ELIZABETH
"Seriously?" Lily asked me for the third time since I'd started my narration of what had happened the previous night. "That Benson asshole. He used to give me weird looks anytime I dropped in to see my aunt at work," She said, shaking her head. "I can't believe he stooped so low. And at a party?"
I shrugged, sighing and organising the cans of peas I carried in a basket on the shelves.
"And what about this other guy you told me about?"
I rolled my eyes from the memory. "I'm grateful for his help, honestly. But how dare he assume I was a hooker?"
Lily snickered, lightly tapping my shoulder. "If he was a guest at the event then I'm guessing he's one of those entitled millionaires who feel like they can disrespect anyone and get away with it."
"Exactly!" I replied, facing her. "That's exactly what he's like. He didn't even give me a chance to speak, he just surveyed me with the most disgusted eyes I have ever seen."
Lily shook her head. "I'm glad you put him in his place," She laughed, stacking up the empty shopping baskets strewn on the floor.
"Yeah," I muttered, following behind her. Who did he think he was anyway that he could look down on me without a care in the world? Meeting him last night was probably the crown of the decision I had made that all wealthy people were probably a bunch of assholes. I sighed again and began to attend to the customer that had just walked in. He wasn't worth it, all this anger I was harboring. So I shook it off and continued my work.
It was the weekend so I took a taxi straight home after work. I was already dreading being home, it always put me in a bad mood. As usual, I prayed for the weekend to be over soon so I could go back to school.
As I got out of the taxi, I trudged slowly to the house, my body already beginning to hurt. I had not been home since I received the call from Dad a few days ago so I knew they would be expecting me. My hand hesitated on the doorknob as I toyed with the idea of taking a taxi back to my dorm instead. Sighing, I finally opened up.
The first thing I saw was piles of used dishes all over the floor, some of the particles of food that looked days old already beginning to mould. I held my breath as I bent to pick them up, dumping them into the sink and tossing my bag on the sofa. The kitchen looked and smelled worse than the last time. I felt my jaw tic, anger beginning to build up.
But still, I grabbed a broom and mop and proceeded to tidy the living room. Once I was done, the kitchen came next. I scrubbed the dishes hard, trying to get rid of the crusted particles, all this while ignoring the screaming contest going on between mom and dad upstairs.
My back ached as I finally stacked up the washed dishes and cleaned the kitchen. Satisfied, I made my way upstairs to my room. It pissed me off that I had to pass through their room to get to mine, but it couldn't be helped.
Once they saw me they stopped arguing. "Beth, sweetie," Mom sent me a weak smile, moving forward to give me a hug I didn't return.
Dad nodded at me. "What took you so long?"
I glared at him, my patience beginning to thin. "Well it was quite difficult to get an opening from my three jobs and school to come say hi to you guys," I spat.
"Tom, please," Mom said, giving Dad a warning glare.
He scratched the back of this neck, forcing his shirt down his bulging stomach. The sight only reminded me of his incessant drinking.
"Sorry, Beth. Welcome home," Dad said, coming closer as he made to give me a hug.
I stiffened, moving away. "Thanks," I muttered. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
I cleared my throat to break the awkward silence that ensued. "What happened this time?" I asked, folding my arms.
"Your father took some money from a loan shark," Mom offered quietly, not looking dad in the eyes.
A loan shark? What the hell. He just keeps getting worse. My heart dropped as I tried not to imagine how much he had taken.
"The period for repayment ended two weeks ago. And they've been hunting him down ever since. They threatened to kill him, destroy our family..." Mom trailed off, rubbing her forehead.
"Why do you make me sound like a moron?" Dad turned to her, rage visible on his features. "I was only trying to provide for this family!"
"Provide?" Mom scoffed. "What are you even talking about?"
I shut my ears as they began to exchange words back and forth.
"Shut up!" I yelled when I couldn't take it anymore. "What is wrong with you people?" Did they not see just how much all of this was affecting me? How could people who called themselves my parents be so comfortable doing this to me?
Neither of them said a word.
"So why did you want to see me? I know this isn't the reason as you both know my income would go nowhere in repaying that ridiculous loan," I snapped.
After a while Mom spoke up. "Well, we need to buy a few things for the house. There's no food... and rent will be due soon."
My throat tightened. Somehow I had gone from being the child to being the breadwinner of this family. And they were so comfortable with it. Neither of them even thought of getting a job to help me out.
The pain knocking on my insides, I unzipped my bag, taking out my pay from today's salary and last night's event and tossing it into mom's hand.
Without waiting to hear anything, I walked into my room and shut the door, embracing the tears that had begun to stream down my face.