The Vengeful Rebirth

I smiled lightly, holding a big box of presents in my hand. It was delivered late, making me late for my fiancé’s birthday party. I heard cheers of happiness from inside and wondered what was happening. “I hope I’m not too late for the cutting of the cake. I wouldn’t want to miss that,” I murmured as I hurriedly walked into the beautifully decorated room. Lights were everywhere and it made the room shine like it was day. I saw people gathered around something, laughing happily as they cheered on, and my curiosity took over. My heels clinched lightly against the polished glass surface of the floor, my hands clutching the present tightly. And then, my feet pursed. My heart clenched tightly. I wanted to believe I was dreaming or hallucinating. I wish I was. At the venue of the ballroom was my fiancé, Joel, my Joel who was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, made specially for this occasion, kneeling before Luisa, my adopted sister. I felt my lungs constricting. Luisa stood there like the perfect princess she was, blushing as she glowed under the lights. She looked at Joel, shyly stretching out her hand for Joel to place the ring. Applause and screams erupted from the crowd, camera lights flashing repeatedly as they tried to capture the moment. I wanted to scream. I wanted to believe everything was just a prank. “No…..No!” I shouted, dropping the present without a care in the world, and dashed towards them. A few heads turned towards me as I pushed through the crowd. A waiter admits the crowd stretched out the balanced tray containing a glass of champagne in her hand, probably asking me to pick it if I was interested. My hands swatted it away, making the glasses shatter. I heard a few curses and shrieks but paid no attention. “Matilda?” Someone muttered nearby. It was full of pity, with a hint of disinterest. I shoved through the crowd till I got to the middle. “What the hell is going on here?” It was the first time I’d cursed. Everyone turned to me, including Joel and Luisa. I saw hate in Luisa’s eyes which was quickly masked away. Damien looked startled. For a second, I saw guilt in his eyes which disappeared as soon as I saw it. “Matilda,” Luisa called lovingly, nestling herself into Joel who was already standing. It was like she was showing off. “You came. I thought you were going to miss the most important moment in my life.” She was gloating and I knew it. I always knew she hated me. If I was guessing before, it was blatantly clear now. “Joel, can you explain what is going on? You said—“ “Things change, Matilda. Don’t complicate things further,” he cuts in, his voice cold. Tears gathered in my eyes and I struggled not to let it fall. “What?” “Let’s not make a scene there, darling. We would talk things out at home,” my mother, Elina, said, smiling sweetly as she gripped my arms tightly, warning me not to disrupt the ceremony as people were already talking in hush whispers. I turned to her angrily. “You knew, didn’t you? You knew yet you played me—“ “Please, continue to enjoy the party and the music,” My mother ignored me, as she left to attend to the guests. The music resumed once more, everyone carrying on like nothing just happened. I was betrayed. I was hurt and angry and for the first time in years, an explicable anger took over. I was once again ignored, just like every day of my life. I am the overlooked sister and wallpaper. The shadow in a room full of lights. I stood in the middle of the room. I can’t say if it was because I was too ashamed to leave or I couldn’t just move my legs. “No,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “Not after everything I have done and given just to satisfy you all. You don’t get to do this to me.” “You're pathetic, poor little Mat. Let me remind you, you were a convenience. He never loved you, I mean it was too clear girl. Even a blind man could tell. You….were just easy.” Luisa’s voice behind me was filled with mockery and disdain. Without thinking, my hand moved on its own and connected with her cheek. I slapped her. This was a first in my life. I was supposed to be scared of the consequences I would face but it felt good. Too good. Maybe deep down in my heart, I have always wanted to do that. The c***k of that slap rang out louder than the ongoing music. All eyes turned to us as gasps rang out through the hall. Luisa’s head snapped to the side at the intensity of the harsh hit, her side cheeks turning red. She turned her gaze back to me, her eyes narrowed. I felt someone grab my arm not so gently, before pushing me to the side. “Enough! Stop the tantrum. You should take out your anger in me, but her. She did nothing wrong.” It was Joel. I yanked my arm away. “Don’t touch me! You disgust me, both of you.” “You’re embarrassing yourself.” He hissed angrily. “I think this is nothing compared to the embarrassment you’ve caused me tonight. Don’t you think so, Joel?” I asked, staring at him with unconcealed contempt. He looked taken aback at the hatred. I had never behaved this way. I was a well-behaved girl, one who spoke only when spoken to, never questioned, and obeyed everything quietly as expected of me. But at that moment, I decided I was done. “Poor Matilda. Always so emotional. Maybe if you had grown a spine since, he wouldn’t have found you boring and fallen in love with me.” Luisa cooed, staring at me pitifully as she rubbed her cheek. Rage surged through me as I glared angrily at Luisa. Mother was there glaring daggers at me, probably using every strength in her to restrain herself from lunging at me. I didn’t care anymore. I still felt the cameras flashing, and will probably be tomorrow’s biggest headline. It might say, “Younger sister fighting over fiancé with elder sister.” With them adding lots of lies to it. I took a shaky breath, my eyes searching the crowd for anyone who might defend me, but faces turned away, ignoring the plea in my eyes. Everything was just entertainment for them. “Why? Why did you do this to me?” I whispered, my voice weak and drained of life.