Chapter 10: Chapter 10

I don't know how many hours I've been staring at the ceiling of my room. After my argument with my dad, I came here and never got out again. I didn't bulge even when the maid called me to join my family for dinner.

I don't want to go back or visit this house. If I didn't need to come here for my plans, I wouldn't do it. Who would want to visit hell anyway?

I let out a sigh as my memories came back. How they all hurt me. How my father abandoned me, who I expected to be on my side.

***

When I woke up, I could smell the chemical around me. Even though I kept my eyes closed, the weak murmurs of the people I was with did not escape my ears. They are arguing.

"She has the nerve to actually did it now!" It was Daddy's voice; there was a trace of anger in his tone.

"Calm down first. We can find a way out of this," my stepmother told him.

When I heard my father, a glimmer of hope appeared in my chest. I resembled a young child who had just experienced hope. I cautiously opened my eyes and began to scan the area. I knew I was inside a hospital because of the white room and the equipment that was attached to me. Aunt Ayna and Daddy were arguing while standing two feet away from me. As I noticed Eunice seated on the sofa, I became enraged.

"Daddy..." I called his attention.

My tears started forming. The pain in my heart returned as I remembered why I was here today. Their attention quickly turned to me.

"Daddy..." I called again, with a single tear falling.

I would like to report everything to him, but I'm not sure where to begin. In spite of the fact that I was now lying in a hospital bed, my father came running over and grabbed my arm strongly, which astounded and shocked me.

"Are you really going to give me pure shame, Atasha?" he yelled fiercely.

My lips parted, and I stared at him, confused. "D-dad," I stammered as he tightened his grip on me.

He pulled me mercilessly to get up, and his palm immediately landed on my cheek as soon as I sat down.

"Javier!" My aunt stopped him and forced him away from me.

My tears started to fall while I was holding my cheek. Confused, hurt, and hopeless. I was just dumbfounded, looking at my father's face, which was now exploding with anger.

"Fvckingshit, Atasha! I didn't ask you anything but to fix your life! Is that so hard?" he shouted at me again.

"D-Dad... I'm not doing anything," I tried to say in my trembling voice.

He was about to attack me again, but my aunt stopped him. "Javier, stop it. Don't make the situation worse. We're here in the hospital; people outside will hear us. Do you want to ruin your reputation with them?" she said to my father.

"Talk to that woman! I am horrified by her shamelessness," my father answered, then quickly left the room.

He slammed the door harshly, which caused me to think more. I didn't anticipate this. I lost a someone important. I was betrayed. I was deceived. But why is it that I'm the target of my father's rage?

Aunt Ayna faced me with a blank expression on her face. "We'll get you a ticket to America after you're discharged. You'll live there—"

"What's happening?"  I cut her off.

"You have the guts to tell that after disgracing our family?" she asked me again.

I raised my eyebrows at what she said.

"Yeah right, Atasha. You have the courage to ask after you have done something stupid."

My jaw tensed when Eunice spoke. She was still sitting in on the sofa, watching me. Anger welled up inside me again when I didn't even see the slightest remorse in her eyes.

"You have a thick face to tell me that. You have a thick face to show yourself in front of me after what you did to my baby. You murderer!"

My attention turned to Tita Ayna when she smirked. "Baby? The one you killed, Atasha?" The other corner of her lips lifted.

"W-What?"  I can't believe it.

Little by little, an idea formed in my mind as I moved my eyes toward the two people who were now in the room with me.

"You aborted your child, Atasha," Aunt Ayna stated.

I felt deaf after hearing it. My body was shaking with anger. Out of spite. Even though I was weak, I forced myself to leave the bed. I pulled the strap attached to me and then walked towards my father's wife.

"W-What did you say?" My palms were clenched as blood flowed from my pulse, where the serum was attached. "Tell me that I heard it wrong."

I broke off staring at her when Eunice laughed. She slowly stood up and walked towards me. I brushed her hand away and looked at her angrily when she tried to touch my shoulder.

"Just leave, Atasha. We don't need you here. We don't need a useless mother—" I didn't let her finish what she was going to say, and I quickly tweaked her.

"Shameless! You are such an animal!" I screamed as tears fell from anger, resentment, and pain.

"Ouch!  "You fvcking bitch!" she screamed while trying to get out of my grip.

I even heard her mother cursing me while pulling me away from her daughter. I couldn't see anything because my eyes were full of tears. I just keep attacking Eunice. I want to hurt her so much. I want to return to her all the pain I feel. I just got away from her when a strong force pulled and pushed me, causing me to sit on the floor.

"Z-Zachary..." Eunice called him and quickly hugged him, asking comfort.

I remained sitting on the floor while looking at them with my blurred vision. One of Zachary's hands supported my sister. I laughed and shook my head.

"Such a thick face," I whispered, just enough for them to hear. "You motherfvckers..." I continued to say.

"Zachary, Eunice, go home," my stepmother ordered them.

The two followed without saying a word; Eunice's smirk even chased me before leaving the suite.

"What are you still fighting for, Atasha? Just leave quietly, so your father's reputation will be saved. God! It's good that you won't be sent to jail," said my father's good wife.

"Me?  Really, me?"  I couldn't believe it.

I'm not sure if she's crazy because they're blaming me for what happened or if my mind is still functioning normally since I'm laughing at her.

"Just leave, Atasha. That's what your dad wants too. And besides, I'm doing you a favor here. I know you're aware that we don't really need you in this family. Don't push yourself anymore," she said directly.

I was speechless. I must admit that I was hurt by what she said. A part of me believed her. Even so, that will not cover the pain in my heart caused by the sins they committed against me. If they want me gone, they could just ask for it. They don't have to destroy my name; they don't have to kill my child.

I didn't speak anymore until she left my room. I was still on the floor with dried tears in my cheek. I sat properly and then hugged my knees. I can feel the weakness in my body. I consoled myself. No one else but myself will do that. I cried again when I felt alone. I feel sorry for myself. I tried to think about what my sin was, and why was God punishing me this way.

"Lord, I am not your strongest soldier. Enough, please..."

I completely buried the hope I felt in my chest. When my father visited me again, I tried talking to him. I tried to report it. I tried to find an ally. Even just one... even just one of them is fine with me, but... no one took my side. For him, I am just a daughter who tarnishes his name in politics, a sister who blames her sibling, and a mother who turns her back on her own child.

I immediately lost faith in all of them after that. Not simply hope, but also respect and trust. Except for my baby, who was robbed from me, I no longer regard anyone else as a family member. No one else, only him.

***

I took another breath as I stopped reminiscing about the past. I slowly got up from my bed. I looked at my wristwatch and noticed that it was already eleven in the evening. I tried sensing the people I was with; the whole house was quiet; maybe they were all resting.

I fixed myself for a while and went out to drink water in the kitchen. While taking the path, I heard some murmurs. I rolled my eyes when I realized that it was in the room of my demonic sister.

Déjà vu?

I just smirked and continued my walk. I didn't bother to look at them even though her room was slightly open again. I don't want to see dogs in heat right now; I might just throw up thinking that I also had sex with the guy she's moaning about right now.

"You're just fooling her, aren't you? You're just having sex with her to make her look more stupid, right, Zachary?" I heard Eunice's statement in the middle of her moans.

I couldn't help but stop to hear the answer of the person she was talking to.

"Yes," Zachary answered in a delirious voice. "I only love you. Ohh . . . fvck! I'm near, baby."

I couldn't help but smirk and grinned again before continuing to walk.

"You're wrong, Zachary. You're the one who got fooled, not the other way around."