Mia
The departure of the triplet brothers allowed me to regain a brief sense of freedom in the house.
I wasn’t happy to see them leave because of the hard mission they were going to partake in but I was relieved when they were going.
I could see how sorry they were when they were leaving. Even as they were packing their loads into the car, they still had their eyes on me and they seemed like they were still begging for my forgiveness.
I hated the way they looked tortured and wondered why they were desperate for my forgiveness. What was in it for them?
Their dad was still mad at them and wouldn’t even go out to bid them goodbye. It was only mum and I who had stood outside, watching them pack. Mum had tried so hard to find out from Albert why he was mad at the boys but he wouldn’t say anything to her.
I didn’t blame him. How was he to tell her? What was he to say?
I also pretended to not know anything about the matter and eventually, mum gave up on it, hoping that the father and sons would resolve their differences.
Jack looked at me and waved. “Goodbye, sister.”
The others waved at me as well and echoed what he had said. Mum nudged at me to reply and I went down to where they were.
I didn’t like them yet but I couldn’t deny that I was worried about them. I had heard about the mission they were going on and it was indeed dangerous. It wasn’t the one people went on with the way they looked, looking as if they had given up on life and didn’t care much about anything.
I didn’t want them back at home anytime soon but I wanted them alive, at least for Albert’s sake.
“Take care of yourself.” I said to them.
Jack smiled. “You do not wish for us to die?”
I snorted. “Why would I wish for that? My mind is not as dark as yours.”
“Ouch.” Quinn laughed. “I will miss you. We all will.” He looked at his brothers and they nodded, echoing his words to me.
“I won’t. Whatever you do, don’t come back home soon.”
“Noted. We promise to stay alive though.” John nodded.
“Good.”
“Does this mean that you have forgiven us, sister?” John asked.
I looked at them and saw that my response would mean a lot to them. I shrugged, deciding to forgive them. That was going to be my farewell gift to them.
“Let’s say I did.” I smiled at them.
“That means you do.” Quinn grinned at me.
I chuckled. “You can believe whatever you choose to believe.”
The boys chuckled. Jack winked at me. “Would it be too much to ask for a farewell hug?”
I smirked at him. “Don’t push it.”
They were done packing their loads and moved off. I turned back and saw Albert looking at me, standing beside my mum. He smiled at me and I knew he knew that he had heard all what we had talked about and that I had forgiven the boys. It felt good to know that he was proud of me.
He waved at the boys as they drove off and I could see the smile on my mum’s face, happy that he was no longer mad at them.
I was the only child left at home and my mum and stepfather doted on me, showering me with affection. I was called to start work at one of the companies I had applied for jobs and I prepared for it.
I was going to miss my mum but I was glad that I wasn’t going to stay at home and work at the place Albert had said. I didn’t want to be at home and have no alternative when the triplets came back.
I knew that they would behave themselves if they got back and not taunt me but I didn’t trust them yet. I didn’t want to put anything to chance.
I was glad that I was going back to the city as the mansion was in a remote setting. I also missed the house I had grown up in and couldn’t wait to be back there.
As I was leaving that day, I stopped by the living room to say goodbye to my mum and Albert. I wheeled the bag I had behind me as I walked in.
“I’m done, mum. Albert, um, dad.” I said, turning to her.
Mum smiled at me and I could see that Albert was glad that I had called him dad. His smile was wide and brighter than that of the sun.
“Take care of yourself, dear.” Albert said, extending a bank card to me.
I was shocked and opened my mouth in disbelief. I wasn’t expecting it and it seemed like he already got it done ages ago, intending to give it to me.
“Albert,” I breathed, choked by my gratitude. “You didn’t have to bother.”
He smiled at me. “Take it.”
“Take it, sweetheart.” Mum urged me to accept it.
I took it from Albert’s hand. “Thank you, Albert.”
He grinned. “You are welcome. You are just starting out on your first real job after graduation and you need all the help that you can get. I will send a monthly allowance of ten thousand dollars to that account.” He promised.
I was shocked and refused to take it, shaking my head at him. I dropped the card and urged him to take it back.
“I’m now an adult.”
He looked hurt at my rejection and I was forced to take the card back. I waved at them and left.
On my first day of work, it rained overnight and the road was filled with water. A car splashed water all over me as I was walking by, dirtying my clothes and I was mortified. I couldn’t go back home to change as there was no time for that. I had woken up early to prepare for work so I wouldn’t be late and it killed me to think that I was eventually going to be late.
If not for Sasha, my roommate in college who luckily was also employed at my place of work who had seen me on the road and gave me a spare uniform to wear at work, I wouldn’t have known what to do or would have had to go back home and received my first query on my first day of work. She also gave me a coat to wear and I couldn’t thank her enough.
We had been both surprised to see each other again graduation and we couldn’t help our smiles when we found out that we were colleagues at work.
I was glad that I wouldn’t be alone at my place of work and we became close friends, helping each other at work and spending leisure time together at a dance hall after work. I always looked forward to that time. I was getting out of my shell and having a social life and I couldn’t deny how much of it was influenced by Sasha. I couldn’t wait to tell mum of all what I had been up to, I was sure that she would be very proud of me.
I began a normal life and didn’t flinch when I was invited by some of my male colleagues to watch a movie.
I was free. Free to be myself at last.