Chapter four- unladylike

They assumed she was a sinner,

For she was always found alone,

Yet the real culprits were never questioned,

For they murdered behind closed doors.

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12 December 2010

I continued to play nice but since they showed no sign of surrender, I knew exactly what I was going to do next.

I planned on messing around with everyone around me and causing indescribable chaos until they got tired of me and handed my playstation back.

It wasn't the smartest of the plans I normally put together but this was the only strategy that had crossed my mind.

I knew better than to ask Lucas or Noah for help for I was certain they would snitch on me any chance they got or would probably blackmail me for the rest of my life.

My thoughts clouded my conscious as sleep consumed me.

The next morning my sleep was disturbed as streaks of light peaked through the plain caramel tinted blinds and crept upon my face, welling up an unpleasant feeling that started to take its effect from my forehead down to the tips of my toes; invading my scrumptious dreams of cotton candy clouds and glittery unicorns; jolting me awake.

I was beyond tired therefore I let the feeling subside and shut my eyes once more, hoping to fall right back to my very own exclusive utopia but that didn't last too long as a knock on the door diminished my sleep once again.

"What do you want?"

I was far too irritated to bother considering the consequences if either mum or dad were on the other side.

Rania walked in with an apologetic smile plastered on her lips. "Don't you think you've slept enough?"

She asked and when I glared at her hard, she took her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down hard.

"I guess not then", she answered her question herself as if I wasn't present in the same room as her.

If only she had known how I wouldn't be able to sleep nor shut my lids for months on end,

how my eyes would resemble a clot of blood not so soon after; would she have let me sleep in.

Rania was a maid who had worked for us ever since I opened my eyes.

She was always there for me; honestly speaking she was never much of a servant to me, more like a friend.

Someone who knew all my secrets and I knew hers.

Raina was beyond striking and one could never tell she was in her late forties until they were informed.

Her skin was chocolate brown while her hair were jet black.

She had been through a lot in her hell excuse of a life but she never let it show, she hid her white hair with dyes and her pain and sorrows with an angelic smile.

She was a great listener and one of the reasons why I never really felt the need to go to my parents for advice, I had her and she made sure I was fine, even if that meant she had to sit for hours, torching herself listening to my rants.

To be completely honest; I was never a big fan of having maids, I claimed they deserve better and that it's highly unfair that they were born in poverty when I was born in riches.

They don't have food to eat while i have several different dishes served in front of me, three times a day.

How they were never able to go to school, be educated, lead a journey towards a respectful career; while I had everything lined up at my doorstep.

How they never had the privilege to basic necessities of life while I get whatever I please at the snap of my fingers.

Fuck privileges

They barely had stitched clothes to wear and clean water to drink.

So how was it fair?

If god claims that he loves all his creations equally than why aren't we created equal?

Why rich and poor?

Why believers and disbelievers?

Why not just humans?

After a whole bunch of convincing and threatening, Raina somehow managed to drag me downstairs for breakfast despite my disinterest in sitting with the rest of them and hearing my mother rant about how I'm using the wrong fork for the wrong dish.

I was just about to think of an escape back to my utopia when my orbs laid on the breakfast table and that thought left as fast as it had come.

The table was covered with all different types of dishes; Croissants, jam and bread, nuggets and sausages, hash browns, toast, cream cheese, three different types of melted cheeses

And fruits which included; strawberries, bananas, pineapple, apples, watermelon, melon, litchis, guavas, kiwis and dragon fruits; all cut into square blocks and placed accordingly in their bowls.

I looked to the other side of the table which held the coffee, milk and teas, the juices were placed next to them.

I scanned the breathtaking golden tinted table as my eyes searched for the one thing my stomach ached for the most.

A silly smile made its way to my lips as I located the coco-pops.

I quickly greeted everyone a good morning as I seated myself on my respectful chair.

I grabbed the coco-pops and tilted the box till the bowl was about to overflow.

Then clutching the warm glass of milk, I poured its substance into the bowl, soaking the cereal into it.

Without wasting another moment, I grabbed a spoonful and shoved it into my mouth.

The flavour of chocolate exploded in my mouth withdrawing a soft moan from the back of my throat, my eyes shut in ecasaty.

I opened my eyes as I slowly swallowed the substance down my throat, I couldn't help but notice they all were staring at me.

Mum and dad shared glances, while by the look on Lucas's and Noah's face, you could tell they were going to burst into laughter any second now.

My cheeks flushed and I let out an awkward laugh.

But that clearly didn't change the scenario as they kept their gazes locked on me so I did what I did best.

I began eating again.

Acting as if I was oblivious to their stares.

After I was done I picked up my bowl to lick it clean, gaining a scoff from my mother and chuckles from the rest.

"Stop being so unladylike Malaika", she gritted through her teeth.

Despite my table manners; I never did much to irritate my mother and yet she would try her best to throw her nasty 'be a lady' comments whenever she got an opportunity to, very well aware that I hated it when she did that, she pretended as if girls couldn't do anything.

As if girls were weak.

She claimed that there was a certain way that girls are supposed to walk and talk and present themselves.

You know what I thought about it.

Bullshit.

But I could've.

I could've been weak for her.

I could've put on those hideous dresses she always begged me to wear,

I could've not sworn or laughed loudly on the dinner table,

I could've thrown my PlayStation away all by myself; could've never touched a controller for the rest of my life,

I could've come down to eat on time for the rest of my life,

I would've done that all voluntarily,

If only I knew how little time I had left with them.

I jumped from my seat and gulped down my glass of guava juice in one go, then looked back at her matching her glare and walked away.

She used to tell me that women are fragile creatures,

Too overwhelmed with our emotions,

Too weak.

Maybe I did it just to prove her wrong,

To show to her the women aren't weak,

She was to blame.

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