Midnight Royale

Chapter 2: Her life

I cannot believe what I just heard. I genuinely think of Farrah as my best friend!

"What did you say?" I step forward to confront her.

Farrah's face was horrified when she saw me as Mr. Miller shook his head—looking like he was about to have a headache because I heard them!

My eyes heat up. I am about to burst into tears, but I am holding it.

"What..?" Farrah went pale and hid behind her manager.

"I genuinely care for you and consider you as my friend!" I fired at her.

Farrah looks at Mr. Miller, asking for help.

"Even when you are hurting me physically and verbally—I tolerate it well because I thought you have such an attitude! I tried to understand you!"

Farrah's hands pull the hem of Mr. Miller's polo.

"Miller... What if she ruins my image because of this?" Farrah worried for herself.

I laugh in disbelief. Really?! She didn't even try to act sympathetic or apologize! She is more scared for herself than feeling guilty

"You're such... a very horrible person!" I shouted at Farrah as I burst into tears.

I don't want her to see me crying, so I immediately run out.

How can she tell me that? All this time, she is keeping me on her side to eye on me? If I'm still good at playing? So she can prevent me from playing?!

I feel humiliated.

I mean, I was shining before! I won every contest, and Farrah is the second best. We are friends, and I sometimes teach her how to play too!

But what is this?

Is it not enough to see that my childhood past will never be a threat now? This is hard to swallow, but I am already good for nothing! I thought that she never saw me as her enemy...

"You're so stupid, Genevierre," I cried while walking past down to the street.

Why is Farrah so... threatened? I cannot do anything right now. The shine won't come back. I am not the same Princess before.

I didn't know how I manage to get home—the smell of alcohol reek from the entrance.

I sighed in disbelief when I saw the house. The floor was full of paper and bottles.

I pull a single chair to our living room. Even in this area, there is still a lot of pile of papers stacked in each other.

When will my father sell this trash? He promised me to sell this to shops... But he keeps stacking a lot of paper!

"Dad? Are you home?!"

No one answered. My Dad doesn't come home... He would go back if he's already broke or wanted to rest. He is busy too with gambling.

I was at home for three days. I didn't accept the texts or calls of Mr. Miller. They are asking me to shut up about the issue.

Miller is even threatening me not to say anything! As if I am a horrible person just like them!

I was busy cleaning up the whole house. I stay in Farrah's mansion before, but now, the situation has changed! I need to clean this because I am already fired!

I am sweeping of the dust aggressively while cursing at Farrah.

"Me? Am I the two-face bixtch? You are the bixcth!" I hissed in front of the window.

Now that I am fired, I resent myself for not fighting back! I should have done it!

Everything felt nice. Cleaning became my coping mechanism about the thought that my best friend betrayed me, and I am jobless!

Then the night came; I was busy making dinner when someone knocking— banging the door!

"Wait!" I shouted in anger. Geez.

I opened the door, and then there, I saw some goons.

Oh no, what did my father do this time?

I was about to lock it up when someone kicks the door!

It hit my arm. I wince in pain as I lay on the ground.

The guy chuckled. "Finally! Where is your father?"

"I don't know!" I don't know where my father is! "W-What is it?! D-Don't tell me... Another debt?!"

I was baffled when he pulls my hair to get me up. They all laughed.

"Good that you know!" He gritted his teeth. "Your father owes us a one-thousand dollar. Make sure to pay after a week!"

A thousand?!

My eyes widened. Again?!

"W-Why... would I pay for it?! My father is the one who owes—"

I didn't finish the sentence because he slapped me. They all clapped and cheered. Like... Hurting me was very entertaining.

"Do it, baby girl! Pay us... or else after a week," then he looked down on me from head to toe.

I am crying while listing my father's debt. I am texting and calling him—but as usual, he is ignoring it!

I already have a five-thousand dollars debt to pay... And it's because of my father.

A lot of men who are after my father violate me, from verbally speaking to touching.

But my father? He doesn't mind at all. He is just piling the debt and not thinking about me.

To Father:

Should I end up dead before you come?

This is so impossible to do. I don't have a job right now, and I barely eat anything! I didn't even have a credential to apply for a decent job! How can I solve this?

Should I take my own life?

I grab my cardigan and run out of my dilapidated house. It was night, but the full moon is shining... enough to light up the dark road.

I unconsciously go to the shallow river located in our neighborhood.

I want to die. My life... feels lifeless anyway. Plus, a lot of goons are after my body or threatening my life!

I rather take my own life than being tortured!

I stood up in the river and looked upon the moon.

"Why are you so unfair?" I asked the stars and universe. "I keep wishing on you. I want a miracle. Just a drop of a miracle...Is that too much to ask?"

I sat down in the river. The water was just calm and static—opposite to what I feel.

I lay down in the river. I just wanted to die. But a seconds later—I get up.

"Damn... That was so hard. I couldn't breathe."

I have countless times attempting to end my life. But I couldn't stand the pain! I am afraid to die! This is so funny! I wanted to die, but I am afraid of pain!

"I... I want to live my life," I muttered.

Just like a cue, the river started to act aggressively. The water was gushing out all of a sudden! My mouth hangs open as it washes me away!

I squealed. "Oh no, I don't want to die!"

The current was too aggressive! My eyes widened when I saw a deep hole. The water is swirling towards it.

I wanted to laugh; even the way I die is so pathetic.

I just let the current let me into the sinkhole. But I was surprised after getting swollen by the water...

The underwater was so calm. The aggressive current was gone. My forehead knotted.

The river was so deep. Like I was in the ocean! How come?!

I tried to swim up. I can still see the moon from up here...

Why... are my feet getting heavy?

No... Genevierre...

I tried to extend my hand... but everything went black.