BLACK CARD, SOFT HEART.

Have always wanted and dreamed of being seen, appreciated, but everytime I tried, it seems to be like I shouldn't have tried in the first place.

The hall sparkle with bright furnitures, extravagant gold tables, crystals and stones.

It was well decorated with luxurious chairs, best fit for everyone. It was a classic gathering of the elite yet for me, it wasn't with a warm welcome, rather, with cold gleam of deceit. The air was thick with luxury scents of different brands, it was as if they were auctioning for the best perfume scent.

"Leila!"my father snapped, all dressed in his shiny black suite, eyes balls landing on me with a frustration, and anger.

I shivered, my fingers tightened on the tray, knuckles whitened, not like it was heavy... Holding it wasn't a problem, if it meant for me to be seen or appreciated in that way, then I will do it without complaining...

But the voice of my father kept echoing in my ears, "Wear something simple, don't draw attention... this is your sister's night." That alone put me in frustration, but I couldn't complain reasons because I will do anything that pleases them.

I rushed to the table were the family of three sat... I drew out one of the chair to sit, at least, just to also be part of them. Just like my father said, I didn't draw attention. Just sit and enjoy too.

But immediately I sat, "leila" my father snapped, " what are you doing, are you planning to sit with us? Have you forgotten your place?" I broke down in silence, face bowed to the ground in shame "I'm sorry, please don't punish me."

I pour the liquor in the glass with tears in my eyes.

"They really do deserve being together as a family of three" I chuckled. I wasn't heartbroken, I just missed my mother... the days she was alive, life wasn't hell for me.

But after her demise, I have always wished to sit with them, eat with them as one family.

As the eldest daughter of the Jones family, I serve my family like a slave and walk away like humble servant I was.

They laughed and chatted happily together, while me, the invisible, problematic,and irresponsible daughter was out the picture!.

Across the table sat Lydia, the adorable daughter. She was all dressed up in silk. Her necklace was made of diamonds. She was radiant like the sun.

She walked up to me with intentional smile. Her eyes glittered with that poisonous shine she wore whenever she wants to be cruel.

"Sis..." she cooed, "...You look so... inappropriate"

It sounded like a compliment, until she added, "the help should never outshine the main character of honour; right?"!She didn't need to smile... the crowd smile for her.

.....

My cheek burned with humiliation. It was like the ground should open for me to enter.

All eyes and fingers pointed at me. She leaned in, her lips brushed my ear and her voice dropped to a sharp whisper only I could hear.

"Remember... stay quite tonight. Tomorrow will be louder....for us all"

"What does that even mean?"

"Dumb as always." She smiled and walked away. I stood still, stared as her heels clicked the ground...

Lydia mastered the art of being adored, while I was called the useless.

......

The whisper never stops. People kept murmuring and pointing at me in their disgusting gazes.

I never cared about their gossips. I only retreated to the kitchen in a cold feet, gasped for air in a house filled with others poisonous air.

At that, I chose to be happy.

"Leila" my heartbeat stuttered. I look back and there he was, the only one that I proudly called mine... It's Derrick, my boyfriend.

He walked in quietly, closing the door behind him. He wasn't dressed as a guest, which meant that he came for me alone."

"Why are you here Derrick?" I asked and he shrugged, " you look overwhelmed."

My lips twisted. He was the only one who noticed things my family never cared to know.

With a little pull and those musk scents, something I could never name wrapped around me. I felt a little comfort from him, and that moment, all the sadness seems to be erased from my memories.

"You let them walk all over you..." He murmured, "I don't like it Leila."

But my response was vague... "I'm used to it, Derrick. Those are part of me already.

"That's the problem. You always let them win. Why can't you just stand up for yourself? Do you want to be everyone's punching bag?"

I forced a weak smile, "But you are here now"

"Yes I'm here." He replied.

I allow myself to be cherish at the moment, and the comforts flows

in naturally.

....

The dinner kept buzzing, toast were given.

The busy hall was soon still, and all the guest were gone. Derrick got a call and asked to rushed home for a serious appointment......he left.

I struggle my way back upstairs. My heart was exhausted, hope thin and my soul shattered.

Opposite my door, a familiar voice behind the partially close door hit me.

Curiosity made me peep for a clear hearing and view, and there he was...

Is that my Derrick...? My voice dropped in a trembling whisper? wasn't he gone? What is he doing in Lydia's room?

A lot of questions with no answer came in.

...

Her laugh floated out, "Relax..." She purred, "She's too naive to suspect anything"

His voice followed. It was low, almost boring. "Are you sure she won't find out about us?"

"Please... Leila can't find out what's right in her hand. She trusts everyone... how pathetic." Lydia said, as they both kissed and laughed like two sweet lovebirds.

I froze in shock. My throat closed. My hand trembled to my mouth to stop the sound rising in my chest, "The one person I cherish, and trusted so much was the same person leading the troops of the enemy into my dens."

She continued... This time around, her voice was darker, "Tomorrow, we will throw a little party. Make sure to be there. The deal Will be sealed once the announcement is made. Leila becomes the perfect scapegoat".

Derrick exhaled in relief, "so she will take the fall? I can't wait to openly be with you,. I have been hiding and doing this for many years, finally the long awaited time is here."

"Of course," Lydia said sweetly. "Where else does she belong...."

The clock kept ticking. Tick..tock.... Every minutes felt like it has been carved out just for me.

3:00am and still no sleep.

I waited for the sun to rise, to tell me that what i overheard wasn't real. That the whispers on the hallways wasn't meant for my ears...

...

My heart tightened:, it felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on my chest. I sat on the edge of the bed staring blankly at the celling, praying, begging that everything was just a dreams.

...

LEILA.

Morning didn't feel like morning.

it felt like laying down underwater,slow, heavy, and suffocating.

" My family is planning to ruin me?. The person I love the most, derrick was part of it".

"Maybe I misheard".

"Maybe it's a misunderstanding".

"Maybe just maybe am fooling myself again".

Thought kept flooding my head so fast I could barely breathe

...

Then...

" Knock knock".

A soft yet irritating bang on the door.

My step mom Walked in, dressed in her favorite red dress and heels. Her sugar coated,venom tipped tongue preceded her as she peeked head inside.

"Breakfasts is ready. Please put on something decent. Everyone is downstairs waiting for you. Don't keep them waiting,

there's important annocement to be made".

"Annocement" I crooked.

"Oh yes annocement.

Just dress up and be downstairs. You will see when you get there".

The door shut even before I could ask more questions. A cold wash over me.

...

" Today". Today is the day they all plan for me.

My stomach clenched".

I dress quickly, with a simple brouse and that one jeans that have been wearing for ages now. My hair tied to the back, everything on body screaming run.

Well I chose to stay anyways. That's how have been surviving my whole life, by staying even when it hurts.

...

Downstairs was buzzing with unusual excitement. Even when I knew their plan still I choose to put on a smile face.

Lydia dress in her usual straight out magazines editorials emeralds slik, diamonds dancing on her skin. Confident dripping from every breath she took. Inside those glamorous appearance, only I knows the serpent beneath those diamonds .

She majestically walk in excuse of caring for me just to scheme.

" Leila you were born with everything I wanted ,but you are too weak to use any of it. Someone like you don't deserved power. You are fits for playing the useless one".

I wasn't surprise at all, because I'm use to those smirked of hers, I just wanted to know what she meant by I don't deserve power.

"Leila sit" my father ordered with a harsh tone. I obey, my heart kept pounding so hard, suddenly a stack of documents was slipped on the table.

" You all know that I visited the company some days ago. I checked into the finance department,and there is a financial decrepancies within the company account". He looked at me in cold and dissatisfied gesture. I remain calm, the he added " Leila we discovered that all those transaction are linked to your account". Sweat drained down my face, I get instant cold feet. "But I don't handle company finance!!".

" Exactly Lydia cut in sweetly, that's why it's confusing; dad/mom blame me, I am the one working at the company. I should be blame not Leila". I can clearly see through her her schemes,but my dad choose not to see them. " Leila non of us understand why your name appears on every suspicious transaction, but please, just admit you did it, mom and dad will forgive you" she sneered. " What" I gasped out loud.

"Leila you are responsible for the missing funds, why let your innocent sister take the blame?. Can't you be like her?, that's why she better than you, beside it was derrick that reported it, will he also lie about it". My step mom added.

" What derrick?. He will never do a thing like that to me, he might cheat on me but he will never accuse me, I think there's a mixup up let me just call him over for clarification".

" Sister why not just admit it, why calling outsiders in family matters? Lydia chimed,her eyes gleaming with triumph.

My dad slammed his hand on the table.

" We cannot keep this ungrateful brat in this house. You'll leave until the investigation clears your name. And don't even think about running away."

"Dad"I cried.

" Do not call me that!. You have disgrace this family. Look at how obedience and promising your sister is! Why can't you be like her?.

" Dad let me just derrick. Please, he'll expla....."

" No need" a cold voice interrupted. Derrick walked in.

My last strand of hope shattered.

"Derrick please," I rushed to him,tears streaming."Tell them it's not true.Tell them...."

He didn't let me finish.

" This time, I choose love over everything",he said calmly. And whoever gets hurt.... deserves it".

My blood ran cold. I never believe he'll do this yet I ran t

"Derrick, what are you saying? Please clear this up".

He met my eyes with the coldest look I'd ever seen.

"Leila did it.She made the transactions. She said since no one values her, she'll bankrupt the company, I tried stopping her but she refuse, sorry I wasn't able to persuade her".

"What?! Derrick,no!" I sobbed. " Why are you doing this?"

Lydia's poisonous smile widened as she leaned close to me.

"Sister"she whispered ,"you were always meant to be the shadow. I'm just making it official".

At this point I knew nobody was coming to save me from them. I could only

cried for help. Yet no one listened to me.

I turned to derrick, voice breaking.

"Did you ever love me ? were all those moments ...all those words...part of your plan?"

He smirked.

"I never loved you, leila.The one I've always loved is Lydia. You were just too easy to deceive, so I used you to get closer to her"...

The room went still. Everyone turn against me, the pain of being betrayed by people I called family.

I could feel the lingered pain in my heart.

"Leila we never meant for each other. All those moments were just part of the plan, and since we have succeeded with it, I don't think I should keep it from you". Derrick smirked.

I could see the triumph smile on Lydia's face. My father didn't even care about me, neither giving it a second thought.All he wanted was me leaving the house.

LEILA

I left the house I was raised since childhood;. Even though it wasn't pleasingly fit for me but because of those beautiful memories I had with my mom, I endure torture for several years only to still be send out.

The city didn't notice when I stopped walking.

Voice's blurred into noises till it turn echoes.

My legs gave out beneath me at a bus stop I didn't recognized. I sat there with my hands folded in my laps .

Memories on how breathing used to feel safe before it becomes this hurt. The more I look into the scarier it becomes.

Ding....ding, a soft sound from my phone buzzed in, I never intend checking. I already know who it will be from. Still I looked.

" Hey Leila, I hope you found somewhere comfortable. Changes can be shocking and traumatizing for people like you".

There it was the promising and adorable daughter of the Jones. Lydia.

I stared at the screen until the words becomes blurred. Until the humiliation seeped into my my bones.

" This is my fault. I should've known. I never saw it turning this way". I sigh weakly. My thump pressed against the cracked edge of my phone until it severe hurt. My chest caved inward.

I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and finally I let myself feel it, not just the betrayal rather the deeper wound beneath it.

"Being unwanted wasn't new.

"But being choosing to be destroyed was".

A voice said calmly while approaching me.

" Miss you don't belong In the floor!!. Pick yourself up, dust it like never before and embrace the life expirences".

The voice was low, not hurried, I dare not to looked up at first.

"I'm fine, I promise it doesn't hurt that much". I said automatically, even though all about me wasn't right.

Silence followed,not the awkward kind. But the kind that waits, that stays no matter the circumstances.

A touch of hope found me, seeing how he never gave up, he choose staying without knowing me.

I gather the courage to look up, first I saw a Polish black glamorous shoe, then a black well iron trouser, follow by a neatly fit black coat that didn't belong to the street.

Then him...no smiling and he wasn't frowing either.

His gazed steady, assessing like he wasn't just seeing my tears, but it looked like he was seeing the exact point where they began.

" I never asked if you were fine. I asked if you're safe". He said calmly staring into my eyes.

I was mesmerised by those straight jawline,his voice melted my heart, I felt safe with a stranger than those I called family.

" I used to think derrick was the most handsome in the world, but looking at him here makes me hate that scumbag the more". I said softly to myself.

Something in my expression could have answer the question he asked earlier but my mouth seems not to corporate.

Behind him, a shining tinted latest car was sitting there like it was design just for him. Too expensive, too deliberate to be a coincidence.

" I don't want anything, I'm safe. Thanks for looking out for me". I reply calmly with a gentle voice.

" Get in the car" he command.

My breath hitched "NO"

" That wasn't an offer, it was a command" he replied angrily.

I shocked my head,panic rising.

" I don't even know you".

" That's why you should listen to me".

He reached into his coat, he pulled out his wallet, not threatening. He opened it just enough to see the edge of a black card. Not flashy but a fact.

"My name is Aiden frost", he said. "And I promise you, those people that hurt you today will regret ever crossing your path.

And Leila that can only happen when you make the right choice of which part to follow". He added.

My heart slammed violently.

" You are wrong!!!".I said angrily. " They already won. I'm just a push over, who can't even stand up for herself. I can't even fight for my identity, doesn't that meant something to you?".

"They might for now Leila. Everything you thought were lost will be replace with things that aligned with you. You just have to stay focus and concentrate on the positive things".

I laughed sarcastically, not the victorious one, but the one of a broken heart.

" You don't even know me, what makes you think I will listen to you?.

His gaze dropped briefly, he clenched my hands, my shoulders curved inward, the exhaustion exched into my posture.

" I know what someone look like when they've been trained to disappear, and I also know potential when I see it". He said victoriously.

I swallowed hard, then with a trembling voice.

"Why me?. People like you don't stopped for people like me". I said why stepping back slightly. My heart trembling in fear.

" Leila Jones, you are standing at the edge of becoming that exact thing you've always wanted".

My name on his lips felt unreal. " How do you even know my name?.

I do wonder how he gets to know me even without me being know as an ever existed Jones's daughter.

I stayed frozen,my heartbeats still, inside me was the two warred voices.

"Don't trust him".while the other kept saying,

"You have nothing left to lose"

For the first time in my life, I have to make choice, I whisper to myself. It's like a dream come true...