A love worth fighting for

Chapter Two

Not her? Not my mom, but who'd have such strong semblance with her? A relative of her I haven't known about or is she my sister? Step sister rather. These thoughts of surprise and curiosities were accompanied by anger and I won't hold myself raising a hand on this woman.

I dropped my ipad on the table infront of her, peered at her with a smirk on my face. I heard chuckles and giggles from the other members of the class, and I could feel their eyes staring, expecting a scene.

“Who the fuck you think you are?” My voice was firm and strong, with furrowed brows and clenched jaws.

“I don't understand?” She carried her face to meet mine.

I was about to throw my clenched fist into her face, before Bradley blocked my arm mid air.

“Take it easy man.” He jumped between me and the new girl, shoving me farther away from her. “Calm down bro.”

Other members of the class jumped to the scene. What was their business though? Once it's about me, everyone jumps in, most times the crowd is against me especially Fernandez who is already beside me.

“What's with you dude? You're bringing your family issues to school?” Fernandez’s mocking voice rang in my ears.

I took no time thinking about it before throwing a fist into his face. “Twasn’t your fuckin issue.” Grabbing him by the collar of his white shirt with my other hand. Again Bradley steps in between, pulling me away from the mess I was about to create.

I already have a history of assaulting a fellow student, the disciplinary said I had one more chance, and I was about to ruin it and destroy my medical career.

“What the heck Richmond?” Bradley's grip on me was firm, his arms went round my trunk from the back, he was so strong I couldn't move from where I stood. “You wanna destroy this? Let it go man.” His voice was firm and strong.

Fernandez struggled to break free from the grip of the two boys who were holding him. He kept showering insults on my dad and my family. I got pissed even more. I almost broke loose from Bradley's grip when I heard Prof Cooper's hoarse voice.

“What's happening here?” Prof. Cooper's deep voice resonated into the scene, before Fernandez had a chance to return the blow.

Everyone dispersed to their seat, Bradley was always beside me, he had saved a seat for me next to his which was beside the new girl. “C’mon man, learn to be easy.” Bradley whispered, arranging his shirts.

“She had no right.” I whispered, loud enough for her to hear. My eyes were fixed on her, the smirk on my face intensified as I was panting.

“You had no right too man. You recently escaped a case that'd have ended your studies here, and you still haven't learnt.” Bradley's voice was stern.

Prof. Cooper had began his class as always, with a clinical case demonstration.

I kept a blank stare at the screen and passively nodding at Prof Cooper's images of dermatological diseases and Bradley's side comments. My thoughts were deep on who the new girl would be and why she looks like my mom.

Everyone's gaze was on me when Bradley tapped me out of my thoughts, my eyes met Prof. Cooper's gaze. “What's going on Mr. Sullivan?” Prof asked, his face narrowed in.

I'd asked or answered questions in Cooper's class normally, which made it easy for him to notice my absence, in mind. “Nothing sir.” I yelled.

He asked the question which he had asked earlier that made the class to pause and turn me to the centre of attraction.

Prof Cooper nodded at my answers. “That's excellent Mr. Sullivan.” His lips pursed. 

If only he knew how I hate to be associated with that name. ‘my name is Richmond.’ I whispered under my breath.

The long lecture time came to an end, and I couldn't wait to teach the new girl some good lessons. 

I raised my right leg and placed it on the seat, leaned towards her, supporting my body on the raised thigh.

“So on an early Monday morning, you snatch both my car spot and my seat. A good way to start.” My voice was calm, a little above a whisper. A smile I didn't mean extended by lips, but it disappeared immediately. “It's a damn bad way, you know why? You fucking pissed me.”

I could see the fear in her eyes, she withdrew her hands from the table and placed them on her laps, and lowering her gaze and her head. “I… I'm sorry. I didn't know.”

“Does this mean you've learnt something today?” I raised her chin so her eyes would meet mine.

She nodded.

“That's good.” 

Her blue eyes looked so young and innocent, but they reminded me of my mom. “What's your name?” I had to clear my curiosity.

She raised her head again. “Anna. Anna Rodriguez.” 

Mexican. Rodriguez. My eyes widened, lips parted. She's my step sister. My breath increased as a flush of hate ran through me. I'll have to confirm my suspicion.

My mom had run off to be with a Mexican. But I don't care about who she is anymore, as much as she's not in my way, I'll not be in hers.

I and Bradley were walking towards the cafeteria. He always knows how to liven the mood, he was laughing and cursing as I narrated the whole events from the previous night to this morning. I had barely finished when my phone rang.

Dad

I mumbled ‘yes’ to his limitless questions about school and satisfying his need for reassurance I'd be more careful.

“Wait dad, what's his name?”

“Who?” 

I couldn't find the possible ways to describe who I was referring to, or I wasn't sure I was ready to find out. I was silent for a while.

“Richmond?”

“The man she left us for.” I finally placed the words, I couldn't call her mom. She's not my mom. My heart beat increased, hoping the answer doesn't match my thought.

“Rodriguez. I guess, why?”

I dropped the phone, my body froze, tears filled my eyes waiting to be freed by a blink.

Rodriguez or Rodriquez? ‘What did I hear? What did my dad say?’ I tried to fix it in my head, maybe my thoughts heard what my ear didn't hear.

If Anna is my step sister, she'd just found herself a new enemy.