Tale now stood in front of her parents' house wishing she never had to explain herself or her decisions. It was far easier breaking the news to her siblings, they understood her perfectly. But what else could they have done, they wouldn't yell at her or scold her even if they weren't pleased with it.
"I'd prefer if you don't tell mum and dad till about four months later," her sister had said on the phone the night before. Tale had dismissed it, she couldn't do that even if she tried. Her brother on the other hand had just told her to rip off the band aid and move on.
Taking one last breathe she gathered a little bit of courage and walked to the door. The door was unlocked "Hello."
"Tale mi," her mom came out from her work store wiping her hands on the apron she wore. She made jewelries for a living. A skill she had forced all three of her kids to learn.
"Hello mom," she greeted her."
"Why are you here? Is everything okay?" she sounded worried.
"Yes, I just had to come see you and dad."
"Okay, go to the kitchen and get dinner ready." Her mum commanded.
"Okay," she quickly headed in the direction the kitchen was, she was really nervous she just wanted to get busy.
It took her two hours to get dinner from the pot to the table. "It's ready!" Tale yelled.
Her dad walked into the kitchen then. "Your mum told me you were around, I thought she was only messing with me."
"Hello dad." She knelt down to greet him.
"How are you? Is there a holiday today that I don't know about?"
"Not that I know off either." Tale replied.
"Well, it's nice to have you over."
She could only smile in response. She just wanted to get this over with.
…
Four rounds of swallow down and she couldn't take it anymore. Every question they asked her about work, she either diverted or gave an empty response.
When she thought she was ready to talk her phone rang. A text from Su Yan wishing her good luck.
"So I have something to tell you guys."
"What is it? You are getting married." Her mom spoke first.
Her mother was starting to tease her about marriage and she wasn't a fan. "No, I am not."
"Leave her alone," Her father said in her defense. "Go on, tell us."
"I… quit my job at the church."
"What?" her dad asked.
"I didn't want to say it over a phone call," Tale responded.
"When did this happen?" her father spoke calmly.
"Three weeks ago."
"That's not far enough, go back and tell them you regret your actions and you need your job back," her father responded with her mum nodding in agreement.
"I can't do that. I don't want to."
"You don't have a choice."
She was going to respond but she was getting choked up with tears and she wasn't about to let it out.
"Why in god's name will you even do something like that?" her mum was yelling now. "Do you have another job waiting for you?"
"No."
"Do you have plans on what to do next?"
Tale shook her head.
"Why then did you make such stupid decision, without asking us?"
"I…" her voice broke.
"I don't know what came over you or who influenced you—" Her dad raised his voice.
"It can't be Precious," her mum cut in. "Precious has a job, she knows it's important to have something doing in an economy like ours," she concluded.
"Is it that white boy that is your new friend?"
"He's Asian and no, it isn't anyone. I was tired."
Her dad scoffed. "Tired you say, I worked in a manufacturing company for over twenty years. If I just clocked out because I was tired, what do you think would have been our story?"
"I was mentally exhausted." Tale managed to say.
"Children of nowadays!" her mum exclaimed clapping her hands in utter disappointment. "When I thought you are finally grown up you go on and do something childish."
Tale looked at her plate, she wasn't hungry anymore. Technically she had said what she came to say, she had quit her job, period. Nothing else mattered but she knew things were going to fall in place for her. How that was going to be? She had no clue yet.
"I don't mean to get you angry, I just needed to do what was best for me—"
"Being jobless—"
"No mum, being happy." She stopped her mum from saying anything else. "That's it, that's all it is. And I am sorry it is such a letdown and disappointment for you both but if I didn't do it for me, no one else would have, no matter how much you care about me." she washed her hands in the bowl of water and stood to leave.
"You made a big mistake, a rushed decision never ends well." Her dad still spoke with anger but calmly.
"It wasn't a rushed decision dad… I was unhappy for a really really long time. I just wasn't strong enough to do anything about it but i'm getting there." She picked up her bag and her phone ready to leave. "Again, I am truly sorry for the letdown."
"Why don't you go back to the old job then look for something else while still working."
"That is a better idea," her dad seconded.
"No."
"You are making a big mistake," her father said again.
"I'd leave now," Tale announced.
"And the food?" her mother pointed to her plate.
"I'm not hungry anymore," she wasn't in the beginning either. She walked out fast blocking her ears to any more comments that was made.
It wasn't until she got out to the main gate that she let herself breathe. Her phone rang and it was Precious calling to check in on her.
"How'd it go?"
"Bad," her voice broke but she tried to keep a brave face. "They said a lot, but it's over now."
"Are you coming home?"
"No, I… I'd go hang somewhere for a while."
"Are you crying?"
"Nope, I have to go, later." She was close enough to tears but not there yet because deep down she wasn't all sad. She hadn't expected her parents to be okay with her decision and for the longest of time that scared her and kept her in a place. The only difference now was that it didn't matter anymore, we all only live once after all.