Underneath The Riptide

Chapter Two

I woke up the next morning feeling a little heavy on the top of my head. I then realize that I slept on the floor last night and my hand is even covered with red paint. Wanting to check my face, I stand up and went on the mirror and found how miserable I am.

I stare in front of the mirror for another minutes of my life and realize I shouldn't be this way again just because of that news from yesterday.

I can do this.

I can find a way and maybe working can do a thing? Or I can just sell this house! This cost plenty and this will resolve my issues and problems. But what about my sister? She will be in complete chaos when I sell this house. Madeline was raise up here and she has so many great memories with them.

I sighed.

My relatives can't surely help. I persuaded myself sadly and was about to walk inside the bathroom when I step on a piece of sheet on the floor. My forehead creases at the sight of the canvas cloth from last night and I can't see any trace of image on it.

Yeah, I did scratch it after I painted that thing. Without second thoughts, I grab it and look for a space on where I can put it.

After cleaning my body and scrubbing my skin, I dress up into a shade of pastel orange jumper skirt and a white croptop inside it. I even chose a white sneakers to pair it and smile as I watch my reflection in front of my human size mirror screwed on the wall.

I look very fine and well.

This level up of pretention is going to the highest degree of faking. I heave a deep breath — trying to relax myself.

Good thoughts for today, Brie, good thoughts.

I whispered inside before grabbing my bag from the floor. Right, I haven't have the chance to fix this last night because I broke down immediately.

While I am in the middle of the stairs, I smelled good recipes from the kitchen and my brows automatically creases.

"Madi!" I called my sister.

She peek and show me her head from the kitchen while showing me a spatula before smiling. "I cook for us! Father asked me to cook today because he has a business to attend to." My sister cheerfully informed me.

Upon the mention of the word 'father', something twitches out again and so I automatically relax myself.

He's not here. He's not here.

I whispered once more.

"Breakfast is ready!" Madi exclaimed while holding a plate of omelet and fried rice.

I smiled at the sight of my sister being this lovely and who am I to ruin her mood for today? Her happiness is very important for me that I couldn't stand to see her losing everything when she'll be reminded that her father is dead. She loves him so much and I, on the other hand loathes him so much.

"Madi," I called her slowly.

My sister turn to look at me while fixing her mom jeans. "Yes, Brie?"

I stared at her. She looks perfectly fine too! People can think she is well but I thought so too. Madeline was raise spoiled and kinda bratty. She got the things she want to have and I, was contented playing with few of my dolls. She reach college through the connection of our Dad and the university gladly keep my sister's situation and records with them.

All is tight for her. But why do I need to face so many battles out of my own fears?

The next minutes is full of 'Dad, Dad, Dad and Dad' from Madeline. When we reach in front of the school gate, she kisses me goodbye and ran towards the few girls who are forming a circle from afar. I am about to enter the gate when a man on a suit block my way before removing his eye ware. He's looking far behind me while poking his tongue on the side of his cheek.

"Have you decided already?"

I roll my eyes. "It wasn't even twenty-four hours since the last time you asked me the same question. Are you nuts?" Okay, Brie. Be bold. Alright.

"You could have just sign the paper so that you and your sister will all be fine. Don't get my work this complicated, Miss."

Ha! He even put another burden on me! Why are these people is such a baggage to me?!

I cross both of my arms over my chest keeping my bold face with me. I'd rather not show him that I am having a hard time with the situation I am in. "You are paid to tail me, right? Then do better and stop mumming. I won't run and I assure you that I'm going to pay that old man's debt."

Without hearing his reply, I entered the university with a heavy heart. This is just too much to bare. I am not like this but I keep showing to everyone the person who I am not. I am weak, but I show them otherwise and it's too suffocating inside.

I walk straight to our college building while staring at nowhere. Just when I am about to twist our room's knob, a voice called my name and that made me automatically look up.

"Jonas." I said showing a smile.

He points something from his back using his thumb and my forehead creases. "What's up?"

"Classes starts at ten and you are an hour early to enter that room." My friend roll his eyes. "Let's go." He said then pull me with him.

I then realize where we are heading and it's in the gazebo where we usually sat in when we are having a bond time. Meriam, Dimple and Jeannette are also there— smiling but I know they just want to ask me things about what happened yesterday. They even bombed my inbox last night and noticed it just earlier after I took a bath.

"What was that about yesterday? I was about to ask you but you were like this yesterday." I look at Meriam when she flashes her face like annoyed and brows straight.

Jeannette push her on her shoulder and I laugh abruptly because of these girls. I step inside the small hut and heave a deep sigh.

"Dad left us with loads of debts to pay and I was ask to sign a marriage documents to pay them through the shares my Mom invested for us." I plainly said.

Dimple gasp from what I said but I just purse my lips. "It was named after us and if I'm not going to sign it, I shall pay it after one month." I groaned. "You see, how am I supposed to find such huge amount of money in one month?" Then I told them the rest of the information on who I am supposed to marry.

Jeanette look at me with confusion but the latter then look at Jonas. "Maybe we can ask a favor to your Dad." She suggested but I automatically shake my head.

"No. Tito Raul already helped too much. I can manage this."

"But Brie, we badly need him this time. I will ask him about this and I'll just contact you tonight."

"Right. I can even ask Mom and Dad. I am sure they can find a way." Jeannette added.

Meriam just look at me, feeling sorry and I can understand her. Her family is not that great I can say and we aren't even close to them. Dimple nodded her head also and I know, I got my friends with me and I am thankful for having them. But Jonas' family is the one who is rich here for owning a corporation and the rest has an only average income and a daughter of Accountant and Lawyers. Well, except for Dimple who is a daughter of a politician but we all know that her family is too tight to her. I know it's impossible for them to help me. But I am beyond thankful for my friends who will really try their best just to help me.

"But wait, why does it needs to be you? Your father can just send Madi."

I went silent. I look up at Jonas when I notice how he slowly look at me and from that eyes, I can say that he seems to know what's going on with me.

"I am the eldest." I chose to say but I know better. He just want me to suffer and he didn't maybe expect that he'll die this soon and he was maybe planning this so he can send me away from them.

What a poor conscience.

"It would be fine, Brie." Jeanette tap me on my back before she hugs me.

Another minutes passed with them and I eventually laugh because of my friends' goofiness. I can see that they are really trying to cheer me up.

They are the ones I only have after all.

"Stacy went at me yesterday," Dimple suddenly opened up so we immediately look at her. "She's asking me to sign the petition against the Supreme Government. Aren't they so childish?" She said while ticking her clips on her hair.

Jeannette laugh while reading something on her own book. It's a writing discourse. "Talk with greed and ignorance, Dimps." She said.

I pouted. "Maybe she haven't moved on from the past election. She was even allegedly accused of destroying the party's platform."

"Why can't she just stop and focus on her thesis papers? I heard from Gwyneth that she haven't responded to any of her parts yet. Biology sucks but she is worse." Jonas blabbered while fixing his Rolex.

Right. They are from the same college. Jonas is taking Chemistry for his medicine proper and Gwyneth is a friend of ours too, uh, well, for them. I mean, I am not close with Gwy but I heard that she's great.

"Yeah. Yeah. She just lacks attention from both of her parents. She's doing great by causing so many chaos. The perks of being a governor's daughter." Meriam stated as a matter of fact. "Maybe she misses her Mom's warmth but so sad, money is heavier than her."

She misses her Mom's warmth. She misses her Mom's warmth. She misses her Mom's warmth.

I purse my lips secretly. I look at nowhere and suddenly became so empty. Everything turned slow-motion and I can see how my friends laugh from the both of my side — obviously still mocking Stacy. I look at them one by one, and I can see mockery on their eyes.

I stand up, went out and ran away from those laughing faces. I held both sides of my head and curl next to the farthest shelf. I am inside the library and I even found myself ignoring the librarian's greeting earlier.

It took me almost an hour before I decided to stand up and wipe the remaining tears on my face. I stay a little longer and chose to read the book I've been reading for a hundred times already.

I am very late for my first class so why not make the most of it?

A long time ago now, perhaps 2,000 years, there was a rich man who had a fair and godly wife, and they loved each other very much. But they had no children and they greatly wished for some.

I switch to the next page, resonating with the familiar words and phrases.

I then closed the book and look outside the window. "It's raining." I said to myself as I stand up and put back down the book inside the shelf.

I grab my things when I saw our librarian coming so I smile. "Hello."

She just nodded. "You were in a hurry earlier, you must be very busy."

I am taken aback but I keep my poise. "Ah, right, I was looking for a book for our thesis."

She just nod her head and walk passed me. I bid her my good bye and finally went home soaking wet. I've been staying inside the library for the whole day reading the tale I've been reading since then. My friends were obviously looking at me and I even skipped my classes today!

Like last night, the lights are all switch off except at Madeline's bedroom.

I inhaled when I passes her place but I just heard small cries from inside. Hurriedly, I opened her room and saw her with scattered and broken mirror. Madi is curling on her own bed and eventually look at me before running towards my direction.

"Dad's not yet home." She whispered in my ears but I couldn't hug her back. I stiffened hearing her mentioned the man's name but I tried my best to comfort my sister.

"Sshhh, he will go home, maybe later."

I closed my eyes. Hell, no.