Chapter Nine

*This chapter contains suicide that may be triggering. Read at your own risk.

The sound of rumbling thunder jolts me out of my slumber. I slowly opened my eyes and narrowed them when I saw the heavy rain outside.

I dug under my pillow for my phone to see what time it was, but I awakened with the realization that I had left my phone in the attic. I slowly got out of bed and left the room, but as I entered the attic, I fell backward and sat down as the thunder and lightning flashed again.

My heartbeat quickened and tears began to stream down my cheeks as I looked up at the swaying body of the familiar figure inside. Its body was hanging from the ceiling, eyes wide open and staring at me.

I immediately covered my mouth with both of my hands tightly, and when the thunder and lightning struck again, I could see who was hanging in front of me more clearly.

At that exact moment— a shiver ran down my spine.

“Mommy!”

I woke up gasping for air and attempting to breathe through my mouth. I immediately sat up and began to sweat profusely as I dreamed of it again. It’s been five years, but it still haunts me. I clutched both sides of my head and let my tears fall onto the comforter.

“Ugh!” I wiped my tears away and looked around the four corners of my bedroom. The room was dark, but there was a sliver of sunlight peeking through the black velvet curtains. And, as if on cue, I recall everything that happened last night.

I looked down at my arm, which was covered in the welt of my father’s belt.

I grinned. He sure did not hold back, and since he knew I was going to wear a long-sleeved uniform... He targeted my arm and covered it in bruises. He was well aware that it would be covered up and that it would not be obvious at the university that I had been a victim of physical abuse. Hah! My father’s so fucking cunning.

This isn’t the first time he’s done something like this to me. Fortunately, it did not leave a scar because he is preventing that from happening; he is aware that it could be used against him if I muster the courage to report him again.

I sighed while looking at the ceiling and returned my gaze to my arms.

“I’m such a total mess,” I thought to myself.

Even though my arm was still numb, I ignored it and got ready for school instead. I don’t want to be late for class again, as I was yesterday.

After I finished preparing for school, I went downstairs to the kitchen but I didn’t expect to find three demons there: Dad, Kathy, and her mother, who is the most demonic of them all.

Wow! Am I in hell? I smirked and walked straight to the refrigerator to fill my tumbler with water.

“Aren’t you going to eat, Kharris?” Divina asked, causing me to pause for a moment and watch her eat like a queen. I can’t believe she still asks me as if nothing happened.

“You expect me to eat with you?” I raised my eyebrow, unconcerned that my father would be upset. He already gave me a few lashes last night, so he can’t hurt me again. He’s not that dumb. He was afraid of injuring me too much and having to admit me to the hospital. He’s afraid that other people will discover he’s an abusive father.

I already tried to report him before, but instead of being saved by the officer I complained to, he lectured me, telling me to listen to dad so I wouldn’t get hurt because my worthless father made it appear as if I was bringing several men to our house. Since then, I’ve stopped asking for help from others. I only have myself to rely on.

“Haven’t you learned your lesson, Kharris?” I sighed, averting my gaze to continue filling my tumbler.

“You’re not married,” I responded flatly, not giving a fuck what the consequences of talking back to him are.

“Honey, it’s okay. Your daughter is still in her rebellious phase, and we can’t blame her for why she still doesn’t like me,” Divina said, crying again. I just tightened my grip on my tumbler and ignore it.

“They were trying to maintain a positive relationship with you, but you continued to mistreat them. When are you going to stop?”

I couldn’t help but laugh when Dad said that. I looked at him without showing any emotion as I slid my tumbler into my tote bag.

He really thought Divina and Kathy were nice to me, that they like me and cared about me, but he had no idea that apart from him, Divina was also hurting me and that her daughter was harassing me. My father doesn’t have any idea that her mistress attempted to poison me last year. That’s how wicked she is.

“You owe Divina the respect of being a mother to you,” Dad added which made me smirk. I ran my hand through my hair and looked at the three of them.

“I’ll set the record straight, Dad. I have no plans to play house with your mistress.” I said as I went straight out of the kitchen. Dad called me several times, but I didn’t answer or even look back. I’ve had enough of their nonsense. They can build their own family all they want; I don’t give a damn. I will never consider them as a family—over my dead body.

“What’s wrong?” Reo asked as he appeared beside me. He was inside the car while the window was open, and driving slowly to accompany me as I walked down the sidewalk. “What happened to your car?”

“Dad took my keys,” I replied at the same time he took off his sunglasses. I can’t believe Dad chased me down just to get my car keys. I shook my head thinking about it. “Give me a ride.”

“Hop in,” Reo said when he stopped. I turned to the other side and rode in his car. I still had a bit of a hard time moving my arm when I put on the seatbelt but I made sure Reo wouldn’t notice it.

“Did something happen?” he questioned as he began to drive.

“No, why do you ask?”

“You look pale,” he said, so I lowered the sun visor mirror and looked at myself there; I’m not wearing make-up because it bothers me. I never really spend as much time on myself as the other girls, but I hope I at least apply lipstick so that my lips have some color because I really look pale.

“Let’s go to the convenience store if you see one. I’m going to buy lipstick,” I said, causing Reo to look at me.

“I thought you didn’t like wearing make-up?” he asked and I nodded as I shut the sun visor mirror.

“Yeah, but you said I looked pale,” I shrugged.

“I know, but even if you wear make-up. You still can’t get rid of the fact that you’re not okay; you look pale for a reason,” he explained while driving. “I won’t force you to tell me, but when your father is the reason why you are in that state. I think it’s about time for you to report him for abus—”

“No, it has nothing to do with Dad. I’ve been stressed lately, and I’m still struggling to come up with a design for my proposal.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, and I just nodded in response.

“So, what happened yesterday? Who’s the guy who came to fetch you?” He changes the subject, even though he is aware that something is wrong with me. Reo has always been sharp, and he can see right through my lies and deceit. He’s the type of person who knows right away when something isn’t right around him, especially when it comes to me.

After spending almost every day together for a few years, it became easy for us to read each other’s minds. In fact, I knew more about him than I did about the twins. Although the siblings have been my friends for a long time, I know very little about them. They are still mysterious to me; they don’t open up much, and we don’t see each other very often due to the age difference and different lifestyles.

“Uno’s secretary,” I replied. “He took me to the office because of Uno’s order. We talked about a few things.”

“Like?” I turned to Reo and flash a smile because he is more concerned about my whereabouts than my father. Although my life is miserable, I’m still fortunate to have someone like him in my life.

I will not allow our friendship to fall apart, and I will make sure that I treasure him as much as he treasures me.

“Like, Uno wants to be a friend with benefits with me,” I shrugged as I looked out the window.

“I see.” Was his short response. I returned my gaze to him and it took him a few seconds for my response to sink in.

“Wait, what?!”