"I once met a stranger and now we're best friends."
"I can't believe this is happening."
"Me neither."
"They'll be here any minute."
"Enjoy your last day of freedom, Jakey."
"Same to you, Elena."
After that day at school, I was preparing for the inevitable. Today was the day Elena and I's parents would arrive and soon take over our lives. I'd been dreading this since that day at the mall. Elena and I were standing in front of the entrance, waiting impatiently for our parents to arrive. It had been around three years since I last saw them.
Elena and I were so adapted to our usual lives that 'them taking over' sounded really strange. I loved my freedom for as long as I remembered. Usually it was something like, parents allowing you live your lives when you turn eighteen- but for me- it was exactly the opposite.
I always thought Elena loved our parents. She wanted a normal childhood with our parents. But then something changed. I just didn't know how the two of us , all of a sudden, were on the same page regarding our feelings for our parents.
I never said she hated them. Hate was a strong word. It was just that - she cherished the times the two of us had together more than she disliked our parents. She realized that we'd never had the time with each other or become more comfortable with each other if they were around.
I impatiently tapped my foot on the ground. "Where the hell are they?"
"I just want to get it over with." Elena sighed.
I let out a breath. "Same."
After what felt like eternity, our gazes found the dark blue Mitsubishi Lancer parking in front of the entrance. This was it. The most dreaded moment in my life.
Two figures came out of the car and held the passenger doors open. The two figures were none other than Dave and Daisy. From the passenger doors, the billionaire couple came into view - dramatically.
It almost felt like some sort of movie.
My mother climbed out of the car and then wore her favorite purple sunglasses in style. She wore a grey pant suit paired with black stilettos. My father - on the other hand- wore a deep blue shirt and grey formal pants. He took out his black shades and hung it on his collar.
Once their gazes fell on us, they flashed their million dollar smile.
I wondered if it was fake.
"Jake. Nicoletta." My father addressed the two of us while Dave and Daisy took their baggage to their room.
Elena and I shared a quick look.
And then forced a smile. "Father." We spoke in unison.
"Darlings, how are you?" My mother hugged us, the smile never vanishing from her face. "And no formalities. Go give him a hug."
She ushered us towards our father.
"Welcome back." We hugged him one by one.
He didn't say a word. I didn't know if he was awkward-ed out just like us or was he avoiding to talk to us.
My family wasn't normal.
_
"So how is school?" Our mother asked, taking a seat beside our father. We were seated at the dining table, waiting for dinner to be served. If I was a normal teenager, I'd be rebellious or frown the moment I saw them. I'd not talk to them or be rude with my comments.
I didn't do any of those.
Instead, I flashed a billion dollar smile - fake, of course- to her. "Great, mother."
"What about you, Nicoletta?"
"Perfect."
The atmosphere was dead silent. None of us had uttered a single word. It was weird, to say the least.
Now, if you are wondering why I always called 'my family wasn't normal'. It was because of this. Father was never attached to us. He never wanted kids and always said that we were an accident. It always felt bad whenever he mentioned that. Mother also didn't care much - but she was so much more bearable than father. She - at least- didn't ever purposefully hurt our feelings.
Elena found this out a few days after her fifth birthday. She eavesdropped father and mother's conversation once. Back then, father never wanted to celebrate our birthdays and he was yelling at mother for throwing an expensive birthday party.
Yeah, he was a miser.
"So, we were thinking..." My father started. "We will take over the reins of your lives."
Yeah, we knew that!
Nice thing, you didn't beat around the bush.
"Okay." I replied. "What do you want us to do?"
I kept my calm. My father - on the other hand- grew irritated by the second. I knew , fighting against him and demanding my rights or claiming that he and mother didn't care much was futile at this point.
As long as I had the money I needed, a place to stay and delicious food to eat-
I could manage.
But I didn't know about Elena.
"We want every details on what is going on in your lives." My father stated.
"Why do you wanna know now? After all these years?" Elena spoke up.
My father narrowed his eyes, glaring at her. "You do not question your father, young lady."
"Elena.." I tried to hold her hand from under the table to stop her but it was too late.
She stood up, slamming her hands on the table. "I have every right to question you! You are our father!" She glared at him. "But guess, you don't know what it feels like to be a father because you never let us inside your life. We were deprived of both of your loves. Of course, we were." She started laughing like a maniac. "We were accidents, weren't we? You don't love accidents. You made it clear the very first day of Jake's driving lesson."
Mother gasped. "Nicoletta!"
Elena glared at her. "Stop it woman! You don't deserve us."
Father stood up, this time. "Nicoletta Elena Matthews, you say your mother sorry this instant!" He demanded.
"What if I don't?" She challenged, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms against her chest.
Father fumed in rage, it was clear what just happened. I wish I ever had the guts to fight against them. I wanted to tell Elena to stop, to say that it was of no use. But it was way past that point.
Father brought his hand closer to Elena's cheek, ready to slap her.
Elena shut her eyes close - waiting for it.
But the impact never arrived.
I grabbed his hand mid-air. "Don't." I warned.
"Someone has to teach you two manners." Father spoke, gritting his teeth. "You two have become delinquents."
I harshly returned his hand. "Blame our genes."
I grabbed Elena's arm and walked out of the dining table. You know, what they say, if someone threatened your loved one - something came over the hero or heroine or the person who was watching. That was exactly what happened to me.
A few minutes ago, I was ready to agree to any terms that father and mother had decided for us. But hearing Elena's out burst, I realized that suppressing our feelings all these years was wrong. We should've let them know a long time ago about how we felt.
Right now, all I felt was lighter. It was as if a huge burden had left my shoulders. I was more relaxed.
Before I shut the door close, I heard something.
Something like. "You two will pay for this."