The persistent buzzing of Vanessa’s phone took the sleep out of her eyes. Squeezing her eyes to adjust to the bright light in the room, squinting around the house, she scanned her surroundings in shock.
Where was she? She asked herself before her brain helped her remember what had happened that day. She remembered how Darryl barged into her house, and how he took her to his house.
Her mind went back to the buzzing phone as she realized that was the reason she had woken up from her deep sleep. Quickly, without checking who the caller was, she answered before the call would end.
“Hello?” Her voice came out croaking due to the fact that she had been sleeping.
“Vanessa, don’t tell me you have been sleeping.” Her mother shrieks from the speaker. Vanessa pulled the phone from her ear to check the caller. If she had checked before now, she wouldn’t have answered the phone.
“How can you be sleeping at this time of the day?” Her mother’s voice, louder than the first time, scolded her.
“Mother, I’m sorry for taking the day off.” Vanessa said, not trying to hide the sarcasm dripping with her words. “Why did you call?” She asked tiredly.
Vanessa was aware that anything her mother wanted to say would get on her nerves. And this made her already irritated.
“Can’t I talk to my daughter again?” Her mother tried to conceal her reasons with concern.
“Mother, I don’t have all day. Just go straight to the point.” Vanessa robbed her eyes with her forefinger as she yawned away the remnant of the sleep.
The sleep was so peaceful that she didn’t wake up until her mother called, and her mother was hellbent on ruining her day completely.
“I wanted to let you know that Tanisha is back.” Her mother told her, this time, her voice was not loud like she started earlier.
“What does that have to do with me?” Vanessa could not hide her irritation anymore.
“She is your sister.” Her mother said, raising her voice through the speaker.
“Excuse me, stepsister, not my sister. Plus, I never asked for one, so you can have her for yourself since you desperately need a daughter to live your dreams.”
Vanessa could not believe her mother had disturbed her because of Tanisha. Someone who she never wanted to meet in the first place.
“You have to get over yourself and your negative attitude because it negatively affects your loved ones.” Her mother scolded.
She? Negative attitude? How could her own mother say that to her? She wasn’t the one who sabotaged her sister’s career at every opportunity she got.
“Tanisha should be the one listening to you, not me. I’m not the one who steals people’s opportunities at every chance I get.” She blurted out angrily. “Well, I’m sure she is back to see if I’m making progress so she can decide how to ruin it again.”
“Can you stop it already? Your sister has already apologized for her wrongdoings. You should forgive her and move on. Heal, Vanessa.” her mother could not hide the fact that she was taking sides and, obviously, she was at Tanisha’s.
“Easier said than done. I wonder why everyone wants me to move on and heal after hurting me intentionally. What’s wrong with you all?”
Frustration laced in Vanessa’s voice as she angrily voiced out her pain. First it was Emmy who she was tired of speaking of. Then Carolyn did hers. Now it was her mother’s turn.
“What are you not telling me? Her mother’s tone changed from the scolding one to the caring one.
“Nothing. I have nothing to tell you.” She ignored the change in tone in her mother’s voice.
Vanessa jolted at the creaking sound of the door. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but she relaxed as she remembered she was at Darryl’s house, not hers. At the sight of Darryl, she mumbled a goodbye to her mother without giving a second glance at her phone which she dropped beside her on the couch.
“You are up” Darryl said. His eyes searched Vanessa’s face, looking for any sign of discomfort or tears.
“I just got up.” Vanessa said, hiding away the signs of stress with a small smile.
“How are you feeling now?” Darryl asked her as he walked towards her, squatting in front of the couch where she had slept.
With a clearer view of Vanessa’s face, from her swollen face, to her messy hair, to the pressed couch and to her groggy voice. From these signs, he could tell she had just woken up from sleep.
“Better” she answered, exhaling slowly.
“Better enough to meet someone who wants to see you badly?” Darryl asked, searching her eyes for answers.
“Who did you bring with you?” Vanessa asked.
“Me.” Carolyn, who had been glued to the door waiting for the perfect moment to make an appearance, answered Vanessa.
The ever thoughtful Carolyn waited to see if Vanessa was okay to see her. She didn’t want to pressure Vanessa by imposing her appearance on her.
Vanessa sighed as she watched Carolyn take careful steps towards her.
Darryl got the clue to leave when Vanessa didn’t react after Carolyn settled down beside her on the couch. Quietly, he exited the living room to his room, giving the best friends the privacy they needed.
“I know my apologies will not be enough to make up for the pain I caused you, Vani. But I won’t stop begging you until you find it in your heart to forgive me.” Carolyn apologized to her best friend.
Vanessa exhaled slowly, “how long should I stay mad at you? A day? A couple of days? A few weeks?” She asked playfully, the pain in her heart melted at the sight of her best friend.
“A day or two.” Carolyn matched her energy.
As long as I see you, I can’t stay mad at you for that long. Come here.” she raised her hands as she gestured.
“Thank you.” Carolyn said as she melted into Vanessa’s embrace.
Darryl’s footsteps echoed in the house, causing Vanessa and Carolyn to untangled from each other. He could tell from the smile on their faces that the tension had been reduced and that prompted him to make a joke.
Turning his face to Carolyn, “I just spoke to your husband and I might have told him you were here, at my place.” he grinned.
“What the hell, Darryl?” Carolyn screamed. “We all know you didn’t say it like that.”
“Exactly.” A smug look played on his face as he watched Carolyn’s reaction.
“What have you done?” Carolyn asked, rubbing her fingers on the side of her head.
“Just so you know, your husband is on his way here because he can’t trust me around his wife.” Darryl informed her.
“I will kill you myself.” Carolyn hissed.
Darryl turned to Vanessa, who had been a silent observer of their childish exchange, “Vanessa here would never allow you to kill me.”
Leaning forward to her eyes, “Will you allow her to kill your husband-to-be?” He teased her.
“Husband-to-be?” Vanessa and Carolyn’s eyes widened in shock as they echoed the question.
A sound came from her phone and she shifted her attention to her phone, checking what the sound was. To her greatest shock, the call was still ongoing. Vanessa’s mother was still connected via call.