The fact that I was alone and Nora was out of town made me feel lonely. I had no one close to me to call and vent out to.
It seems the embarrassing event of tonight was just an excuse, but I really needed to cry and I felt sad;
I was sad, that my father disowned me when I only wanted to be independent. Sad, that my mother could not stand up for me and defend me before her husband. Sad, that I was not allowed to be with my brother who is terminally ill; to give him my best care in his last days
I was sad, that when I was just starting to get a balance in my life, my father thought that the best thing he could do was to introduce me to an arranged marriage, without even asking for my forgiveness. Sad, that I had unconsciously fallen for the supposed recipient of the arranged marriage who will only end up breaking me; there was no saving me here.
With this thought rolling in my head, I cried for almost an hour.
It was during that time, I had gone to the cabinet and picked up a bottle of vodka. It was a gift Nora gave to me when I opened my floral shop. It had stayed there, untouched for many months.
I uncorked it, drinking straight from the bottle. The hotness was so intense, but it was nothing compared to the hurt my heart was feeling.
I grimaced and took another gulp. I knew I should stop, but I couldn't help myself.
After the third gulp, I basically zoned out and cannot recall what I did that made everywhere this messy.
I looked at Nora and shrugged, "I can't recollect. No. Don't blame me, blame the alcohol." I stated, as I began picking things up and putting them in their rightful place.
"Hela Kent Fray." I stood up and stared at her.
"Uh oh."
"I thought you're wise enough to know that you're a lightweight. I think it's high time I sent you back to learn proper self care." She stated, hands akimbo and keeping a straight face. After a few seconds, we both burst out laughing and she came and hugged me again.
"Are you hungry?"
"I'm famished." I replied her, holding my tummy.
"Sit here. I'll quickly cook up something for your hangover." She moved me to a chair in the kitchen and made me sit, handing me a cup of juice. I looked at her and looked at the room.
"We will get to it when you're fully recovered." She understood me and it gladdens my heart the more.
"You might have to brace yourself for this." Nora stated as she covered the lid of the pot to allow the chicken broth to cook.
I looked up at her, "what?" I felt a sudden trepidation in my heart.
"You also called your dad last night." Nora stated, looking at me deadpanned.
"I did What?" I asked incredulously. Nora nodded
"I could not possibly have." I groaned.
"He called you?" of course he does not have her number, but he must have easily gotten it from my mother if he wanted to.
"No, your mother did. She was pretty shaken up. She urged me to come to you quickly this morning and check on your well being."
"My phone." I quickly stood up, went to the room and picked up my phone from the side table. I unlocked it and saw the countless missed calls and voice messages on my phone.
"I might have made more embarrassing calls, No." I groaned as I went back to the living room and flopped on the chair.
I played the first voice message, and it was from my mother; "Hela, are you okay? Why are you not picking your calls. Your father is beside himself in anger. Call me when you get this. No, come home once you're free this weekend."
Damn.
The next voice message played immediately after that. It was from Norman, my college cheating boyfriend. He was a douchebag and a fake.
"Hey Hela, glad to hear your voice and know you still miss me. It seems you're shy to pick up my calls. Drop your address and I might just visit you one of these days."
"Eww." Nora made a vomiting face. I share her perception. He was the worst man out there. He cheated and does not care about hiding it, even when I confronted him with it. He claimed that he was for everyone and no woman can keep him solely.
It was a dirty break up after that. He went around the campus and spread rumours about me. I hate that I can't recollect what I said to him.
"Block him Asap, sister." Nora shrieked. "Your phone needs to go through a major deliverance after getting that voice note from the man-slut." She shook her head as she went to check on what she was cooking.
Why am I drawn to men-slut? I wondered as I kept checking my phone. I sighed as I dialed my mother's number and she picked it at the first ring.
"Hela." She shrieked and I had to take the phone far from my ear.
"Mother," I chided, "any more louder, and I might have to visit the doctor for treatment." Nora brought a plate of steaming hot chicken to the table beside me and I quickly savoured the aroma. Instantly, I felt a little better. I gave her a thumbs up.
"This is no time for joke, Hela. You had me worried all through the night and you're just calling me back, now?"
"I'm sorry mum. Is Dad at home?"
"He's in his study. When are you coming over?"
"Once I'm done sobering up. I have some things to iron out with him."
"Hela." She called and I knew she was trying her best to hold back her tears. "I wish I could be stronger for you Hela; to take away the hurt and pain between you and your father."