Chapter Thirty Two

I had my journal in my hand, somehow I felt a new need to hold on to it everywhere I went. I was with Damien, though I was bruised all over, it was easy to hide the pain. Besides, I was used to being flogged.

We were talking about something that made me laugh so hard. It was actually a comedy skit we watched. I almost lost balance, my journal scattered on the ground. I was embarrassed, more embarrassed because the name "Annabelle Steele" was written boldly on its front page.

"Thank you."I said to Damien, who gentlemanly helped me pack it up. I didn't have to bend, I wasn't in popsocks and I was pretty self popsicks. I can't explain why.

"Annabelle Steele?"He questioned.

I was actually surprised, then I remembered who my mum was.

"I thought I was the only old school guy."He gushed. "Oh my God, you like her too. I have a book! I love her work."

My mum has a book?! Wow!

"Old school? It's not old school at all."

"It is. In someway. She probably wrote that book when I was a toddler, or yet to be born. She's a reporter, you know her, right?"

"I wouldn't have her name if I didn't. She's a reporter, yes, but I'm quite surprised. I didn't know she had a book."

"She does. It's not fiction though. It's basically a collection of her reports from Africa. Their wars, economic crises and pandemics."

"Oh..."

"What about you. What do you like about her?"

She's my mum!

"She..."I swallowed. "I found her name somewhere and I've read only one of her reports."

"Oh... I thought you were a fan..."

"You really like her?"

"My whole family loves her."Damien said. "She's the reason I joined the art department."

"Oh, little wonder. You really should have been a scientist. Your brain!" I laughed and he too.

"Where can I get her book? I'd love to read."

He shook his head. "I can assure you. You would get bored."

"What do you mean?!"I yelled at him.

"I swear it's not what you think!"He said playfully. "I'll get you a copy."

"Good."I was glad I would got her book.

"Are you going to tell me whose laptop you hacked?"

I had seen this coming.

"No."I sang.

"Why?"

"No. No. No."I sang. "You're not getting a word from me about that. Period."

"Please..."

I took a glance at my wristwatch, it was prep time already.

"Damien," I called.

He smiled.

"Exams are in two weeks."I said, changing the topic dramatically. "I'm going to fail."

"No. That's not true."He laughed.

"I'm serious. Do you think I'm smart? Or intelligent as you are?"

"You don't have to," he said. "I've seen your grades once. From your previous school..."

"Forget that!"I hissed."My mid-term scores, you saw them. Judge on that."

"Well, I believe you just didn't want to pass those tests. You were..."

"Damien!"I shunned him. "Listen to me, okay? I'm dumb. I swear, I can't study at home. You should know how I made it to the final year. Influence! And the way I am now, I'm sure I'd only be able to pass the language, because I'm English."

He was quiet for a while. 

"So..."He breathed out. "You need my help, huh?"

"Exactly!"

"You'll have to pay me one of these days, you know"he grinned.

"Jerk!"

We headed toward the library.

"You'll study with me. I can't study at home, on my own. It's... impossible."

"Okay mum"he teased. I punched him.

We took a seat at the library.

"I have a question I've been meaning to ask Paige." he said.

"Shoot."

"Your parents. What killed them?"

I tried to keep a straight face. I didn't want to spoil the moment by being unnecessarily emotional.

"I really do not know. I wasn't told."

"What was your mother like?"

Huh...

*

"Dad?" I joined my dad in his private living room. He looked surprised to see me and it's kind of understandable. I've never visited that place by my own will before.

"Paige? You bored?"He said.

I had two cups of popcorn in hand, I passed one to him and sat on the couch.

"Let's say I need to talk to you. I can fight with you forever, can I?"

"Hm. I'm listening." He packed up his laptop and crossed his legs.

"First, you were unreasonable on Saturday. You flogged me without telling me what I did."

"That's not enough reason to call me unreasonable. I'm still your father, Paige." he warned me.

"Well, sorry if you're hurt."I winced. "Will you tell me what I did?"

"You know what you did..."

"I didn't!"

"I saw you. You were in my study, weren't you?"

"I was. Do you have a problem with that?"

"You know the rules, Paige. You broke one of them."

"What rules? Your rules are endless and I'm not a machine."

"Don't you ever invade my space again. Period!"

"Huh, fine "I said. " That's not the reason I'm here. I want to talk about Mum. You said she was dead."

"And she is."

"Dad, how was she like?"

He was quiet. The same way I was when Damien asked me. 

"Are you going to answer me, dad?"

"No!"

I didn't bother to ask why.

"Do you know one, Annabelle Steele?"

"Isn't that your mum?"He arched his brow. "Where did you get all this information from?"

"Let's say, I searched my memory. Mum was a reporter, right?"

"Yes, she was. And she had stopped working before she died."

"You should tell me how she was? I'd cherish that memory at least."

He dropped the cup harshly on the table and frowned.

"I'm done talking with you Paige!"He yelled. "You should leave!"

"Dad!"I shrieked. "Why do you always get annoyed when I talk about my mother?! She's my mum for Christ's Sake!"

"And she was my wife!"

"Well, then, listen to me. I need to see my mother!"

"She's dead. Long dead!"

"What killed her?"

"Suicide!"He yelled. "I guess it's high time you knew how weak your mother was. She killed herself after the divorce!"

He was serious but something deep inside of me told me how perfect an actor he was. Lies...