Chapter 15: Parasite

"What's wrong? Why are you shouting?"

Hearing my screams, Mom and Sora immediately ran to the yard, where Mei and I were arguing. No, I couldn't hold back my feelings any longer. In the 12 years since Dad decided to remarry, not a single day had I felt at peace.

They always harassed me, taking everything that belonged to me, and when she got angry, Mom would say that we were family and I shouldn't hate them.

"Who's shouting?" Mom asked once more, even though I was sure she heard me clearly.

"Hinata seems frustrated because her boyfriend ran away!" Mei blurted out, trying to provoke me again now that her defender had come to her aid.

"Ran away? You mean Leo?" Sora said.

"Yes, Hinata is frustrated because her boyfriend ran away while everyone was sleeping. How pathetic!" Mei blurted out, satisfied because she knew no one would side with me.

"What a shame, I was so happy she was here." Sora looked disappointed. Meanwhile, my mother remained silent, her eyes fixed on me.

"Did he steal your money or belongings?" she asked. I, who had been looking down, immediately lifted my head when she asked that question.

"N-no! He didn't take anything!"

"Then why are you waiting for him?"

"I-I don't-"

"Men like that just want to have fun. Once they get something from you, you'll be dumped right away. So there's nothing for you to worry about. Just focus on your work because nothing in this world is more important than money!" Mom gave me an ultimatum, leaving me speechless.

Ever since my father died three years ago, my mother has always told me that. Money is the most important thing in the world, and there's nothing to worry about if you have a lot of it.

I didn't really understand what she meant before, but as I grew older, I realized that both my biological mother and my stepmother loved money and luxury.

"How much more debt do we have to pay? Can you tell me if the amount has decreased? I really want to see the payment papers and the remaining debt!" I begged.

"The number is still very large, it hasn't decreased at all!"

"What? How come it hasn't decreased when I've been paying off the debt every month for three years?"

"You know those debts have interest, right? How much money did you give me to think you've paid off most of your father's debts?"

"No way, but I-I've done everything, and the amount should have decreased by now! Can you show me the documents? I want to see them!"

"I left them with the family lawyer, so you can't see them now!"

"But you must have copies, right? Please show me! I want to see them!" I started to press her because something was clearly wrong with my mother's statement.

How could she say that the debts hadn't decreased and that I'd only been paying the interest? That didn't make sense. Since my father died, we sold the house, which she said she would use to pay off part of my father's debts. She even sold the last boat we owned so we could pay the rent for several years and pay for my father's medical expenses while he was hospitalized. I couldn't even get into college and decided to work three part-time jobs at once. So how can he say that the debt hasn't decreased at all? That's simply impossible.

"Why don't you believe me? Are you saying I'm lying?" Mei asked, annoyed, as if I'd accused her of lying.

"No, I just want proof of payment! I've worked hard for three years hoping to pay off those debts quickly!"

"Don't dream of paying those debts quickly! If you want them paid off, you'll have to work for the rest of your life!" Mei said with an arrogance that was starting to make me sick.

Ever since they came to my house and acted like the two sisters I never had, I've loved them and considered them part of the family I had to take care of. But they haven't treated me well once.

What's wrong? Where did I go wrong? Was I stupid and hoping they'd change if I continued to be nice to them? Had they always treated me like a stranger?

Without realizing it, tears streamed down my face. My heart ached so much I wanted to scream.

"Damn it, you're all such a jerk!" I said, my fists clenched and trembling. I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't live like this anymore.

"What did you say?"

"You three are just parasites!"

"Hinata, do you realize what you just said?" Mom said, as if I was acting like a rebellious girl to her.

"How much money do Sora and Mei make now? Shouldn't they be helping pay off Dad's debts?"

"Why should we pay off his debts? He's not our biological father!" Sora and Mei immediately protested, and in an instant, they disowned Dad as their parent.

"Even though Dad isn't your biological father, doesn't he give you the same love and support as I do?"

"Hey, don't you joke around? We're not responsible for paying off your father's debts, because he's not our biological father. Even if he were, we wouldn't pay a single yen for his debts!"

"Mei's right, Father's debts are your responsibility as his own daughter, don't pass them on to us!" Just like Mei, Sora immediately denied it and refused to get involved.

I truly couldn't fathom it. How could they say such things? Back when Father was still alive and well, weren't they always the first to ask him for gifts? They were the ones who always asked if Father loved them both as much as he loved me? But why did they now think that being my father's daughter was a misfortune?

"Mother?" I said, my voice trembling. I desperately hoped Mother would say something that would calm me down.

But as I expected, I was staring at her with a cold and arrogant gaze, as if confirming her two biological daughters' words.

"Mei and Sora don't have the moral responsibility to repay those debts like you do. In fact, they deserve an inheritance because they contributed to caring for your father during his illness. So, Hinata, stop whining, because your crying won't solve anything. If you want all those debts paid off, then work harder from now on! I don't want to hear you whine or complain anymore, do you understand?"