39. Garber’s POV

Garber’s POV

Shortly after Rina announced that Dad would be joining us for dinner, he came home.

The divorce settlement, from the time my mom found out he was cheating—with his driver, no less—was very rocky for us.

Not to mention the whole state was talking about it, given his position as the mayor.

Mom was always crying and cursing at him, so I naturally came to hate him too.

The man who cheated on his wife, who had dedicated her whole life to him, having his kids and all.

But that evening, when he walked in, looking all lean, his eyes sunken into their sockets and his usual outfits overly large against his frame, I knew that he didn't have it any better.

He had also dedicated his life to her, and even though he chose to ruin it with his own hands, he still suffered.

So it was awkward.

“How are you, Garber? Haven't seen you in a while,” he said as he stretched out his hand for a handshake.

“Me too,” I thought as I extended my hand to his.

“Oh, Dad,” Clarissa ran up to him with a hug before I even got the chance to talk to him.

It, however, gave me a chance to walk up to my mom and ask discreetly, “Has Rolly gone?”

“Hmm,” she nodded. “Garber, go bring the spoons,” she announced, and I turned to see my sister standing behind me.

My soul jumped out of my body as I quickly ran into the kitchen.

“You're still as jumpy as ever,” she said under her breath as she took her seat.

“Dad, where are my gifts?” she asked while I waited to make sure everyone was seated before taking my own seat opposite her.

It was terrifying to look into her black eyes, but it was the best position, considering our parents were seated on opposite ends of the table already.

This was the only way to see her attacks before they reached me.

“Your gifts are in the car.”

“Okay, good. I hope they are all for me. Garber doesn’t deserve any more gifts since he was born before me,” she took out her bib and placed it on her chest. I did the same, even though I wouldn't be bothered to do so on a normal day.

“Hmm,” Dad nodded and did the same.

I noticed he had a slight tremor in his hand as he did so. Was he sick? I looked at his face, but all I saw was exhaustion and the longing look he gave my mom.

“Okay. Let's pray,” Rina announced.

After the prayer, which she led, a pin-drop silence followed.

“Normally, I don't encourage talking at the table, but this is a reunion, so let's share all the exciting things that happened while we were apart.”

“I'll go first,” dad said as he dropped his cutlery, “I miss you,” he said those three words while looking at my mom who continued eating like she didn't hear him.

The sound of her cutlery and her plate qas all that was heard.

The silence was awkward, we couldn't gelp it.

When she noticed we were all looking at her, she cleared her throat, drank some water and turned to Rina.

“Why don't you start, Rina dear. Tell mommy everything that happened in school. Was it fun?” Having the attention turned to Rina was a first grade attention seeker was the best thing my mom did that day.

Mom's resentment was still burning if she would rather talk to Rina than entertain dad.

Betrayal was like that. I couldn't help but think about how it would be for me if Luis and I found ourselves in this situation.

We aren't even married yet’ another thought reminded.

“Oh, i have a lot to tell you about,” Arina chuckled, ignoring all else now that she had all our attention.

Dad let out a sad And heavy sigh on the side

“Let's save the beat from the last,” she turned to me, a creepy smile playing on the edge of her Lips.

“Garber, i Saw you have A girlfriend.”

“Uhn?” I swallowed the barely chewed potatoes amd stared at her.

They aren't allowed phones or any gadgets at all in her school, so how did she know?

“I tried to catch up on everything that was going on on my way back and I saw the video where she played with your penis.”

I couldn't hold back and started to choke and cough like I was at the verge of death.

“Here,” my dad handed me a glass Of water and it took me another full minute to calm down.

“Dirty,” she snorted, “so tell me about your girlfriend,” she said then paused, “better still invite her. Let's have dinner together tomorrow,” she clapped her hands like she had just said a genius plan.

“Dad, you will come over for dinner right?” She turned to him.

“I'm sorry dear. But I made plans already,” he said.

Of course he was the only one who ever dared to say no to her.

“Oh, is it business Plans or plans with your boyfriend?” She asked.

“Hmm.”

“If it's a business plan, you cancel it. But if it's a plan with your boyfriend, then I'll allow it. I shouldnt disrupt Love,” she said then turned to me.

But I could tell that she supported dad's relationship. However I didn't think it would be the same with Rolland or mine.

“You really want to see my girlfriend?” I asked as I was a little frozen and still caught off guard.

“Of course, do I look like I'm joking? I want to see how fun she is.”

“I..I'll talk to her about time,” you stuttered As I thought about Mia. She was in trouble. It was scary to imagine how explosive It would be if 2 balls of trouble clashed.

“Talk? Just bring her the fuck iver.” she cussed as she slammed her glass of juice on the table. Despite the aggressiveness, It didn't spill a drop.

“Language, Rina!” my dad, the only person who ever dared to scold her.

“No!” She said firmly. “You make sure to Bring her over tomorrow, else,” she made a slicing gesture under her jaw.

“Y..yes sure. Dinner,” I said.

I believed her. Rina never gave empty threats!

“It's my turn to share my story,” she smiled and sat up

“Sure, tell us about all The fun things you did at school,” my dad Probed

While my mom.and I stayed silent.

We definitely didn't want to hear the horrors she committed.

“I think I'm a messenger of God.” She removed her bib and announced with so much confidence it scared me.

“Baby, you didn’t finish your food yet. It could go to waste,” my mom put forth her final attempt to shut Rina from horrifying us.

“I’m done. Garber has to finish it up. Wasting food should be a crime.” She pushed her plate to me, and although I didn't have the appetite, I placed it beside mine.

“Why do you say so?” Dad asked.

“Well, after I pushed a girl in a wheelchair into the pond, she was able to walk and even swim.”

The light in her eyes was so bright and beautiful, but it couldn't be appreciated because of the darkness she carried.

Messenger of God? More like Messenger of Destruction.

“Rina? That’s bullying. You promised.”

“Of course, I didn’t bully her. All I did was trigger her flight response. At first, it looked like she would drown. But suddenly, there were bubbles, and she was swimming out of the pond. She even ran, even though her legs were crippled.”

I didn’t want to imagine how terrified her victim must have been. Although, she needed to be a bad person to have ended up in the same place as Rina to start with.

“And then her sister tried to bully me. But guess what, Garber?” she asked, and I choked the moment she looked at me.

However, I didn’t dare to cough, so I grabbed the cup of juice and answered.

“What?”

“She ended up in a wheelchair.” Then she started to laugh.

It was hysterical. It was scary. But at this point, everyone knew not to interrupt her.

“Do you want to know how?” As long as she didn’t call my name, I tuned myself to autopilot and basically passed out while still functioning normally.

And I didn’t come through until I was at the door of my room.

“Oh, thank God,” I muttered consciously and pushed the door open.

It was late, and I was exhausted.

For the first time in a while, I dreaded lying on my bed because of the nightmares that threatened to drown me in my sleep.

*Who wants to see more of Rina's craziness?*