Those words crumbled Naomi’s spirit. Tears welled in her eyes as she saw Anna smile, exchanging knowing glances with their mother before both turned their attention to her. The sight deepened Naomi’s despair, and she could no longer hold back the flood of tears that began to fall uncontrollably down her cheeks. The tension in the car felt palpable, thick with unspoken words. Finally, her father broke the silence.
"Next ti, think before you speak," he admonished, leaving Naomi confused about where his loyalties lay. Her father was notoriously fickle, swinging between pity for her and support for her mother’s harshness. It was a pattern she had grown accustod to, but it never ceased to hurt. Right now, as she sat there in agony, she couldn’t help but cry, the tears mingling with the turmoil in her heart.
The haunting mory of a day she’d rather forget lood in her mind—the day she lost her virginity. It was shrouded in confusion; she couldn’t recall anything except waking up the next morning to find blood on her bed, a stark reminder of sothing that had felt so surreal. Her parents had left for the day, and it had been just her and Anna taking care of the house. But that morning, with the evidence before her, she had been gripped by fear and uncertainty. When her mother returned ho and had tested both her and Anna, the truth ca out—Naomi was no longer a virgin.
Naomi reaction had been devastating; it felt like a huge blow, amplifying her insecurities and fueling her anger. Naomi could still rember the look on Parents face—betrayal mixed with indignation.
Closing her eyes tightly, Naomi desperately tried to push the painful mories away. She didn’t want to relive that day, nor did she want to think about the stranger she had encountered earlier. What if he had jumped? The thought sent a chill down her spine. But now, all she could do was focus on herself and the impending doom of the reverend school her mother had threatened.
As she sighed deeply, inhaling and exhaling loudly, it seed her fate was sealed. Maybe it was indeed better to go to reverend school.
As if it wasn’t already enough, Anna chid in again, adding more salt to the fresh wounds that had barely begun to heal. "What were you saying?" she asked mockingly, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Cat cut your tongue?" The words hung in the air like a taunt, as if they were the most hilarious joke in the world. Soon, Anna burst into laughter, a sound that cut through Naomi like a knife, accompanied by their mother’s delighted cackles. It felt as though they were in a cruel play, with Naomi cast as the unwilling protagonist.
Turning her gaze out the window, Naomi sought refuge in the passing scenery, trying to block out the tornt that surrounded her. Normally, she would have plugged into so soothing slow songs to transport her mind to a different world, but today was different. With no phone to distract her—Anna had claid it, knowing that if Naomi tried to take it back, it would only escalate the situation—she felt trapped, confined to the car with her torntors.
The pain in her swollen cheeks throbbed with each passing mont, a physical reminder of the emotional pain swirling inside her. All she wanted was for the car to stop. The journey seed interminable, each mile stretching out like an eternity, weighed down by the oppressive atmosphere.
Just as she thought the silence might provide a montary reprieve, her father’s phone rang, piercing through the tension like a gunshot. He answered it, his tone shifting to one of formality. "Hello, sir. Yes," he replied, his voice steady. "Yes, sir. We’ll do that, sir. Thank you very much, sir." Naomi raised an eyebrow in surprise; hearing her father repeat "sir" so many tis was unusual. He was a man of pride, one who rarely lowered himself to such formalities.
After ending the call, he returned the phone to its resting place and refocused on the road, but the weight of the conversation hung heavily in the air.
"Is there good news?" her mother inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Yes," her father replied, his tone slightly more animated. "Mr. Zylan’s assistant just called. Mr Zylan will be coming tomorrow."
Naomi’s heart raced at the ntion of Mr. Zylan. Who was this man, and why was her father discussing him with such importance? She couldn’t help but wonder why he would be addressing an assistant instead of Mr. Zylan himself. Was he really that powerful?
Her mother’s excitent was palpable as she turned to her husband, her eyes wide with anticipation. "What does this an for us?"
Her father continued, "His assistant said Mr. Zylan would be taking my daughter for her hand in marriage."
A stunned silence enveloped the car. Naomi felt as though the air had been sucked from her lungs. "What?" she thought, her heart racing with suprise. She glanced at Anna, who wore a smug grin, and her mother, whose eyes sparkled with ambition.
"Oh my goodness! That’s great!" her mother exclaid, a thrill in her voice. "Anna, of course."
Her father nodded, "Of course. It can’t be our reverend sister."
Anna couldn’t help herself; she jumped in with her mockery. "Of course, reverend, of course. It can’t be her," she mimicked, her voice dripping with derision. Then, as if struck by a thought, Anna continued, "But, Mom, how about Mr. Johnson’s son?"
"Oh, that," their mother waved her hand dismissively, "We can handle him. Mr. Zylan is more important than that."
Naomi’s heart sank as she listened to her mother’s words. Just a few monts ago, she had been hyping Mr. Johnson’s son as a potential suitor, now dismissing him as though he were a re afterthought. The hypocrisy felt suffocating.
"Who knew?" Anna chid in, her excitent bubbling over. "Who knew that I would marry the richest multi-billionaire in this country? Who knew?" She began to mimic Naomi, clicking her fingers together in a mock imitation before turning to her with a saccharine smile. "I will make sure to tell you when I have a child, okay? Maybe you could teach him the ways. Maybe you could teach him morals as that would be what they’d be teaching you there in reverend school."she mocked
Naomi turned to her with another smile.
"Of course, sister! Who knows? He might be the next Reverend Father in line."
Reviews
All reviews (0)