Chapter 20

"Melissa?" papa muttered.

I sighed and was about to open the gate but the guard immediately ran over and opened it for me.

I went straight in. I could feel Zoren following behind me.

"Is that you, M-melissa? My d-daughter?" Dad's voice broke.

He tried to stand up but immediately fell down and sat back in the wheelchair. The woman immediately supported him.

My brows furrowe. What happened to him? He can't stand straight?

"Melissa, my child! It's you!" he said happily.

He streched his arms for me.

"I didn't come home for you..."

Shock immediately appeared in his eyes, then it was immediately replaced by sadness.

"I'm here for mom. I promised her I'd bring her home."

"My daughter, I've been missing you for a long time." A single tear ran from papa's eyes down his cheek.

I have to admit that I was close to dad back then. He used to be the one that I always ran to and not mom. Everything just changed when the time came that he always gets drunk and beats mom. All his anger and attention has been focused on mom and no longer on me.

I smiled sarcastically and then passed him and went straight into the house. Fortunately, the door was big so I was able to pass even when dad and that girl were there.

I frowned and turned around. Who is that girl anyway?

I saw Zoren bow to papa and give a hand. My forehead furrowed even more. Why is he being good to my dad?

When he saw me, he immediately came to me.

"Your house is already clean. It doesn't need to be cleaned again," he said as he stood next to me.

I also looked around the entire living room while nodding my head. He was right and the house was very clean indeed. Our house was big then. But I think it has grown even more now.

"Did you renovated the house?" I asked without looking at dad.

"Yes, I want you to come back and see that I have made the house beautiful for you and your family. Don't you have children yet?"

I frowned at him.

"Not yet, Tito. I'm just courting your daughter," Zoren said with a laugh.

Actually, he's annoying. Why does he seem to be close to dad? He doesn't need that anymore.

"Ah, is that so? I thought you were married. It's good that you're not married yet. I want to be the one who'll bring her to the altar.”

I looked at the woman at dad's side. She was staring at Zoren with a small smile on her lips. I frowned again.

"Who are you?" I asked her directly.

She immediately shifted her gaze to me.

"Ah! I'm Percy. I'm your dad's private nurse,"

I raised an eyebrow. "Private nurse?"

"Yes."

"Ah! Melissa... Why didn't your mom come with you?"

I looked at dad.

"Where's Grandma? Haven't you two met yet?"

Dad didn't answer me. I also noticed the immediate movement of his eyes as if avoiding my question.

"Hey! I haven't been in this house in a long time!"

I looked at the entrance of the house.

Grandma was there and immediately smiled upon seeing me.

I also smiled sadly at her and then walked closer.

"Grandma!"

"Melissa!"

I immediately hugged grandma, I was there for a few moments and was crying on her shoulder.

"Oh! My sweetie..."

"Mama is gone," I reported while crying.

Grandma nodded.

"Just cry it out, sweetie."

"What did you say, Melissa? Did I hear you right?" dad asked.

I stopped crying. I immediately removed my tears and then I let go from grandma.

"Melissa, answer me!" Dad's voice trembled when he yelled at me.

I faced my father and immediately my tears pooled again.

"Mama's dead, you're not going to beat her anymore. You're not going to make her a slave in this house," I said slowly and in a voice full of anger.

"Melissa..." Dad shook his head.

"What, Pa? Are you happy? Mama's body is on its way home. But don't worry. She doesn't have any bruises on her body, unlike how you used to put her before!"

"I'm not beating your mom, Melissa!" Papa shouted, the burning anger in his eyes.

I was stunned for a moment. What is he saying? I hear everything! I could hear my mother's cries back then.

"Is that what your mom told you so you went with her and left me? Is that why you didn't come back and leave me alone?"

I couldn't answer. Dad's tears started to flow.

"Is that why you're mad at me, Mom?" dad asked grandma.

"Why not, King? That's what Precila told me, that's why she walked away from you!" Grandma is also angry.

Dad shook his head. I frowned. I do not understand. Why does he say he doesn't beat mom? Maybe mom won't lie to us.

"Mama's gone. You don't have to lie just for us to forgive you," I said.

Just then a car stopped outside the house so all of our attention went there.

Aunt Matilda got out of her car first. I immediately went out to meet them.

"Mel. You're already here?" Aunt greeted me with a question.

"We just arrived. I haven't fixed the house yet."

"It's okay, Mel. Let me help you."

Some people slowly lowered mama's coffin and brought it inside the house.

Even before they got her inside, dad began to cry. He stood up and almost slid to the floor if Zoren didn't immediately catch him.

She shook off Zoren's hand that was holding him and almost crawled his way to the coffin where mom was,

Every time dad cries, I don't understand why it hurts me. My heart felt like it was being squeezed while seeing him hurt like that.