Margaret dismissed me for the night.
I should be grateful that I was left off the hook, but I couldn’t shake the suspicious glare Juliet sent my way. It was a warning to stay away from Allen.
We all knew Allen wouldn’t settle for anything less as me. Juliet was up to his standards, she fit all the requirements to stay beside him.I lied on the soft bed, my back was hurting from the beatings and standing while they ate. I felt bad for declining father’s offer to join them, at least I could’ve eaten something.
My stomach growled, I pressed a hands suppressing it. The guest were probably downstairs or gone, I didn’t know what time it was. I had no clocks on the wall or a phone to look at.
It had been a few minutes not sure but I suddenly felt thirsty and decided to stroll to the kitchen. The dinning room was empty, which meant the guests had called it a night. As for Margaret and Juliet I had no idea where they were but I hopped they were asleep.
I looked at Juliet’s picture that was hanged at the corridor. It was placed beside that of Margaret’s, while mine was at a far end next to father’s.
I descended the stairs with caution. The last thing I needed was falling over and getting scolded for being clumsy.“Mom, I can’t stop thinking of him.” Juliet was saying. She wasn’t in view because she was in the living room and the kitchen happened to be next to it.
“Sweetie, I told you not to give it much thought. I have already called your dad, he is on his way.” Margaret consoled.
“Will I marry Allen? I need to have him mom.” Her voice broke at the end ensued by her sobs.
Although I knew that Allen was never going to take a liking to me I couldn’t help but be jealous of Juliet.
She got everything as usual, while I was left with nothing.
I trudged into the kitchen, the last thing I wanted was to get spotted by Margaret. I waited for the tap to fill in the glass cup. I could hear Juliet’s voice although not audible yet noticeable.
I wasn’t surprised that Juliet had taken a liking to Allen, yet I was taken back when she suggested marriage.
Just as I stepped out with my glass of water in hand. Father came through the front door briskly gripping his briefcase.
From his expression I could detect that the meeting went smoothly. I rushed over to hug him when Juliet appeared behind the living room door, ran passed me and into his arms.
Father was conflicted, I hid my pain and turned around. I couldn’t help but feel that slight discomfort deep within. I had accepted the fact that Juliet got all the love whether consciously or unconsciously, yet I wished I got the same attention.
“Darling.” Margaret made an entrance, sweeping the floor with her dark green dress. She kissed father on his cheeks and took his briefcase from him.
Juliet might’ve noticed me because she snarled at me. I looked at the water on my hand. My fingers were shaking profusely.
“I will like to talk to you in private.” As she said that she looked at me and I knew I wasn’t welcomed. I didn’t feel like the part of the family anyways.
“Say it now dear, I have work to attend to.” Father replied. A sense of calmness took over me. With Father here, Margaret won’t be able to be mean like she did all the time.
Margaret wasn’t happy with his words yet she grinned at him. Father sat at the sofa with Margaret beside him. Juliet sat at the other one while I sat at the far end.
I wasn’t used to the proximity. Often times I stay hidden in my room, only coming out when Margaret needed me for anything—which was all the time.
Father loosened the tie on his neck and unbuttoned the few buttons of his shirt. Margaret was clutching to his right hand like babies do to their mothers. I almost laughed out at the sight.
“Juliet, what did you say you wanted to tell Daddy?” Margaret began. Juliet was toying with her fingers, she was suddenly nervous. Her lips were quivered but not a word from her.
I didn’t know how much time passed but I knew it was a lot because father cleared his throat distracting her. The impatience on his face was clear.
Margaret soothed him by rubbing his arms gently.
“I think I’ve fallen in love with Allen.” She whispered. The room was suddenly silent, Margaret was smiling brightly at her while father’s gaze flickered between Juliet and I.
I wasn’t sure why he was giving me a bizarre look, but I knew it had to be because I was older than Juliet and never brought up the topic of love before him.
Father placed his fingers on his forehead in exhaustion. It was past ten and normally we retired to bed as such hours—not today apparently.
“When did you develop such feelings?” he inquired calmly.
Juliet was quiet once again. Her eyes quivered from Margaret to the ceiling. As awkward as the situation was I was content sitting down just enjoying the show. I would like to believe I wasn’t a bad person, I had never seen Juliet so utter-less, and hopeless.
Margaret couldn’t hold it in any longer. She batted her eyes at Father. To Juliet she uttered, “Daddy asked you a question, dear.”
Juliet quaffed at Margaret’s reminder. The now empty glass was kept on the floor beside my right foot. The room was chilly all of a sudden, the thin material of the gown no longer sustaining it.
My stomach grumbled in pain, I resisted the urge to clutch it—I needed food.
Juliet murmured with a blush.
“I want to marry him.”
It wasn’t a surprise that Juliet would take a liking to Allen at the first meeting, but the request for marriage took me off guard. My hand shook and I did all I could to stay balanced, and hidden from their view.Juliet knelt down before Margaret sobbing while the latter comforted her by running her hands through her hair. They were waiting for father who after the departure of our honorable guests had taken the pleasure to escort them out. My eyes flickered between Margaret and Juliet. I couldn’t comprehend why I felt so disappointed when Juliet declared her interest in Allen. Those glances he stole my way during dinner was nothing, I was a nobody and he couldn’t possibly fancy me. Juliet had everything he desired in a woman, yet I couldn’t help the jealously in me. It was the first time that someone had taken the time to look at me with keen interest. Father appeared disheveled, his tie was loosened and it looked like he would pass out any minute from fatigue. We were all wa
“Get up witch,” Juliet seized the duvet, the sun shine through the half-opened window, goosebumps were all over me as I struggled to get myself warm by tightly hugging myself. “Good morning Juliet,” I murmured. Curtsey was on one of the many things Margaret emphasized on. “Didn’t you hear me the first time? I said wake up witch.” And I thought Father considering to meet with the Ian’s for a marriage proposal was supposed to brighten her mood. I rushed out of the bed and ran like my life depended on it to the kitchen—I wouldn’t take any chances with Margaret, not after getting on the phone with my best friends. Oh no, Indiana, I felt like a terrible friend. I always knew I wasn’t entitled to have companies but deep down, I wanted to have friends like a normal young adult. As much as I enjoyed cooking, I couldn’t ignore the soreness from running errands. “Good morning Father,” I greeted while placing the plates on the wooden family dinning table. He hummed in acknowledgement. Jul
Dinner was grilled fish served with sauce and plenty lemons. And for dessert it was chocolate cake. What I learned about the Ians was their love for elegance—everything must be in order. Also, the unspeakable of eating without talking. I devoured the dishes without appearing too desperate. Not having proper meals for days and then sitting at a large table, accompanied by all varieties of foods that could be swapped for another within the blink of an eye. I also learned that Allen detested garlic. He also had a habit of smelling the food before eating to detect the presence of garlic. Juliet was her usually cocky self, laughing in an unnecessarily high pitched annoying voice every few minutes. She also tried to engage Allen in conversations as much as she could. I knew what Allen and I had was nothing. It was the spur of the moment, but it gave me hope. I knew I was a hopeless romantic when I went through all the books in the library during high school. “Here,” Allen handed me
I was on the phone with Indiana three days after the dinner. To cut the story short, Juliet got engaged to Allen and the wedding was set for four months. “Juliet is planning to have the best wedding of the century. I mean I have nothing against her wedding but I will hate to have to serve wine for rich snotty brats that probably had people wiped their butts everyday.”“Look at the bright side Cher, you will get rid of the bitch—” when she said the word ‘bitch’ she made sure it was so low that if I hadn’t predicted her I wouldn’t have guessed.Indiana was unique in her own way, while Grace was the quiet type we were the life of the party. Speaking of Grace, “Is Grace mad at me?” It wasn’t often that I got the chance to speak with them. I hated the fact that I had to sneak before properly talking them—the distance created the drift in our friendship. “She is fine. Her mom’s always busy, she has night shifts now and Grace has to take care of her sister Mia, you know how that girl can
Ever since I was born, it had always been the sequence of events; getting punished daily for the petty mistakes I made. Margaret said I’m non-complaint and to make sure I stayed out of trouble she had to discipline me. Juliet and I were never alike. She preferred to stay in the shadows of Margaret—since she claimed that I had no privilege to refer to her as a mom—while I do things my own way. So far, that had gotten me into more troubles than I can count. I paused my movement on the broom, the tiled floor looking anew. I could hear footsteps approaching. I steadied myself getting ready for Margaret’s wraths and if I were unlucky, a few strokes of cane.Before I could make a run for the door, Margaret stomped in with two whips in hand and Juliet trailing behind her clenching the hem of her dress with a barbarous glare. Margaret looked around, heaved a sigh and uttered with potency. “How many times have I told you not to defy my orders? I sheltered you, took care of you when you wer
My punishment season ended when Margaret received a phone call. I had never been thankful for Juliet like I did at the moment. Margaret had withdrawn her hold on the whip, she quickly collected the device from Juliet and walked away.I knew better than to stay sprawled on the floor despite the bruises and soreness that were excruciating as ever. I sauntered to the kitchen in an attempt to make lunch.I looked around the sparkling tidy environment. I loved cooking, cutting, chopping ingredients into chunks was the best part of my day. The counter was wiped clean, rugs and kitchen equipment and tools neatly set up. Juliet littered the kitchen whenever she was in. It was my job to keep everything in check. We might not be high-class business owners but we had enough to take care of the family and for a maid as well. I had made the mistake of suggesting Margaret hire someone so I could rest but it ended in me having scars all over my body and Margaret yelling at me all day.I got to wor
Indiana and Grace stood docilely by the door.My hold on the doorknob intensified, I was afraid to look behind me to Margaret who sat gracefully asking at intervals who was there. I stepped down shielding my best friends from her view. Margaret had warned me against bringing intruders into her household—and by intruders she meant my two best friends. “What are you guys doing here?” I whispered-yelled. I closed the door behind me. “We decided to visit you, since you know—” Indiana started.I knew I was a shitty best friend. I rarely hung out with my friends. Margaret was to blame for it, she made sure I had no time to spare. I go to bed late everyday and wake up early in the morning to continue with the house chores. Grace was looking down. She was the sensitive one out of us all. I couldn’t help but be guilty.“This is unfair,” Grace whispered. I looked behind. Somehow we were all waiting for Margaret to emerge behind the sealed doors. “We don’t hang out anymore because of your
Margaret called for me with a flicker of her hands. I took a hold of the dishes and placed it at the center of the table. Allen’s eyes were still on me, his presence was making me awfully uncomfortable. Yet, I ignored his stares and poured the elderly man—probably his father—wine. “Sister,” she announced. Her eyes were looking so intensely at me that I squinched. I wasn’t surprised that I was acknowlged. After all, father was present and any form of degrading would only cause trouble to Margaret and Juliet. Juliet took Margaret’s pampering tendencies towards her for granted. She showed it off whenever she got the chance to do so. In all this, I never blamed her for taking our parent’s attention.She raised her head high and elegantly sat watching intently at Allen. She would nudge him and point at a random dish. Allen would nod without saying a word. I rarely saw dad, he was always travelling abroad dealing with one business or the other to earn a livelihood. Yet, he never got the