Chapter 7
2044 Words
My eyes glance to Tito Dito and Tita Mildred who went inside their room after done thy were done eating.Cynthia and Agatha sit beside me in the sofa. I moved a little when they started to pull and push the remote.
"I seated here first, so I should be the one to chose the channel."
"I'm your older sister, Agatha."
"I don't care..."
They continue to argue. I stood up and went to the table instead. I slowly walk when Dianne darted her eyes to me.
She looks at me, carefully.
She was peeling a orange fruit.
I pick their plate and place it in the sink. I came back to the table while getting some rice and boil vegetable that I cooked.
"You're not eating?" She asked when she noticed that I did not sit in the chair. I nodded while putting a lot of rice in the plate.
"I'm not hungry." I said.
"How come? You haven't eaten since you came back." She said calmly but I think there's something wrong on her, today.
"You should invite me to the table if you care." I said while leaving her. I heard her footsteps behind. I glance back and I was right that she's following me. I wanted to go back but it would be suspicious if I go back. I act normal even though I'm sweating pretty bad.
"Lately you've been acting weird." She said behind my back.
"You just feel that because you think that I'm running away, again ." I said, tired.
I stopped while holding back the plates on my arms between my stomach. I stare to the small house just few inches away from us.
"Do you have plan on haunting that man? So that you could get that money and run away?" She asked. I sighed and sit down.
"Why are you so scared Dianne?" I asked her. I place the plate inside the small house. I was even amaze that the dogs aren't barking loud, and only Blackey were in the gate, waiting for me.
I caress his face and whistle. I feel a Oliver's finger on my hand when I push the plate farther.
"Dad already made a promise to the Mayor..."
Mayor Lycan?
".... that when you turn eighteen he woud put you in the factory instead and I will be working in the office" She said, now irritated.
"Mayor Lycan is hiring workers?" I asked her. I did not even know about that.
"Yes. Why are you so stupid? You think people would stay here if they don't have work? Mayor did that for the people in the Crimson Island. And I already warn you. I will really kill you if you'll leave, anyways you can't even leave this place. Just remind you. I willing work to the office and you will work to the factory where you will carry big bags, fish or whatever. " She said.
I stood up.
She's smiling at me. She said, "Dad said that your turning eighteen in December."
Fortunately, they did not know my birthday. I don't know where did Tito get that idea that my birthday is on Christmas.
"That's three months from now." I said. I moved closer. I smirk evenly, and she looks at my lips.
"Do you think there's nothing would happen in that three months?" I asked her. I like how her reaction turn into sour.
"Ouch." I groan in pain when she pulled my hair.
I closed my eyes when the small house moved and the dogs starting to bark loudly like they know that someone is hurting me.
Dianne was gritting her teeth angrily. She pulled my hair more.
"This is what I said that you're acting weird. Your now starting to act like brave and your starting to get rebellious." She uttered angrily while pulling my hair closer to her.
"Stop it." I uttered. I groan when she pulled it more, getting excited becuase she saw pain on my eyes. She looks at me, with a smile but her eyes were firing. "May I remind you Ashanti Amores, you wouldn't be here if my father did not take you to our home. Remember that, honey." She added, pulling my hair away.
She walks out, and I could hear the loud slammed door as she went inside the house.
I sighed while massaging the hair part where she pulled. I could feel like my hair pulled off the moment she grabbed it.
My life is always been like this.
Instead of going inside, I rather not. I went back to the small house.
"Are you done eating?" I asked. I heard no response or reply from him. The dogs even silent. I was just staring the small house while waiting for them. I lifted my head down, staring to the ground. My life is low as the ground... people just step on it.
I lifted my head when minutes had passed they are still not answering me.
It's getting late. Maybe they are already sleeping. But it was too early yet to sleep and mind thoughts wander.
"What if he lose his blood?"
"What if he's dead?" The last time I saw him was early in the morning.
I was quick on opening the little small house door, and I bend while getting inside slowly, but I stopped midway when I saw him peacefully sleeping. And beside him, were my three dogs sleeping with him, closely like they did not even leave him an inch of personal space.
I heard their peaceful and calm breathing.
Instead of waking them. I silently and slowly moved myself out in the small house.
Gun's friend said that he will be here tomorrow, and he did not clearly say what time it is. I'm sure that all the way here would be dangerous because Gun is already wanted in our place. Everyone were haunting him, and our move should be careful and calculated or else I will also be dead.
But what if it's just my imagination? What if I was only creating fake scenarios in my mind? What if surrendering Gun would be better, like there's nothing bloody would happen. But... and the question is who us behind all of this? If he is a wanted then why does I don't heard any news about him or any report in the police.
And what makes me curious about this why I jump in the conclusion that there something wrong is becuase they don't give clear reason why they have to capture this man.
They just offer money then that's it. End of story. No further discussion and explanation. For everyone money clear then it is already clear, but for me it isn't.
"Jett said that they found a jacket in the river."
"Then he must be hiding somewhere around here!"
My eyes shifted outside when I saw a group of men passing our gate. I stopped while watching them, maybe heading to the river.
"Maybe, his dead or his body is already in the sea. Did anyone search the body in the sea?"
"Can we still get the money if we can return only the dead body..."
Even they are already out of my sight I was still standing to where I was. Each day it's getting a lot of people haunting him for money. It would be dangerous for him. I just wish that tomorrow would turn out smoothly and so that he could this place silently and my life will turn back as what it was.
I went directly to the kitchen to get a food for my dinner. I open the rice cooker to get some rice but I flinch when I heard a loud slam of door.
So I glance back to check who it was, and it saw Tito Dito. He looks so drunk, and his eyes stared quickly to me. I thought nothing would happen. I went back to close the river cooker, but my eyes was shock when he was infront of me. I did not even feel or heard his footsteps going here.
I hold the plate tighter.
"Good Evening, Tito--
A hard slapped was met my lips and cut my words. I did not and never imagine that the plate that I was holding fell infront of me. And my eyes watered when I feel the pain on my feet and on my cheek that he slapped. My eyes quickly watered while staring to Tito Dito that was looking at me, angrily.
It's never my first time that he lay his hand on me. but I don't know but it was always him hurt every time he lay his hand on me. Maybe because his slap was more ten times or maybe because he is a man, and my relative.
I born without a father but I remember Mom telling me when I was young that my father did not even lay a single finger to hurt her. It was a painful because it's coming from a man I thought at least to be more compassionate because at very least we're sharing the same blood that my mother and him was sharing.
I realize just now to this exceed, the slap just like an eye-opener to me that all this year's they never treat me their family even just ten percent or even just 25 percent on what we have the blood.
He push me to the table that it was creating another loud noise, and I heard the doors open.
"Dad!" Someone shouted, in afraid.
"What did she do?" I heard Dianne asked. I only stare to Tito Dito. He was walking in a criss cross because of drunkenness but still he could slap like he's not drunk.
He point his finger to me. and uttered, "You! I went to the store to ask in advance of your money, but the owner said you took a leave, and in the restaurant I went to ask for advance payment for your work but they also said that it's been two days that you did not on duty! The owner even put a shame to me there! He said that I'm not a good guardian to you! What did you tell to your managers, ha! He shouted while going closer.
"D-Dad... I think t-that's e-enough." I heard Dianne said, scaredly trying to stop her dad. Tito Dito glance behind me.
"Don't ever yourself here Dianne." He said with a clench jaw.
"I'm not in the mood! I lose in the gambling! And what's worse that I have a debt to pay! Don't ever try to get close, Dianne or else! Close your door!" He ordered. I heard the doors close. And I was left alone.
Tito Dito moved closer that I flinch and moved myself to the table.
"I lose the gambling, and I have a debt. If you did not take absent and do your work, and I can peacefully take the money." He whispered. I could feel the beer scent on his breath. I closed my eyes when he hold my shoulder tighter.
"I would not transform like this. But I already did. My mind is not in good condition. So, work hard to pay my debt." He said pushing me.
He stood up.
"Ah." He said, glancing back at me. He laugh.
"Why I never think of that." He said to himself, chuckling. He moved closer to me that I moved quickly and hide myself in the table.
"Stop working, Ashanti." I heard him said calmly.
"Why I never think it." I heard him talking to himself.
I closed my eyes and hug my knees.
"Ashanti..." "
" Ashanti... "
"Ashanti! " He shouted, slamming the table that I was hiding.
I clench my fist, and feel my stomach shaking.
"Resign to you work, and tell your stupid manager that he is stupid. I have a new work for you. Haunt that whoever stupid city man that is. Don't ever come back to this house if you did not catch that man." He said.
I heard his footsteps going away.
"I'm gonna catch that man, today and pay my stupid debt. " I heard him whispered, and heard the door closed.
- Writer
