Melpy

Chapter 3

“Hey, how’s your day my little princess?” Dad asked as I entered our condominium unit later that day.

He is wearing the same apron he has worn five years ago back when I was nine. He is now twenty-nine years old but he gets even more handsome as time passes. He is now more mature looking and responsible. Not the same crybaby dad I have when I was young. Now he is a confident grown-up man whom I love the most in my whole life.

 I sat down at the kitchen counter and smiled sweetly at him, “It is great dad. Everything is going my way.”

“That’s nice. But I receive a call from the guidance office that you are “cursing” and “hexing” others every time someone stands up against you. I just said yes robotically. They can’t really expel you as I was the one who donated a new wing of library and clinic there but try to keep it to a minimal.” My dad requested as he spreads the sauce of the carbonara over the macaroni.

“You know I can’t hex and curse others dad! I am just doing them a favor and telling them what will happen. As the priests say, if others do bad things to you, do nice unto them!” I joked as I took a fork and started attacking my dinner.

My dad shook his head while smiling as he joined me and ate his food too.

“I know but you’ve changed. You became the bully Melpy, and you bully others.” He said in a quiet voice.

“I only tell tragedies to the one who messes with me. The others who didn’t are safe. Ignorance is bliss.” I said as I gulp water.

Dad stopped eating and looked at me sternly.

“You don’t mind them calling, you witch?”

I shook my head, “Nope.”

“But Melpy…”

“Dad, listen. Look at me. I am no longer your crying baby girl who sobbed whenever she is maltreated. I am now your little woman who is confident and proud and evil to those who are evil to her.”

My dad nodded and remained quiet for a while.

“If that’s what makes you happy then I will keep quiet. Just do what you think is right, okay?”

“Of course.”

“Now, do you want to know what your mother looks like when I met her?” Dad offered when I finished my food.

I nodded enthusiastically, as he stood up and leave the dining area. I expected him bringing a picture or painting but instead he is carrying a large mirror that he puts in front of me.

“Look at yourself and imagine your eyes were not red brown but pale silver, like a tear drop…” My dad said as he positioned the mirror in front of my face.

I looked at the mirror and traced my face. I will tell you I am not humble. I know I’m very mesmerizing not that beautiful but breathtaking. Pale porcelain skin, slim body and a face that will make boys cry in adoration. My eyelashes are long and thick, my nose long and pointed. The lips were thin and perfectly curved. I didn’t get my dad’s dimples but I got his eyes. Flaming red-brown. My hair is messy no matter how I combed it. I had full bangs and almost waist length hair. I traced my eyes and imagined them pale silver. I smiled a little because now I know what my mother looked like.

“Thanks dad.” I said as I returned the mirror to him and kiss him on the cheek.

To my surprise he looked away and wiped his eyes with the back of his hands.

I was wrong. He is still a crybaby. But I love him all the same.

I hugged his back and told him I love him so much.

“Yes, yes, I love you too Melpy. Now go upstairs and---“ he croaked but I cut him.

“---brush your teeth, change your clothes. Sleep early.” I mimicked him and he laughed.

Dad turned around and hugged me tightly.

“No matter which path you choose Melpy, I will support you no matter what.”

I hold my tears back, I can’t cry now. I am strong and grown up now.

“Thank you, Dad, thank you…”

-0-

“Oh no! Here she comes!”

“Leave hurry.”

“She is really hot for her age.”

“I wonder if she has a boyfriend.”

“Hmph. No one will love a witch like her.”

I stopped walking in front of the brunette girl who said that.

I smiled sweetly at her and said, “Dear, be careful of wet floors. You might slip.”

She gasped and color has left her face.

I continued walking and head straight for my classroom. I am a bit early so I decided to finish my written paper that is due next week so I can have a free weekend with that.

I was busy writing when Laury and two of her lackeys appeared in front of me.

“Can I help you?” I asked innocently.

She looked ticked off but she didn’t learn her lesson yesterday. I sighed as I got a vision of her latest accident to happen. When? I don’t know…

“You b***h will pay. My thug friends are outside waiting for you to come out… They will destroy you…” she said in a confident voice as her lackeys laughed.

My other classmates looked wary of me. They didn’t dare to mess with me so they are fine. But they are mightily afraid of me and tried to stay out of my way as much as they can. They didn’t laugh of course.

I smiled at Laury and scratch my chin with my right hand. I already saw a group of thugs in my vision yesterday, I was amazed because I didn’t know them but now I know why they showed up in my premonitions.

“They wouldn’t be the ones wearing ghetto shirt with the sign of black skulls, wouldn’t they?” I said in a nonchalant voice as I tried to recall their attires.

Laury’s expression changed from smugness to panic, “Ho-how did---“

“Can you please tell them that they will be ambushed by their enemies at the front gate, I bet they will get hurt a lot…” I said matter-of-factly.

 Laury’s phone rang and she quickly answered it. I heard a clash of metal and yells from the speaker and Laury’s face was drained with color as her lackeys looked panicky.

“Impossible…” Laury gasped as she lowered her phone.

I gave her a sarcastic smile and sat on my chair again and resumed writing, “Well what do you know… I didn’t even guess it will happen that fast…”

“YOU WITCH!” Laury screamed as she pointed her fingers at me.

I yawned and put my head down and concentrated on my paper.

“I love that compliment, thank you.” I said as I crossed my wrong words and underlined the wrong grammars.

Laury and her friends are still dumbstruck and standing in front of my seat.

“Is there anything you want to say?” I asked as I tapped my pen on the paper, admitting that it’s less perfect than I hoped.

She didn’t answer, instead she ran quickly for the door, her lackeys tailing her. I got dizzy again and I saw her tripping again and this time, instead of kissing the garbage can, she kissed the floor.

“Oh, and Laury?” I called without looking up.

I heard her stop on her tracks.

“Please run slowly or you’ll trip again.” I warned her without looking up.

But as father told me, changing things are beyond our power so I heard her scream and tripped again.

“Ooops.” I chuckled as I folded my paper and the teacher arrived.

-0-

Summer has passed and a new school year has arrived. Same issues, same problems and one solution…

“Please prepare new clothes. Your favorite one will get smacked by tomato sauce…” I said tauntingly as a girl with a face full of pimples tried to trip me but I evaded gracefully at the corridor one September morning.

Her eyes widened as I walked on my way to my classroom. My classmates pretended I didn’t exist as usual but that’s fine with me. They knew that if they don’t get in my way, they will be spared. Wise decision.

“Uhh---uhmm Me-me-melpy…” Annie, my small classmate with a height problem approached me in my seat.

I arched my eyebrow in surprise. Since I enrolled in this school three years ago, none of my classmates even dared to even say hi or even acknowledge my presence.

“Yes? Can I help you?” I asked in a bored voice as I opened my notes to study.

She shivered at my words but remained standing in front of me.

“A---a bo---boy named Kyle fro-from se-section B a---ask me to-to uhm give thi-this to-to you…” she placed a shoe box sized gift-wrapped container in my desk.

Suddenly, I got a vision again. A freckled and thin boy will open the very box in front of me and get bitten by the ants in there.

Surely, this little Annie girl didn’t know what’s inside of this box. I guess I won’t tell her that I saw her pet fish getting eaten by a stray cat.

I smiled at her sweetly and shook my head, “Annie, right? Dear, can you please return this to the freckled and thin boy at section b and tell him that he will get a taste of his own medicine, would you?” I asked in a fake kind voice thick with sarcasm and meanness…

“Ye-yes.” She piped and she took the box and hurried out of the classroom.

Thirty minutes later, she returned and sat on her chair, then we heard screams and yelps from the neighboring classroom as they shouted.

“Ouch! Why did you bring ants here! To the principal’s office.”

I laughed loudly and my classmates looked at me with utmost horror.

-0-

I was walking on my way home when I suddenly get a vision. I saw my dad at our backyard, his head is bleeding and blood is spouting in his mouth as he throw what looks like live coals like a ninja throwing shurikens at a giant bird with horse’s body. His eyes burning like a blazing coal in the hearth.

He seemed to kill it because it exploded in yellow dust. But my dad fell down in his back and seemed to be gasping for air.

I flashed back again and I gasped. It doesn’t make any sense. There is no such thing as that kind of bird. But I ran as fast as I can on my way home.

I reached it within a few minutes and kick the door open.

“DAD!” I shouted as I look around the house. I quickly head for the back door and to my horror; he is lying on his back, blood spilling from all over his body because of huge s***h and cuts.

“DADDY!” I screamed as I ran to his direction.

I lifted his head and place it in my lap as I watched him breath weakly, his eyes glowing fierce red as he is clutching coals in his left hand.

“Melpy…” he said weakly as he touched my hand with his. I gasped because it’s so cold, like a coal burned out.

I nodded and touched his face, “Dad, hang in there, I will call 911. We will get you fixed in no time.”

But he shook his head and smiled weakly to me as he lifted his hand to touch my face, “It’s too late Melpy. Your mother saw this happen when we first met. I…. I told you, didn’t I? There are things beyond our control…”

He let out a gasp as he squirmed and tears flow from his eyes.

“Don’t leave me daddy, you’re all that I have. I live for you. Don’t you dare leave me alone!” I shouted as his eyes closed slowly.

“Be… be strong Melpy. Don’t let others… get to you. Rise above them and prove that you are… a strong woman… Be confident and proud… and always remember… this… I love you… my… only…. Daughter…”

I sobbed as he let out a huge sigh and his hands fell limply to his side.

“Daddy… I love you too… Always… always…” I cried as I hugged his lifeless body…

The only person whom I can be myself already left me… Now all I have is myself and the joyful memories we shared together…

Something inside me changed all of a sudden… I inhaled deeply and wipe the tears from my eyes as I look at the peaceful and handsome face of my dad… he looks like he is just sleeping…

I can’t cry anymore, because he said I have to be strong…

I bowed my head and kissed his forehead, “I promise dad, I will be the woman you wish me to be, strong, confident and proud. No one will rise above me… They will all be under me… They will never get me… Never… I love you…”

As I said that, the wind blew softly and I was never the same again…