Elena
I wake up and it’s obvious that this bed isn’t the one I used to sleep on back in my father’s house. It’s a bit thick and not soft, maybe because I haven’t gotten used to it. My hair is messy and all over my face. It appears orange due to the sunlight pouring into the window.
I brush it backward, taking it into a ponytail. I don’t think I have had enough time to take care of my hair and my beauty, all I have been into is trouble, been into trouble for crying out loud.
I’m meant to be in school today, but I need a break to calm myself and to adapt as well. I’m going to be seeing Avera’s face most time because now, she’s pregnant and doesn’t need stress, and that fucking traitor. Could it get any worse?
I get up to go to the bathroom. I need my hair washed and to scented nicely. I brought my cosmetic along while I was packing, and well, I still have my own natural scent. It feels smoother than the morning fresh air, when I wave my hair to the side as I inhale it.
I’m getting ready to take a bath after washing my hair when I hear a knock on my door. I hear the sound and it’s as if my breathing suddenly stops.
“Elena.” she calls. Why is Avera calling me? I don’t answer yet, I look for something to cover up.
“Elena are you there?” she knocks slowly now.
“Yes,” I answer reluctantly. “Come in, if you want.” I add, rolling my hair in a white towel to get it dried.
She opens the door and walks in, but I find it strange though. I have never had this motherly kind of relationship with her. She never looks my way as a child, my dad gave me all the care and love I could ever ask for and well… the loneliness I never wished for.
Avera comes closer staring straight into my blue eyes, “Why are you here, Avera?” my words are heavy to spit out. I know why, because my body is used to hating her than speaking to her casually.
“I need you to join me to the market. I need to get groceries and other items.” she makes a normal face, but anyway I don’t focus on her face that long. I turn to the mirror while I fix my hair properly.
“And you need me to join you?” I say it out boldly because I’m surprised. She never wanted me around her and I never wanted to be around her, we are like positive and positive charges that repels each other.
She kind of noticed my sarcasm, then she says, “Elena I’m pregnant, I can’t do all that on my own.” her tone is still normal. She isn’t yelling nor speaking softly.
I want to let out a yell from my lips, she is telling me she is pregnant and the child isn’t my father’s but my father’s despicable best friend. Avera’s pregnancy is developing already, it is obvious now and if I guess right, then it should be a month or two months old.
She is right, the load will be a lot for her. I don’t hate the child, I only don’t like the mother of the child. That doesn’t mean I would punish the child too, I want to reject, hate, and curse at her but then the baby… I have to think of him/her too.
“When are you going?” I ask, taking my face back to her.
“Now. You just need to change and we’ll go in your car.” she put a hand on her stomach, my eyes lower to her stomach as it’s shaping out already.
“And your so called soon-to-be husband?” I ask.
She sighs, rolling her eyes before giving me an answer. One thing about me, I don’t know how to hide my irritation, it is always obvious on my expression.
“He is off for some work. I need you to drive me there.” she answers.
“Okay, sure. I would do that and I’m not going to school today anyway.” I tell her, trying to breathe well.
I just notice I was holding some breath since the moment she came in. Around her, it feels like the ventilation is poor or someone is blocking my lungs from breathing. I don’t breathe properly as though my chest is tight.
“Thank you.” she nods as she walks out the door.
Once she is out, I sigh out a long breath. I hate this. I hate this feeling and I feel I have to help her because of the poor baby in her womb. Isabella, I’m not wrong right? I take out another long breathe.
I remember I haven’t taken my bathe yet. I get into the bathroom and rush up with my bath. I get out, wearing causal clothes, it’s a little cold so I’m wearing a hoodie and a jean. I fix my hair properly, before I go out of my room.
I meet her in the living room, sitting on the couch. Her face looks so innocent as it kind of sting my heart for having to look at it. Why does heartless people have soft and innocent face, by the way? You fall in love with their face but come to dislike them, because their words and actions are a knife and hell.
“I have my keys to drive, can we go now?” I don’t look at her. I pretend to take my phone out of my pocket. I can’t stomach this ugly feeling I’m having. It is as if my stomach wants to burst for eating something very bad.
“Okay, I’m set.” the pregnancy isn’t that heavy now, so she can get up on her feet without needing any support.
I go out of the house first, getting to the driver seat to start the car while I wait for her to get inside. Again, I feel like someone is ceasing the airs from my lungs. I wish I could have a mother I never have to feel this way with. Well, I’ve stopped wishing for things I can’t get.
There’s a little tear at the edges of my eyes, I take a finger up and wipe it before she gets close to the car.
She gets into the backseat. I start to drive out of the compound to the market.
My face is dull, I don’t smile, but I don’t want it too obvious so I constantly wet my lips while the front side of my hair is tucked behind my ears, looking like an elf. It is pointed, I hear it makes me look prettier when I hangs my hair behind my pointed ears.
I reach our destination, and I parked. We both get out at the same time. “We are here.” I don’t want to sound grumpy, but my throat has been unusually bone dry, and the reason is definitely because I’m not comfortable with her.
My mind splits into two, the angry side and the soft side. My angry side is choking me right now.
“Yes, let’s go in.” she says it like it’s normal for her to talk to me. Maybe she is nervous and I don’t want to bring myself to see that part. She should be anyway. She starts to get the groceries she wants, and I just stand beside her like a body guard. I don’t wish to do this, but I’m not like her, I’m not heartless so I will do all I can for support.
“Get me this please.” she points at a bag of fruits as she demands to have it from the seller while she brings out money from her purse.
As she dips her hands into her purse, something falls off. I think she hasn’t noticed because she doesn’t look down yet. I bend down to pick what fell off. I pick it up and I’m baffled with my blue eyes widening. She keeps a picture of dad in her purse?
“Avera-” I raise up to look at her, when she immediately takes the picture from my hands. Her nervousness heightens and I can see her face red in tension, sweat dotted on her forehead, it’s as though she’s seen a ghost.
“You keep dad’s picture with you?” the question fall out of my lips, as I’m in shock. Why would she do that if she has been acting like she doesn’t like him and never loved him or wanted him?
“I don’t keep your dad’s photos with me! It must have gotten in there one way or the other by mistake, but I don’t keep his photos!” she yells to my face. It feels as though a strong wind is taking me off my feet.
Now I feel attacked in my chest, I can’t stay here anymore. I want to fucking leave her sight now.
“This is it. You never do anything to make things better, but worsen things! I’m done, I can’t do this anymore. Get an Uber to take you home.” I weep, running out of the market and go to my car.
“Elena come back here.” she yells as I run out, but I don’t look back. I want to cry but I’m choking it back down my throat.
I’m running to my car when I bump into someone. Shit! It’s Riley.
“Hey, are you now blind? I see you are already running away from school like a coward.” she stamps her brown boot on the floor then she starts to walk around me as she speak, like a bully would do. Tears are on my cheeks. I wipe if off quickly before she could see it. “Coward?” I lash back, sweeping my hair away from my face. “You are calling me a coward? Why don’t you think will happen to you when I expose you?” I tell her and she begins to laugh out loud as though she is mocking me.
“I love to see you react to my words, Elena. You think you can get the back of your mates?” she hisses.
“Do I look like I fucking want their backs? I just want to prove I didn’t do what I’m accused of, and fucking put you in trouble. That is all I have in mind.” I bite back.
“Well, let’s watch and see Elena. See you in school tomorrow, if you are not a coward, then be there to watch the fun.” she laughs, then gives me an evil wink.
I feel worse already like I want to grab her hair and teach her a fucking lesson.
“Arghhh!” I get to my car, kicking the tires with my boot I’m so pissed.
I need to speak to Ava. I grab my phone from the pocket and ring Ava.
She picks up at one ring, as though she’s been waiting for my calls.
“Elens…” she drags my name as if sighing out a whole heap of worries.
“Where are you?” I ask, shutting my eyes as I try to calm myself.
“I’m home, you want me to come pick you up?” she asks, as if reading my mind, then I remember I came with my car.
“I’m on my way there. I’m sleeping over tonight, I can’t go home.” I speak hastily as I run around the car into my driver seat, taking my windows up as I start the engine.
“Sure, I want you here tonight. Did something happen again?” she demands.
“I will see you soon, Ava.” I hang up and drive fast as though I’m drunk or high or something. But if you ask, I am all of the above right now.