"I said, I'm sorry, but I can't give anything to all of you. What do you think? Is it easy to earn money? I'm the only one spending here in this house," Saoirse replied calmly.
"Are you complaining? You should do that, because we're family, you're responsible for us! It seems like you're bragging that you're the only one with money and a job in this house," Samara crossed her arms over her chest while raising an eyebrow at her.
She took a deep breath. "I'm not bragging, Samara. I'm just telling the truth. I'm really the only one with a job in this house. I'm the one supporting this family. I hope you could be a little considerate of me," she replied, annoyed.
Belle and Samara raised their eyebrows. "You're arrogant, Saoirse! Are you trying to tell us that our father and I are worthless parents? Remember, if it weren't for us, you wouldn't exist in this world!"
She felt her temper rising. But as much as possible, she didn't want to be disrespectful to her parents. "I didn't say that, Mama. And I don't owe it to you that I was born into this world, because I never dreamed of being born into this world, especially if all I would experience is suffering," she couldn't resist saying.
Her mother's temper flared, and she slapped her on the cheek. "You're rude! You're arrogant! Just because you're the one spending in this house and putting your sister through school? Hey, let me tell you, there's nothing to be proud of in what you're doing. You should just do that. Don't act like you're in a high position because you're just a bathroom cleaner!"
Her throat tightened as she tried hard not to cry in front of them. "My job is respectable. And the job you belittle is what puts food on your tables! My disgusting job is the reason why we continue to survive!"
"Tch. So, you're proud of that?" Samara retorted.
"Samara, I've been tolerating your treatment of me for a long time. I may be your older sister, but you disrespect me. I don't expect you to treat me like a sister or a friend, but at least treat me like a human being. Because, in my opinion, I deserve that. I deserve that because I'm the one providing for your education," she said, seething. She never answered back to her family. But they were too much.
Samara didn't respond but pushed her in the chest, causing her to lose her balance. "What is your problem?" she snapped at her family. "Just because I can't give you money, you treat me worse than an animal? Did you even ask how I am? Did you even ask if I've eaten? If I'm tired from work? I'm working three jobs just to keep us alive! And you, you want me to give you money for alcohol? For gambling? For your trip project? Will you die if you don't get that? Because I'm already dying from exhaustion!"
"You have no right to complain, damn you! Remember, we're your family! What right do you have to talk back to us?"
She's done. She didn't want to argue anymore, because in their eyes, she was never right. She placed the purchased meat on the table and turned her back on them. She went into her room.
She laughed. Room? Her room couldn't even be considered a room. It was a small storage space that she had managed to make look like a room. They used to share a room with Samara. But when Samara entered University, she asked their parents to have the room to herself. So their parents kicked her out of their room.
She felt so hurt. She felt like her chest would burst from all the hurt and anger. Tears streamed down her face, but she didn't want to make any noise. She searched for her old model cellphone and texted Justin.
She typed a message. "I feel so hurt, hon. I just got home from work, and my family immediately asked for money from me. My mom, for alcohol. My dad, for gambling. Samara, for their trip project. It's so hard to earn money, but they think they're hiding money from me. They can't even help me." This was the message she sent to her boyfriend.
It took about ten minutes before he replied. "Just understand your parents. They're still your parents. Give in to Samara. What will her friends say if she can't join the trip? Just find a solution for the money," Justin's message said.
Saoirse felt annoyed because she felt like no one understood how she felt. She threw her cellphone on the pillow and closed her eyes. It didn't take long before exhaustion took over her body.
Saoirse was already in a deep sleep when she heard a commotion outside. It was accompanied by the shouts of neighbors and the sound of a police car. She was about to close her eyes again when she heard a loud banging on her small window.
She felt anxious. "Saoirse! It's Samara, open up, quickly!"
Her sleepiness vanished, and she forgot about their earlier argument. She hurriedly got up and opened her window. Samara jumped into her room and quickly closed the window.
"What's happening? Why do you look like that?" She asked, surprised.
Before Samara could answer, there was a knock on their main door. "Mr. and Mrs. Watson? We're the police. Please open the door, we need to talk to you," She heard the police officer's voice.
Samara was terrified. "Saoirse, whatever happens, don't tell them I'm here!" She looked scared.
Feeling nervous, she went out of her room. Her parents woke up too. Her dad opened the door. It was indeed the police.
"Mrs. and Mr. Watson," the police greeted.
"What do you need? Do you know it's late at night?" Her dad asked angrily.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Watson, for disturbing your sleep. But we're looking for your daughter, Samara Watson. We need to take her to the precinct because your daughter stole a gold necklace from the jewelry shop. Thirty minutes ago," the police informed them.
They were all shocked. "What?!"
"My daughter wouldn't do that!"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Watson. But that's the truth. My fellow officers are currently looking for her. Someone saw her running towards here. She might be hiding inside your house,"
Saoirse's face turned pale. Did Samara shoplift?
"How much did she steal?" She asked the police.
Her dad shouted angrily at her. "You know your sister isn't a thief, Saoirse!"
She doubted that. In her sister's eagerness to join the trip, she was willing to steal. And she knew she would be the one to fix the mess.
"The stolen gold necklace by Samara Watson is worth $2500, so if you don't know what she's up to, let us search your house," the police said.
"You can't do this to us!"
Saoirse's palms and soles turned cold. She trembled. She was scared. Despite her sister's annoying behavior, she couldn't just abandon her.
They couldn't do anything as the police forcibly entered their house and searched for Samara in every corner. They moved quickly, and soon they saw Samara, crying, in their grasp.
"W-Wait! Where are you taking my daughter?!"
"To the precinct, Mrs. Watson. She still has the gold necklace, proof that she stole it. If you want to bail out your daughter, coordinate with us at the precinct," And they arrested Samara and put her in the police automobile.
"Mama! Papa! Help me!" Samara cried as the car drove away.
After the car left, her mother slapped her. "Samara wouldn't have stolen if you just gave her money earlier! This is your fault!"
She couldn't believe her mother's words. "Are you really blaming me, mama? It was Samara's choice to steal! And you act like I have $1500 to give her! Do you know how many weeks I had to work to save that $1500?"
"I don't care! You should have found a way! Now, your sister's bright future is ruined!"
Her father angrily grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the house. "Papa! What are you doing to me? It hurts!"
"I will really hurt you if you don't find a way to solve your sister's problem! As far as I know, bail for shoplifting is $1000. Don't come back to this house until you have bailed out your sister from the precinct! You can't step foot here! Do you understand?!" Her father pushed her, causing her to fall to the ground.
Saoirse could only cry. Where would she get $1000? Even if she asked for help from her boyfriend, he was also struggling like her. The neighbors felt sorry for her.
Sherly, one of their neighbors who was the same age as Saoirse, approached her. The woman helped her stand up from the ground. "Your family is really something, Saoirse! They're so ungrateful! They treat you like an animal! Samara committed the offense, but they want you to suffer because of your darn sister!" Sherly exclaimed with frustration.
Saoirse cried even harder upon hearing this. She felt ashamed that the neighbors knew about their family drama. "I-I'm still worried about Samara. I don't want my sister to go to jail. She's still studying. She's about to graduate," She truthfully replied.
Sherly sighed. "And you're still thinking about Samara?"
"She's my sister. I need to find a way to bail her out,"
"But the bail is not a small amount, Saoirse! You know that!"
"I-I know. I don't know what to do," She said hopelessly. "Even though Samara has a bad attitude towards me, I still want to get her out of the precinct. But how? I'll do anything for my family," She said without realizing what she had just said.
Sherly just shook her head while looking at her face. She felt sorry for her. "I know something that could help you, but... you shouldn't do it. And I don't want to suggest it to you,"
Her eyes widened. She grasped Sherly's hands. "What is it? Tell me. I'll do anything,"
Sherly avoided her gaze. "No. You shouldn't do this just for your worthless sister,"
Saoirse tried to look away but she chased after her. "Please, Sherly. Tell me. I'm begging you to help me. I can't bear to see Samara suffer in jail. Besides, I'm sure mama and papa won't forgive me if I let her stay there," She said sadly.
Sherly knew that. Saoirse would bear the brunt of her parents' anger if Samara wasn't released from jail.
"Are you sure? But..."
"No buts, Sherly! Please tell me,"
She sighed. "You know what kind of work I do, right?" Saoirse nodded knowingly. Everyone in their village knew that Sherly was a prostitute.
"My boss is looking for a new... worker for his club. You can earn the bail fee for Samara in just one to three days there. But you know what kind of industry it is. Entertainment. Not a decent job. And I know you're a decent person, Saoirse. I shouldn't have suggested this," She apologized.
"Okay, introduce me to your boss. I'll take that job," She replied firmly and bravely.
She saw how Sherly's jaw dropped in shock. But what other choice did she have? If she were to save up money for Samara's bail fee from her job, Samara would stay in jail longer. She couldn't bear that, and her conscience wouldn't let her, nor would her parents stop punishing her.
Maybe... this was her destiny. She's fated to be a prostitute.