GOING DOWN
It's been three days since Kai broke up with Rachel. It's the most painful way to break up with a girl. He cheated on her and now, he's the one with the guts to break up with her. She should be hurt but I'm not even feeling guilty of what happened to her.
At first, maybe I am. But right after watching her on television, I realized that she’s one hell of a lunatic who's so in love with a guy. She's too in denial that she couldn't process some facts anymore.
Too pathetic if one might ask.
I don’t know if I should laugh or what. Rachel Grey just announced to the world that she is getting married to Kai. For once, I know that she is lying because I am with Kai right now, unlike what she's telling the whole world.
I’m not in doubt of what Kai feels for me. From everything that he has shown me, I know how sincere he is. I know that he loves me. That gets no question from me.
Mom stared at me in the morning with a glow on her face. Why is she even smiling at me at a morning like this? Did something good happen? I'm curious.
“You're going to work?” she asked.
I narrowed my eyes at her then looked at my outfit. I'm not wearing office clothes. I'm wearing gym clothes because Janice asked me to come with her in her gym session today.
“Gym,” I replied.
She nodded at me. “Someone came by last night,” she started.
I stared at her and waited for her answer. My eyes directed to her, scared of who came. Is it Kai?
“Who?” I asked because she's taking too much time in finishing her work.
She smiled at me widely. “Your boyfriend,” she replied.
I narrowed my eyes. “Name?”
Or maybe I am the one who's in denial. It's probably Kai but I better hear what he said.
“Juneau Portman,” she replied.
I tried my hardest to not drop my jaw on the floor. Juneau? Juneau Portman? My boyfriend?!
She chuckled and walked near me. “I am so proud of you!” she beamed and even motioned to hug me but I stepped back.
These days, I feel like I don't like seeing my mom. When I see her, I feel like I want to explode and get mad. Is it because I am finally owning up for my stand?
“He said he will come here later!” Mom doesn’t seem to see how I am not fond of her today. Or maybe I have never been fond of her.
I took a deep breath and stared at her. “Mom, he’s not my boyfriend. Cut it out.” I think I may have sounded so mean because I can her face got distorted.
She stared at me, as if she’s waiting for me to tell her that I am kidding, that Juneau Portman is really my boyfriend. But it will never come.
I don’t know what’s going on inside Juneau Portman’s head or if he has gone completely crazy to even have the guts to tell my mom that we are in a relationship.
“I have a boyfriend but it’s not Juneau. It’s his brother. Kaisser Bennett,” I spoke not even a bit nervous. I know that sooner or later, I would be admitting everything that has gone down between me and Kai. So, maybe, I should try starting being honest with my mother.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Kai?” she asked with a hint of disbelief in her voice.
Now, I’m in panic. Kaisser Bennett is known to be Rachel Grey’s fiancé. I’m sure Mom and Dad are aware of that because they are huge fans of Nildex. What do you think is the reason why they wanted me to apply to Nildex anyway?
I nodded, even though my breathing is starting to hitch. Kaisser Bennett is mine. I believe in his love for me.
Mom gasped after seeing me nod. She walked towards me and held my shoulders, shaking me thoroughly. “Are you dreaming? Kaisser Bennett is getting married soon!” she yelled at me as if trying to crack some sense in my head.
Tears are welling at the sides of my eyes are she continued to shake me.
“Did you watch the press conference of Rachel Grey? That Kaisser Bennett is getting married to her! He’s so excited to even—”
“Kai was with me when the press conference happened, Mom!” I cut her off, making my own stand. “Kai loves me! We were together since college. We only broke up when you sent me to New York to study!”
I am crying as I was yelling my heart out. Kaisser Bennett is mine. I don’t know about this sudden surge of emotions in me but I am holding in too much. Maybe I’m just stressed—of my situation with Kai, of my situation with my strict parents, of everything!
Mom slapped me so hard I can feel the sting on my cheek. “Where have you learned to shout at me?!” Gone are Mom’s smiles and beams right now. I’ve made her mad.
But the slap? I don’t think I deserve the slap. She’s been controlling my life for twenty-four long years and this is the only time that I burst out.
“Mom!” Eurick came rushing down the stairs as he heard the shouting.
I looked up and saw Euben and Eujean also watching from the second floor, both shocked and in disbelief.
Eurick rushed to my side and made me face him. “Nique, are you alright?” he asked in shock. He caressed my cheek and his jaw clenched as he turned to Mom.
“Mom! What are you doing?!” he yelled at her.
Mom narrowed her eyes at me then at Eurick. “Eurick! Your sister is sick! She’s dating an engaged man!” she yelled.
I heard Eujean’s gasp from above.
Eurick paused with a shocked face as he looked at me slowly. “Nique…” he trailed.
I pursed my lips in a thin line and looked away. “Kai is dating me, not that Rachel Grey.” I spoke, calmer than moments ago.
My chest is rising up and down. It’s getting harder to breathe every moment. They don’t get me. They don’t understand my feelings. I am not a mistress as what my mother is pertaining to me. I am not a mistress. I never signed up to be a mistress.
Kai loves me. I don’t know what but thinking about his love for me makes me happy. It makes me feel better. Am I needy? Am I being too clingy?
Mom pointed a finger at me. “You stop with all your delusions! Whatever thing you have with him, you’re wrong. You’re so wrong because he’s marrying someone else and that’s not you!”
My heart constricted with every word that she uttered. She’s looking down at me. Again. For twenty four long years, I have been looked down by my parents. They never asked me for my own opinions. My life has been dictated since day one.
“He’s going to marry me!” I yelled at her. “You don’t know anything because you weren’t with me in the first place.”
She came forward and slapped me again.
“Mom!” my siblings yelled in unison as the impact of mom’s palm was heard in the whole house.
I sobbed as I took the second slap of the day.
“I did not teach you to be a mistress, Eunique! You are worth more than being a mistress! But what are you doing?!”
Dad came down from the stairs as the situation gets heated up again. “What’s going on here?” his voice echoed the whole house.
Mom looked at him then pointed at me. “Your daughter! Your daughter is dating an engaged man!” she yelled in hysteria.
I shut my eyes and shook my head. They don’t understand a thing. What they only think about is if their rules are followed or not. That’s how it is since the day I was born.
This is the sole reason why I am so envious of the persons having supportive parents—those parents who will support their children no matter what happens. I wish my parents did the same.
Dad looked at me with narrowed eyes. “What’s your Mom talking about, Eunique?” he asked, calmer than mom’s voice.
I sobbed and wiped the tears on my face. “Kaisser Bennett loves me…” I won’t let go of this line. Kaisser Bennett loves me. He’s told me that line over and over again. That line is etched in my whole system.
Dad pursed his lips in a thin line. I don’t know what he’s thinking. I don’t know what he’s going to say. Well, right now, I don’t care anymore. I’m choosing my happiness. I am choosing Kaisser Bennett. All the way.
“He’s getting married to Rachel Grey. It’s on the front page,” Dad said, calmer than Mom’s way of telling me the news.
I clenched my jaw. “He’s not going to,” because he isn’t going to. Why can’t they just trust me on this?
How lowly do my parents think of me? Do they really think that I’d settle for less? Do they really think I’d settle for being a mistress alone? No! I never wanted to have less than what I deserve.
“Eunique…” Dad trailed as my mom rushed forward to attack me again.
Eurick immediately placed me behind me to protect me from Mom. Dad immediately held my mom’s arm and pulled her back.
“Monique!” Dad yelled at Mom. “Calm down, please!”
Mom was about to burst out once again when suddenly, she held onto her left chest, looking so hurt and so much in pain.
My eyes widened when she fell on the floor while clutching on her chest.
“Mom!”
“Monique!”
Oh my god! What happened?