5; Sister's Fight

Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly at Anita, who stepped aside to let Glory pass with the tray of soup.

Anita walked into the kitchen without uttering a word to her mother, but her face held a sorrow her mom understood all too well.

"Anita..." Mrs. Tonia sighed and called her name.

"What is it, Mom?" Anita asked, walking beside her mother.

"I want you to know that your father really loves you, just like he loves the rest of your siblings. He is not against your success," Mrs. Tonia replied, holding Anita's hand in hers.

"Hmph." Anita sighed.

"I know, Mom, but I don't care about that. If Dad likes me, fine. If he doesn't, fine. I will always see him as my father, and that’s all."

"Anita..."

"Mom, where is the fufu?" Flora stepped into the kitchen, interrupting them. She eyed Anita coldly and walked to the cabinet where their mother stood.

"Mom, why are you holding Anita's hands and talking to her? Are you begging her for something?" Flora asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"No, Flora. I am only advising Anita," Mrs. Tonia replied, staring at Flora.

"I don't care, Mom. That is beside the point. I came here for fufu because Glory served us soup without it. Where is the fufu?" Flora asked again.

"It is over there. Check the chair beside you," Mrs. Tonia responded.

Flora turned, spotted the fufu, picked it up, and walked out of the kitchen, leaving them alone.

"As I was saying, do not hold a grudge in your heart against your father, okay? You can never replace him. He is your real father, and I swear on my life that he loves you."

"Mom," Anita frowned. "That isn't necessary. Let's go eat first. I still have work to do and need to call Temisa to see if she has gotten home safely."

"Okay." Mrs. Tonia finally let go of Anita's hand.

Anita walked to the sink to wash her hands, then stepped out to join the rest of the family for dinner. Her father also came out and sat silently, eating the delicious okro soup his wife had made.

The dining hall remained silent. After dinner, Glory stood up first, having finished her meal. She cleared her plate to the kitchen and went to Anita and Flora’s room to wait for Anita, as she wanted to discuss something with her.

Later, when the rest of the family finished, Lisa cleared all the plates. It was her turn to wash the dishes, as she shared this weekly chore with Glory.

Anita walked back to the room she shared with Flora and found Glory standing inside.

"What are you doing here, baby sis?" Anita asked Glory as she stepped in and sat on the bed she shared with Flora.

"I came here to discuss something with you, Big Sis," Glory replied.

Anita stared at Glory for a few minutes. Her baby sister had indeed grown, asking advanced questions unlike the ten-year-old girl she had left behind before going to university.

"So, tell me, what do you want to discuss?" Anita asked.

Before Glory could reply, Flora stepped in coldly. "What are you doing here, Glory? Return to your room now!" Flora commanded.

"No, Flora, leave Glory stay. We have a conversation to finish. As you can see, I just returned," Anita replied.

Flora flared up. "I wasn't speaking to you. So stay out of this!"

"Meaning what?!" Anita stood up from the bed and crossed her arms, facing Flora. "I have been keeping quiet for your sake, Flora. What do you mean by 'I wasn't speaking to you'?" Anita questioned, staring coldly at her sister.

"You heard me correctly. I have no business with white witches. Now, Glory, leave here. I want to rest," Flora repeated.

Anita smirked and sat back on the bed. "Tell me, Glory, what do you want to ask me about?" She unzipped her box to remove her laptop and phone.

Glory stared from Anita to Flora in confusion. Anita was her big sister, same as Flora, and she disliked how they quarreled because of her.

"Glory, leave!" Flora commanded again, walking closer to drag Glory out.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Anita warned. She took her laptop and phone out of the box and placed them on the bed.

"Or what? What will you do?" Flora challenged.

Anita looked up at Flora. "Step away, or you dare touch Glory first!"

"No, Big Sis, I am leaving. I will ask you later," Glory responded nervously.

"No, Glory!" Anita glanced toward Glory, who shivered.

"Step away now, Flora! If you are here to rest, the bed is over there, but move away from my conversation with Glory!" Anita warned.

Flora stared angrily at Anita. Although Anita had a slim figure with a curvy waist, Flora was taller, fatter, and chubbier. She felt she could beat Anita up.

"And what if I don't?" Flora quickly walked toward Glory and dragged her by the arm.

Anita would not allow such disrespect. She stood up and pounced on Flora, dragging her by the long brunette hair and slapping her face multiple times. Flora gasped for breath as the two engaged in a fight.

"What is going on here?" Mr. Joshua questioned as he stepped into his eldest daughters' room, forcing them to separate.

"Father, she started it first!" Flora pointed at Anita.

Anita breathed heavily as she adjusted her clothes.

Mr. Joshua had always known Anita as someone who did not fight, so he wondered what had prompted the conflict. He stared at Glory. Just then, the rest of his daughters and his wife rushed into the room.

"What happened, Father?" they asked, entering the large room and staring from Anita to Flora, who was breathing heavily, and then to Glory, who wore a worried expression.

"What happened, Glory?" Mr. Joshua finally asked.

Glory stammered. "Father, I came in here to discuss something with Aunt Anita. Flora came in and ordered me to leave, but Aunt Anita refused. Flora insisted, and the fight started."

"Flora, why did you ask Glory to leave when Anita was still talking to her?" Mr. Joshua asked, staring at Flora. Her cheek was already swollen.

Anita’s red, swollen cheek was even more visible. However, Flora cried profusely, wanting her father’s support.

"Father, Anita slapped me first!" Flora pointed at her.

"I didn't ask you that. I asked why you sent Glory away."

"I wanted to sleep, Father, and I cannot sleep if they are discussing," Flora replied, sobbing.

"Hmm..." Mr. Joshua hummed, knowing it was all his fault. He issued a warning. "Let today be the last time I witness any form of disrespect from any of you toward your eldest sister, Anita. If it happens again, you will have me to contend with. Now, Flora, pack your bag and clothes. You will relocate to share the room with Lisa. Glory will start sharing this room with Anita from today onwards. If I receive any more reports or complaints, I will deal with you accordingly."

"Father!" Flora exclaimed, but Mr. Joshua had already walked out.

"You caused all this, Flora. Why disrespect your big sister?" Mrs. Tonia questioned.

Flora frowned. "Mom, are you also picking Anita's side? Is it because she won two stupid awards?"

"Shut your mouth, Flora. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Last session you had carry-overs, yet you refuse to read or learn from your big sister. All you know how to do is bad-mouth people."

"Mom!" Flora broke into sobs again while the rest of her sisters in the room crossed their arms angrily.

"Now, apologize to Anita first, before you start packing your bags!" Mrs. Tonia instructed.

"I won't do that, Mother," Flora refused.

"And I insist. Else, you will have me to contend with. Now!"

Flora was speechless. She stared from their mom to her siblings and then to Anita, who sat on the bed opening her laptop. Anita waited for it to boot, swallowed hard, and stared back at their mother.

"No, Mother!" Flora screamed.

Anita looked at them. "It's okay, Mom. I don't need Flora's apology," Anita replied, typing in her laptop password.

"No, Anita. She must apologize, or she ceases to be my daughter from today."

"Mom!" they all exclaimed.

Mrs. Tonia turned to face them all. "Yes. Mark this as my warning from today onwards. Note that I can also disown you and cut ties with you all if you dare to disobey me. Now, Flora, apologize!"

Flora stared at Anita sitting on the bed and mumbled, "I'm sorry, Anita."

"Repeat it out loudly."

"Mom!" Flora stared back at their mother.

"Now!" Mrs. Tonia was dead serious.

"Fine. I am sorry, Anita. Please forgive me," Flora pleaded.

"It's okay, Flora. You can leave." Anita did not shift her focus from her laptop as she responded.

Flora immediately packed her bag of clothes and dragged it out of the room, leaving the rest of them speechless as she departed.