1

6:30 am.

Xenia's room.

*********

    There was a repetitive, loud banging on the door.

"Wake up, sleepyhead!" a lady's annoyed voice was heard outside Xenia's door.

Xenia in question was lying sprawled on the bed with an eye pillow on her eyes and snoring.

The yellow blanket on the floor was in a rough position.

"Xenia, I'll punish you to pick a pin before you go out today." came the lady's annoyed voice again.

Xenia turned over, hugging her pillow and groaning.

"Xenia!"

The knockings had become more relentless and harder. The door was trembling. If she added more strength, it could break!

"Honey, don't worry. I'll wake her up myself." a calm male voice was heard.

"I'm going nowhere. I've got to teach this girl a lesson today."

"Honey, can you not frown? You don't look pretty anymore." the male said in a concerned tone.

"Thank you, Xenia's dad but no, I'm not letting her off."

The door finally opened when she was planning to knock again.

Xenia's annoyed but sleepy face could be seen.

"Mom, I'm not deaf, alright! Let me sleep for just two more minutes, then I'll be fully up," she said while yawning.

"You gamed again last night, didn't you? You went against my orders!" her mother, Emma Anderson, barked.

"Mom, I didn't disobey you. I just chatted with my friends while we made preparations." Xenia defended.

"What preparations?" her mom asked with arms folded. Xenia rubbed her neck with her right hand before explaining.

"Mom, tomorrow is Saturday. It's my turn to lead our squad to complete victory in MCL.

I'm an Angela main but I'm told to use an assassin of my choice. It's not very easy, you know. So my friends demanded to see how I would fare and I did pretty well. I'm resolved to use Aamon in the last game. I'll wow them all." Xenia explained.

Her parents knew nothing about what she was saying but she has indeed admitted to playing games and slept late last night.

Emma nodded her head while biting her lip.

"Good for you, Xenia. Very good. No meat throughout this week. If you sneakily eat one outside, I'll know and you will not eat for a week in this house. Let's see how you'll have the strength to play games."

Emma turned to her husband.

"And you, just because she's the only daughter and lastborn, doesn't mean you'll pamper her spoilt. Look at her and look at me. Who mothered who? She's this big and still eating unhealthy food. She'll find her mate soon. Which mate would want a balloon for a mate? Honey, you don't want her to have heartbreak, do you? Then tell her..."

"Hello? I'm right here." Xenia reminded. They stared at her and she continued:

"And I like the way I am. If you are so embarrassed about being my mom, why didn't you terminate me at conception? Why don't you lecture your sons on being too handsome? Thankfully, they resembled Dad or else it would be a catastrophe. And I found your teenage photos last week, mum. You were a trailer in human form. How dare you talk about weight with me?"

"Xenia..."

"Xixi, get yourself prepared. Or you'll be late for school." her dad said with a sigh.

"I want to relax some more." Xenia pouted.

"Okay. But if you're not down by 7:15, you're as good as meat paste. Am I clear?" her dad asked, while wearing a smile.

"Dad..."

"Am I clear?" he asked again. This time, he was no longer smiling.

"Yes, Dad," she replied sulkily.

"And apologize to my wife." her dad demanded.

"I won't. She called me ugly and fatso. She should apologize first."

"Xenia, how dare you put words in my mouth?"

"Mom, if you don't like me, just say it. Don't try to force me into what I hate to be. How many skinny girls are there in school? Only I and Romilly are different. It makes us special."

"What special? Xenia..."

"I don't have time to waste, Mrs Anderson. See ya later." Xenia slammed the door hard.

"Xenia, how dare you?" her mom's angry voice could still be heard.

Mom, your sextuplets are still asleep. Why don't you wake them up? You think they are nerds who read late into the night?" she stormed into the bathroom and slammed its door behind her.

Outside the room, Emma was about to shift. That's how furious she was but her husband placed his hands on her shoulders to calm her down.

"It's okay, dear.  I'm pretty sure she didn't mean those words and yeah, honey, you shouldn't downplay your daughter."

"I'm not. I just want the best for her..."

"I know you love her. Come on, let's go."

*******

Exactly at 7:15, Xenia was already downstairs.

Her parents and older siblings were already seated and about to eat.

"I am not late." Xenia said.

"Great job." her dad commended.

"Here Emma, have this." he put some food into his wife's bowl.

"You two had a fight again? *sighs* This will never stop. None of you wants to give in."

"Ian, eat your food." their dad scolded.

"Sorry I bothered to talk at all." the last on the sextuplets said and continued eating.

There was a rule of no phones or any other electrical device while dining.

"You guys eat. I'm not hungry." Xenia said and walked out of the house.

"Xenia!" her oldest brother stood up and walked after her.

"This girl..." her dad sighed.

&&&&&

Outside the home.

Xenia had no intention of stopping. Her brother had to hold her hand but she struggled.

"Dear, I know you feel wronged but mom doesn't hate you."

"You're even on her side. Why are you here, then?" she frowned.

"I'm not on anyone's side."

"Greg, please, just leave me alone, ok?" Xenia turned around and walked away.

"Xenia, where are you going?"

"Romilly's. Cosima makes good food." she spat before walking away angrily.

Greg sighed before walking back into the house.

Soon, he came out with his school bag. He then headed in the direction that his little sis went.

&&&&&&

  Romilly and Xenia hugged.

"Oh, honey, were you pissed off again?"

"Am I really her daughter?" Xenia asked with teary eyes.

"You are. Every mother has a way of demonstrating their love."

"She doesn't love me, alright. Let her love her six sons!"

"Xenia, can you please calm down? Here, mum already packed this for you. It's your favorite." Greg, who had just arrived, handed a cooler to her that he'd taken out of his bag.

"I don't want it. Keep it to yourself." Xenia walked into her bestie's home.

"Let me take it. I'll surely make her eat it before it gets cold." Romilly smiled at Greg, who nodded and thanked her for her help.

Then he turned around to leave.

Mom and Xenia had this issue when she started gaining weight a lot. He could understand his mom's concerns but she's just too pushy.

Xenia, on the other hand, is headstrong and hates being told what to do, especially when it's against her will. She's turning 18 next month and since she bloomed late, she'll be shifting on the night she turns eighteen, which will also be a full moon. He could only sigh and leave.

Romilly placed the cooler aside and watched her bestie dig into the food her own mom made. She sighed as she sat at the dining table.

"Xenia..."

"If it's about those people, then I'm done eating." Xenia was about to stand up.

"XiXi, calm down. I'm not gonna talk about them, alright? Today's the weekend and Teacher Kaira did give us an assignment yesterday. You were sleeping and after that, I didn't get to talk to you during lunchtime. You went to the internet cafe to game."

"So you're gonna lecture me now? I thought you were my best buddy. You should understand me even when my family couldn't. I'm done eating. By the way, the food was delectable. Way better than Emma's.  I'm off. Don't bother sitting close to me in school." Xenia rose from the chair and stormed away.

Romilly sighed.

Lately, her friend's temper had changed and it's getting worse. Was it because she was soon to shift and she was agitated or frustrated from thinking about it? Turning, for first-timers, is very painful and arduous.

Whatever, she had to make final preparations and go to school with the cooler. Although this Xenia is pissed at her mom, Emma's food is one of a kind and gives Xenia a good mood, so she must make this headstrong girl eat it.

The task would not be easy, though, considering her friend's current temperament.