Chapter 12


    “Bye Miranda!” I said as I left the coffee shop.


    “Bye dear. Travel safe.” She responded. I opened the door and stepped out into the night air. I have


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    never been on the streets thiste before and to be honest, I was scared.


    I didn’t have any money to take a taxi, so I took a deep sigh and decided to walk. I walked as quickly as


    possible and was home within ten minutes.


    I opened the front door with my keys and head upstairs. The house was inplete darkness, so I


    figured that An was either sleeping or out with friends.


    I was halfway up the stairs when I heard a noise. Shocked, I stopped in my tracks. I saw a figure


    standing up from sitting in the recliner and turn on the lights. The living room lit up in brightness and I


    was looking into the angry face of my step father.


    “Where the hell have you been?” He asked in a hard tone.


    What the hell? Why did he care? I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at him square in the


    eyes. “I got a job. I’ming from there.” I rted.


    “A job?!” He raised his tone. It was very hard, but I stood my ground.


    “Yes a job. I have to go to school and I would need money if I want to continue. I wouldn’t need to if you


    didn’t waste all your money on booze.” I used, surprising myself with my confidence.


    “You better watch your mouth before Ie up there for you. It is my damn money and I do whatever I


    please with it.”


    “I know. You have made it clear a million times. You think I don’t know that this was going on a long


    time?” I asked.


    “What are you talking about?” “I remember you and Mom arguing one night about it. I was thirteen


    then…” **shback**


    I woke up from my sleep, by a loud noise downstairs. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and listened


    closely. After listening for a while, I realized that Mom and An were having an argument. Being


    curious, I got up from my bed and tiptoed to my bedroom door. I opened it slowly and went to the top of


    the stairs. Here I could hear better so I listened.


    “An, what have you done with the money you gotst month?” I heard my mother’s worried voice, “I


    thought that you were going to help with Ka.”


    “I am, but something came up. Next time.” An said in a dismissive tone. It sounded like he really did


    not want the argument that he knew was going toe.


    “That’s what you said thest time.” Mom said, sighing exasperatedly. “Wait. You gambled it again,


    didn’t you? An how could you? You know that Ka’s school fee is due. They are going to kick her


    out of school and I really don’t want that.”


    “What does this have to do with me? Look Lydia, I’m trying my best here, but you’re acting like she is


    my responsibility.” An stated.


    “I know, but…I wish I could do better. I want my daughter to have everything she needs, but it’s hard. I


    though you were going to help me. That’s what you said when you ask me to marry you.” I heard my


    mother start to cry and I felt tears fall from my own eyes. “Please don’t make her suffer. You promised.”


    “Okay, whatever. I will try my best. But please don’t bring up what I do with my money again. It’s mine. I


    do what I please!”


    **End Of shback**


    “My mother couldn’t do better. She wanted me to have the best life possible. All you cared about was


    yourself!” I said as I rted what I had heard that night.


    “You ungrateful little bitch! I did pay for your education that year. Send you all through middle school.


    I’ve done everything and now you are going around being disrespectful!” He roared.


    Iughed. I really couldn’t help it. Was he hearing himself right now? When my mother died, he didn’t


    make as much effort. He did paid for my education, but they werete all the time. After the principal


    called him in a few times, he was forced to pay it. Aside from paying for my education, he did not give


    me any money to go to school or put enough food in the house. I had to make do with the money Mom


    had left me and even then I had to take time with it as it wasn’t enough. That’s why I started walking to


    school and buying a small lunch.


    I red at him. “You’ve done everything? What have you done for me, but making my life a


    nightmare?!” I couldn’t help but shout back.


    “You better keep your voice down youngdy and if I ever hear you tell anyone about what’s been


    happening, you are going to regret it. I assure you.” He said in a threatening voice.


    “I don’t know why Mom married you.” I said. As the words left my lips, I saw his eyes turned cold and


    angry.


    “You little brat!” An said as he run after me. I reacted quickly and run to my room. Thank God I was


    already halfway up the stairs, because I would never had made it.


    I closed my room door behind me and bolted the lock. An finally reached my room door and pounded


    on it. “Ka, you better open this door right this instant. Do you hear me?!” I shrank back from the door,


    but kept my eyes on it, because I knew that it was possible for him to break it down. However, he


    continued to pound on the door. “If you don’t open this door, you are going to regret it. No one messes


    with me, you little bitch!”


    He continued to pound on my door for a while, until I didn’t hear it anymore. Hopefully, he has given up


    and left. Finally, after a long while, I got into my bed.