The unseen tears
Chapter 1: The Unseen Tears
The city of Lucy was built on opportunity.
Its streets never slept, its lights never dimmed, and its people chased success as if it were the air they breathed. But beneath the promise of wealth and progress, Lucy was ruled by power—power held tightly by three great families who had shaped the city's fate for generations.
Among them, the Kilowoko family stood first.
They were the most powerful, the most feared, and the most respected. For years, the three families had existed in constant rivalry—competition for influence, control, and opportunity that often bordered on open war. Alliances shifted, grudges deepened, and expectations grew heavier with every passing generation.
From the moment Blessings Kilowoko was born, his life was no longer his own.
As the firstborn son of the strongest family, perfection was not encouraged—it was demanded. Every step he took, every decision he made, was weighed against the family's reputation. Mistakes were unacceptable. Weakness was forbidden. Love, when it existed, was buried beneath pressure and expectations.
By the time Blessings turned eighteen, the weight had become unbearable.
So he ran.
Under the excuse of continuing his education, he transferred to a high school in another city—far from Lucy, far from his family, and far from the name that had defined his entire existence. For the first time, he chose anonymity over power.
He rented a cheap apartment in a low-cost neighborhood, a place no one would ever associate with the Kilowoko family. To seal his escape, he did something reckless and symbolic—he got a tattoo on his arm. It wasn't just ink. It was proof that his body, at least, still belonged to him.
Freedom tasted strange at first.
Blessings spent his days drifting through the city—clubs, beaches, small restaurants, crowded streets. He tried everything he had been denied, chasing moments that made him feel alive, even if only briefly. School slowly faded into the background, becoming an inconvenience rather than a priority.
It didn't go unnoticed.
At school, teachers whispered his name with growing frustration. He missed classes. He ignored assignments. Eventually, they reached a decision.
Tapiwa would be sent.
She was the smartest student in the class—disciplined, focused, and respected by both teachers and students. She barely knew Blessings, having seen him only a few times in class, always quiet, always distant. Still, she accepted the task.
If he didn't return to school, he would be removed.
That afternoon, Tapiwa stood outside his apartment building, clutching a folder of papers. As she approached the door, she stopped.
Blessings was there.
Drunk. Slumped against the wall. Asleep.
For a moment, she hesitated. Then she noticed the keys loosely clenched in his hand. Carefully, she unlocked the door and guided him inside.
The apartment shocked her.
Trash littered the floor. Empty bottles crowded every surface. Clothes were scattered like they had been thrown in anger. It wasn't the space of a carefree student—it was the home of someone slowly falling apart.
She laid him gently on the couch.
Then she cleaned.
By the time she finished, the apartment felt different—lighter. She made a simple soup and left it on the table, hoping it would help him recover.
When Blessings finally woke, his head throbbed. He blinked, confused.
The room was clean.
On the table sat a bowl of soup, still warm. Across from him, a girl sat quietly on the opposite couch, papers in her hands, watching him.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Tapiwa," she replied calmly. "I was sent by the school."
She explained everything—his absence, the warnings, the final decision. If he didn't return, he would be expelled.
Blessings lowered his gaze, then looked at the soup. "Why did you make this?"
"You were drunk," she said simply. "Soup helps reduce the effects of alcohol."
He nodded, then asked, "Did you clean my apartment?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
She paused, searching for the right words. "Because it's not good for anyone to live like that."
She smiled, almost embarrassed by her honesty.
For the first time that day, Blessings smiled too.
"For the kindness you showed me," he said quietly, "I'll return the favor."
Tapiwa didn't hesitate. "Come to school tomorrow."
He chuckled softly. "Alright. I'll meet you there."
As she stood to leave, neither of them realized it yet—but something had shifted.
This was not just the beginning of a school year.
It was the beginning of a story neither of them could escape