Chapter 5

/-Hazel-/

I keep my eyes on my plate, stabbing the fish with my fork. My stomach grumbles for hunger but my tongue retracts in distaste each time the food comes through.

“Would you stop playing with your food and eat it?” my mother’s voice makes me freeze. My eyes shoot up at her in a questioning gleam.

“I am eating, mother,” I dutifully answer, pushing down the rest of the sentence which would most likely trigger an argument.

“Are you calling me blind?” She retorts.

“If need be,” I shrug.

“You will not speak to your mother like that, young woman!” My dad warns.

“Well my mother is in desperate need of an argument,” I huff, looking her dead in the eye as I stab the fries. I push it into my mouth and chew without breaking contact. “Was that visible enough for you, mother?”

She stands immediately but her husband grips her wrist. I look away from the awful display of affection and grab the fries with my hands.

“What are you doing? That is not how to eat like a lady!” My mother catches my hand in an instant, shooting me glares like I’d just done the most terrible thing on earth. I let go of the fries and yank my hand away.

“Thanks for dinner. Would have been better if you’d just let me eat it,” I scoff, pushing my seat back. She proceeds to scold me about the etiquette of a lady during meals. As usual, I ignore her and head to my room.

Any more of her rules and I would rip my hair off my scalp.

As soon as I shut the door, I slip to the ground. All my life, I have lived by the rules. I mean not all, just eighteen years of my life. I have been a perfect daughter until I picked an art major. They probably didn’t expect my rebellious phrase to kick in in college since my teenage years were over.

They wanted to go on about their businesses and ignore my existence then have me welcome them back with open arms. They would make rules and I would discomfort myself to please them.

My eyes went to the framed picture on the wall. It was my mom, dad and I fooling the world that we were happy. Or maybe I was the stumbling block because they seemed quite happy with each other. I was the stranger here. The one whom everyone wanted to get rid of.

A knock sounds on my door, but I remain on the spot, hoping it will go away if I ignore it long enough.

“Open the door, Hazel. We need to talk,” my dad speaks from the other side. I remain silent but he persists until I can’t take it anymore.

I open the door without masking my annoyance. At least he was more tolerable than his wife. He makes his way into my room without waiting for me to demand what he wants.

“Bland room you have here,” he says, taking in my room like it is his first time.

“I wasn’t going to pour all my emotions into a room, especially one I would be vacating soon enough,” I answer. His forehead creases with displeasure.

“That was quite harsh, Hazel.”

“I see. That was the aim,” I reply in a monotone.

“You weren’t always like this. What happened to you, Haze? Where is my little girl?” He tries to play the emotional card with me but I give him a hard look.

“She grew up whilst you were busy designing big buildings. It took her a while to realize that she had no one but herself. While others hurried back home to have dinner with their family and laugh at silly jokes, she always came back to an empty house and ended up studying all night because her mother told her there was no point visiting if all she hoarded was Bs,” I spat.

His eyes soften but I feel nothing.

“And her dad said his meetings brought more value to him than her useless ice cream treats,” I remind him.

“Sweetie…” Guilt flashes in his eyes, but I’m not even done talking.

“You have no right to have expectations from me when you couldn’t even raise me as parents. This is my life now and I am going to live it the way I want to. If you don’t like it, feel free to throw me out. Nothing you do bothers me anymore,” I tell him.

All he does is stare. Apparently, I had stunned him into speechlessness.

“It seems like we’re done chatting, father. If you don’t mind, I’d like to sleep now.”

“Are you asking me out of your room?” He asks and I shoot up a brow.

“Politely.”

“I came here to discuss something important with you. Your mother and I have been thinking…” He pauses.

Great! They have been thinking.

I don't say anything and wait for him to finish talking.

“We… we thought perhaps you would want to come with us to Tokyo this weekend,” He finishes.

“Why?”

“We just wanted you to come with us this time,” he looks away. The first sign that he's hiding something.

Whatever they're planning this time I won't be part of it.

“Thanks for your concern but I'm not interested. I still have classes to attend…”

“It's weekend, Hazel.”

“Well then, I'm going to my boyfriend's,” I smile.

“You have a boyfriend?” He gapes at me. I bite back the urge to remind him that I am twenty-one years old. They have already termed me rude, I don't want any more names on the list.

I don't say anything and he keeps staring at me, waiting for an explanation. As on cue, my phone rings just beside him.

He picks it up before I can reach it.

“Teddy bear? Who is that supposed to be?” He asks.

Relief washes through me. I thought Rodney called.

“Why don't you answer and find out?”

He swipes the answer button.

“Hello?”

He drops it with a frown. It seems Logan hung up on him. Sweet!

“Who was that? Why did he hang up on me like that? Is he the boyfriend you were talking about?” He inquires.

Once again, I remain silent. His jaw tightens as his stare hardens. Oops! Someone is upset. Got fed up with playing the good dad already.

“I am trying so hard to be patient with you but you keep giving me reasons to support your mother,” he seethes.

“You should. She's the one with your ring, after all. Except you plan on sleeping on the floor,” I wink at him. He literally growls at me and for a second, conniption grips me.

“I don't know how you became like this but you will not continue this in my house! Henceforth, you are not to leave your room for any reason. Not even that stupid college of yours. You're grounded for two weeks!” He orders.

Oh, you wish!

“Even for breakfast? Refreshments? Anything?” I taunt and he glares at me. “Right! No reason at all.”

He stomps out of my room and shuts the door. I hear the keys click and almost burst into bitter laughter.

I did not see that coming.

Once his footsteps disappear, I take my phone and return Logan's call.

“Hey dogface,” I call.

“Where the fuck were you? Your dad answered your phone!” He yells at me.

“I was right here, dickhead. Bet you got flustered for a second and hung up in panic,” I tease.

“Oh, I did hang up. No way in hell I'm dealing with your dad again.”

I laugh heartily. First time I introduced Logan to my parents, they shamed his background and crushed his ego. Since then, he avoided them like a plague. I was lucky he didn't ditch me after that rather embarrassing lunch.

“I'm coming over,” I inform him.

“Right now?” There is a hint of nervousness in his voice.

“Yeah, why? Got a girl over? Better tell her to scram or I'll fuck your ass up!” I threaten.

“Fine! Geez! You don't have to be a bully all the time. My mom's home so we might have to sneak you in,” he tells him.

I let out a groan. Parents!

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against his mom. She seems nice but I'd rather not. I hang up, ready to carry out my escape plan when Rodney's call comes in.

Great! What now?

“Hey babe,” I answer sweetly despite my annoyance.

“Guess what?” His enthusiasm catches my interest.

“What?”

“You're not fun,” he whines and I chuckle. “Fine! My mom is in town and she can't wait to meet you.”

“What?” I gasp. “You told your mom about us already?”

“I know I caught you off guard but I couldn't hide anything from her. She wants to meet with you tomorrow. You'll make it right?” He asks.

I let out a sigh. Obviously, I can't say no. Hopefully, she would be better than her husband.

Something shifts inside me.

He has a wife! And she's back in town. Maybe now, my brain will return to default settings. I force a smile on my face even though no one's there to notice.

“Sure, I'll be there.”

“Great! One more thing, babe.”

“What is it?”

“I have a small favor to ask,” I hear him inhale heavily.

“Money, isn't it? You need money,” I say dryly.

“Babe, my business…”

“Hey, it's okay. I don't need explanations. I'll send it to you,” I cut him off.

“Really? Thanks love. Can you make it ten thousand?” He asks and I almost drop my phone.

“Ten thousand?! Where do you expect me to get that amount from?!” I yell at him.

“You don't need to yell, babe. Your parents are billionaires and you're their only child. Your allowance should be ten times that amount. Come on, babe,” he pleads and I bite my lip.

“Fine! I'll see what I can do,” I give in.

“Thanks love, you're the best.”