CHAPTER 3 - TRUTH

TASHA

“I told you, you will go with me whether you like it or not,” Sadie said in hushed tones as we were looking through the racks of dresses to decide what to wear to the Junior Prom night the following night. She told my mom about the prom night and my mom urged that I should go. Even though I tried to persuade her that I didn't want to, she reminded me of how I had skipped both my junior prom and senior graduation ball while I was in secondary school.

“If mom would only let me, I would still choose not to attend,” I said. My eyes were drawn to a simple gray bare-backed dress with a low plunging neck area and I frowned upon seeing its tag price. “Even though this is their most affordable dress, it is still a drain on our savings!”

“Don’t look at the prices and pick what you really want,” Mom remarked from the opposite side of the rack. She strolled towards me, showing her guaranteeing smile. 

“I can borrow a dress from Sadie, mom. I am sure she won’t mind,” I said. I eyed Sadie and she showed me twofold thumbs up. “See? She’s perfectly fine with it.”

“The last time you bought a piece of cloth for yourself was when you’re still in the first year of college. You’re in your third year now, Tasha. You've earned this,” Mom demanded. “Think of this as my reward to you since you’re working really hard to have excellent grades in your university."

“If you're still concerned about what kind of shoes you'll be wearing, don't be stressed about it. You may choose whatever you want, and I'll pay for it,” Sadie's side commented.

“Sadie—”

She grinned and shushed me. “I am sure, your father would love to see you in events like this,” she said. “And I do as well. Let’s not shroud that gorgeous face and flaunt that beauty of yours, girl!”

I chuckled because of how she uttered those words. My mom and I thanked her for her generous act and how she thought of my father.

Mom excused herself for a short period of time and she instructed us to finalize what we’re going to wear. Sadie and I consented to head out in a different direction to utilize our time choosing what we want to buy. Eventually, I settled on a red off-shoulder lace dress weaved with red roses on its neck and waistline, as well as a cream-shaded spool heel with variety of other sorts of naked hued blossoms on its throat.

I searched for Sadie and found her having a conversation with a saleslady. When I went in her direction, they’re almost done talking so I kept my distance. Soon after, she hurried over to me, her face aglow with a huge grin from ear to ear.

“Guess what,” she started, “we don’t have to pay for your clothes anymore.”

My jaw dropped as my eyes went wide in light of what she told me. “Why?”

“The store owner has instructed that saleslady to inform me that you are welcome to take whichever dresses and shoes that you want free of charge,” she explained. “Isn’t that fantastic?”

“N-No,” I responded. “Besides, we don't know who runs this store, and we can't just accept anything from a complete stranger whom we haven't even met yet. Aside from that, isn’t it dreadful that they wanted me to get what I want for free? For sure, there’s a consequence once I took that bait.”

She considered everything for some time and shrugged her shoulders a while later. “You're right. It is a little bit frightening.”

I sighed in relief when she agreed. We head out to the cashier section to pay for everything, except for when I was going to pay, the cashier I am in will not allow me to do it. They're all demanding that I can get the entirety of the things I've decided free of charge since it was the store owner’s instruction.

“If it's okay with you, could you tell me who owns this boutique?” I asked and they exchanged a sideway glances one after another. “Perhaps I am acquainted with her...or with him, because it seems a little unsettling that someone would hand me these things for free given the prices that they have.”

“It’s Ms. Raiah,” one of them replied. I tried everything I could to remember if that name rang a bell, but nothing came to mind—I couldn't come up with anything. I don't know her. “The other store owner's identity is not permitted to be publicized since he preferred to remain anonymous. I hope you don’t mind.”

I smiled and nodded my head as an indication of assuring her that it is fine with me. After all, they still have privacy protocols and I have to respect that. I thanked everyone and instructed them to extend my gratitude to the owners of this boutique.

Sadie is still flabbergasted because of what happened. She kept on telling me that this is the first time that this has ever happened in her life. Her inquisitiveness about the identity of the other store owner had prompted me to hunt for them on the internet, but I came up empty-handed. I assume they're really trying to keep his identity a secret from the general public.

When we saw mom, she appeared to be in a state of shock. I noticed that her body’s trembling a bit. “Mom,” I called. She faced me with her wide eyes and her now pale face. “What happened?”

“T-They’re h-here…” she said, her voice was thick with fear.

“Who?”

“The…The people who killed…your father…”

Dread washed over me, raising the fine hairs on the back of my neck because of what my mother just told me. This is the first time I’ve heard her disclose something to me about my father. He was…killed? By whom? For what?! My heart was pulsating in my ears, uproarious and irregular, but I scarcely heard it, for my mind was clouded with terror…and outrage.

“I’ll take you home with your mom, Tasha,” Sadie offered. “I think it would be safer in that way.”

I didn't say a single thing the entire time. During our drive home, we were all deafeningly quiet. I am looking at the outside of the car and mom’s looking on the other side. I don’t know what I should say. I'm not sure how I should be feeling. I covered my mouth to suppress my sobs as tears started to run down my cheeks.

I never had the chance to meet my father and now…he was killed?! For my mom to have that kind of fear, he must’ve been brutally killed by someone and that…hurts. I don’t understand. I don’t feel anything. It's as if my entire body has gone numb, and everything has started to shut down. This feels like I am looking out at the rest of the world through a fog. Why him? I need to know why my father was killed! I need an answer, or my soul will bear this for the rest of my life.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Sadie asked, almost whispering. I nodded and showed her a subtle smile before I thanked her for the ride. “If you and your mom need some help, I am here. Don't hesitate to send me a message, Tash.”

I waited for Sadie to drove away before I head out inside our house. I found mom sitting on one of our dining chairs with a glass full of cold water. I took a seat in the chair in front of her and closed my eyes to calm myself.

“Mom,” I called. “I know you don’t want me asking about my father’s death but…I need to know everything.” She looked at me. “I understand that this may be painful for you, but I don’t want to be left out in the shadows again. I need…the truth.”

“Forbidden love…killed your father,” she uttered, her eyes fixed on me as she spoke those words. 

“W-What?”

When she began uncovering the untold truth which she saved for how many years, I simply gaze with wide open-eyed cannot shut, like the whole world is splitting crumble apart around me… I didn't shake. I was…only there…in complete loss of motion, tears rolling down my cheeks, without realizing what will befall my life after that.