Chapter 4

I stood in the kitchen, dicing some vegetables for the food I was cooking for dinner. I had gotten my first pay just yesterday, and used a small amount for the groceries we needed at home. 

Everything has just been so strange these past few days. It was nearly as if a magical wand had touched my step father. Suddenly, he was in such a good mood, that he was almost never at home, and when he was, he sat down in the garage welding for people, while humming some Korean old songs. 

Truth be told, I was slightly scared. He wasn't generally in this much of a good mood, talk less of sober. 

Come to think about it, I thought to myself, all of this strange behavior started two weeks ago, after aunt Tara had left. He had been smiling like he knew a secret that no one else except him new, and looked at me in a way that made me feel so uncomfortable. 

I guess I should be thankful though; he hadn't beaten me, or touched me in any way since then, which was actually great. My skin was nearly totally healed from all the cuts and bruises inflicted on me, and my limbs didn't hurt so much anymore. 

But then again, getting used to his always angry self, made me feel like there was something terribly wrong going on, or there was grave danger awaiting me ahead. 

A shiver raked over my body, as I imagined all the terrible things that could happen to me in his hands. It was better if I just savoured every second of the peace, before all hell eventually broke loose. 

My mind shifted it's focus to an article that I had read on social media earlier today, Twitter to be precise. 

It was about the multi Billionaire CEO of Sparta Enterprises, named Simon Lawson. Apparently, he was getting married in a few days, to some mystery girl that no one had any idea about. When the media asked him for his reason for keeping the identity of the girl he was getting married to a secret, his response, was that he just didn't want people harrassing her. It was a sweet response, that made me smile when I read it; how sweet of him. 

However, it didn't escape my notice, on how much of this was quite a coincidence. How funny would it be if the Simon Lawson I was asked to marry, was actually the multi billionaire Simon. I chuckled to myself, as I shook my head incredulously at my thoughts. That would never happen. I was pretty sure it would probably be some model or a celebrity, with a gorgeous body and perfect life. 

Suddenly, the backdoor in the kitchen opened, and my step father walked in with a slight smile, while humming a Japanese song. I knew the tune, because when my mother was still alive, and we still had a car, anytime we went on a road trip, she would turn on that song. 

I remembered the lyrics so vividly, one would feel that I listened to it everyday. It was their song. 

Yet, this man had a way of turning my sweetest of memories, into pure poison. I failed to understand how he did it so smoothly. 

I tried my hardest to concentrate on what I was cooking, hoping and praying that the warm feeling of peace, the ceasefire wouldn't be called off.

Surprisingly, for the first time in long years, Life actually listened to my pleas and made my request come true. 

He looked up, and with a very calm face spoke to me. 

"Make sure whatever you're cooking is much. We're going to have visitors this evening." 

My mind stopped functioning properly for a moment. Did he just..? Wait, I thought to myself, am I dreaming? This had to be a dream. 

I realized that I had been opening and closing my mouth for the past few seconds, when he just calmly looked at me, with a single cocked eyebrow, as if he was trying to understand what was going on with me. 

"I, uhm, okay, father. I surely will make sure of that." I said, slightly stammering in between my words cause of confusion. 

"Good." He replied me, and walked away. 

As I went back to work in complete bewilderment, suddenly, I heard his voice again. 

"Oh and, you will be downstairs too. If you so as much as act up, or behave out of character, I will make sure you regret it, do you hear me? Also, before I forget, pack your things." 

Ah. That was more like it. But why was I to pack my things? What was going on? 

"Uhm, father? Why am I to pack my things? What is going on? Where am I going?" 

He turned to me, his face drained off all the calmness I saw on it before, his eyes promising me a terrible fire if I dared to ask any more questions. 

"Listen here, Jeyla. If you insist on being a bitch, I'll send you to them with a little bit decoration on your skin, so if you don't want to provoke me, you better keep your goddamn mouth shut, and be a good girl." 

His aura now reeked of grave danger, reminding me who he really was. I nodded my head vigorously, implying that I had understood each and every word he had said, and had heard him loud and clear. 

He stood there for a few more moments, with pure venom in his eyes, before turning away slowly, and walking out of the kitchen, into the living room. 

My mind raced with different thoughts an possibilities. We were having a guest, and I was to come out? I couldn't remember the last time we had visitors, talk less of being told that I could come downstairs. 

But above all the other thoughts, one stood dominant to every other; Where the hell was I going?