17: THE BIRTHMARK

(THE BIRTH MARK SIGN)

"Is this some kind of joke or what?. "She asked.

"Nope it's a surprised. " She heard a familiar voice and she turned back only to see Prof Connor standing in front of her.

"Dad."She called and ran to hug him.

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"Honestly Dad I miss you."Rihanna pouted her lips and Mr Connor smiled.

"I miss you also. "He said and she chuckled.

They were now sitting in the balcony, a bottle of soda could be seen in their hands, they were looking at the stars in the sky.

"Do you know how I felt when I gain admission into star college only for you to tell me that I should act as if I don't know you, c'mon dad you're my father,I still don't see any reason why you don't want the students to know that I'm your daughter. " Rihanna muttered.

"I don't want them to bully you, just like the way they do bully me with their bad mouth, I don't want anyone to speak Ill of you, I can't see you tear up in front of me and I wouldn't be able to do anything, that was why I asked you to pretend that you don't know me. "Prof Connor said.

"And I could have protected myself, you and mom are just the same thing, you don't want me to showcase my craziness to the students which I later did. " Rihanna whispered.

"But your craziness would have landed us in trouble yunno. I could still remember the day Braxton and his friends came late for lecture....

"Hey, told you guys to stop coming late for my classes."Prof Connor shouted at them.

"Shut up old man! Class just began now, or do you expect me to be here, sitting like a dumbest head with all this rat? . "Braxton asked.

Rihanna looked up, she has heard enough of this nonsense, how dare they.

"So we that have been here are we a big fool."Rihanna stood up and asked.

"Mind your business crazy girl. " Braxton yelled at her.

"And I fail to mind my business, coz his business is also mine, have been watching this and I choose to kept quiet but not any longer.. Don't you know that he's old enough to be your father... Mind you. "Rihanna said and eye him.

"Are you perhaps crushing on him?is that why you're Spiltering gibberish? . " Braxton asked and smirked.

**

"If only he knew the reason why I was supporting you that very day, if only he knew that you were my dad. "Rihanna said and smiled which faded quickly.

"But now he do come to lectures early, he has stop harassing me, he's becoming gentle lately. " Mr Connor muttered.

"I know. "She smiled."But dad, yunno I'm angry at you! everything that do happen in college you feed mom about it, why's that?There was a day I had to sleep in the couch just because I save one of my friend from Trista and her minor hands. " Rihanna added, faking a angry face.

"Yunno your mom could be mad at times! Can't believe she threatened not to talk to me if I don't gist her all that's happening in college. "Mr.Connor also said, faking a angry look also.

"But mom need to know that I'm no longer a teen anymore I'm now 23 yrs which make me an adult. " Rihanna said.

"Your mom still thinks has you as her little princess, her one and only little princess. "Mr Connor said and poke her nose and she giggles.

"What are you two talking about?. "Layla asked, her hands were wrapped around her waist.

The two swiftly turn to her."Nothing."they said together.

"Really? Why do I think that you two were discussing about me before I came here?. " Layla asked.

"Oh mom, you're over thinking, why do you think that me and dad would discuss about you in your absence?. "Rihanna questioned.

"Coz that's what you two does anytime he came here. " Layla replied.

"Well, I and dad were just discussing about...

"Dinner is ready, let's go before it get cold."Layla cut her off.

"You're the best honey."Prof Connor said and kissed her lips.

"I need a kiss also. "Rihanna muttered and Connor turn to her and kiss her on the forehead.

"More like it. " Rihanna chuckled.

"You have finally stole my husband away from me. "Layla frowned while Rihanna and Connor laughed.

"Mom just tell me that you're jealous. " Rihanna smiled.

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

✢NEXT DAY≈STAR COLLEGE✢

Rihanna,Presley and Poppy were walking through the halls way, while chatting.

"So you mean Ryder kissed you yesterday?. "Poppy asked and she nod.

"And did you reciprocated the kiss?. " Rihanna asked.

"I did at first, but I later had a rethink and pushed him off. "Presley replied and Poppy frowned.

"Why...why would you pushed him off,when he was the one who kissed you?. "Poppy asked.

"Don't you know who Ryder is, he's a playboy and I wouldn't want my heart to get played by him, the reason why he behaves normal today?coz he's under my dare and once the two weeks is over his going to return to his f**kboy lifestyle and do you know what that means. " Presley said.

"It means he can't change. "Poppy said and she nod.

"So do you mean he want to use you has his prey until his two weeks is over?" Rihanna asked.

"Of course...He even asked me to take back my dare. "Presley said.

Rihanna wanted to say something but halted when Trista and her minor walked pass them.

"Wait, the Trista I knew won't pass by without raining insult or causing problems around, especially with you Rihanna. " Presley said.

"I think someone finally knocked some sense into her. "Rihanna muttered.

Meanwhile Trista was still walking when she slowly released a evil smirked.

"Did you walk pass them to showcase your new brand phone or what?. " April asked.

And Trista looked at her and scoffed.

"You're the dumbest person i have ever seen, I wonder how we manage to become friends in the very first place. "Trista rolled her eyes.

"Can't you see I did that so that Rihanna would think I'm a change person, I just want to give her a break from all this trouble,, but my next plan I'd use Braxton as my prey and she wouldn't know what just hit her. " Trista said and smirked evilly.

"But tell me what's your plan?. "Aliyah asked.

"No, I won't be telling you this time, coz the last time I told you everything got ruin. " Trista said.

"So you mean that I was the one who made your plan failed at the party?. "Aliyah asked.

"How did Braxton ended up saving her?Her body was about exposing to the whole world but Braxton save her, how? And tell me why won't I suspect you,, but anyways this can't stop our friendship, we can still share secret some other time but not this one, ok.. So cheer up. " Trista said and Aliyah fake a smile.

"Uhm Trista and Aliyah let's go, lecture has started already!. "April said.

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

"So worked on the assignment I gave to you'all, see you all in our next class. " Prof Connor said and left.

And at that moment Rihanna stood up.

"I want to use the restroom. "Rihanna told her friends and left the class.

"Hi Dad. " Rihanna called and Prof Connor halted.

"Oh Rihanna you didn't understand what I gave you huh?."Prof Connor release a light smile.

"But what are you saying, D.. "She stopped when Prof Connor made eyes contact with her and she turn to see Braxton.

She smiled at him and face Prof Connor.

"Yes Prof, but I'll meet you to explain better. " Rihanna told him and he left.

"Did you follow me here?. "Rihanna asked.

"Just happened to be passing by when I saw you, but what are you doing with Prof Connor.

"The assignment he gave us I didn't understand,so I want to meet him to explain but you interrupted. " She lied.

"But it didn't seems like it.. "Braxton said.

"What do you mean?. " Rihanna asked but Braxton just move closer to her.

He made to removed a strand of her hair but he was interrupted when Melanie suddenly rushed in.

"I didn't know that you two were here, but Braxton did you see my necklace?. "Melanie asked.

"No I didn't. " his cold voice replied to her and he started walking away from there.

"My necklace. "Melanie fake a sad smiled, but her mind was screaming inside that she finally separated them.

She as be watching them from afar and when she saw when Braxton moved closer to her, her blood began boiling.

And the only thing running in her head was to interrupt them.

She quickly took off her necklace and threw it afar.

She gasped when she didn't see it again, who asked her to threw it that way? She could have just hid it, but no she threw it were she couldn't see it again.

"My necklace that's my only child hood memory, that's the only necklace that has been with me since when i was a child. " Melanie cried out.

"Don't cry, let's go and get another. "Rihanna said.

"Still yet...

"And expensive one at that, just forget about that one I'm sure the necklace is a bit old-fashioned,let me get you another. " Rihanna said.

"Really?. "Melanie asked and Rihanna nod.

"Let's go. "

✢A MALL✢

Rihanna and Melanie got down from the taxi, while Rihanna payed the taxi driver before he drove off.

"Never knew that they'd be much crowd here today. "Rihanna said.

"They're always much crowd everyday. " Melanie said.

"Let's go and get the necklace. "Rihanna said and they both entered inside the mall.

"What do you want ma'am. "The attendance asked.

"We just need a necklace. " Rihanna said.

"Come please. "The attendance muttered and carried them to another ward.

"Wow." Melanie gasped has she was shown different type of necklace.

"I want this one. "Melanie said.

"Rihanna can you please try this one on your neck I want to see how it will looks like, while I try this. " Melanie said smiling.

"But why me?."She asked.

"Just try it. "Melanie whispered and Rihanna sigh.

Rihanna packed her hair in a bun, Melanie also did the same.

Their fresh neck was dangling and slowly the attendance help them put the necklace on their neck.

Deacon who was passing by halted on his step when he saw something so familiar.

The birth mark sign of his baby, the birth mark of the little one on the picture.

He began walking the direction he has saw it earlier,but coz of much people standing on the lane, he could not reach there faster

"Excuse me please. " Deacon kept saying as they pave way for him.

He could have just pushed them away from the way but he didn't want to get attention.

"Wow the necklace look so good on you. "Melanie said.

"Thanks, can I off it now? . " Rihanna asked and Melanie nod.

They pull the necklace from her neck and she release the bun she pack.

Her long hair was now flowing freely on her back, Melanie also release her bun.

"I choose that Rihanna necklace. "Melanie said and Rihanna made the payment.

They packaged the necklace inside a small box and handed it to Melanie.

"Can we go now?. " Rihanna asked and she smiled.

"Yeah."Melanie said and they walked out from the mall, passing another way.

They called a taxi and they both entered while the taxi driver drove out from there.

Deacon rushed out to, he didn't get the chance to see her face.

"At least he had hope now, since he now knew that his baby was living in this city. "He smiled, breathing heavily.