Naomi immediately took out her phone and dialed her best friend's number. Rose had been her only close friend since elementary school, the one person she could cry to without feeling judged. As the phone rang twice, Naomi prayed silently that Rose would pick up quickly. She couldn't bear the crushing weight of her emotions any longer.
"Hello, Naomi. How are you doing?" Rose's familiar, comforting voice came through the line, instantly causing Naomi's resolve to crumble.
The moment Naomi heard her best friend's voice, the dam inside her broke. Her sobs were uncontrollable as she poured out everything that had happened over the past few days—her parents, the constant pressure, and now this humiliating conversation with Reverend James. Every word she spoke felt like it was ripped from her chest, raw and painful.
"Oh my God," Rose gasped, her voice thick with concern. "Why would they do such a thing? I know your parents have always been strict, but this? This is worse than I ever imagined!"
Naomi continued crying as Rose tried to console her. "It's okay, Naomi, you'll get through this. Listen, when you get to that reverend school, you don't even have to go through with becoming a reverend sister. Just tell them you've changed your mind. No one can force you into a life you don't want."
"I know..." Naomi's voice trembled with exhaustion. "But my parents... they'll never forgive me. They'll call me a failure again. They always find a reason."
"Forget your parents!" Rose snapped, her protective nature flaring up. "They've done worse to you before! How could they be so heartless, pushing you into something like this without even asking if it's what you want? And your sister? Don't get me started on her! Deleting your chemistry assignment on top of everything? That's unforgivable. You've been trying so hard, and she just sabotages you like it's nothing!"
Naomi sniffled, trying to calm herself down. "I know... I know. I just—it's too much. I don't know how much more I can take."
Rose sighed, her voice softening. "You need to rest, Naomi. This is too much for one person to handle. Take some time for yourself. We'll figure this out together. Don't let them break you."
Naomi nodded, even though Rose couldn't see her. "Thank you, Rose. I'll try to get some sleep. You should study hard too."
"I will, but you take care of yourself first, okay? Call me if you need me."
"I will," Naomi whispered before ending the call. She lay on her bed, her body still trembling from the sobs that had wracked her just moments ago. The soft mattress provided a temporary comfort, but her mind was far from at ease. Eventually, the weight of her exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted off into a restless sleep.
---
Naomi was jolted awake by a loud bang on her door. Her mother's shrill voice sliced through the morning air like a whip.
"You foolish girl! Why aren't you up yet? Why aren't you ready? You haven't even packed your things properly! Never mind, you'll get your uniform when you get there." Her mother's voice was sharp, impatient, as if every second Naomi wasted was a personal affront to her.
Naomi let out a bitter, quiet laugh. This was how her birthday started—no kind words, no embrace, no "Happy Birthday." Just more scolding, more demands. It wasn't like she expected any different, but somehow, the absence of affection on this particular day stung more than usual.
"Now get up and get dressed. Reverend James is here.Father couldn't make it—he's too busy with work. Reverend James will take you."
Naomi dragged herself out of bed, her limbs heavy with fatigue and resentment. Her mind was spinning, filled with anger and sadness that she couldn't even express. She moved groggily into the bathroom, washing up and throwing on the outfit her mother had set out for her. The routine was numbing, but perhaps that was better than feeling everything at once.
---
Downstairs, Reverend James was already sitting in the living room, engaged in what seemed like a serious conversation with Naomi's parents. Naomi descended the stairs slowly, her heart pounding as the weight of the upcoming day pressed down on her.
As soon as her mother spotted her, the tone of the conversation changed.
"Oh, here you are!" her mother exclaimed, her voice suddenly sugary sweet. "My daughter was just getting ready. So sorry to keep you waiting, Reverend James. She takes forever to get dressed." She let out a laugh that grated on Naomi's nerves, playing the role of the perfect mother. Naomi could see right through the act.
Why does she always pretend in front of other people? Naomi thought bitterly. Why can't she just be herself?
"It's fine," Reverend James said, nodding politely. "Bless you, bless you, Sister Naomi."
Naomi raised an eyebrow at the title. Sister Naomi? She wasn't even a part of their community yet, but here they were, already treating her like she was. She nodded stiffly in response.
"Don't just nod!" her father barked, his sharp tone startling her. "Speak to him properly. Show some respect."
Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, Naomi muttered, "Bless you too, Reverend," before taking a seat across from him. She could feel Reverend James' eyes on her, scrutinizing her every move.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Reverend James cleared his throat. "About your daughter's virginity... It will be difficult for her to pass the requirements for reverend school. One of the conditions is that she must be a virgin."
Naomi's stomach dropped. She felt as if the ground had just been ripped out from beneath her. The air in the room thickened, and her body stiffened, her face flushing with humiliation.
Her mother, on the other hand, shook her head in dismay, as though Naomi's worth had plummeted even further. "May I ask," Reverend James said, turning his gaze directly toward Naomi, "why you chose to break your virginity?"
Naomi froze, unable to speak. Her mind raced, but no words came out. She felt like an insect trapped under a magnifying glass, exposed and powerless.
Before she could even respond, her mother cut in. "There's no need to ask her. She's too foolish to even remember," she said with a laugh that was supposed to come off as light-hearted, but Naomi knew better. It was a laugh filled with bitterness.
Naomi's body trembled. The shame, the judgment—they were suffocating her. She wanted to scream, to cry, to disappear, but she could only sit there, silent and powerless.
Reverend James sighed, looking almost regretful. "I would say she could still become one, but her lessons will be much more difficult. As you can see, she is not pure."
Naomi clenched her fists under the table, her nails digging into her palms. How could they speak about her like this? Like she wasn't even in the room? Like she was an object to be fixed?
---
Just then, the door to the living room opened, and Anna walked in. "Good morning, Reverend James," she greeted, bowing her head respectfully, a soft smile on her face.
Naomi felt a wave of irritation wash over her. *
'What an actor,' she thought. Anna always knew how to play the perfect daughter.
"Bless you too," Reverend James replied, smiling warmly at her.
He turned to Naomi's parents and asked, "Is she the pure one?"
"Yes," her mother and father answered in unison, pride evident in their voices. Naomi's heart sank. So now we have names—'the pure one' and 'the impure one. The bitterness swirled in her chest.
Anna smiled at her sister, oblivious to the tension in the room. "Good morning, sis. How was your night?" she asked sweetly, her voice dripping with innocence.
Before Naomi could respond, one of her father's men entered the room, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He looked nervous, a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor.
"G-good morning, sir," he stammered.
"Mr Zylan has arrived."
Naomi's eyes widened. She had never seen her father's strongest bodyguard stammering before.
'Who is Zylan?' she wondered, a sudden sense of foreboding settling over her.
Her father's face paled as he spoke, his voice shaky. "L-let him in now."
Naomi's heart raced. What's going on? Why is everyone acting so nervous? And who, exactly, is Zylan.