Chapter 8

Brielle's POV

I couldn't stop thinking about what happened earlier at school. I kept wondering what that was about. I hope that little incident will not disrupt my school life. I don't want to be noticed for anything. I just want to go through the last year of school as quietly as possible, but I can't help but think that it won't be possible. I have this nagging feeling that tells me that so many things are going to change. I don't know what kind of change or if I will even like it.

I scratched the back of my head trying to concentrate on my homework. I have been in my room since I came back home. My grandparents were busy with their daily routine, letting me have my time. Even though everyone is minding their own business, it was not as bad as back home where I used to be in the house all alone without any company. I feel secure and at ease knowing that they are somewhere around, and they are here for me.

I shook all my thoughts and just focused on completing my homework before dinner time. In an hour, I was done with my homework and my grandmother called out for me. I put my books away and went to the dining area to join them. The table was decked with all my favorite dishes. I gasped and looked at my grandmother who had a knowing look on her face.

" How did you know grandmother?"

" I asked your mother. She told me everything, so I decided to prepare everything. I should have some of it the first day you started living with us as a way to welcome you, my dear." I was touched by the warm gesture but much so by the realization that my mother knew my likes and dislikes.

I didn't know that she knew what my favorite food was, since I never told her. I took my seat and marveled at the mouthwatering food in front of me waiting for me to just devour it.

" Thank you for the food, grandmother. Can I eat now?"

She laughs at me and nods her head. " Sure. Go ahead, sweety. Don't rush because it's all yours." I was already studying my mouth with mac and cheese while one hand was reaching for the lemon garlic Parmesan chicken tenders. Among the various dishes were, chicken noodle soup, braised beef, tacos, shrimp pasta, and steamed dumplings. Grandmother joined me and dished up for herself although all she did was watch me eat. I would have felt embarrassed, but her food was too delicious for me to care about anything else. Once I was done eating, I was too full. Granny made dessert as well, but I decided to save it for later.

To thank her for the meal, I wanted to help clean up, but she insisted I didn't. Even though I tried to fight her, she was so stubborn I ended up giving in. She sent me off to my room to rest for school. I went to my room and immediately looked for my phone. Once I found it under a pile of books on my table, I face-timed my mother. Her beautiful face appeared on the screen, bringing a smile to my face.

" Hello sweety. How are you?" she asks.

" I am alright mom. What about you? Are things fine?" I asked as well, out of concern for her. I sometimes feel bad for leaving her on her own.

" I am alright. Work is keeping me too busy" she answers assuringly. I could see dark circles under her eyes from exhaustion. She must be overdoing it.

" You look tired. Please don't overdo it." She smiled at me brightly, and I could see that things were getting better. She was picking herself up and trying to move on with her life. It has been a while since I saw her smile like that.

" Alright, alright, I won't. Seriously, there is no need to be worried. Now tell me what made you call me tonight?"

I gasped, realizing that I had forgotten why I called. " Oh, that. I called because I heard from my grandmother that you told her about all my favorite dishes. How did you know that? I never told you. " I was genuinely curious. I wanted to know how she knew about it.

" I am your mother silly. I wouldn't deserve to be called mother by you if I didn't know what you liked to eat. I observed you while you ate. If a person enjoys something, you notice when the person gets seconds or even more. That's how you know what they like and what they are eating."

" So you were watching me eat? That's creepy!" I teased her and she played along feigning anger. We joked around for a few minutes until she asked how school was.

" Well...school is school. I can't say much about it besides that the only thing is the environment and the people. Other than that, it's the same for me."

While I said that, the face of the boy who came up to me earlier popped into my mind. I thought of telling mom about it for a second, but I decided against it. It was nothing anyway, but for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about him.

" I'm sure it will get better with time. This is your last year in high school, so please try to participate in school activities and be more open and approachable. Do something different so that you will remember your life. No pressure, but let's make changes, okay?"

" Mmh, that sounds like too much change, but I guess I'll see what I can do," I said in a pondering manner. She narrowed her eyes at me doubtingly, and I sighed in defeat.

" Alright, mom! I am not promising anything. You know I hate drama, but I'll try to make a friend or something," I sulked.

" That is enough for me. I'll let you go to sleep now. It's already late as it is. Let's talk later. Tell me you have A boyfriend then," she teased me, and then laughed.

" Gosh, mom! That's too much. You won't be hearing that anytime soon. Bye." I shook my head and cut the call. I decide to get ready for bed and change into my pajamas.

As I lay in bed I thought about my father. I don't know how you feel about him yet. He hasn't reached out to me since I moved here, and I have never tried to reach out to him either. I didn't want to be disappointed with him more than I already was if he didn't pick up the call. I was scared that maybe our relationship was broken for good and there was no going back.

My thoughts traveled back to the day I found out he had a new family.

Flashback*

On my 16 birthday

Both my parents were seated in front of me. It was my 16th birthday. It was supposed to be a joyous day but the atmosphere was so tense a knife could cut through it. All three of us were seated in front of the cake so awkwardly the cake could melt. I stared at the 16 candles on the cake, silently making wishes on each candle before I could blow them out. You know, like the movie with Derby Ryan, 16 wishes.

My train of thought was interrupted when my father cleared his throat. I looked at him as he nervously tried to find the words to speak. I looked at my mother, who looked like she was far away. I wondered what was up with them but I dared not to ask. It looked like I was about to find out anyway.

" I...uh, happy birthday, Brie," he stammered. He wanted to say something else, but he didn't.

" Thanks," I murmured, playing with the hem of my sweater. A birthday never felt so awkward.

My father turned to look at my mother, who remained as she was. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He briefly closed his eyes and opened them a few seconds later. I just stayed there. I was just wondering what I was missing. The situation was becoming annoyingly unpleasant, but I held back from asking.

" Look honey, there is no better way I can say this but your mother and I have to tell you something," he finally announced. I looked between both of them and noticed my mother tightened. She looked like she was holding herself from crying. I suddenly became alert and worried.

" Brielle," he called out my full name, and I realized how things were. He never calls me Brielle unless there is something serious he has to tell me.

He paused his lips briefly and released a breath. He looked me in the eyes and reached for my hands. It dawned on me. Deep down I knew where this was going, but I was not going to believe it until he said it to me. So I waited. My heart started to pound and my ears rang. I could suddenly hear the clock ticking very loudly and the sound of my breath going in and out.

" Your mother and I... have decided to get a divorce," he declared. All the sounds stopped when he said that. I was frozen for a moment until my mom broke out in a sob. My father closed his eyes as if that could block out my mother's painful cries. I slowly pulled back my hands from his and placed them on my lap. I stared at my hands like they were the most interesting thing in the room.

My mother ran out of the dining room and went to her room. Now only my father and I are left.

" I am sorry Brielle. I never wanted to tell you this way. It's that your mother was never intending to tell you. She wanted us to keep pretending as if everything was alright, but it wasn't. That's why we are ending it." When he said that, I felt the pent-up anger boiling inside of me erupt.

" Is this your gift for my 16th birthday?" I asked bitterly as a lone tear escaped my eye. I raised my head to look at him. He looked taken aback. I mean, really? He was so eager to leave he had to ruin my 16th. I felt anger rise in me.

" You couldn't wait to let me know that you are divorcing mom on my birthday, could you? It's easy for you to ruin your daughter's birthday. That's why you couldn't stand mom not telling me," I said as I continued to haul accusations at him.

" Brie, that's not-" I cut him off in the middle.

" Then what is it? Are you that tired of seeing me and mom? Why couldn't you just wait one more day?! " I was crying. I couldn't hold back anymore. Tears freely streamed down my face, but I couldn't care less. I have thought about this many times over the years. I knew the only thing left for my parents was to separate. I wondered how I would feel and react to it all. I never realized the full extent of this pain. I thought that I had accepted they would one day not be together, but now that it's happening I don't want to accept it.

I seriously wished I was the girl from 16 wishes. I would wish my parents to be eternally in love and happily married. That only happens in movies. Reality is more complicated than that.

" I am sorry, sweetheart. I am so sorry. It was inconsiderate of me. Please will you forgive me," he begged, looking at me regretfully. Before I could say anything, someone entered the house without even knocking. In front of us appeared a lady who was pregnant. My father bolted out of his seat and went over to the unknown lady.

" Sandra, what are you doing here?" my father asked her while looking back at me. I just started at them both without a word.

" I was worried about you. You were taking time and I thought maybe you changed your mind about the divorce." My father held her delicate hands and shook his head.

" No, I didn't. I was busy trying to explain it all to my daughter." The woman looked relieved to hear that. I suddenly felt like I was invisible. Like I was nothing and I didn't matter.

Then I realized what was going on. This woman is my father's new partner, and she was pregnant and with his baby. She was the reason my mother was crying, and her marriage was broken. I knew that was not the truth, but I chose to use it that way so that I could justify my anger.

I stood up from my seat and started laughing like a person about to lose their marbles. I gained their attention.

" So this is it, huh? This is the reason you want a divorce. You knocked a tramp and know you are dumping your old family to play family with a new one?" I spat venomously. My father's face was overcome with shock and the woman called Sara glared at me.

" Hey, you. Who are you calling a tramp? Have you no respect?" She pointed a finger at me.

" Where was your respect when you came in between two people and broke their marriage? You even ran over here to see how your evil plan worked out. Who else here looks like a tramp? You home-wreaking bitch!" I yelled at her, taking out my frustration. Before I could realize it, a slap landed on my cheek, making my head turn sharply. I noticed that I was bleeding because of the metallic taste in my mouth. For a moment, I was shocked, but I quickly recovered from that shock. I swiped the blood off my bottom lip and scoffed incredulously.

He hit me. That's when I realized that the very first time my father struck me was because I insulted his mistress. At that moment, I hated him and lost all my love and respect for him. I would never look at him the same again.

I straightened back and looked at him. He was consumed with anger and barely holding himself back. I bet if I was not his daughter he would have done much worse and all for what? That shameless woman? I can't believe it.

" While you are there, why don't you hit the other side as well." I turned to offer my other cheek. I waited but nothing happened.

" Why are you suddenly holding back? Come on hit me. Hit me for that tramp! Do it!" I screamed at him.

"What is going on here?" I heard my mother's voice behind me. I turned to look at her, and she gasped in panic at my condition. She rushed towards me and touched my face.

" Brie, what happened to you?" She looked at my father, and it seemed to click in her mind.

" You laid a hand on daughter Bryan?" she asked him in disbelief. He snapped out of it and looked, sorry. Before he could say a word, my mom slapped him, and he staggered back because of the force. She was shaking with anger and looked like a lioness protecting her cub. I was surprised by her behavior.

" Honey!" Sandra shrieks and runs over to him.

" You see my love. Both of them don't love you. They are ganging up on you and insulting me. Let's just go away from here already. This place and these people are not good for the baby.

" Bryan, I have tolerated everything you put me through all these years. You have hurt me and this family enough! Enough already. You even allowed this woman to enter this house and disrespect us. Both of you have no shame, but I will not allow you to lay a hand on my child, never!"

I went over to the table and picked up the cake. I harshly blew out the candles. I grabbed a big chunk of it and threw it at Sandra's face. She squealed, almost falling over, but my father caught her. That wasn't enough. I didn't stop throwing the cake at them both. Both of them were covered with my birthday cake. Even that sight of them wasn't satisfying.

" Thank you, father, for the birthday surprise," I said, referring to everything that had happened so far, including pregnant Sandra.

" For that, allow me to congratulate you on your new life with your new family. Thank you for putting up with me for 16 years. I will remember everything and I will hate you for the rest of my life."

I walked past them and out of the house in tears. The only place I could think of going was Anthony's place. I didn't go home that night and his parents were understanding enough and allowed me to sleep in the guest room. One thing was for sure. Things will never be the same again. I swore to never forgive that man. My father was as good as dead to me.