Rebellious Love

Rebellious 10

"This is absurd, Pa!" I shouted, beads of sweat running down my temple as I heard his one condition for me— being grounded. "I can't believe you! You have really taken control of my life! Do I no longer have the right to be free in this house? This is ridiculous!"

Dad came home for lunch. I wasted no more time and talked to him about being grounded. Just the word grounded made me cringe. I felt like a child! I feel like a banned teenager!

"That's... Well, that's my decision, Liliene."

My lips formed into a thin line. Mama has no idea about the fight going on in Papa's office here. I couldn't believe it and I felt so angry. Why doesn't he just literally tie me up so he can be sure I won't run away?

Gosh. This old man...

"But it is absurd, Pa! What? When Rayver wants us to date, only then can I get out. I am not a prisoner! You took my freedom! You have no mercy!"

This time, I couldn't hold back my emotions. I was angry and he knew it. He could have at least lifted up the ground but he refused to because he thought, I'd just run away again.

He doesn't trust me enough, huh? How can I escape, all my bank accounts are frozen.

He froze everything. He said, I can only rely on Rayver from now on, and when I heard that from Papa, I couldn't stop myself. I may not be that financially independent— since sadly, I still rely on them financially but then, it's my money now! Not even an account was left with me! What if I want to buy something?!

This is unfair. So unreasonable. I don't understand anything anymore. I feel that Rayver is behind all this. Could he be poisoning Papa's mind? Or maybe, Papa is really like this. I just didn't witness it before.

But still, just the thought of being dependent on Rayver makes me feel so sick. Can't they just let me go?

I have agreed to marry him. They still don't trust me.

They should know better that I have no other choice but to comply with their wants.

I'm like a prisoner just waiting to be released.

"You still have a date with Rayver later, right? Get ready. Don't think of anything else and just go-with-the flow, Lili. You will have dinner in public, there will be many people, there might even be media there. It's a good start to clear your tainted name and for me. Our name should not be tarnished anymore."

I dreamed of him.

"Pa, I'm your daughter," I said firmly. "I'm not your prisoner. At least—"

"This discussion is final. Go down there and have lunch. Tell your mom I'd follow in a while," he said.

I sighed. I left his office and went to my room. I fetched my phone and typed a message for Rayver. Even just like this... I just don't want to be stuck here in our home. I'm bored and can't do anything.

Maybe he can help me with that? It seems like my father trusts him more than his own daughter.

I also stopped typing thoughtfully. I wonder what pushes my father to do this?

Could it be that Rayver is inciting him? But my father knows better than to trust him. In fact, Mama and my siblings also said that if Papa had to choose, Rayver was the one he trusted the most among his three children.

With that thought, it became even more clear to me that I hate Rayver Clemente.

I felt like he was getting the things we should be getting.

I quickly deleted the message I wrote for him. I fell onto the bed and screamed into my pillow. I still can not believe it!

I don't want to go on that date anymore. For the nth time, I want to disobey my father again but that would piss him off. Can I just pretend to be sick? I'm not feeling well so I can't go.

I just don't want to deal with anyone right now. I won't be able to escape this forever, but right now, my heart is full of annoyance, so I feel that my relationship with Rayver will not be good either.

I meant not to be kind to him, though. But since we'd have our date in public, of course, I need to pretend that everything is alright between us. Even though I honestly want him to disappear so that this doesn't go on.

But then, I had no choice. Especially since Mama also knocked me in the afternoon, I didn't realize that I fell asleep at noon. Sighing, I got up on my bed and with a heavy heart and feet, I opened the door.

Mama looked at me from head to toe and I just wanted to close the door.

"I know, Ma... I know I look like a disaster."

"Well, I've heard from your father about what happened," she said. "I'll have Rayver convince him, alright?"

I hesitated. "As if, Ma. Maybe even Rayver wants this too. Sometimes, I thought that maybe he was the one who plotted everything just to get into our family."

"Lili..." her voice was a bit soft but there was a hint of warning. "You, stop judging Rayver. You don't know him—"

I cut her off. "Ma, we all don't know him. Papa? He probably only knows that man because of work. Who knows? He must be even the one who suggests married to Papa."

Mama sighed. I just woke up but my annoyance has reached the sky.

"Just come down and eat—" I shook my head at Mama.

"We're going to eat outside, so no more, Ma. I'll just get ready for later."

I really don't want this. I hope there'd be a miracle coming that would change my father's mind.

I shook my head. I also hate myself for wishing for the impossible things to happen.

I tsked.