14/4/2024
6:34pm
Sunmi sat on the rooftop of Tolu's house, legs dangling over the edge as she stared into the darkening sky. The city lights flickered below, the distant sounds of Lagos nightlife filling the air. She had called Tolu here for a reason, but now that they were alone, the words felt heavier than she expected.
Tolu sat beside her, popping gum in her mouth, watching Sunmi's expression shift from anxious to conflicted. "You look like you're about to drop a bomb, princess," she teased. "Spill."
Sunmi sighed, twisting her fingers together. "It's… about Matthew."
Tolu raised a brow, leaning forward. "Matthew? What about him?"
"I think…" Sunmi hesitated, then forced herself to say it. "I think I'm… attracted to him."
Tolu blinked. "Wait, what? Since when ? Didn't you only see him like once when we rescued him ? so I don't get ."
Sunmi sighed. "Not really . Ever since I found out vampires are part psychic I've been meeting up with him in secrete to teach me how to control my abilities."
"That explains your going home late and mysterious happiness the next day." Tolu smirked then continued." I noticed you were smiling and getting lost in thought a lot this days but I never knew it was because you were off playing Bella and Edward." Tolu said as she laughed .
"It's not funny. I know I'm in love with Eamon … but there's just this feeling I get anytime I'm with Matthew, it's…different and new I can't just explain it." Sunmi sighed heavily as she rested her head in Tolu's shoulder.
Tolu smirked again preparing for another round of teasing. "You know vampires are immortal right? So nigga might just be older than your father and you won't know ." She said and they both laughed.
"So when did this whole new and different feeling start?" Tolu asked.
Sunmi groaned again, but she needed to talk about it. So she did. She told Tolu everything—the way Matthew had guided her through her first real psychic experience, how she had seen the life he lost, the pain he carried. How vulnerable he had been with her. And how, ever since then, she couldn't stop thinking about him.
"But it doesn't make sense," she muttered. "I barely know him, and I have Eamon, but… it's like there's this pull. Like something I can't control."
"Damn girl this is totally giving Bella and Edward . Then Eamon is the werewolf guy whose name I can't remember." Tolu said and they both laughed.
Sunmi expression immediately turned stern as she raised a pinkie." Promise me you are not tell any one . Pinkie swear."
Tolu laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Fine, fine, I won't tell. But you better figure out what you want before one of them finds out on their own."
Sunmi exhaled, grateful. "Thanks, Tolu."
"Anytime, princess. Now, can we go inside? I'm not about to die on a rooftop because of your love triangle drama."
They both laughed as they climbed down, but deep inside, Sunmi knew this wasn't the end of it.
---
15/4/2024
4;56pm
The next evening, Sunmi found herself standing in front of Matthew once again, deep in the shadows of the abandoned warehouse where they trained. The air was thick with the scent of dust and old wood, the dim lights casting sharp angles over Matthew's sharp features.
"Telekinesis," he said simply, setting up five glass bottles on a crate. "You've already used it before, but it was uncontrolled. Now, we refine it."
Sunmi crossed her arms. "And how do I do that?"
Matthew smirked. "Break them. Without touching them."
Sunmi scoffed. "That's it? Just break them? Easy."
She stared at the bottles, focusing. Nothing happened.
She tried again. Still nothing.
Matthew watched her struggle for a few minutes before stepping closer. "Your problem is that you're thinking too much. You're trying to force it logically instead of letting it come naturally."
Sunmi frowned. "Okay, so what do I do?"
Matthew walked behind her, his presence almost too close. Slowly, he reached out and took her hands, his voice lower than before. "Power is fueled by emotion, Sunmi. You have to tap into what makes you feel something real. Fear. Anger. Pain."
She stiffened. "And what if I don't want to focus on those things?"
His grip on her hands tightened just slightly. Then he whispered in her ear gently .
"Then focus on my voice."
Sunmi's heart began to race as she felt Matthew's warm breath on her neck. She turned slightly and saw their faces were just inches apart and before she knew it,
CRACK.
The five bottles all exploded into pieces. Matthew stepped back and slow clapped .
"Damn girl , all five bottles on your first try good job." He said with a wink and sunmi couldn't help but blush .
AT HOME
7:47pm
Sunmi could still feel the energy coursing through her veins when she got home. The rush of breaking those bottles without touching them, the power humming beneath her fingertips—it was intoxicating. But that wasn't the only thing on her mind.
She couldn't stop thinking about how close Matthew had been. The way his voice had sent chills down her spine, the way his hands had guided hers. The way her heartbeat had quickened—not from fear, but from something else entirely.
She was so lost in thought that she barely noticed the world around her.
The dining table was set, her parents already seated as the maids moved about, serving dinner. She barely touched her food, staring at her plate, absentmindedly swirling her fork through the rice.
"Sunmi," her mother called softly.
She didn't hear.
"Sunmi," her father tried. Still nothing.
Then—BANG!
Her father slammed his fist against the table, the sound snapping her out of her thoughts. She flinched, her head jerking up, eyes wide.
"Are you even here with us?" he asked, his deep voice laced with frustration.
Before she could answer, a loud crack came from the kitchen.
Everyone turned their heads toward the sound, and a maid rushed to check. Moments later, she returned, looking confused. "A glass cup broke, sir, but no one was near it."
Sunmi felt her stomach tighten—but then, a slow smile crept onto her lips.
I did that.
It had happened completely unintentionally, but knowing she had enough power to shatter things from another room? It excited her.
"Strange," her mother muttered. But then, she turned her sharp gaze back to Sunmi. "Where have you been coming from every night?"
Sunmi froze, her mind scrambling for an answer.
"I called Moses," her mother continued. "He said you weren't with him. I asked Tolu's parents, and they said you weren't there either., because I know if I call Tolu she'll coverup for you."
Sunmi's pulse spiked. Damn. She covered all bases.
She couldn't tell them the truth—not about magic, not about Matthew, not about any of it.
So she did what she did best. She lied.
"I was at my boyfriend's place," she said quickly, forcing herself to look embarrassed, as if she had been caught sneaking around with a boy. "With Eamon."
Her father's stern expression softened immediately, while her mother gave her a knowing look. Then, to Sunmi's surprise, they laughed.
"Oh, Sunmi," her mother said, shaking her head. "You could have just told us. It's normal for a girl your age to want to spend time with her boyfriend."
Her father smirked. "Just don't let him get too comfortable, eh?"
Sunmi forced a smile, nodding as if relieved. They had no idea she had just lied to their faces.
And as she sat back in her chair, she realized something—
Lying about magic was getting easier.
And so was using it.
After dinner, Sunmi excused herself and hurried upstairs. She could still feel the rush of energy in her veins, the same excitement she had felt when she shattered the glass. It made her feel invincible.
But the moment she stepped into her room, she froze.
Someone was sitting on her bed.
Tiara.
She was lounging like she had been there forever, her legs casually crossed, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Long time no see," Tiara said, her voice smooth, almost teasing.
Sunmi's heartbeat spiked. It had been months since she last saw Tiara. She had almost thought she was a figment of her imagination."
Before she could say anything, Tiara tilted her head. "So… you're finally using your powers." Her gaze flickered with amusement. "Getting a hold of them, I see."
Sunmi swallowed, unsure whether to feel proud or nervous.
"I just came to remind you," Tiara continued, her tone shifting, "not to get too comfortable."
Sunmi frowned. "What do you mean?"
Tiara stood, her expression turning serious. "Power is addictive, Sunmi. The more you use it, the more it consumes you. If you're not careful, it will become the one controlling you."
Sunmi scoffed, folding her arms. "I have it under control."
Tiara sighed. "Do you?"
She pointed at the mirror. "Look."
Sunmi hesitated before stepping forward. As soon as she stared into the reflection, her surroundings shifted—
Suddenly, she was back in Makinde's compound.
She saw herself—her hair streaked with white, her eyes glowing with unnatural light. She watched as she effortlessly made the guards kill themselves, her face emotionless as their bodies dropped one by one.
It wasn't a fight. It wasn't self-defense.
It was a massacre.
Sunmi stumbled back, her breath shaky. "That… that was different," she whispered. "I had to do that."
Tiara's voice was gentle but firm. "Maybe. But what happens the next time? And the time after that?"
Sunmi clenched her fists. "I won't let it control me."
Tiara sighed. "Then learn to control it."
And with that, she vanished.
Sunmi stood alone in her room, staring at the mirror, her own reflection looking back at her—
Then it happen streaks if hear began to to turn white right before her eyes.