4 Who Is She?

Tiara slowly pushed the door opened and glided in with Andrew running past her into the room.

"No running Andrew." she mumbled as she crept towards her bed and slammed herself on it with a sigh.

"I feel so worn out." she added turning her head to where Andrew was, messing around with Tyra's stuff. She was about to say something to Andrew when the door cracked open with Tyra trolling in.

"No you don't Andrew.." she exclaimed, snatching the headphone from him.

"They're mine, papa gave them to me." she added.

"I want to play with them too." shouted Andrew, reaching for it.

"Hey..hey..guys, knock it off." uttered Tiara, stepping in between them.

"Andrew, I thought papa gave you one too. Where is it?" she queried.

"In my room.." he dully replied, slightly looking down at his feet."

"I think you should go for yours Andrew." said Tiara.

"But I..."

"No buts.., Andrew. Moreover, it's late. You should get to your room now. It's already past bed time." she added calmly.

"Okay Tiara, goodnight." he mumbled dully and trotted to the door, slightly hitting Tyra with his shoulder.

"Hey...." she exclaimed, glaring at him as he reached for the door.

He swiftly turned to Tyra's gaze and stuck out his tongue, teasingly at her as he stood at the entrance of the door half opened.

Tyra by now was glaring furiously at him. Tiara looked on and chuckled slightly.

"Goodnight Andrew..." she cried as he slowly closed the door behind.

"I'm so going to get him back." mumbled Tyra as she bent over to her stuff, packing them into the box.

"So when are you two going to get along well with each other without a quarrel?

"He is so annoying. He always like to get on my nerves." replied Tyra as she pushed the box under her bed.

"I promise if we should leave just you two in this house, you will totally burn down the whole place before we return." muttered Tiara sarcastically as she went over to her bag and took out her night wear.

"Whatever, I'm off to bed." she mumbled and climbed onto her bed.

"Goodnight, Tiara." she added as she covered herself up with her blanket.

"Goodnight, dear." she strolled out of the door to the washroom.

Some minutes later, Tiara returned to her room to see Tyra fast asleep. She glanced at her for a while and went over to her study desk. She slowly pulled the chair and sat down with sigh.

"What a hectic day." she mumbled as she opened her laptop. She glanced at the icons on her desktop and clicked on her assignment folder. Just then, her phone rang. She swiftly glanced at it, reaching for the phone.

"So.., weren't you going to call?" queried Fabulous on the line as soon as Tiara picked up.

"So sorry Fabulous, Andrew and Tyra were a handful that I had to deal with." she replied.

"Okay, okay, how are they anyway?"

"Hmm...as usual, being at each others throat." she mumbled as she took a quick glance at Tyra.

"So...., are you done with the assignments? It's due for submission tomorrow. I don't want Mr. Nat bugging me around. He can really be stressful, you know."

"Yeah right, I was about to work on it when you called."

"Oh okay. Then...I will leave you to it. I was just calling to check if you had already gotten home."

"Okay Fabulous, see you tomorrow."

"Sure dear but don't stress yourself too much, okay? I don't to have you sleeping in class."

"Sure, Goodnight." she responded and hanged up. She tossed the phone aside on went back to her assignment.

*************

RICHARDSON MANSION

Andy slowly pulled up his car infront of the mansion.

"Where did she go?" he mumbled, puzzled.

"Does she live anyway around that area? I need to find her." he added as he stared at Tiara's pass card.

He was about to get down from his car when Kalisa rushed towards him.

"Brother...." she exclaimed.

"Kalisa? Why are you still up?" he queried closing the door behind him.

"Waiting for you of course." she muttered, hanging onto her brother's arm.

"But it's so late." he uttered, glancing at his watch.

"It's past 10:30pm now."

"I know brother but I really wanted to talk to you. it's really urgent."

"Why, can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"Because I wouldn't get the chance to. Daddy said you'll have an early meeting with the board of investors tomorrow. It will be just like today, all busied up." she mumbled, grumpily.

"Sorry dear, let's get in first. It's late."

"Okay..." she mumbled as they both glided into the house.

"Let's do this Kalisa, go to your room first. I will go and get changed then join you. Okay?"

"Okay.." she muttered with a nod and trod to her room. Andy also went to his room and drop his suitcase beside his bed. He quickly got changed and dashed off to Kalisa's room.

"Can I come in?" queried, Andy at the door.

"Sure..." she replied.

Andy pushed the door opened and meet Kalisa sitting on her bed, quite anxious. He sauntered over to bed and slowly sat beside her.

"I'm here now Kalisa, so tell me. What's eating you up? You look kind of worried." he questioned, wrapping a hand around her shoulder.

"Well..." she mumbled

"Can you talk to mum and dad for me?" she queried, glancing at her brother.

"Talk...? About what?"

"About me moving outside the country to further my studies. I don't want to be so far from you guys. It's sounds kind of lonely." she uttered, clinging on his brother's arms.

"But they are doing that for your best, Kalisa." he muttered as he glanced down at her.

"But I don't want it Andy. I feel kind of safe and secured around you guys." she commented.

Andy stared at her thoughtfully for a while and sighed.

"Okay, I will try and talk to them but I'm not promising anything yet."

"Thank so much brother." she added gleefully.

Andy looked on and chuckled, slightly shaking his head.

"So was that why you were looking all anxious and grumpy?"

"Yes." she mumbled sheepishly with a smile.

"Okay... then, I will leave to my room now. I have to catch some sleep. I have a board meeting tomorrow." he uttered as he sprang up from the bed.

"Goodnight brother."

"Goodnight little sis..." he added as he peeked her forehead and trotted to the door.

"I'm turning off the light." he cried switching off the light as he slowly closed the door behind him.

He trod over to his room and slammed himself on the bed, exhausted. He laid thoughtfully with his back on the bed, starring at the ceiling as flash back of Tiara's beautiful smile and eyes stuck him. He suddenly sat up on the bed and shook his head.

"What am I thinking?" he mumbled.

Tiara was still working on the assignments when she felt her eyes heavy with sleep. She gently pushed the laptop back and laid her head on the table for some nap but ended up falling into deep sleep.

***********

It's was a bright Monday morning, Tiara was still asleep when she heard a heavy sound in her sleep. She jolted up, startled only to see Tyra standing on a table, trying to bring down a box containing her books from the shelves over her bed.

"What are you doing Tyra?" she queried, puzzled.

"I...trying...to...get...this...box down." she mumbled with a sigh as she finally dropped the heavy box on the floor.

"But wait sis.., did you sleep like that the whole night?" she queried quizzically.

"Yes Tyra, I had to get this assignments done. I'll be submitting them today." she muttered with a yawn as she did a final check on her assignment and closed the laptop. Tyra swiftly glanced at her for a brief seconds then back to her box of books.

"What about you? What are you doing with that box?"

"Miss Claudia gave us a group work which we will be working on today so I'm looking for some...." she uttered when suddenly their door flew opened with their mother's voice sounding through.

"Girls..., get moving already else you'll be late." she cried, as she stood at the door.

"Okay mum..., we'll head out soon." answered Tiara.

"Okay.., hurry out." she mumbled and glided off, closing the door behind her. Tiara got up from her seat and dashed off to the washroom whiles Tyra got dressed. Soon, they were all done and ready for school. All the three kids of the Gardener family trotted outside their rooms to meet their dad already at the dinning table.

"Good morning Papa." they uttered in unison as they took their seat around the table.

"Good morning kids..., how was your night?"

"Great dad.." they replied as they reached for their sliced bread with cheese. Just then, their mother returned from the kitchen with their glasses of milk.

"Here you are kids.." she mumbled as she dropped the tray on the table.

"Thank you mum..." they answered

"Honey..., have you heard from the Drakes family?" questioned Mrs. Eugenia.

"Yes dear..."

"So what did they say? It's been a week now since we completed the work on their farm."

"Well.., they asked me to come over to their house today. So I'll leave after the meal."

"Okay..,that's good to hear."

After some few minutes, they were done with their breakfast. Tyra helped her mother sent the things to the kitchen and returned to pick her bag from the chair.

"Can we go now Tyra?" queried Tiara as she stood up from her seat.

"Yes.." she nodded, picking up the bag.

"Goodbye Papa." she added as she peeked her father on the cheeks.

"Goodbye sweetheart but no fighting with Andrew on the way. Don't give Tiara a tough time okay?"

"Okay...Papa but it's him who always starts it." she mumbled as she dashed to the door.

"I know dear but don't let his actions get to you. He is your kid brother." he cried after her.

"Okay Papa.." she answered back, her voice fading away.

"See you later Papa..." uttered Tiara as she hugged her dad.

"Okay dear, take care of your siblings. I know they can be troublesome at times."

"Don't worry Papa, I got this." she replied as she slugged to the door with Andrew following after.

"And you Andrew..., don't trouble Tyra on the way to school okay..?" he called after them.

"Okay Papa..." he replied with a grin as he pulled up the door opened.

"We're leaving now mum.." she shouted to her mother who was by then in the kitchen.

"Okay dear, help me take care of your siblings." she exclaimed.

"Okay mum..." she answered and rushed out of the door to meet Fabulous already waiting for her.

"Hi....superstar." uttered Fabulous with a smile as Tiara and her siblings neared her.

"Hi Fabulous."

"Were you able to complete the assignments?" she asked.

"Yes...it's here." she answered, showing her the pen drive.

"But we first need to send Tyra and Andrew to their bus stop before heading to ours."

"Okay.., no problem. Let's get going." she muttered as she wrapped a hand over Andrew's shoulder and they matched off, chit chatting.

*************

RICHARDSON MANSION

Andy quickly got dressed and rushed out to the hall.

"I'm heading out first mum.." he uttered to his mother who was on a call with a friend.

"Hold on Mrs. Laura." she mumbled to her friend on the phone as she turned her attention to her son.

"But what about your driver? Aren't you going with him today?"

"No mum.., I have something to do before going to the office."

"What about the board meeting?"

"It's around 8am mum.., I will get there before time." he added.

"Okay son.., drive safe."

"Okay mum.., anyway, where is dad and Kalisa?"

"Your father is in his study room whiles Kalisa had already left for school."

"Talking about school..." he mumbled thoughtfully.

"I think I will talk to you about that later." he added and dashed off to his car and sped off.

After few minutes of walking, Fabulous and Tiara escorted Andrew and Tyra to their bus stand.

"See you guys after school."

"Okay..Tiara.." they both uttered in unison.

"You guys should behave well with each other, Okay? I don't want to get any complaints about you guys from your teachers."

"Okay.." they nodded.

"And you Andrew, don't get on Tyra's nerves, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good, I'm leaving now. Take care." she added and dashed off with her friend to their bus stand.

It was around 7am when Andy got to the street where he saw Tiara last time. He found a spot and packed his car. He got down and crossed the street to the other side.

"Good morning sir." he uttered to a man in his middle age selling grilled meat on a stand.

"Good morning young man. How much do you want?" he questioned.

"No, no sir. I'm just looking for a young lady." he uttered, describing Tiara to the man.

"Sorry young man but I don't know anyone like that." he mumbled indifferently.

"Okay..,thank you sir." he uttered as he turned away in disappointment, ruffling his hair.

Tiara and Fabulous were waiting for the bus when a familiar figure looking stressed from a far distance caught her attention.

"Is that not him..? I have to get back my card" she mumbled, about to head over to him when the bus pulled up.

"Hey...Tiara, the bus is here. Where are you going?" uttered Fabulous.

"I...." she muttered as she glanced at Fabulous then back to him.

"We're getting late Tiara, we still have an assignment to print out. Who are you looking for?" she queried as she stood at the entrance of the bus.

"Young lady, are you going?" exclaimed the driver.

"Tiara....." shouted Fabulous.

"Okay...,Okay..., I'm coming already." she exclaimed as glided back to the bus, swiftly turning to glance back at him.

"I will get that back later." she mumbled, followed Fabulous into the bus and it sped off.