, she has been the girl in my dreams since Junior High.

Get out of here dude, you're shaping out to be a womanizer, I mean you just broke up with Trish, don't you think you should slow down?

I can't Papi, I am in love with Zoey but she is way out of my league.

Wait, what do you mean out of your league? She is a woman, brother. You have just two outcomes that have simplified the process for you.

So have you told her that you are in love with her or let me guess, you are a secret admirer from a distance?

Look, Papi, I don't even know what to say to her because her beauty has me confused and lost for words, honestly.

Oh really? Come on men I can't believe you are afraid of a girl that's very unlike you.

You said she is smart right? but here is the thing, in my entire life, I have never met anyone smarter than you brother. you got this, okay?

You don't get it, I freeze out whenever I try to shoot my shot and it's been like this even before I went out with Trish.

You secretive bastard, I can't believe you didn't say anything about it this whole time, now I am pissed.

My apologies Papi, just that I didn't want to tell you because I know you would want to help out just like you did with Trish.

So I am now the bad guy for wanting to help you out, is that what you are saying feminine voice?

Well, the last time you did, it cost me my relationship with Trish because I discovered that she was into you and not me.

Holy shit, I didn't know and why didn't you say anything to me about this all this while?

It is because I know you and the fact that you would always do anything to make me happy even when I don't want you going the extra mile.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, but I thought that's what friends do, they stick out their necks for each other.

I had no idea that you felt this way and the fact that you kept it to yourself all this while is making me doubt if you were really my friend.

I talk about everything with you bro, and you have been feeling this way, yet you didn't bother to share it with me, man that's fucked.

I really feel like I don't know you. look I need to get to class because I can't stand you right now otherwise I will punch you in the face.

Come on Papi, I didn't mean it like that, this is the exact reason I didn't talk about it with you Austin said as I stormed off in anger.

Mr. Jake walked into the class, hey Magic, see me once this class is over, I have some good news for you.

The sound of good news brightened my face and before I could recover from the smile Mr. Jake added why do they call you orange crease?

Oh my God, what the hell is wrong with Austin, how could he do this to me, so he told you my nickname is orange crease?

Zoey looked at me, no, I was the one who told Mr. Jake after he asked me why is it that you don't have a girlfriend.

The whole class laughed really hard while Kisha Zoey's best friend taunted me again before whispering underneath her breath "what a stupid nickname".

Oh yeah? I bet it's not as stupid as the wig you are carrying on your coconut head I replied Kisha and the whole class went ablaze in laughter.

You all should make sure to submit your assignment by Friday because that will be used as a continuous assessment.

If anyone fails to submit their assignment, I will personally call your parents and tell them what an unserious student you are and I believe you don't want that, right?

Yes sir, the whole class answered. That will be all for today Mr. Jake said as he dismissed the class.

Hey, Mr. Jake, you said you wanted to see me after this class so what good news were you talking about?

Well, congratulations, your skills in Karate paid off and you have been invited to fight in the Karate competition coming up 3 months from now.

Wow, you mean I got in? thank you, Mr. Jake, you don't know how much I have trained for this.

It's up to you now Magic. I have done my part, so go win that competition for yourself and for ADHS because I believe in you.