The Housekeeper

3

Chapter three

Bella's P. O. V

"Goodbye, my child. Study hard. Ma loves you," Ma says.

"Get well, Ma. I love you too." I say before engulfing her in a hug.

I enhale her scent. We stay in a hug before Brandon breaks us up, saying that it's getting late.

I kiss Ma's cheek before going back inside the house. 

I run to my room where I cry my lungs out. I cry for my father who left us for another woman. I cry for my brother who has turned into someone I can't recognize. I cry for my mother who was taken away from me. I cry for being a lonely child. I cry for the nights I went to bed crying. I cry all the tears I had been preventing from falling.

.

I groan when my goes off. Argh! I switch it off. Soon after my phone vibrates. I check my phone, it's a reminder. I was supposed to accompany Ma to the doctor for her monthly check up.

I send Ma a text telling her to ask Brandon to take her to a doctor. Ma replies with after some time with a 'He's taking me to one later on." A perfect son he is.

Sigh. 

'" This house feels so empty," I say to myself. 

Instead of making a breakfast, I decide to go to a room which used to be my father's study. I haven't been in here for ages. Nothing has changed. Everything is at its place. Surprisingly the room is not stuffy nor dusty. Has Ma been coming in here? 

I sit on the black leather office chair. I close my eyes for few minutes as I think of how perfect my family was. As soon as my eyes open, they fall on the bottle of whiskey on the left side of the table. 

"They should be in here!" I say to myself as I open the drawer in which my father used to store alcohol. "Aha!" I say as soon as my eyes land on the bottles of whiskey and wine laid there. I run my hand on top of the bottles. 

Well trying out one won't hurt. Now, will it? 

I take one of the wine bottles and head to the kitchen where I pour some of it. Who knows how long those glasses in that study have remained unwashed? 

"Hmm, this tastes good." Father did have a good taste at something after all. My phone rings startling me. People have a way of disturbing people when they having time to themselves. 

"Father? Whatdoes he want from me?" I sigh before answering. 

*Father? What a surprise.*

He sighs heavily. 

*Can we talk?*

*Yeah?*

*I won't be able to fund your studies next year,* he says. 

*What? Why? Wait... It's her right? You doing this because of her?*

*Bella, I'm sorry. I should have told you earlier.* I shake my head before dropping the call. I blacklist him after rejecting his many calls. 

I decide to call Brandon. Maybe he could help. 

*Hey, Brandon. Can you please help me with funding my studies next year?*

*Sorry, none can do. You should just go look for wor-*

I hang up before he starts his lecture. So this is the kind of family I have... Selfish. 

I put the bottle of wine away before preparing food for me. Maybe I'll think of what to do...