MY DYNASTY: MY IMAGINARY KINGDOM

I had just returned from aunt miser's house and was now living with mom and dad. I hadn't fully gotten use to the unconditional love but with time I think I will adapt. It was a bright, sunny Monday afternoon and Mom had just returned from the market. She was surprised to find me at home. "Adele!" Her voice echoed through the whole house. I stood up angrily from my bed. Her voice was still ringing in my ears as she ordered me to come to the living room immediately. As I reached for the door, I remembered my disguise and faked being sick. I descended the stairs to meet her stare. "Adele, stop pretending," Mom said. "Why didn't you go to school?" Her eyes were fixed on mine, searching for a lie. I stared deep into her eyes without blinking. "Mom, I was having a terrible headache. Thank God Dad was here to help me. He gave me a massage and I feel better now." Mom led me to a chair. "Oh, my princess, that must have been tough for you," she said as she sat me down. "I got a report from your teacher this morning. She complained that you were spacing out during classes. What do you have to say for yourself?" she added as she massaged my head. "I... I... I didn't mean to," I said, trying not to lose my composure. "I have always told you, I can condone your useless imaginations in this house, but not in school," Mom said and gave me a light tap on the head. "If you continue like this, the whole world will see you as a weirdo." "But Mom, those are my dreams," I complained, trying to compose myself. "Do you know it will never come true if you tell too many people?" Mom asked. "No, why?" I asked, narrow-mindedly. "Hmm," Mom said as she sat down. "In your kingdom, where there is a queen and guards in charge, there are enemies, right?" "Yes, Mom," I added. "So in this world, there are also enemies who will betray you under the disguise of being friends. So now, do you understand?" Mom asked me while I was staring at the wall, daydreaming. "Adele!" Mom shouted in frustration. "Ma," I answered, still spacing out. "Did you get what I said?" she asked, hoping to get a yes from me. "Mom, I think you made a mistake!" I said, still looking at the ceiling. "What?" Mom asked, trying to hide her frustration that was turning into anger. "It's dynasty, not kingdom," I replied, smiling with contentment. "So out of all I said, that's what you heard?" Mom said, trying to hide her anger. "I'm going to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Go upstairs and take your bath. You reek of sweat." "Okay, Mom," I said as I stood up. I kissed her on the cheek, made a little 'I love you' sign, and then went to my room. Dad has always been the busiest, but he always creates time to listen to my useless imaginations. Sometimes Mom calls him jobless, but he always says, "Nothing is more important than my daughter." He would always end our conversations with, "Study hard and you'll achieve all your dreams." I don't really like studying, but because of him, I always try my best to be the best among my peers. "Adele, walk faster," Mom said as she saw me descending the stairs. "Do you want us to always be waiting for you?" "Just let her be, she is still growing," Dad said, trying to reduce the tension in the air. "You are spoiling this girl. If you allow me to handle this girl, she will drop this bad habit," Mom added as she started serving the food. Dad laughed but said nothing. I was kind of disappointed, but after we said the prayer, Dad started to ask me about my day and how I was preparing for my term exams. I tried to avoid some of the questions, but Mom wouldn't let me off. She kept repeating questions about my weekly test results. _I am so tired of all these questions,_ I said in my mind, but I couldn't say it out loud. I was just waiting for someone to save me. "Adele! Adele!" Mom shouted my name as she gently tapped me. "Ma?" I said after she had called my name for a long time. "You see what I'm telling you? She is always spacing out, even in class," Mom complained to Dad. "Adele," Dad called me with a frustrated look. My smile faded because he always calls me Princess A. I can't even remember the last time he called me by my name. "Sir," I answered, trying to hide my nervousness. "Come to the sitting room with me," he said while standing up. I froze, but quickly regained my composure. I stood up from the dining table and silently followed him. As we got to the living room, I looked back at Mom and she immediately turned her face away. I instantly knew something was wrong. "What is wrong with you?" Dad asked me. "I don't know, Dad, I'm trying," I answered, facing the ground. Dad tried to persuade me to tell him if something was wrong, but I said nothing apart from, "I am sorry." "Honey, just tell her and stop hesitating," Mom's voice echoed through my ears as she came to the living room and sat beside Dad. Dad cleared his throat and said, "If you don't do well in this term exam, you will be going to Aunt Miser's house." "No!" I screamed as tears started streaming down my eyes. "You don't love me anymore," I screamed as I remembered all the things Aunt Miser did to me when I spent the Christmas holiday at her house. Dad tried to calm me down, but Mom stopped him and dragged him out of the living room. I kept looking at them, hoping they would come back and comfort me like they always did, but it never happened. So I continued crying until I passed out in the sitting room.