Chapter 2 2

She opened her mouth at what I said. "What are you talking about?"

I sneezed. "How can you easily forget, Auntie?" she's puzzled!

"I heard you..." my lips are shaking. "I want all of my ambition to be dissolved, Aunt, when you told me that my father had another family..."

My tears slowly flowed like a fall. "But you never said that I was a product of mistake," I couldn't help but sit on the stairs because of the softening of my knees. "I was ashamed of myself instead of being angry with my father. I should be angry with the one who gave birth to me! She almost broke a family because of that fucking lust! Damn, one-night stand! Damn this life!"

"No, Psalm-"

I immediately cut her off.

"It's the woman's fault!" they sighed as I shouted. "She can fuck other men, but how can she fuck someone already married? I hate her?! I fucking hate my mother!"

I was no longer surprised to feel her palm on my cheek. I heard her sob. I'm not in the mood to embrace her. If she had just said it in advance, we wouldn't have reached this point.

"Your mother was your father's first love," she kneeled in front of me so that we could be on the same level, then cupped my face. I don't have the strength to remove her hands on my face. "But no matter what your mother explains to people, they don't believe her because she has no proof, so take this as your lesson..." I wiped the tears running down my cheeks.

"You're the smartest in your school, Psalm, but how can you be proud of that if you don't have proof?" she caressed my face gently. "So I want you to be, first of all, top one... so that you can prove to people that in this field you are the leader."

My brows furrowed. I stared at Aunt, trying to process what she said.

"I want you to graduate with a Latin honor, Psalm." her face and voice were severe. It was my first time seeing this side of hers. "Not a cum laude neither Magna... I want summa." I was devastated by what she said. "With that title, people won't look you down."

I was shaken by what she said. "I can't-"

"Then try harder, Psalm! In this way, you can save your mother's dignity and yours..." she stares at me.

She wants me to graduate with Latin honor? But reaching summa is impossible for me.

That day, my dream began. I turned my back on my friends; I didn't go with them anymore, not because I didn't want to, but because my Aunt said. I have to distance myself from them. There's no time I'm not studying, or I'm not in the library. I participated in all the activities in our school for me to earn more points.

Now I have graduated being senior high. I can say that everything I have suffered has been paid off.

I'll graduate as a valedictorian of my batch!

I dialed Henry's number to brag about this. I giggled first when he picked up the line.

"What's up, Psalm?" his voice is husky. My eyes narrowed; I knew where he was by the tone of his voice.

"Did I disturb you in the middle of orgasm?"

"The fuck, Psalm!"

"You win." I rolled my eyes.

"Wow! You're so honest!" I heard him laugh. "Are you happy?"

"Of course," is he stupid?

"Really? With that tone? Are you happy? How much is your average?"

I didn't answer all of his questions; I wanted us to talk about it personally.

"I was carrying it at the previous meeting," I said and glanced at the paper bag, trying to go to the main point.

"Prepared!" if we were just in person now, I could see his playful smile.

I smirked. "I felt pity for you, so I accept your proposal though it's the dumbest proposal."

"My middle finger salutes you," then he hangs up.

A Minute later, I received a text from him. Maybe that's because he already had a release. I laugh at my thought: Henry and his hormones.

Henry:

On my way, nerd. ;)

Asshole. I was irritated by his wink emoticon!

Psalm:

I lost the paper bag. :(

Henry:

Just a joke, baby.

I did not reply to his last message. When I got to our meeting place, I drank a milk tea first so that I wouldn't get bored there.

Henry is Aunt Sarra's nephew. Like me, it was his Aunt who also raised him. I thought I'd hate him when he lived with us, but he's not dull to get along with! He's kind and cheerful. So I'm so thankful that he didn't inherit an attitude from Aunt Sarra. You know Auntie Sarra is kind of bitchy.

Henry is the only friend I treasure. We see each other as brothers and sisters with no special meaning.

While reading my favorite book, someone suddenly sat next to me. I wouldn't have looked back at it when I inhaled the familiar scent.

"Hi?" he asked as he sat on the bench where I sat. A few minutes passed before I could process who he was.

Oh, one of Henry's friends.

"Stop eye raping me," he grinned. "I can sue you for that," he said and shrugged.

I smirked. "You look more like a rapist than I do," and I glared at him.

I heard him whisper. I thought he was leaving after a few minutes, but he wasn't. Instead, he moved closer to me and stretched his arms; he took a side peak at what I read. This is what I don't like at all! I slammed the book and raised an eyebrow at him. He also raised an eyebrow at me, which annoyed me even more.

"Your book is kinda... boring," he said and shrugged. "I suggest you read fifty shades of freed-"

"Now I know who poisoned Henry's mind," I said in a monotone.

He shook his head. "He's the one who poisoned my mind, not the way around."

"Liar," I murmured. I frowned when I saw his playful grin.

"Maybe you're the one who poisons him?"

My jaw dropped at what he said. "My middle finger salutes you," and I showed my middle finger.

"Mine too," then he does the same.

I act calm, but I'm irritated with him deep inside. Wait, where is Henry?

"C'mon, don't play-"

He was interrupted by my cellphone's ring. I immediately turned my back on him and answered the caller. I was even more stunned to hear Henry laugh.

"My middle finger salute and adores you so much! Freaking Henry!" I lashed out; I already knew where will this end.

"Huh? What? I can't hear you..." I swear I'm going to cut his neck! "Is Anzai already there? Just give it to him! I love-"

"I hope you get an STD, Henry!" then I push the red button harshly.

That jerk! Maybe he thought his acting skills were so good! I turned to the man who was also one of his disciples. I stared at him and threw the paper bag on his chest. I could see his slight grimace at what I had done.

I went home to our house, unable to get rid of the mixture of irritation and picky. I was irritated with Henry and irritated and annoyed with his friend. That man acts as if he and I were close! But the traffic is more annoying now!

It was getting dark the night when I got home. I frowned when I saw a fancy car parked in front of our house.

"What's up?" I whispered to myself.

I was about to knock when the door suddenly opened, and Henry's friend was the one I spotted first; behind him was Aunt Sarra. My mouth fell open; all my blood went to my cheek when I saw Aunt Sarra just taking a shower.

"Fuck." he cursed when I immediately pushed him into our house; Aunt Sarra was screaming.

I'll make sure he doesn't get out of here alive. There are many motels and hotels here in laguna, after all. Did they have to do it here? Didn't he know that his friend's Aunt was the one doing the miracle?!

I was about to slap him when I heard a baritone voice behind me.

"What happened here?"

I don't know how many times I blink in one minute. A man wearing business attire shouting his manly aura looks familiar to me. I didn't take my eyes off him, nor did he take my eyes off mine, and it took minutes for me to process who he was.

"Dad..." I whispered, enough to be heard by the man in front of me.