Chapter 51 Unexpected kiss
Uriel's POV
"Just who I've been patiently waiting for." My mother said the minute I pushed the door open.
When my eyes landed on Emma's smudged mascara that darkened the bags under her eyes, I knew I was cooked.
"Mother, I can -" my words got cut off with a hard smack that landed right on my left cheek - hard.
My teeth drove hard into my tongue, drilling out blood.
I clenched my jaw, slowly raising my head to look into her eyes.
"Now, how does that feel?" She asked, frowning at me. "Ugly right? You don't like it, do you?"
"You... you didn't ask me what she did, mother." My voice was small, my hand raising up to my burning face.
She threw her hand on the other side of my face, making my eyes actually sting with tears this time.
"That's for humiliating my daughter in front of the whole school!" She yelled, her nose flaring. "How dare you?"
"She humiliated me first!" My eyes met with that of my mother, matching her glare. "She indirectly slutted me out."
My mother folded her arms, unfeigned.
I scoffed, shaking my head small. "Mother, she asked a boy to deflower me! Do you really not care at all? Will you not scold her for it? Please you have to." I begged, I didn't care.
All I wanted was for her to put me in front for once.
Only this once
"She must have done that for a good reason. Wait - you're lying now." My mother eyed me up and down. "Deflower? For the hundredth time or what?"
All the colors on my face drained out, my tears spilling down slowly, painfully.
"I don't know why I always thought you could redeem yourself as a mother in my life. I don't know why I still hope that you'll show me love!!" I screamed.
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes. "This is the last time I'll warn you. Emma is the face of this family and she deserves to be respected both inside and outside. If she slaps you on one cheek, you turn your other side of the cheek." She pointed.
Then she walked back to Emma, wrapping her arms around her shoulder, "look at her. You almost ruined her face with those filthy hands of yours."
"Mother, she wants me to look like her. All these are because of a man." Emma spoke, faking a broken voice
I eyed her in disgust
This had nothing to do with a man but my dignity.
"God forbid! You'll never look like her." My mother rebuked as if looking like me was a curse.
My heart squeezed as I watched them interact so closely with my mother pulling her into her.
"This is so unfair. I'm the other hurt, mother. Am I even your child?" I asked the one question that had been in my heart for years.
My mother stood up suddenly, walking up to me. "Maybe you'd understand the gravity of your mistake when you're punished." She pulled me by my hand, taking me to the kitchen.
"What?"
"You still don't get it, do you?" My mother halted, eyeing me up. "Emma can never ever do wrong by me because she's perfect. But you? Oh, you bring me so much trouble. I - I regret."
My heart shattered into million pieces, the tears increasing.
She left my hand, flicking the gas on. "Maybe when you look at this scar, you'll remember what not to ever do."
She grabbed my hard tightly, pulling it to the burning flames. My eyes widened, my heartbeat accelerating.
"Mother, stop!"
We struggled back and forth, pulling and pushing my hand. Emma stood by the door, increasing her sobs, crying about how her face were deforming - fueling my mother.
The heat from the flames touched my skin, making the hairs on my neck stand. Impulsively, I drove my teeth deep into my mother's hand.
"Ahhh! You bitch." She screamed, holding her hand. "You'll leave my house today. I promise you!"
"I don't even want to be here anymore!" I eyed her up, my heart pricking me from guilt
No, she deserved it
"Get out!!!" She screamed at me, her hands trembling as she pointed at the door.
"I hate all of you!" Crying, I turned away, picking up my bag.
"Riel? What's going on?" My father rolled out, confusion etched on his face. His eyes hardened when it connected to mine.
"I'm leaving." I told him plainly, placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Wait!"
"Oh, let her go, Paul. It's high time." I heard my mother yell before i slammed the door.
Of course.
"Uriel?" A masculine voice called, making me freeze.
My eyes raised up, meeting the owner, "Lance!" My voice was small, almost breathless.
"I was asked to drop this letter with your parents." He walked closer, his eyes growing darker eventually. "You're crying."
My eyes darted to my house and then back to him, "please take me out of here."
His hand clenched beside him, his eyes blazing with anger. "Let's go."
At least it wasn't Ryder.
I bet he would've shook my house up, threatening my mother.
"They don't deserve you." Lance laced his fingers with mine, whispering nice words to me as we drove to his place.
By the time we got to his house, I had stopped crying. My whole body felt numb, my face straight and eyes soulless.
"I'll microwave something for you to eat." He told me, dropping my bag on the counter.
"No, thank you." I shook my head, forcing a smile. "I'm fine."
"Okay, I'll set up a bath for you then." Lance said quickly.
"Don't bother, Lance. I'll be gone soon." I said dryly.
"Why?"
"I don't want to disturb you. I'm sorry I brought this to your place." I chuckled lowly
"Are you serious right now? You know I always want you in my space." Lance placed his hand on my thigh. "You're my person. Besides, my parents travelled so you can definitely stay over."
My heart melted at his kindness. "Thank you so much, Lance." I spoke softly, my eyes tearing up.
"Oh come on!" He pulled me in for a hug, rubbing my back softly. "Wanna talk about it?"
I shook my head.
"I'm always here for you, Uriel. Always." Lance cooed. "Just give me a chance."
I placed my hand on his waist, pulling him back a bit. "A chance?"
What was this about? I thought
His eyes widened in panic, his lips letting out his signature nervous laugh, "a chance to be here for you?"
Ahh
I nodded slowly, sighing weakly.
My eyes caught on the white envelope. "I'm sure this is about the trip with the swim team."
When I opened it, it was just as I had predicted.
"You're travelling with the swim team? As in Ryder?" Lance's shoulder turned stiff, his eyes hard.
He really wasn't a fan of that guy.
"Yeah." I pulled a pen from his breast pocket, signing on behalf of my mother.
I didn't even know why I called her my mother.
That was just Emma's mother.
"You can't go." Lance spat, his tone sharp
I raised my eyebrow at him, "why?"
"I don't know. Just call in sick or something." Lance shrugged.
"I can't. Ryder needs me!"
"I need you too." He snapped, then pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. "Your friends needs you. Your books need you."
"You know this is being graded for me, right? I need this, Lance. I don't understand you." I shook my head, folding my arms.
"You know your problem? You're too trusting and Ryder is just going to break every bit of that. You don't realize that but it's going to happen." Lance spoke, anger laced in his voice.
"I'm not doing this because of only Ryder. You're not getting this!" I threw my hands up in frustration.
"No, you don't see it. You don't see anything at all. All you see if what you want to see." Lance pointed.
Scoffing, I turned, looking for my bag. "Thank you for having me but I'll take my leave now."
"Shit!" I heard him mutter as I marched to the door. "Uri! Uri, I'm sorry." He appeared in front of me, blocking my path.
"Please move." I sighed weakly.
"I'm just looking out for you. Forgive me for caring too much?" He held my shoulder. "I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry, Uri. Please stay."
I swallowed hard, looking at him.
A long sigh left my lips, my hand falling to my side weakly.
Only someone who cares would act protective of you. I advised myself.
"Okay."
His eyes lit up, a big grin on his face. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to my cheek.
We both froze afterwards, our eyes boring into each other.
Holy shit.