Anna's body trembled as Naomi's words pierced through her. It was a rare moment where Naomi had turned Anna's own taunts back on her, catching her off-guard. Her face flushed a deep red, not just from embarrassment but pure, unfiltered anger. She balled her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms, trying to keep herself composed. But Naomi had hit a nerve, and Anna was seething. Her rage was almost tangible in the car, the air thick with tension.
Naomi, sitting quietly next to them, simply smiled, clearly entertained by the exchange. She raised a brow and gave Anna a slow, teasing wink, adding to the fire brewing within Anna. It was a silent acknowledgment that Naomi had, for once, won this verbal sparring match. Anna glared at her sister, her body nearly vibrating with suppressed fury.
Their mother, however, was not amused. Her lips pursed, and her brows furrowed in displeasure as she glanced from one daughter to the other. The car ride had been filled with uncomfortable silence, broken only by the occasional insult thrown Naomi's way. Their mother's frown deepened further as they approached their destination. Without a word, she shook her head as if to dismiss the entire situation, her annoyance simmering just beneath the surface.
Finally, the car came to a halt outside their large family home. Naomi, desperate to escape the oppressive atmosphere inside the car, quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out. The fresh air was a small relief, but the tension still clung to her like a weight. Her mother followed suit, exiting the car with a stiff grace that did little to hide her displeasure.
As they stood outside the house, a lady greeted them warmly, her face lighting up with a genuine smile. "Welcome back home," she said in a soft, pleasant voice.
Naomi, despite the turmoil inside her, managed a polite smile in return. "Thank you," she responded, her voice gentle.
But her family, wrapped up in their own drama and disdain, ignored the woman completely. The lady's smile faltered for just a moment as they walked past her without so much as a glance. Still, she maintained her composure, whispering another soft "thank you" to Naomi, who had at least acknowledged her.
As they entered the house, Naomi's mother wasted no time turning her scorn towards her daughter once more. "Naomi won't be having dinner tonight," she announced loudly, her voice dripping with contempt. "It seems the food you eat just settles in your stomach and ends up on your butt."
Her words were sharp, and Naomi felt them cut deep. She had grown used to the insults about her body, but it didn't make them any less painful. Her mother's resentment towards her curvy figure had always been clear, a constant undercurrent in their strained relationship.
Anna, of course, couldn't resist joining in. She erupted into laughter, clearly reveling in her mother's cruel jab. Naomi, though slim with a tiny waist and wide hips, had always faced jealousy from both her mother and her sister. Her hourglass figure—often compared to a Pixar character brought to life—was a source of unspoken envy.
No matter how hard she tried to hide it, it only seemed to make things worse.
"Good thing I'm fit," Anna smirked, her hand resting proudly on her flat stomach as if to emphasize the contrast between her and Naomi.
Naomi, fed up with the constant digs, finally snapped. Her voice, usually quiet and reserved, came out steady and biting. "You're not fit," she said, her gaze locking onto her sister.
"Your tummy is flat because you haven't eaten. The moment you do, you'll look like the two-week pregnant lady you always do."
The room fell into stunned silence. Everyone froze, the weight of Naomi's unexpected boldness hanging in the air. Even Naomi herself was shocked by her words, unsure of where this sudden courage had come from.
Her mother's face flushed with fury. "Mind your mouth!" she yelled, her voice rising in a sharp reprimand. The insult had clearly hit its mark, and her mother's anger boiled over.
Anna, too, was left speechless for a moment. She stared at Naomi, her lips twitching as if she couldn't quite believe what she had just heard. Her body tensed, her fists clenching in anger. The tension was palpable, the fragile peace within the family now shattered.
"Now, go to your room and get your things ready!" their mother yelled again, her voice hoarse with rage.
"Enough," their father's voice cut through the chaos. He had been silent until now, but his tone was firm, commanding attention. "You'll ruin your voice," he said, addressing his wife. "Do you think Mr. Zylan will be impressed to hear his future wife's mother sounding like a frog?"
There was a brief pause as his words sunk in. Naomi's mother looked taken aback, clearly not expecting her husband to intervene.
"And you, Naomi," he continued, his tone softening just slightly, "go to your room. Now."
Without another word, Naomi turned and walked towards the stairs. She had no energy left to argue, no fight left in her. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of the day pressing down on her. As she reached her room and closed the door behind her, the walls seemed to close in. The tears she had been holding back finally broke free, streaming down her face in uncontrollable waves.
She collapsed onto her bed, her body shaking with sobs. It felt like the weight of the world was crushing her, and there was no one to help. Family was supposed to be supportive, wasn't it? They were supposed to stand by you, love you unconditionally. But here she was, utterly alone, surrounded by people who seemed to take joy in her suffering.
Just when she thought she might find a moment of peace, her door swung open with a loud creak.
"Oops, sorry for not knocking, but I'm already here, so it's not like I'd go back and knock, hahah, silly me." Anna's voice was laced with mockery as she strolled into the room, a smug grin on her face. "Oh, where was I?"
Naomi didn't move. She lay on her bed, her face hidden in her pillow, trying to steady her breathing. She didn't want Anna to see her like this, broken and vulnerable.
"I came to give you back your phone," Anna continued, clearly enjoying herself. "Sorry, the data's finished, and by mistake, I deleted something… What was it again? Oh yeah, your chemistry assignment."
Naomi's body stiffened, but she didn't look up.
"Get out," Naomi whispered, her voice low but firm. She couldn't deal with this right now.
Anna pretended not to hear her. "Maybe this room could be my storage room… Oh, my bad, I'm getting married." Her words dripped with smugness, as if she enjoyed rubbing her upcoming marriage in Naomi's face.
Naomi finally lifted her head, her eyes swollen from crying. She stared at her sister, her vision blurred but her anger clear.
"Did I interrupt something?" Anna asked, feigning concern with a smirk.
"Get. Out," Naomi repeated, her voice quieter but more forceful.
Anna shivered slightly, surprised by Naomi's defiance, but quickly masked it with a cruel smile. "Fine," she said, turning to leave. But before she stepped out, she turned back with one final jab.
"Just know that when I turn twenty-four, I'll be able to celebrate my birthday. Unlike you," she sneered, giving Naomi the middle finger before finally leaving the room and slamming the door behind her.