Chapter 28: Chapter 28

JUNE

Dinner was strained between us. After the argument/conversation, I had with my uncle, he left for work or wherever it was he went (not that I cared one bit about that).

I was too damned drained to bother about him, and coupled with chatting with Mark almost for an hour, I forgot about Kristin.

But now, watching him as he tried to eat with his focus solely on the food in front of him, I felt this damned urge to lean over the table, tightly wrap my hand around the collar of his shirt and tug hard until he comes to his damned senses.

“What's wrong? Don't you like the food?” For the first time since we started eating, he spoke, looking up at me with a concerned expression on his face…

“Nah,” I peered down at the rice noodles mixed with braised beef sauce. This isn't my favourite food, but it's one of the few foods that I enjoy eating. That's why Kristin makes it anytime he pisses me off. “It's good,” I tried not to let my frustrations seep through my words.

“Then, why do you look... sad?” He kept his fork and fully focused on me, expertly going into his 'uncle' mode.

“... Why? Do you care?” I tried not to sound too acerbic, but desired my tone to relay my feelings to him. I just hope he knows how pissed I am with him.

“What the hell, June? Why will you think that way? Of course, I care!” He looked like he was almost crying.

“You care?” I scoffed, dropping my fork back. “How can you claim to care when you are always acting like a douche to Mark? What the damn hell did he —”

“Language, June!”

“To hell with that. You cuss all the time, Kristin. Why won't I also do the same? Oh, I know. I'm still a kid—too young to cuss.” I pursed my lips, looking like some rebellious kid with the way my mouth got upturned in a frown.

“June!” He hit his palm on the table, trying to scare me with the expression in his eyes, but it didn't faze me one bit as I stared hard into his eyes, challenging him.

“Why? What are you going to do about that?” I folded my arms, “Do you think everything is solved by trying to act like a damn adult?” I rose from my chair.

“Why do you wish to date him? Mark isn't right for you! I can't let you get together with someone like him!” He yelled at me, causing me to flinch, but I was nowhere willing to give up until I got him to listen to me.

This is part of the plan with Mark. I need to get my uncle to agree to our relationship, so we can start the execution of those plans.

“Someone like him? Pray to tell, uncle, who exactly is someone like him?”

“He's too unruly and arrogant! You can't be with someone like him!”

“But I love him!”

“That was also the same thing you said to me! You are just too young to be so invested in relationships. Focus on—”

“You know what? I'm leaving!” I turned and headed up the stairs, while he tried to make me stop, calling me as I climbed towards my room.

I didn't turn until I reached my room, and threw on a black gown, which I paired off with golden belts. I wore one of my black sandals and ran a hand through my black hair, feeling a bit odd in my all-black getup.

I took my purse from the bed and stuffed my phone inside it before I stormed downstairs, trying to keep up my image of a rebellious teenager.

“June?” He stood up the moment he saw me. His eyes took me in until they stopped on my thighs, widening a stretch with his mouth upturned in disapproval.

“Where the hell do you think you are going to, dressed like that?” He glared at my exposed thighs, making it seem like I'm a meal that anyone who sees me would love to have a taste of.

“To Mark's house, of course. As my boyfriend, isn't it the right thing to do?”

“To hell, I will let you do that! You are not dating him, and that's—”

“Final? Because I'm still living under your roof? Don't worry, I intend to move in with him. You can't stop me any more since I'm now a damn adult!” I folded my arms and peered at him, challenging him with the mad glint in my eyes. “I'm an adult, Kristin, you don't get to dictate to me how to live my life!”

“This is because of him,” he said in a grave tone, looking at me as if he was trying to understand what was going on with me. “He must have—”

“No one did anything to me.” I stared hard at him, “This has always been how I am.”

“Stop this, doll. You don't have to do this because of a man. We can—”

“That man is my boyfriend,” I interrupted him. “You don't want me, right, Kristin? Then, why the hell will you be against my relationship with Kristin.”

“Because he doesn't deserve you! No man deserves you, June.” He tugged on his hair, looking a bit frustrated by that, “You are not someone I wish to give out to just any man. You are my doll.” He closed the distance between us and wrapped his hand around my waist and brought me closer.

I allowed him to hug me, wrapped my hands around his neck, and placed my head on his chest, “Who am I to you, uncle?” I shyly peered up at him with an 'innocent' expression on my face.

“My beautiful doll,” he gently ran a hand through my hair. “You know I love you and wish everything good for you, right?” He continued to caress my hair, making me purr.

“Mmm.”

“Then, you have to listen to me and break up with Mark. He's not the one for you.” He smiled down at me.

“Why?” I blinked at him. “Do you want me?” I pouted like a kid, “Will you date me and fuck—”

The way he stepped back from me was so fast, it stunned me. He created enough distance between us, looking like I somehow said something wrong.

“Where the hell did you learn all this, June?!” He looked so mad, it made me take a step back. “Do you think love is something you can just casually throw around anyhow you want?!” he yelled at me.

“Oh?” My mouth curved to the side with a smirk, “You don't wish to date me, and you don't want another to do that? What the hell do you want from me, Kristin?!”

And here we are, back to the conversation we had earlier in the day. It seems like we will continue to have this conversation without coming to a reasonable conclusion.

“You are still too young!”

“Too young to be fucked?!” I snapped at him. “Am I different from all the whores you fuck? Or are you so much of a man-whore that you can't be satisfied by one—”

The words froze in my throat, followed by the ringing in my right cheek, at the place he slapped me. Shocked, I placed my hand on my cheek and stared at him.

“You dare slap me, Kristin?” I gaped at him, stunned that he dared to raise his hand on me.

“Doll, I'm sorry!” He took a step towards me, looking utterly surprised by his actions. “You—”

“Don't you dare touch me!” I slapped his hand off me with a glare levelled solely at him. “You dare to raise your hand on me?!” I gritted my teeth, still feeling the sharp sting on my right cheek.

Tears freely flowed down my face at the pain. This was the first time my uncle raised his hand to me.

“I'm sorry, Doll. I was just carried away by—”

“Shut the hell up!” I yelled at him. “Do you think I'm one of those whores you fuck? Raising your hand on me like I'm some sort of slut?” I yelled at him, “You are a disgrace, Kristin!"

I stormed out of the house, with my handbag tightly clutched in my right hand.

“Doll!” He ran after him and blocked the door. “I'm sorry, June. It wasn't intentional. You've got to—”

“Get. Away. From. That. Damned. Door.” I enunciated each word, staring hard at him with gritted teeth.

“Please listen to me, Doll. Slapping you wasn't intentional. Please don't leave. I will—”

“I don't have time for you, Kristin, move out of the way. I'm going back to my parents!” I sidestepped him and made to leave, but he stopped me.