THE TALK

It's that hour! That horrible hour that is ushering in a brand-new year in my life.

Today is different from the previous years when I reveled in the joy and bliss of booming in the new year as I scanned the clock tick by. Everything is contrary to what I experienced on my previous birthdays. Nothing is the same, it seems. Today's feeling is distinct even from the sound of the clock. The sound of fear and anxiety is ticking in it. My ears itch, and I am utterly perturbed by that sound. I am more certain of the sound of the clock and every other sound ringing around me, unlike Crystal Gyle in her jazz version of Sounds of Goodbye which is playing on the TV. I love that jazz, but today it's helping at all.

I slouch down on the seat and reflect on my opulent yet pathetic existence. Apparently, money is not everything like they claimed. They freaking lied for fucksake! If this freaking existence was all about money and power, if everything in life revolves around money and extravagances, then there is no doubt that Ellie Marrie Riccaford would be the happiest badass goddess in the world. I'm swimming in luxury, but take a look at this shit I call myself. A freaking twenty-year-old who has never made even one decision regarding her dismal horrendous life. Heck! I am living my father's life, but not anymore!

Until moments ago, I used to have my every move imposed on me. But that has to stop now. My exciting and thrilling long-awaited birthday brings everything to a close. I'm optimistically welcoming this new dawn. This precise moment that I've always been so afraid of. A fresh day. A brand-new beginning. And a freaking new turn. I have had enough of being hoodwinked like a marionette. I don't care how badly this potentially catastrophic decision of mine will impact my relationship with my father or how much of a blow it will be to his company and reputation. I will take on the responsibility and deal with the consequences. Regardless of the sludge that fate may throw me into for my sudden change of action, I shall swim through it till the end.

I cast a quick glance at the satchel and the proof of the treachery I experienced a few hours ago that are both lying on the floor. They sure knew precisely where to hit me! May the devil screw them! I know I will never get over this any time soon but you know what? There is no way I will shed another teardrop over them. They are not worth it.

My focus is diverted by a soft knock on the door, and I get up to go get it. That must be my only two partners in crime - Sherry and Rose.

"Hey!" I beckon them in and shut the door behind us.

"Hi!"

Before they say anything, their attention quickly veers to the objects on the floor as I faintly respond to their greetings and slouch back in my chair.

"Ellie, why are these here? Do you plan to discard them? This bed was only just purchased." They sit down alongside me while Rose speaks.

"They stink!" I sigh after responding, containing the tears that are about to spill out of my eyes. That pair of blatant cheaters is not going to cause another drop of tears from me.

I cork my head down upon realising their concerned gazes at me.

"Hold on, Ellie!" Rose looks at my face while expressing concern. "what's wrong? It seems like you have cried your eyes out. What on earth happened?"

"The worst, Rose. I found Leo pounding on a bitch on that bed today."

A moment of screaming silence!

They are perplexed. No. Thunderstruck! I anticipated that. They are aware of how far Leo and I have come along. They bear evidence of the fascinating love we had and the lovely dreams we shared together. And Sherry, I perceive the expression of awe and bemusement she is wearing. She is related to that dick, after all. The jerk is her brother.

"No. No. Ellie, wait!" She pauses, her face growing drab with shock. It resembles mine a while ago when I entered that room and watched her brother's hard balls slamming on that bitch. "What do you mean Leo was on your bed with another b*tch? I don't..."

"Sherry, you heard it perfectly right. I just learned in the worst way possible that your brother has been having an affair with another bitch. That is not even all. Do you know the bitch he cheated on me with?" In contrast to Sherry who is still a statue, Rose still has enough energy to slightly shake her head and express her expectation of what I will say. Her attention is fixed on me, as though I were saying something that was completely unbelievable. "NELLY - My stepsister! That witch-whore my father brought into our home is the one Leo has been screwing behind my back."

"What?" Both of them ask in unison. I can't even tell if it's a question or an exclamation.

"How? You mean you found Leo, my brother, and your sister screwing in your house, and on your bed? That is absurd...it... it's unbelievable! My brother?"

"Yes, Sherry. And they had the balls to wrap it to my face that it has been going on for months."

"Ooh, bestie! I am so deeply sorry. Leo? I know Nelly is a shameless b*tch who will do anything to outdo you, but Leo? When did he turn into a heartless-cheating jerk? What got into him? Why the fuck would he do this to you?" Rose says as she rubs my shoulder.

"That is exactly what he is going to explain to me right now. I need him to look me in the eye and break down this nonsense to me bit by bit." Standing up, Sherry replies, but I take her hand.

"Sherry, it's not worth it."

"It isn't, Ellie? I don't freaking think so! Not only did my brother had the balls to cheat on you, the best friend I introduced him to, but he did it with your sister for fuck's sake! And on your bed? Who on hell does that? Ellie, he has a thousand things to explain and he better have a good explanation if he doesn't want me to have him castrated or his balls chopped off."

Ouch! Ouch! That pain, though! I can only imagine.

Rose and I both take a position right in front of her. We all are cognizant of how erratic sherry can be. I'm not trying to stand up for that jerk, Leo. Not at all. I simply want to put this nightmare behind me. Furthermore, nothing will undo what they have accomplished - to shatter my heart. Nothing can or ever will. Not even their apologies. And as things are, they both appeared unrepentant for their morally repugnant act. It serves no purpose to drag out this issue. It is what is. I need to make peace with it and move on.

"I don't want to be engaged in anything you decide to do with your brother, Sherry. I never imagined that he, of all people, would shatter my heart and degrade me in this manner. His betrayal hurts me so much, but I have to ratify it and move on. I don't want to see your brother ever again. I'm so done and over with him." I state.

They both wrap their arms around me and envelop me in a tight hug. They are my only group of friends. The only ones who are familiar with Ellie Riccarfords' miseries.

"Bestie, everything will be okay in due time, okay? I respect your decision, but that jerk will still get it from me." As we recline on the seat, Sherry says.

"I still find it hard to believe. Anyway, bestie, it puzzles me more that you seem unfazed in the face of this entire messed-up situation. I have never seen you this composed any time when life is messing around with you. Are you okay?" Rose mumbles.

"Seriously, Rose? After everything, do you think she can be alright?" Sherry fires.

"Hey! I'm just worried, okay? Have ever seen her in this manner? Come on!" Rose defends.

"Listen up." I speak before they jump on each other's necks. "I swore not to lose my mind because of this, alright? It happened and it is what is. Crying and weeping will not solve anything." I finish making my point.

"Okay. So, bestie, what are you going to do now?" Rose queries.

"Nothing. There is absolutely nothing to be done."

"So you'll stop resisting destiny, then? You intend to wed your phantom husband—whose even name you have no idea of, Ellie?" Rose asks.

There comes a point in life when you have to rely only on yourself. That point when you can entrust no one. These two are the first persons my father will turn to in the event of anything. More than the devil himself, they fear him. If he went to them, they wouldn't hesitate to tell him what they know. There is nothing I can say to them even if I want to. It's better to be safe than sorry even though I know they will murder me for this.

"Ellie?" Sherry calls, jolting my memory.

"Perhaps I should not have started this fight in the first place. What was I fighting for? The man who tossed me aside like trash? Was all my efforts worth it? Were all the times I pleaded with my dad worth a dime?" I implore.

"But Ellie, you don't have to..."

"But nothing, Sherry! I don't want to mystify myself any further. I have to stop deluding myself. My mind is made up."

"I concur. And I'm hoping that when you meet him tomorrow for the first time, Mr. Riccarforte will prove to be a seductive beauty god who will swoon you off your feet." Rose explains excitedly as if she doesn't know how much I loathe this idea and that fucking son of a...

"Oh, please! Give me a break! What kind of man sits his annoying ass down and waits for his parents to choose a wife for him?" I fume.

"Ellie, try not to be so hard on the unfortunate man. Like you, he is likewise coerced into doing this. You know, it's not his fault. He might not be in agreement with this arrangement hence his reasons for staying away from his family. He might be going through the same turmoil as you are." Rose says.

Yeah, right! Men get away with everything they want in this society.

"Yes. And who knows? He might turn out as an irresistible charmer or a knight in shining armor. He might spark something within you that will leave you with a burning desire for no other man but him. That would be incredibly terrific, right?" Sherry says.

I scoff at such idiotic joke. Shining armour my foot! I don't want to see his face whether he is prince charming or an ugly monkey.

"By the way, Ellie, what's up with all this stuff? And for the love of God, why in the world did you make us ride in a jeepney?" Rose queries.

"Because I need to remove this foul garbage from my house and dispose of it where it belongs."

They give me puzzled looks, and I subconsciously smirk.