Yesiba and Bryn shruged as they looked at each other. While Gina's hand was about to reach the doorknob, a blonde woman in a ponytail stood with her hands on her hips before she could open the door. As she stared at them, her blue eyes widened.
"Gina! Don't you know what time it is? Why did you arrive home so late?" she asked.
The three of them remained motionless like soldiers in a line. Their voices became stuck in their throats.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Blitz, it was my fault for asking Gina to come home late," Yesiba admitted.
"Did I ask you?" Gina's mother raised her eyebrows.
"I'm sorry." Yesiba lowered her head.
Gina clenched her fists, lifted her head, and said, "I apologize, Mom. I went to an art show earlier. And I plan to apply to art academy this year."
She thought that there was no point in lying when she was caught red-handed. And she didn't want her friends to get a problem because of it.
"So you sneak out without asking me first? I've told you before that the world is dangerous!"
"Mom! I'm eighteen years old now. I'm not a kid anymore. I know what I'm doing and I can protect myself. Don't be a control freak, please."
"What did you just say? You clearly don't know anything." Her mother's eyeballs widened, as if the apples of her eyes were about to protrude from their sockets.
"How am I going to know everything if you keep me at home all the time? If you're afraid that I'm becoming bratty because you are too soft. Dont worry, I know my values."
"That's not it. I just wanted to protect you!"
"Protecting me from what? I need to be saved from you! Why do you never understand how I feel!"
Gina couldn't believe she was able to say those words to her mother, who had raised her alone for years. Her father, a soldier, did not return home while serving in the war zone. She internally felt guilty.
Chastity Blitz's face was pale and flushed after hearing about her daughter's rebelion. She snorted roughly as her mouth opened.
"Please excuse me, Mrs. Blitz. May I speak?" Bryn asked politely.
"You have two minutes," Chastity replied.
Bryn cleared his throat and began to speak. "Take a look, madam. Yesiba and I have signed up for classes at the San Francisco Art Academy. Please let Gina attend the academy and learn something new. Allow her to grow and enjoy her youth. I promise you to look after her if you're worried about her."
"Are you both finished?" Chastity inquired, her hand on the doorknob.
"Yes, Mrs. Blitz. That's all I want to say," he said.
"Good. Go home right now! Your parents may be expecting you at home." Chastity's gaze was drawn to Gina. "And you, get into the house now!" she ordered.
"All right, madam. Please consider our request once more." Bryn turned around and walked across the street. Yesiba also said her goodbyes and returned home.
Gina stepped in, as she asked, "So, mom, will you let me go to the academy?"
"No," Chastity replied curtly, as she closed the door.
"I've graduated from high school and I need to be independent now. If you don't give me permission to enter the academy, I will leave this house then," Gina threatened her mother in a trembling voice. She was scared and felt guilty, but she really wanted her mother to listen to her.
"You can't leave this house! You're my daughter. I carried you for nine months, weaned you for two years and raised you. Now after you grow up, you act arrogantly by leaving me. Is that your value?"
Gina took a deep breath. "Oh, mom... please."
"You know that's not the right thing to do, Gina."
Chastity shook her head, then she stepped into the kitchen. Gina followed her from behind.
"I just want to go to school. I never ask anything from you. Can't I ask once in my life?"
"Didn't you hear my answer, Gina?"
Gina shook her head, sadly looking at her mother. However, her mother threw her face away, like she didn't want to see her. Then she raised her hand as she clenched and bite the tip of her nails.
"Mom, why—?"
"Enough, Gina," Chastity answered in a vibrating voice. Her palm lead to Gina, as a sign that her mother did not want more debate. "Go clean yourself and I will prepare dinner for us," she added without looking at her daughter.
Gina did not understand, her mother seemed to avoid her. The middle-aged woman grabbed the cloth wash and wiped the pantry table which was had cleaned already. Then, she wiped the dry plate. She moved as if her mind was not there. She didn't know what she was thinking.
Suddendly, there was a cute voice from outside the house, interupted, as the door creaked. "Mom, I'm home!"
Gina's attention was drawn to the thirteen-year-old girl with black hair in front of her. She wore a short white dress with pink floral patterns and held a shopping bag in her hands.
"She's even thirteen years old, and she's free to go anywhere. While I'm eighteen, you won't even let me go to school. Am I really your daughter?" Gina couldn't restrained herself to protest.
For a brief moment, the mother remained silent. Maybe she was shocked by the change in Gina's attitude, which was disobedient to her as usual.
"I know right. You just don't love me. Your daughter is only Modesty. I dont even exist for you!"
Gina ran to her room, then slammed the door shut. Her mother's grumbling could still be heard in the background.
She plopped down on the bed, buried her face in the pillows, and screamed as loud as she could to vent the pain she was experiencing.
"This is unfair! I hate everyone!"
She kept screaming and cursing until she was exhausted and fell asleep.