Chapter 3: CHAPTER THREE: DRAMA

COLD SHOWER AND expensive fragrant gel… Anna chose to drown her fucking hangover in the coldness of the running water. She made sure it will touch every little part of her warm skin and will mend every tiny pain that keeps on stinging her being.

Anna hopes it will erase all of the memories of what happened last night too. Godammit! If only the soap would and even the bleach near her, she can actually gulp the whole thing just to eliminate all of the insanity, pain, and embarrassment consuming the best part of her.

Feeling refreshed after an hour or so of soaking herself in the cold water. It failed to erase all of the bad memories of last night but it at least took away some of the heat in her head. She then went out of the restroom and headed to her walk-in closet.

Just a few meters away from there is her collection of different expensive clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories. Her kind of heaven, there was plenty to check each of them and with her condition right now. . . nevermind checking which one to wear! Those are all fashionable anyway so it doesn't matter which her fingers would grab.

She just wore her ratty-fitted-looking jeans together with her red velvety spaghetti strap. As usual, it hugs her slim body perfectly. She can't stop looking at the mirror from time to time, it's perfect! If it wasn't for her throbbing head she would surely photograph herself gazillion times.

Right next to her soft bed lies her pair of black stilettos. She knew it was too dangerous to wear high heels right now with her condition— still dizzy and weak.

But with her outfit, she gotta risk it anyway. Her length increases a little more, she actually looks more like a supermodel than Cherry!

But Nah! she doesn’t have to compare herself to that bitch because that viper is completely nothing when it comes to her and just please! stop thinking about her, about them!

Alright, she gotta calm herself down now. . . but how can she be if she can't even hold her make-up brushes properly?

This is frustrating her very pained self, bullshit! Her reflection from the vanity mirror shows how gross she looks right now. Her bare face is pale without anything such as blush on, contour, or lippies. She's actually starting to hyperventilate with those dark circles underneath her eyes, she badly needs some cream to conceal them.

But where the hell is her freaking concealer cream? Gosh! she really feels so lazy to put anything in her face! Her pretty eyes were swollen and she can't be seen in this way. Anna searched for anything in her room until her sunglasses caught her attention...

"Oooh! this would do."

To keep the bareness of her upturned eyes and the ugly swelling of it, she chose to bring her Gucci black sunglasses with her. She hung it on her clothes neckline in the meantime before she put a thin shade of her vibrant matte lipstick on her lips and voila!

She looks good to ramp again.

Just one more time, she examined her whole reflection through the mirror. She can't stop feeling proud of her perfectly sculpted curves, her 213-centimeter height is very perfect for her age, and her fair skin suits the jet-black hair she's sporting.

Anna is an epitome of perfection, indeed!

"Hey there, sister of Venus!" A smirk once again made its way to her lips. At last, she finally lifted her expensive dark bag from the couch as she went out for breakfast and more of her plans today not including her job because it's sickening the hell out of her.

Just at least not today!

Heading toward the dining, the delicious smell of food made Anna drool so much to walk at a faster pace. One of their maids pulled a chair for her so she could comfortably sit now, but she seemed to forget about courtesy and didn't even bother thanking the server.

It's been a long while now since she deleted it in her vocabulary.

Her eyes immediately feasted on all the mouthwatering dishes organized on the table. She didn't have her dinner last night and this is actually a late breakfast for today, therefore she can't blame her tummy for complaining a lot.

Anna started with a slice of bread and spread it with some marmalade right next to it. One of their servers placed a hot chocolate just beside her, the sweet scent of it caught her attention next. It's not bad to indulge herself today, right? Forget about diet and nutrition, it's not like she will die after taking delight.

Still savoring the last drop of her hot chocolate drink when an explosion from somewhere shocked her being, the last drop almost spilled from her favorite dress. Hell no! It's one of her favorites and this is a limited edition so she can't forgive that easily if it gets stained.

But if it's her mom sporting a dark stare with lips pursing in a thin line. . . then, she thinks it ain't bad to just let it pass.

Anna calmly placed her cup on the table just to have a full view of her mom whose balled fist remains kissing the poor table. Her eyes show no sunshine, like usual, they are dark and filled with rage. But Anna can't feel any fear anymore.

It's been what? Million times now that she's interrupting her peaceful breakfast this way like a favorite pastime.

If Anna was not just used to that, maybe she had her cup fallen against their tiled floor already and had herself running away from the table for a normal mother will never do something rude like this to their daughter neither in front of those delicious foods.

But no! She was pretty used to her mom's sudden changes of mood and usual grumpiness. Maybe it's because of her old hormones? She's slowly coming near to her menopausal stage and the signs such as this can't be prevented, right?

Well, she better think this way rather than hit the drama button on her mind thinking about how her mom hates her as her daughter over and over again.

Although, that's a little true.

"Good morning, mommy!" she greeted her with a bright and sweet smile; acting innocent in front of her. "It's been a decade or two now, haven't your fingers died yet? Why do you always have to pound the table if you could just find a hummer to do—"

"Where have you been last night, Anna?" she cut her greeting off with a hard tone, there goes her eyes flickering with annoyance again.

They reflected Matthew's eyes last night.

"Fuck..." the curse slipped out of her mouth at the sudden thought of her asshole of a best friend.

Once again, her mum hit the innocent table. "Do not ever use that curse on me, I've never taught you such curses!"

Surprised by her reaction, Anna finds her mom funny for always thinking that the world is only revolving around her. Did she mention her name after her curse? No, at least that's what she knows.

"I wasn't, Mom. It's for someone that I was annoyed with. Of course, it's not you, you are too good to be cursed."

But from the back of her mind, Anna was like puking more curses. Of course, that's sarcasm! She'd never been a good mother to her and she was kind of thinking that maybe the curse could also belong to her. Her sudden intrusion deserves the curse anyway, for interrupting her peaceful breakfast.

"Yeah, whatever..." Her intense stares remain darted on Anna.

She can't take seeing the anger in there so she chose to divert her attention over the delicious and crispy bacon.

"Divina told me that you went home very late last night, 2:30 a. m.! Really, Anna? That's not even late night, that's wee hours for goodness sake! And the worst part is you were very wasted that the taxi driver had to carry you all the way to your room. . ."

Though her world is far from reach, her mum's questions didn't get to her ear.

Once again, she sliced a piece of bacon and this time, Anna got the heart to offer some to her mom. Although, she didn't mind giving any answers even just sign language if she likes it or not. So, Anna just shrugged her shoulders away and directed the spoon towards her mouth instead.

She doesn't like to share a single spoon with her? But she brushed twice this morning, alright.

After the crispy bacon, Anna directed her attention over this toasted bread just a few inches away from her. This time she tried to make a sandwich for herself, she started with the loaf just what she usually sees in internet videos. Some leaves of fresh lettuce, she topped it with steamed ham and an ample amount of creamy mayo.

Anna has been keeping herself very busy with her mouthwatering sandwich in front of her mom who's still standing with her arms crossed in front of her tightening chest, nagging like a radio with not-so-informative dialogues.

"You are old enough, Anna. You're twenty-four for goodness sake! I don't even know why I have to scold you like this every day—"

"I don't even know why Mom. Believe me," her tone sounds flat but the sarcasm from there is audible.

Her mother smoldered with resentment now, her chest is making fast waves.

"You're not the five-year-old little girl who needs to be reminded of good manners and how to properly behave like a lady anymore... Do you know what saddens me about you growing up? You lost all that you have learned from us and your school, you lost it now that you're old enough to differentiate the bad things from good things."

The pain from her voice made Anna stop chewing her food. She knew it when her mother was about to cry out of too much disappointment, emotions, or whatsoever!

Therefore, Anna never dared to take a peek at her eyes. She really hates drama early in the morning but here is her dramatic mother giving Anna this kind of heavy scene.

"Fairness to you, Yaya Daisyree! You really cook like a pro," she complimented happily, trying to end the drama. She threw her thumb in the air to express her appreciation which she doesn't usually do. "Nice one!"

But her hand got spanked strong enough to make it fall down against the table.

"You're not listening again!" Her scream roared in every corner of their mansion, her fury getting into her voice. "What is it really that you wanna do with your life, huh? Get into harm? Die?"

Now, her breakfast is completely ruined. She lost her appetite the same as she's losing her respect for this bummer of a mother in her front.

One sharp glare at her mother and she freed both of her spoon and fork, she let herself fall down against the backrest giving all of her freaking attention to her annoying mother now.

Well, she has been like this since Anna started the rebellious life she has… Actually, she has been nagging a lot since Anna was a kid. It just multiplied and went severely when she learned to drink alcohol back in her teenage years.

That’s a habit she would never learn if they would have shown her enough attention and appreciation from the very beginning. But just what she used to say, her mother is different.

She looks like a perfect mother when everyone's around them or whenever she wanna be. But most of the time, she's cold and heartless, and she acts indifferently. Sometimes, the idea of maybe Anna is not really their biological child kind of enters her mind.

You can't blame her though. The cruel treatment she was getting from her family explains it all.

Although, through the years she learned to handle her feelings. She learned to mend her wounds alone to survive and part of her ways is to imagine her mother as some sort of turbulent air which she can hear but she cannot see, or a mosquito maybe?

Sometimes, she wanna strike her in between her palms.

"Oh! Honey. What is this again? Your sharp yells reached me up there in our room."

There's amusement over his voice as he approaches both of them inside the dining room, he kisses both of them good morning. He placed his half-opened case down on the empty seat, but a paper from there kinda showed some random name: Conrad Zamora?

What a name, tsss!

"What's happening here, hmmm? I lost count already, how many world wars did the two of you have as of now, huh?" He threw both of them a curious look. "Tell me, should I apply your often wars in world records so this fighting would make some sense?"

Her dad looked so formal with his black coat with red tie clinging to his neck but with what he just asked them, Anna can't help feeling joyful right now.

Eventually, she lets her lips fall into a wide smile because her father's presence only means one thing, Anna is safe now.

He's her hero, her lawyer, her super dad. Well, kinda childish but her dad never fails to make Anna feel that she is still his baby girl and he needs to take care of her very well. Among all of their family members, it's only her father who never failed to make her feel that she's a treasure and she is precious in this world.

And to have him when things were getting heavier is her favorite part ever! This only means one thing, escape. This means she could go now and let her lawyer fix her case.

But not so fast! Because her mom is really livid today, so just be more patient and wait for the right signal maybe?

That won't cost a lot, just the right signal.

"It's because your daughter isn't listening to us anymore," her mom started with a little calmer tone now. She turned to face her husband and explained things. "Did you know that she went home very late last night and the worst part was she's too drunk again? Hon, our daughter shouldn't act like that. She should know it better, she's old enough!"

Her daddy moved more to close the gap between them, his every caress on her paper white skin was filled with gentleness and sympathy.

"Calm down, honey. You're making me worry too much, stop stressing yourself over our daughter here. She's just having fun and just like what you just said, she's old enough so let's just let her be." He then turned his head towards Anna, he gave her a serious expression this time. "In fact, you won't let anything bad happen to you, right?"

Now, both of their eyes darted toward her.

"Of course, Daddy. I'm not an Idiot to put my own life in danger. I can handle myself just fine, stop worrying like I'm still a five-year-old kid here."

But her mom twitched her lips more, she didn't look satisfied with Anna's answer.

"And now you're having a go against me? Anna, I've been with that idea as well. Of course, you'll never let something bad happen but what about when you're drunk and almost lifeless?" she clearly pointed that out, her chest is rapidly moving now. "Anna, you really don't know the danger or when will it hit you—"

"Then, I'll make sure to be attentive enough to avoid it."

Both of her parents' eyes widened. Her mom was about to explode again when Anna raised her hand and made a peace sign from her index and middle finger.

"Kidding, Mommy."

"Anna! Don't be this rude to your mother," her daddy uttered with authority. "Act your age, please."

She secretly rolled her eyes somewhere. Can this morning get more annoying?

"Fine! I'm sorry but it came from your own lips, Mom. We don't know the danger, if so then, maybe I can befriend him but then I have no power to recognize such but that doesn't mean we'll lock ourselves inside the house 24/7 just to be protected. We are not in the stone age era and hide away from the people just to be safe."

Amid her serious reasoning, her fingers were secretly crawling to get her bag. She gotta leave them now before they would punish her again with all the things they know about the word "parenting".

"If it's my time, then nobody can stop that. We can't write our fate, we can't control anything in this world. It's only G who has the power, Mom, Dad."

Then, she stood up with her bag in her hands now, great! A few steps toward her parents and she gave each of their cheeks a kiss of goodbye.

Now, it's exit time!

"Ciao, Mom and Dad!" she said in a scream while half-running towards the huge main door of their house.

She can't help feeling free now, after an hour of her mother's nags, finally! Anna wiped her face when she tasted some mayo from the skin near her lips and she was not wrong, there was really a stain of mayonnaise right there.

"Anna! We're not done yet!" Her scream once again reached every corner of their house. "Come back here!"

Anna just rolled her pretty eyes as she opened the door to finally leave. "Just reserve it for my breakfast tomorrow, mom. I'm so full today, tomorrow is another as they say..."