Reyona hated feeling this way but she felt it anyway.
She wished her thoughts and actions could be the same yet it seemed she was always disappointing herself in that aspect.
Hadn't she vowed to herself that nothing would matter to her anymore?
Hadn't she demonstrated in her mind just how cold and detached she would be in dealing with him from now on?
She was a thirty-year-old woman who was stupid enough to love and live with a man who had not loved her for years. And so what?
Now, she was supposed to be able to take charge of her life and do what she needed to do.
"Why then are you quaking inside?" her subconsciousness whispered unapologetically.
It must be because of Toria's taunts.
As much as she loved her sister, sometimes she just wanted to gag her.
If she had not riled her with all that chicken talk, then Reyona would surely not be in this mess.
It was her fault. Silly girl. Reyona thought as she looked over at Toria, who was busy belting out "The way I want it" by Ayragirl with all abandon.
Her hair was flying around as she tossed her head in tune with the pop music.
She had tried to speak to Reyona after they entered the car but due to Reyona's sudden case of nerves, her response had been monotone so she turned up the stereo and had been going on and on with the playlist she had installed in Reyona's car the other day.
Reyona looked at her sister in envy as she thought, "What wouldn't I give to be that carefree again?"
"When have you ever been that carefree?" her subconsciousness countered.
As sad as it might sound, Reyona couldn't truly remember when she had ever been half as carefree as her sister.
"No, Toria had gotten all that," she thought to herself.
She had no idea why but the thought only dampened her mood more.
As she took the last turn of the familiar route she had taken for years, she deliberately emptied her mind of all thoughts. She was going to face that bastard, and she was going to take back what belonged to her.
She would show Toria that she was not a coward.
****
Reyona expected a lot of things.
She expected different scenarios and more.
One thing she had not expected was what she saw on the porch of her home.
Thomas Junior was playing his own version of handball against the wall all alone outside.
Reyona's heart thumped hard and she was tempted to turn right around.
Confronting Thomas was one thing.
Confronting Thomas in the presence of his cute son was another.
What would she say? Hey there, are you the product of the affair your mother had with my husband?
But before she could act on the overwhelming urge, Toria had also seen the boy as well.
She shut off the music as she asked, "Rey, is that...? Rey?" Toria's voice grew more urgent when she saw the look on Reyona's face.
"Let's…" Reyona had not completed her words when she saw Allysyn come out of the house. She must have heard the sound of the car just as her brother, who was currently holding his ball in his hand while squinting to see who was in the car,.
By the time Reyona thought of stopping the car, she was close to the house. As her gaze met with Allysyn and she saw the recognition registered on the girl's face, Thomas Junior, who must have made the connection as well, yelled.
"She is here, dad! The bad woman is...
"Shut up, dummy!" Allysyn interrupted her brother.
The latter momentarily forgot about Reyona. He turned to his sister to let her know what he thought about being called a dummy but before he could unleash his righteous wrath on her, Thomas was hurrying out.
"Can't you two just give me a...?"
His annoyed look turned malevolent when he saw Reyona stepping out of the car. "What are you doing here?"
"Asshole," Reyona thought when he didn't think of keeping this away from the kids.
Then, just as if he heard her thoughts, without taking his eyes off Reyona, he snapped, "Kids, go inside now."
"But Ally said..."
"Now!"
Allysyn almost pulled Junior's arm out of its socket as she took him inside with her.
The latter threw Reyona a hurt look, which only cut deeper into her aching heart.
The moment the door closed, Thomas lost every semblance of composure.
He hurried down the porch steps while yelling, "What the fuck do you want from me again? Are you here to see if I am a mess after what your lawyer said? Well, news flash, bitch. I am not afraid of that stuck-up!"
Regina blamed herself for not calling the lawyer back first to know what the bastard was talking about.
Still, she didn't show any sign of cluelessness as she stood her ground without backing away from his malevolent presence.
"I want you out of my house. I bought this place with my money and I want you out of here. Don't force my hand by making me involved."
"What did you say?" Thomas asked in a dangerously soft voice.
Before Reyona could gauge his intention or react to it, he pushed her hard on her chest.
"What the fuck did you just say to me?" he said as he shoved her mercilessly.
Regina stumbled back and struggled to catch her balance.
"Hey, asshole! Get your fucking hands off my sister!"
Toria jerked the door open with blood in her eyes as she approached him.
"You don't lay your filthy hands on..."
She froze in place as Reyona regained her balance and automatically gave Thomas an uppercut punch at the base of his neck.
Thomas's yell of pain was more like a wheeze, which he eked out as he held his throat while staggering backward.
He wasn't able to regain his balance as he hit his ass hard against the concrete floor.
"That will be the last time you raise your hands at me!" Regina said in a vehemently low tone that she had a huge smile creasing Toria's face.
Humiliated and enraged, Thomas swiped at his suddenly sweat-drenched face. He stood up with a wince as he advanced on her with the intention of hitting her.
Toria immediately raised the camera of her phone to his face as she raised her voice like a presenter: "Hello, everyone. I am about to show you something."
When Thomas paused with his hand raised in the air, Toria snapped it anyway and she looked at him expectantly as she said, "What is causing the holdup? Action!"
Remembering what caused the problem that had gotten him into trouble with his supposed publishing company, Thomas lowered his hands.
He turned to leave but then he still turned back to face Reyona. "You think you have won?" he chuckled horribly as he said, "Oh no, you haven't, bitch. You will pay! You want to get rid of me that easily? Think again! You owe me! I deserve as much as I could get for sticking with a dry stick like you for that long!"
Furious, Reyona opened her mouth to fire back at him. But then something caught her gaze and she froze.
"Oh no, you don't!" Toria raised her hand to slap him but Reyona called her urgently.
"Toria stop!"
Surprised, Toria turned to look at her sister "Wha…?"
She turned away again when she saw that Reyona was not looking at her.
She was looking out one of the east windows.
Toria couldn't see anything but Reyona could.
She turned immediately and headed towards the car.
Confused, Toria hurried after her.