Heraiah

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 16

Is coming back a really good idea? Is coming back going to ruin their perfect family picture? Maybe not, but maybe yes. I have no idea what will my siblings react. Will they shoot daggers at me or will they welcome me with a hug? Will they even smile seeing me alive and not dead or ignore my presence as if I was still ‘dead’. I’m basically already dead in this family.

I don’t even remember them making my funeral.

It seemed like, me being gone was the greatest thing that has ever happened to my family.

Then I heard footsteps, heavy footsteps. A head popped up by the stairs and I saw a blue haired boy with a lose t shirt on and some shorts. He smiled and run fast down the stairs.

“Oh, Wesley-“ mom tried to call him but he got caught off when the boy caught her off by calling me.

“Hera!” the boy ran up to me and hugged me tight.

This boy still hasn’t changed. Maybe in terms of looks, but not the adoration he has for me. I hugged him back. feeling the comfort of his embrace. I am quite surprised he still looks up to me as his sister, since I left, I thought he would grow hatred for me since I was the incredibly spoiled sibling. But he has never turned to hate me, he always thought of me as good.

Oh, how I wish I was normal sometimes.

“I missed you,” he cried in our hug.

I chuckled, trying to hold me tears in, “I’m here now,”

He laughs and releases me to wipe of his tears. Wesley as I have known, is the soft type. He easily gets hurt but gets happy easily the same way. Our parents had a hard time raising him because he had daily tantrums, he was sensitive and hated the fact that failure is normal and that it happens sometimes. He was soft but also extremely a perfectionist and can’t control it when failure happens, a very awful combination. Easily gets beat up and goes crazy when some things don’t go his way.

But seeing him right now, it seemed like he doing okay without me.

Before, I had to look down to see him, now he is the one looking down on me. did he somehow had a sudden grow spurt when I was gone too? He is really tall. He had a smile on his face, he had the radiation of ‘I can do it on my own now’ but by the looks of his eyes was the yearning of a bigger sister.

I wondered how hard it must be to step up as the oldest sibling when I suddenly disappeared. I imagine it all became new to Wesley and that at first, he wanted it to be perfect of how he took the role. Then I thought, what if he stumbled in the process of making everything perfect and thought of giving up? What if he grew hatred for himself because he failed and he blames himself? Another factor about Wesley, he has a weird addiction of always blaming himself for all the misfortune that has come to the family.

What if he blamed himself for my disappearance? That does not make me feel anywhere okay in this suffocating environment.

Then the door clicked, I turned my head to see a girl with messy dark blue hair. She had a luggage beside her, a phone, keys, and a cup of coffee on her right hand while at the left was a hand bag. And even though she looked like a mess, she was smiling, she was in a good mood.

I was excited and happy to see her, talk to her, and hug her. This may not have been entirely part of the plan. But it does help, right? I mean, if I go running around, doing what my parents fear me to do. It would be a disadvantage. Why? They would pull me by the hair and drag me around for doing what they don’t want me to do. They would get suspicious since in their minds I am still their little naïve child. So the best thing I can do for myself is follow what they want me to do.

If I can manage.

.She fixed her hair then looked up, the smile faded faster than the day I disappeared. Her lips twitched, the bright light in her eyes turned into hints of hatred, she was basically shooting daggers at me. I was definitely surprised because of this. But she continues to walk closer and as she got close, she raised her eyebrows at me.

“Oh, its you,” Carlie scoffed then passed by me to give mom a big embrace. Their voice turned into a whisper. I didn’t want to hear how she was cold to me and instantly became sweet to them.

Needles hit my heart one by one, piercing it in different directions in different places. Her cold approach broke my heart entirely. She hates me, wasn’t it already obvious? I remembered all the happy pictures of her, the parties and friends she made. And it was all after I left.

So, it wasn’t just my parents who were happy I left.

“Where were you, young lady?” it was a scold from mother, but not the upset of way. It was a considerate question, that whatever her answer could be, she would be okay with it.

Carlie laughed at mom and tighten her hug to mom.

Carlie smiled, “I stayed at Daphne’s,”

“Couldn’t you just come home?” I asked turning her way.

Her eyes widen, not by surprise, but she looked offended, “Because I wanted to, what’s it to you anyway?" her voice hinted annoyance. I walked closer and tried to face her but mom went between us.

Mom laughs nervously, “She was probably tired with all of her shooting,”

“Kidnappers are everywhere in Cali City right now, she’s still 16 and worse, she is famous and highly targeted, she shouldn’t be out that late without assistance, do you want the same thing that happened to me happen to her too?” I argued against mother. My voice was in disgust of her.

She was stunned. She was surprise I talked back at her. Then Carlie went between us, “Hey, zombie, don’t talk back at my mother like that,” she nagged.

I backed away, completely done by this. But Carlie didn’t stop there. She came closer to me, her eyes dead serious, “And maybe I do want to be kidn*pped, so I don’t have to see your face again,”

She snorted, then left with her luggage to her room. I raised my eyes and head, trying to keep it all in and stop myself from crying. Wesley put his hand on my shoulder and caressed it to calm me down, I heard mother breathing heavily. Still stunned.

Then we heard a loud thumb noise of the door being shut upstairs. I closed my eyes, feeling regret for what I said. It was out of my control, I should’ve been more careful talking to her. I’m acting like a big sister, but I haven’t been her big sister for 5 years now. How could I impulsively act like that?

I feel so entitled after all these years. I’m too full of myself.

“Hey, don’t be too harsh on yourself,” Wesley voice comforted me somehow.

I smiled and turn to him, “I’m not,”

But I am. Why do I keep blaming myself? Maybe coming here was a bad idea.

We went to the table and sat. My parents were quiet. We were all in silence. A few maids came and prepared food. I just sat there still. Feeling a little pain on my feet since these heels are killing me. I breathed out as I looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost 12, almost lunch. I didn’t want to talk first, but if I didn’t, who would?

“I’m sorry, I talked back,” I said, composing myself and landing my eyes to the plate.

Mom laughs, why is she always laughing? “It’s okay you were just being careful, but if you’ll live here longer, she’ll warm up to you,”

I nodded, but paused, “I won’t live here,” I cleared my throat.

“What?” Mom, Dad, and Wesley asked in unison.

I looked at them, eye to eye, “I’ll live with Khai, I’m already an adult and I don’t want to be a bother here,” I smile.

All of their jaws dropped in what I said. I know all of them expected for me to stay here but that just won’t work with my mission. My mission doesn’t even involve them but I am still here. but I wished I didn’t come back here. I just feel like an outcast. A nobody.

“Good, I guess I don’t have to be purposely kidn*pped,” a feminine voice laughed, then sat in a chair at the table.

I looked down, not wanting to see her face nor her cocky smirk. She changed so much. Or maybe she only acts like this around me. But I am not going to let her rude approach get the best of me, so I looked up. Watching them talk whilst peacefully eating food.

Then Carlie’s face turned to me, “Staying with Khai? You really know how to get into someone nerve,” she commented.

I gazed at her, “What do you mean?”

“That guy liked you, but then you left and he found another woman, and now you’re back off to pester him?” she asked in disgust. She was fake gagging and laughed.

Ridiculous. Who is feeding her these lies? The internet?

“I don’t know who told you that, but they were obviously lying,” I said drinking the juice of my cup.

She laughed, “Oh, I won’t be surprised then if I hear you home wrecked someone’s relationship,”

“Whatever you like to think, little sis,” I gulped down the water, setting aside the cup.

I must not let my anger get the best of me either. My lash out a while ago was almost already enough to throw all the lies I’ve been saying, if I lose my temper, I lose in this mission. Acting impulsively is not something I want to do while I am here.

Until everything is okay and I am fine shouting at my parents, I won’t be so impulsive like I was.

Carlie sits in her seat, pouting and fuming anger since I didn’t let her little teases get the best of me. I felt the happiness of an accomplishment but I know wells she’ll come back and annoy me more. That is if she decides to quit and not waste her time. But she won’t, she’s too stubborn. She’ll try again and if she does, well then, I guess my sanity and patience is going to be tested again.