"Mommy! Here you are." Zoey said to me with a hug from behind.
"You are back from your high school so soon?". I asked her.
It has been exactly sixteen years later and the little baby I held in my hands then, had already grown into a young teen. She had so much facial resemblance with mother and I always remember mother whenever I look at Zoey's face. I was already working as bank manager in one of the big banks at Manchester. Jasmine wasn't suffering in paying the bills alone anymore, because I had a good paying job now. I was happy I could give my daughter the life I always wanted for her, and although she gets bullied of not having a father figure in school, no one would insult her for having an incapable mother. I was her first bestfriend and our bond was unbreakable.
....
Zoey sat next to me on a couch at the living room. She pecked my right cheek with a smile, while I smiled at her. I was looking at how grown my daughter is. It was still like a dream that I was now a mother.
"Tell mommy how today's learning went." I said to her.
"T'was good but very stressful." She replied.
"It haven't been easy for me in school. Having to face all these bullies." She added.
I got so pissed at the mention of those bullies again. I looked at poor Zoey's face and noticed it turned pale yet again. She stood up from the couch, running into our bedroom. I couldn't go after her, because I knew she needed to be left alone. Sebastian was to be blamed for all of these, and even if he gets to know about Zoey, I will never let him have her under his arms.
Jasmine later joined me at the living room and noticed I was just all alone,muttering to myself. She sat next to me, trying to find out the reason I was sad.
"Bianca what's wrong again?." She asked.
"Zoey was bullied again. She's crying right now." I replied her.
"...but then again, don't you think it's high time you get a husband?". Jasmine unexpectedly asked me.
I wasn't expecting such a question from her, and it was her first time suggesting such a thing to me. I bulged out my eyes staring at her confused. Her suggestion made no sense to me, and I wasn't going to give a go ahead for such nonsense. Jasmine pouted her lips like a baby, looking at me. She knew I wasn't going to accept, but wanted to try out her luck anyway.
"Why will you suggest that huh?". I asked aloud.
"Ssh..hhh!! I'm saying this because of your daughter." Jasmine shunned me.
"Zoey needs a father." Jasmine said to me.
Her last words got me and it was very alarming to my ears. Those words couldn't stop ringing a bell in my ears. I wasn't even ready for any relationship, after breaking off with Sebastian. Liam was the first man I felt that spark with, but not anymore. Zoey has grown up to accept the fact, that she had no father. She should continue with that mindset, as long as I am by her side. I shook my head vigorously in refusal, and Jasmine was obviously not surprised.
★★In the bedroom...
Zoey hugged a fluffy pillow before her, sobbing like a little baby. She couldn't stop crying and her tears attracted Jasmine. I was so embarrassed to face right now, because I had nothing to say that will calm her nerves down. Jasmine went to the bedroom, knocking at the door severally. Zoey refused to open the door for her.
"Aunt Jasmine, please I want to be alone." Zoey cried out.
"Zoey please open the door, I want to speak to you." Jasmine pleaded.
"Tell mommy I want my father. I don't want anybody else." Zoey replied.
Jasmine hurriedly went in search of a spare key and successfully used it to open the door from outside. Holding onto the knob to open the door, Jasmine felt a strong grip on the knob from inside and decided to win over the struggle.
Zoey was being unnecessarily stubborn and it was only Jasmine that can understand her mood at the moment.
Jasmine forcefully opened the door ajar, standing infront of poor Zoey. Her eyes were already swollen from crying. Jasmine took few steps forward, towards her. She drew Zoey into her arms, while Zoey sobbed like a little child. She couldn't stop crying and I could hear the little traces of the sobbing sounds she made from the living room.
"Zoey please can you stop crying already?." Jasmine pleaded with her.
"Tell mum to bring father here." She cried out.
"You don't know how traumatizing life at high school is like, without having a complete family." She added.
I heard her last words clearly, and it drew my attention to the bedroom. I joined them later on, seeing my poor daughter crying all by herself. I wrapped my arms round her, crying alongside with her. She was suffering because of Sebastian's sins and I was already doubting my strength once again. I sat Zoey down on the bed, cupping her face. I beamed an unsatisfying smile at her, while she threw her face away.
"Zoey, I know there's no man here for you to call a father but you've me right?." I asked her.
"I love you mum, but I want my father too."
Zoey replied.
"No matter what I say now, you won't stop asking about him." I said to her.
I exchanged glances with Jasmine, and she understood the assignment. I needed her right now, to calm Zoey's mind down. Jasmine joined us on the bed, drawing herself closer to Zoey. She turned Zoey's face towards her direction, trying to distract her a bit, by teasing her like always. Zoey was responding positively to Jasmine's teases like before. It was understandable that she wasn't in the mood for friendly jokes.
"You want your dad right? He would come for you soon." Jasmine assured her.
"Really? Mum is she saying the truth?" She asked me.
I wasn't even expecting Jasmine's words to Zoey but I had to nod at Zoey, for her to stop worrying. Jasmine is too much atimes and I don't even know what goes on in her head sometimes. She does the unimaginable things.
I dragged Jasmine out of the bedroom, while she posed at me, giving me that ugly stares of hers. She has her way of getting me so freaked out. She definitely knew that she was getting an earful from me, so she was ready for that.
"What did you just say to Zoey?" I asked her.
"..but she's not crying again." Jasmine replied.
"Even though. Where I'm going to bring her imaginary father from?". I asked her.
Jasmine assured me to find a way to get out of this mess. She was likely taking it as some sort of joke, but I was the one at the receiving end. I will have so much to explain to Zoey, if I didn't bring her father immediately. She might have stopped crying because of Jasmine's assurance to her, but she would literally flare up again, if she doesn't get her father in her arms.