Vanessa
As I stepped foot into the room, seeing everyone seated and my mom strutting up the stairs, I felt my anger dissipating bit by bit, and it completely vanished when Alex suddenly appeared in front of me.
"Hey." He smiled.
"Hey, I'm so glad you are here." I opened my arms inviting him to hug me and he did.
He tried pulling away but I held him tighter than ever before. I really, really, needed a hug and I also loved his cologne. For a moment, I actually thought of crying on his shoulders, but I reminded myself that I was in a party.
"I'm sorry," I apologised as I pulled away.
"It's okay. Guess you really missed me huh," He joked.
I chuckled, "You could say that,"
"Come sit with me."
"No thanks, I think I would love to sit down at my mom's table,"
"That's okay, I mean that's what the name tags are for. See you in the ballroom." He said with a small wave and walked to his table.
I remembered my plan to revenge on my mom, but soon I felt my cowardliness creeping in.
Who am I kidding?
There was no way I could get back at my mom, because she always knew how to handle situations and made herself look good; so I just decided to go with the flow.
Even with my sadness, I held my head up high and plodded to the table allotted to us which was placed at the first row of the dining hall.
My mum clanked her glass with a fork, bringing everyone's attention including mine to the stage.
She cleared her throat, set her glass down on the barricade before speaking into the mic,
"First of all, I want to thank all of you for being present today, it definitely means a lot to me. Today I celebrate life, prosperity and joy. Today marks the day a unique creature was brought into this world. Today is the day which my happiness is at its peak. Today is the day a thousand people acknowledge me. Happy birthday to me!" She picked up her glass. "Cheers!"
Everyone brought up their glasses too, "Cheers!" and I gulped down my glass.
She goes on and on about things I was totally unaware of because I zoned out. I kept on drinking the wine set on my table, trying to enjoy the party while seated listening to her boring speech. I was on my fifth glass when I saw my dad climbing up the stairs to meet my mom, I quickly gulped down the contents so I could try paying attention to her.
She linked her arm with his with an angelic smile when he finally got to her, "This man here, as you all know is the father of my daughter. We also all know the feud between the Conways' and the Martinos' and I know many are surprised to see him here," I turned my gaze to the crowd, no one was surprised; it's as if they all knew.
"I met with him a month ago and we decided to sort things out. We decided that putting the past behind us is the only way to move forward, we can't just keep on fighting and acting like none of us exists. I'm running for mayor next year and a good leader is someone who forgives and takes big steps in making things right. Most importantly, we did this for our daughter, for her happiness and in fact it was her request. She wanted peace in her little polygamous family, she was so happy when I told her her father was appearing. She even arranged a speech and-"
"Shut the fuck up." A voice boomed from the crowd and hiccuped as if drunk.
"Shut the fuck up." It repeated making people swivel their heads to the source of the voice.
I didn't bother turning back, instead I continued with my second wine bottle which I requested for. Mom just made a big announcement and I was using every fibre in my bone not to say anything.
The funny part was everyone was staring at me. I was beyond confused, it took me awhile to register that the sound came from me. I quickly finished my glass awkwardly with all eyes on me.
"Vanessa honey. Did you say something?" My mom asked, staring at me dangerously, and even from the distance I can see her eyes telling me to shut up.
I nodded and shook my head at the same time.
"You didn't mean anything bad right? You wanted to tell everyone here how happy you are today, and how grateful you are that your father is here, right?" When she said father I lost it. "You are happy and app-"
"Oh shut up," I interrupted harshly and jumped off my feet making my chair fall.
She inhaled sharply, taken aback by my response.
"Shut the fuck up is what I said because you should really shut The.Fuck.Up," I said saying the last three words slowly so she could really get the message.
She threw a nervous smile to the crowd and rushed down the stage. Coming over to my direction, she grabbed my arm tightly, pulled me close and whispered, "Vanessa, let's go talk about this,"
To my surprise I pushed her, making her stumble backward and giving me enough space to release my hand from her grip.
"I'm not going to go with you because if I do you would tell me to act with you, to go with the flow, to act like I know about this, to act like I'm happy, I'm not and I won't. I'm tired of that shit! I'M TIRED." I screamed the last words in her face.
I have no idea if it is the wine, but I love the way this is going.
My father rushed to meet me and he tried hold me, "Don't fucking touch me, don't fucking come close," I raised my hands up. "You know, you two are shitty individuals with messed up lives, I'm just the innocent child stuck between you two and I hate it. I hate every bit of it,"
"Vanessa," My mom warned through gritted teeth. She was trying to hold it together. "Calm down!"
That's what I want, be mad and feel pain just like I do.
"Vanessa what? Calm down? How can I calm down when you rejected my present, huh? I ordered the watch for you, made you a necklace, even took a tutorial on YouTube on how make birthday cards and made you one even though I suck at art. I did that for you, but you told me: 'just stack your gifts with the others' and you waved me off like I was nobody. That broke my heart mother, that broke my heart," I can feel the tears gathering at the corners of my eyes, but this time I don't hold it. I let it flow freely.
"That is not even the case right now, because after all that rejection of gifts and affections. You invited him," I pointed to my father who looked pale and shocked. "This man who wasn't there throughout my childhood and you dare call him my father? You even told everyone it was my request. I never requested for this. I have gone past that stage in my life where used to hope I would one day have a dad, then why bring him here mom? Why?" My voice broke and I had to bite my bottom lip, the tears were not allowing me to speak as much as I wanted to.
"We are family and family talk things out, couldn't you have done that before you invited him? I always do what you want anyways. I guess I'm a stupid daughter after all," I finished with tears streaming down my face.
"Vanessa, what are you talking about? It must be the alcohol. You over there," She pointed. "come take these bottles," She signalled to a waiter, then focused on me. "You remember when you told me when I arrived, you wanted your dad to come to this party didn't you?" This time she doesn't bother smiling. She gave me a deadly and serious expression. "So stop all this unnecessary drama and sit right now,"
The waiter picked up the two bottles, but I snatched the half-full one from his hold, and poured myself a glass right before their eyes, then handed to him afterward.
Oh mom! you're still trying to coax me to do what you want, but I know better than to be shaken by you.
"You don't get the point do you? You always want me to do your wish, What of my wishes? What of my feelings? Don't they matter? I'm human too you know. I feel pain, sadness, anger, disappointment and sorrow, I feel every emotion and right now I feel like my whole being has been shattered into a million pieces," I sniffed. "He can't just walk in here with a smile and except him to reciprocate that smile. I repeat, I. Have. Feelings. but you don't mind that, you do what suits you and you will always do. You never appreciated me, but you will miss me when I'm gone 'cause right now," I picked up the glass and emptied its content in my mouth. "I'm gone."
My mom eyes were bulging out of their sockets and she looked way beyond surprised, she just stood there and stared at me. She looked as if God just told her she had a one-way ticket to hell. I turned to leave and that's when I noticed the bunch of people who just witnessed that, some with their mouths opened, some shaking their heads in disbelief and photographers taking shots and reporters filming.
How did I not notice this?
Even with the alcohol, I started caving in, but when Sabrina throws me a smile and gives me a thumbs up. I feel that courage surging through my veins again, I smiled and took a step forward but I hobbled on my feet a little bit. I kept on walking and shaking too while heading for the door, to my utmost amazement nobody stopped me not even her bodyguards and that's when I tripped.
Fuck this shoes.
I pulled the shoes off my feet. "Take your fucking shoes bitch." I threw the shoes to her with all my might and she caught it. She looked from the shoes in her hands to me and from me to the shoes.
Yeah! Mom this is happening.
As if realising what just happened, she called my name and lunged forward to meet me alongside my dad, but I ran out of the place; barefooted. I bounced straight to the road and with one glimpse at my mother and people gathered outside; I boarded a taxi.
I'm clueless concerning my destination.