The Hidden Secrets

AVIAN'S POV   Avian, get up from that bed you this loser", my stepmother screamed.  Slowly, I stood up from the bed. I checked the time and I noticed it was exactly 4 am.  "What exactly does this woman want from me?"I sighed heavily.  I was about to step out of my room when an intruder barged in. Looking up, I saw my stepmother looking at me with so much anger. Before I knew what was happening, a thunderous slap landed on my cheeks and I grimaced in pain.  "Didn't you hear that I was calling you? Such a spoiled brat", she shouted, and with that she stormed off angrily.  I stood there with my hands still on my cheeks, tears rolling down continuously. I was used to this constant bullying from my stepmother. I can still remember the day my mother got into a car accident on her way to get me an ice cream. I remembered blaming myself for her death. If only I hadn't asked her to get me an ice cream, then she would have been by my side now.  A few weeks later after the death of my mum, my dad brought a young woman with her child who she introduced as my stepmother and stepsister respectively. I was happy that finally, I could have a mother figure in my life and a sister. My stepmother acted all caring to me until she started bullying me. I guess it was all a pretense. My dad never stopped her but I knew he wasn't happy with the way she treated me, maybe he was bewitched by her.  I snapped off my thoughts knowing that it meant more trouble if I didn't go down on time. I went downstairs to meet my stepmother. Luckily for me, she wasn't there. I was about to turn away and go back to my room when I heard her voice.  "You, come over here", she ordered  "M..a….Good morning Mum", I managed to say  I could see the hatred in her eyes when I called her mum and instantly I knew I had said something I shouldn't have said.  "Mum? Who is your mum", she said glaring right at me.  "I can never be a mother to a good-for-nothing child", she glanced at me.  She continued, "You witch! You think you can kill me the way you killed your mother huh?, so never in your life call me your mom".  I was bittered by this statement and once again the tears started rolling free. Ohh what damn tears!!. I quickly dried my tears because I knew it would only mean more trouble. But it was too late, my stepmother slapped me hard on the cheek the second time this morning. I tried not to cry out.  "Do I need to drive you around before you know what to do?", she said, raising her voice.  With this, I hurriedly went about with the house chores. I wondered why I was the only one doing this when she had a daughter who was lying on her bed sleeping. This only proves how much hatred she has for me.  By the time I was done with my house chores, I noticed I had just 30 minutes before I got to work. I went to my room to take my bath and dress up. I was about to step out of the house when I heard the witch's voice behind me.  "Come back here this instant", she ordered.  "Not again, not now", I murmured to myself.  "What did you say?", she asked me curiously but to save myself from further trouble I said nothing.  "Take this list from me", she said.  "What is it?", I asked her.  On seeing the list, I noticed it was a list of things we needed in the house.  "Okay ma. As soon as I am done with work, I will go to the market to get it", I said putting the list in my bag.  She stared hard at me and I knew she still had something else to say.  "Now you are the one giving me orders is that not so?", she laughed hysterically.  "No ma. It is not like that just that I am late for work", I said trembling.  "Go to the market right away before another slap lands on your cheek. Ingrate!!", she threatened.  Reluctantly, I dropped my things and took the list. I stood outside waiting for a bus going my way. The sun sank below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the sprawling cityscape. Sky scrappers reached towards the sky like gleaming sentinels, while the street pulsed with the vibrant energy of the bustling crowd.  I heard a honk and I went inside the bus. After walking about in the market looking for things to buy, I finally got home. I dropped the food and I went to work.  On getting to my workplace, it was an hour past the normal resuming time and I knew I was up for a scolding. A few minutes later, a call came in requesting my presence in the CEO's office. I stood up and went there deep down hoping for the best.  I was about to knock when I heard a voice from inside.  "Yes, come in," my boss said.  With that, I entered his office. He was on a call when I got inside and I had to wait for him to finish. An hour passed and finally, the call ended.  "Take this", he threw an envelope at me.  I took the envelope, my hands trembling, my breaths quickening. I need no one to tell me what it entails.  "Sir, I am sorry for being late today. It wasn't my fault", I said pleading.  "ohh so, whose fault is it? I guess it is mine then for offering you a job", he said.  He continued, "And since I am to be blamed, I have taken it upon myself to relieve you of your duties".  "Sir, it is not like that. Please forgive me. I promise it will never happen again", I said with so many tears rolling uncontrollably from my eyes.   "Get out now!!", he ordered  Devastated, I packed my things and went straight home.  When I got home, I went straight into my bed to sleep with my eyes red from too much crying. I hadn't slept for so long when a voice woke me up. I looked up and noticed that it was my stepsister.   "What do you want?"I asked her.  "Mum said you should come down. There is an announcement", she said, her eyes fixed on her phone.  "What announcement?", I asked her curiously.  She suddenly snapped out like someone in a trance. " Do not ask me that, How am I supposed to know?", she answered furiously.  I do not want any more drama right now. I told her that I would come and meet them right away. I stood up and went downstairs. I noticed everyone was sitting down already. My dad noticed my eyes were red and asked me what happened.  "I was fired today Dad", I said, careful not to let the tears flow again.  "Ohh I am so sorry my sweetheart", my dad said.  My stepmother looked at both of us shamefully and she laughed so hard.  "I think the universe is working for my sake". It's a good thing you lost the job", she said.  How could she say that? Just how terrible is this lady who called herself my stepmom? Well, I am curious about what the announcement is. So I decided to ask her.  "Tanya said you have some announcement for us", I told her  "Yes, I know. Mind you, the announcement is for you and not for us".  "For me? What could it be?", I wondered.  "You are getting married", she finally said  How bad could my day be!!