Gave him multiple missed calls. I'm still receiving no response. Sent a text, "Hello love, happy birthday, my dearest. Can I come see you so we can celebrate your special day? "
Still no response after waiting some minutes; I sighed, feeling frustrated.
I decided to go anyway; he would be so happy to see me, I thought and giggled.
When I got to his apartment, I knocked. No response. Surprised to see that the doorknob was open.
I entered; slowly I noticed littered clothes on the floor. I placed the cake and other items I had brought as a surprise on the table.
Catching my attention was a bra and panties. I tried to keep calm as I was struggling to believe it was not what I thought. Just then, I heard moaning sounds up the stairs. I pursued the source of the noise.
Opened the bedroom door and stood frozen in the doorway; the bitter sting of betrayal and disappointment scorched my chest. My boyfriend and my stepsister Chloe were in the middle of passionate lovemaking. Chloe shouting... yes, baby, oh yes...
Finding my voice... "I screamed, 'You son of a bitch, how could you do this to me? "
Jackson, surprised to see me, spoke up and said, "Susan...what are you doing here?
You are not supposed to be here. "Chloe... looking totally unfazed... Spoke, "Oh, poor Susan, it was only a matter of time before I finally made him mine.
You know you are so naive and stupid; I can't believe you actually thought that Jackson actually loved you. He just pitied you and thought it was love, and all thanks to me... He realised his true feelings. I am his ideal woman. I am classy, beautiful, and sexy... "
She stood up from the covers of the sheet, stark naked, walked up to Jackson, who clearly was naked but hiding his manhood in a piece of clothing, and gave him a long, passionate kiss.
"Jackson, do you want to tell this idiot of a sister of mine how you actually feel about her? It was only a matter of time; I was getting sick and tired of the whole hiding, by the way... "" Jackson, clearing his throat, looked up at me.
Tears were streaming down my face as I just stood speechless. "Susan, hear me out... I did like you, but that was in the past. You are boring and so fragile and acting innocent, and I don't like that. I like wild and spontaneous, just like your sister over here....
She drives me wild, and I love sex, something that clearly you refused to give me because you want to wait till marriage, and I am not in for that, OK? "
I didn't wait to hear the rest; I ran out of the room, and I was crying profusely now.
I let the tears flow freely; I didn't have money for a cab, as I had used all my money to buy him gifts. And baked and all that stuff. I walked back home; I felt my heart could fall off. I wondered if it could truly be achieved.
I decided to find solace in alcohol, played some sad music, and sang to the lyrics of the song. I eventually drifted off to sleep on the bare floor.
The next morning, my stepmom, Stella, shouted angrily, "Susan, Susan, where is that good-for-nothing piece of existing trash?
It's 7am, and no chore has been done. Can you imagine? "
She barges into my room with a bucket of water and finds me lying on the bare floor with bottles of alcohol littered all over the place. Without hesitation, she poured the bucket of water on my head.
I woke up gasping for breath, looking up as I tried to compose myself; clearly I was in trouble.... "Good... Good morning, stepmother, I stuttered... What's so good about the morning, you useless child? Have you decided to be a drunkard? "
Clearly ignoring my swollen eyes, she gave me a powerful slap.
Silently, I prayed in my heart that something worse should not happen to me, as I didn't know which pain stung the most, the slap? Or my broken heart?
'Now, you listen to me clearly: there shall be no food for you today, and you will do all chores, and that includes Chloe's laundry, and by 8am, if breakfast is not ready for me and my precious little daughter.
Consider yourself doomed. Have I made myself clear? "
"Yes, I answered," while dreading the worst consequences that could occur if I did not meet expectations.
I couldn't help but burst into another round of tears as my stepmom left the room. I couldn't stop staring at my mother's picture frame. I wondered if the universe could show me mercy and be favourable to me.
I thought Jackson loved me, but clearly he did not. I had to work tirelessly to cater for myself and my ailing father. I served the table after preparing breakfast and retreated to doing the rest of my chores, and that includes taking care of my sick father. He loved me, but he was sick with a heart problem.
"Father... Good morning, did you sleep well? "
I smiled for him, as I knew it would break his heart if he knew I was sad.
"Yes, dear. I am... " I hugged him as I struggled not to allow the tear strand to fall.
He looked up into my eyes and said softly, "I am sorry I can't protect you or even provide for you. But I want you to know that I love you very much."
"I love you too, Dad".
I decided to be strong for myself and most especially my dad from henceforth. I would do my very best to be successful so I could take care of my dad. I thought as I lay on my bed before falling asleep.