Raven's POV.
"Where are you going?" Daddy's scream could be heard in the whole house; his eyes were glaring, and he didn't seem to want to see me.
"I am here for my mother." I was full of confidence and authority when I responded to his question. We have often disagreed on many things since then, so this scene between the two of us is not new.
He stepped near me and then pulled my collar. He gritted his teeth while saying. "You are forbidden to come here, jerk!" He pushed me, but I was able to remove his hand from me. I ignored that and looked at him; he felt insulted by what I did. "Don't ever come back here!"
"What do you want? You want me to do what you want just like before?" I smirk. "Mind you, I am not like that before, like a slave. You can do it with Roux!" I spit out, but he gave me a strong blow.
A scream from above was what we'd heard; I didn't have time to look at that since it was probably my mother.
"Honey, don't do that to Raven." Mom rubs my face. "Are you okay, baby?" I nod. I don't want my father's fight to escalate. Besides, there's nothing that's my fault. Why does he seem to blame everything on me?
"Get him out of my house!" Dad growled and marched away from us.
"Baby," Mommy supported me and helped a maid find a first aid kit. I sigh and wait for the maid to come over.
She treated me immediately when the first aid kit arrived. I moaned when she pressed the alcohol cotton on my lips. Darn it! I look like shit after my dad punched me.
"You know your dad is a boxing champion, so please just keep away from him!" Mommy preached, but I was focusing on her treatment; I won't get better. "Done," she asked to get the kit to the maid, and then we stood up. "Don't come back here; what you did is unforgivable, so just understand."
"And what he did is just fine?" I sarcastically fired back, "Mom, that girl is my whole world, and then he did that? And your fvcking bastard son!"
"Raven!" I also left so that mommy and I wouldn't fight anymore, I'm not used to it. I went to my car, and now I don't know where to go.
Now that she isn't here, what will I do? Just sit in the middle and wait for her to come back and remember me.
No fvcking way that she would come back here for me. I know her; unless she wants to take revenge on me then I'll fvcking give her the credits! I'm happy if she does, but I fear that the woman wouldn't do that.
"Damn! Why was I fvcking and caring about Lethia? If only I wouldn't have looked after her, then everything would be fine!" I hissed to myself. No one would be blamed here but me. I was duped and turned around by Lethia.
So from then on, I vowed to myself that I only cared about my woman and no one else, even if someone died. But remembering my cousin, who died because of me, will always be in my mind.
"Raven, Anastasia, you two should just be around here!" We were ten years old at the time, and Roux and I didn't get along very well. Roux always clung to Mommy, so Anastasia was my friend for the past few years.
We always bond, play, and eat together like siblings. We were almost inseparable, especially when she was supposed to study in the U.S. But she chose to be here because I didn't want to come. We both became closer; we have the same section, and we do almost everything together.
"Yes, Mom," we said in unison to her mother, Aunt Sylvia.
"Eat first Anastasia and Raven before swimming at the sea," I pouted. Anastasia brought a sandwich for me with pineapple juice that she knew was my favorite. The two of us smiled at each other and talked constantly. We can't count how many times we've fought, yet we always make up. Anastasia is hard to beat; she will sulk until the end of the year, and she will treat you like a wind that she can only feel but can't see.
"Mom, we're leaving!" I shouted to my mom, and we both quickly ran towards the ocean. "Yeah!" We both screamed and jumped up and down until we reached our knees.
We were excited, and the wind was cool, so we were delighted to take a bath and go back there. We even joined in the playing of volleyball, even though they were older than us.
The time came that we were hungry once again, so we went up to the water and got food.
"Anastasia, Raven, don't go back into the water. It's supposed to be stormy this afternoon, so get dressed and we're leaving." We both fell apart; we could only go to the beach once because we were always in the pool.
"Okay, mom," was my only answer. I also don't want both of us to drown in case the water turns high.
"But mom please, we'll only go up when there's a storm." Anastasia complained and held my hand. "Besides, Raven is a good swimmer, so I know he can save me." She grinned all over the corner of her lips, so I sighed and left with no choice.
"Fine," her mother gave up. She knew how stubborn Anastasia was. "Raven, please accompany her."
"Yes." I even gestured a salute, causing them to laugh.
We swam all over everywhere, until I felt something strange in the water. It's as if his waves are fierce and rising; I gulp.
"Anastasia," I called her name. "Let's go; we have to go upstairs." I warn her; we can't stay long because the waves are starting to feel poles apart.
"Just wait, I'm trying to find my necklace; it's missing." She bawled. I shook my head and convinced her, but she was stubborn, “You give that to me so I must find it!” She shrieked and went under.
I closed my eyes and swam under it to follow her. But the inside was submerged, so I couldn't see her very well. I alerted my eyes from everywhere so I could find her quickly. I search for her everywhere, and when I find her, she is waving and has seen the necklace.
I waved at her, and we were about to go up, but when she swam, it looked like she ran out of air, so I immediately went to her. Fvck! I cursed inside my mind, held the bill, and put her on my back so we could leave. I'm about to run out of air too; I need to get out of here.
I was swimming yet weak since she was on top of my back. We were close, but the strong waves slapped us one after another. The rescuers saw us, and they took us and put us on their rubber boat. Never imagine that we are far from where they are. My dad and Anastasia's dad were soaking wet while mommy was crying when she called us.
When we arrived, I was already weak; I felt dizzy, and Mom hugged me and handed me a towel. She was worried about me. We looked at Anastasia, and she was already pale.
"I'm sorry to inform you, but this little girl is dead," the rescuer announced. I let go of my mom's hold and went there to complain.
"That's not true! She's alive! She is alive! We'll talk more! She's just passing out because of the water she's drinking, but she's fine!" I disagree with his statement. I went to Anastasia's body and did CPR because my instinct was strong. Anastasia's mommy did the same and kept crying.
"Anastasia, baby, wake up, please." She held her daughter's hands, but Anastasia was already cold, of course, because she was in the water. I convinced myself; she was taken to the hospital, and I wanted to go with her, but her mother forbade me.
"You have enough, Raven! When she's gone, don't show me!" I jumped at her statement and how she shouted it to everyone.
I was calling Anastasia and did my best to pray, but it wasn't enough. Since it is true that she is gone, I did everything to see her at his grave, but my aunt forbade me to see their daughter.
"You killed her, Raven! You killed my daughter!" She spit and pushed me, causing me to fall. It didn't hurt, but I started to feel numb at that point. All I want is to see Anastasia, even for the last time.
I kneel and beg that, for the last time, I can at least see my best friend. But she didn't allow me, and her staff just sent me away.
I mourned for her at our favorite place at that time.
That's when I swear to myself that I won't make friends anymore, and I'm afraid of people who want to die in front of me.