My Rival Has A Secret.

Chapter 1: Our vulnerability is our only weakness. (Sade's pov)

Introduction- the story follows two teenagers , each with their own little secret . Will they be able to keep it from each other ?

"Chapter one - our vulnerability is our only weakness."

''Sade"
The window creaked open as I entered,
trying my best to not make any sort of noise– just in case it woke my parents up.
The extreme exhaustion had taken a toll on my body, almost to the point of blacking out.
It felt as if there were a million needles in my head poking it, any chance they got.

The bed, the T.V–it all looked so blurry.
So fuzzy.

The T.V was open– One of my parents had probably forgotten to turn it off before going to sleep.

The floor seemed to sway underneath me, I felt as if I was gonna collapse any second now.
Sleep – I just needed to sleep.
The mattress laid still as I wished to just fall on it, wanting it to swallow me whole.

So, I'd never have to get out again.

So, I could disappear into the darkness and never – have to come back.

However, my eyes darted back to a deep wound in my arm. Sleeves– I'll need full sleeves.
I told myself.
Or an excuse, something my parents wouldn't question. Something they'll believe.

The Television remained on as I struggled to keep my eyes open – for the bright neon lights were almost blinding at this time of the hour, the t.v gleamed.
Echoing with information that reached the public, something people trusted – But I knew it was all lies.

All of it.

They went on and on about the “bloody rose.”calling her dangerous.

Calling me dangerous.

Which perhaps I was– but could you blame me?
When all the souls, all the people I was meant to protect were already too far gone, too corrupted.
I hadn't chosen this life– never would have if I was given the choice.
But it was the way I was meant to live now.
The secrets hovered over my head as if  longing to be told, but I buried deep within for this was a mask I could never take off.

Not now. Not ever.

Though a small part of me, a really small part of me, longed for someone, anyone who would see me.
Not the mask, not the agent but just – me.

Well, it's almost funny to even think of that knowing who I am.

No one would care; Even if they do, the secrets, the mask.
It'll drive them away

I will drive them away.

That's what I've always done.

I shut off the television, the only noise now being the fan's whirring.

The t.v, the fan, these were all the noises you'd ever hear in this house anyways.

A few hours later.
A bright whitish light hit my eyes as I slowly opened them. My body however still ached and part of me didn't wish to get up.
But my mother called me from downstairs, asking me to come down for breakfast.

I yawned, my eyelids heavy perhaps because I'd barely gotten any sleep at all.
Oh no–I'd totally forgotten to take off my disguise. I took my contacts and wigs off as quickly as one could and called out in a voice that came out more panicked than I'd wanted it to be.
“Coming mom.”

The room etched with silence, the only sounds being clinking of forks and dinner as we ate breakfast. I almost opened my mouth to say something then immediately closed it with a gulp. Because I couldn't give it away. The secrets had to be kept, for them.

And also because —

The silence was something I had gotten used to by now. Maybe it was normal.
Maybe not all mothers asked how your day went, maybe not all fathers cared to make a dad joke.

My father wasn't always quiet, he was one of the most talkative people i knew.
He would talk to everyone whether it was a colleague, a salesman or even a relative.

Anyone but his daughter that is.

It was as if his eyes were glued to whatever it was there on the screen. My mother didn't even try making conversation she simply rearranged the plates, pretending to be busy.
Just so she didn't have to talk.

From outside, we were a picture perfect family.
Two government worker parents and a straight A daughter.
But only from the outside because honestly it felt as if we were all merely serving our sole purposes as family members but never formed an actual, a true bond.

There were masks that were worn, filtered personalities that hid their actual thoughts.
The mask we all kept not to disrupt the peace and persona of this picture perfect family or destroy the perfect cover.

My wound stung as I forced a smile before leaving and heading for school. It wasn't too hard to hide things from my parents, they barely noticed me anyways. Let alone my wounds.

After the usual breakfast and getting ready I headed out to school.
Just planning to sleep through the classes; but even I knew that would be odd of me.
I mean what kind of top student ever sleeps in class.
As if the day couldn't be any worse than it already was, I heard his voice.
My arch nemesis, rival , enemy– whatever you'd call It.
“Hey sleepy head, watch where you're going, you might bump your head somewhere and get even dumber than you already are.” He spoke, his voice dripping with mock concern.
“Have you made annoying me your one and only goal?” I scoffed, rolling my eyes slightly.
“As if-” He put up his hands in defense.
“I have way better stuff to do.”
“Yeah and what might that be?” My grip around the bag tightened.
“Taking your position as the best student obviously. His lips quivered mockingly.
I shook my head, as if telling him he was crazy – which he was, but somehow. He was also smart at the same time.
“You very clearly lack the necessary common sense for that.”

Akira, my best friend, came in between to stop the argument.
Flinching slightly at our sarcasm and banter. Her hands pressed together as she nervously picked on her skin.

“Don’t you two ever get tired of getting on each other's nerves.”
At that, both of us interrupted speaking over each other.
“But she-” 
“But he-”
The school bell rang,  almost as if even it was asking us to stop fighting for once.
I'd always been a good student– perhaps  the best at this school.
But kei sometimes replaced me as the number  one in class.
Somehow he was my rival in everything, whether it was academics, sports or even cooking.
Like– who else has a rival in cooking?
“It’s funny honestly, you say you hate him yet all you ever do is talk about him.” Akira muttered after a long sigh.

I looked at her as if she'd said something that was illegal. 
“What? I do hate him more than anything actually. And you know what I mean, don't you see the way he talks to me, he's just so annoying and did you forget he cut my hair?” I was speaking so fast she might have missed a few words.
“He cut my beautiful hair-
I was walking like a clown for days.”

“First of all, that happened when you both were like seven and second of all.
You talk about him all the time!” She spoke, her tone judgy.

(Author's note -- Hey guys btw this isn't part of the story I just simply wanted to let you guys know that I am extremely new to writing and this is my first time writing on any platform so it helps a lot if you guys vote or comment. Only if you like the story though.
Also let me know who's your favourite character so far?)