"You did well," Isa praised when I sat on my chair.
I gestured to her with my hand and we both supressed our laugh when the teacher glared at us before starting her discussion. I shrugged my shoulders and Isa grinned at me.
I just did not expect to catch Rogie's stare at me. When our eyes met, he smiled at me. I hastily looked away.
I WAS tired, barely keeping up with my quick breaths as I ran my way back home. The sun had sank in the horizon and darkness enveloped every corners of the town. The faint light from inside the hut made my heart beat fast. I knew mother inside, preparing dinner for tonight.
I got home late that evening because I forgot time was running fast and that night was still early even after Christmas. It was a chilly February night.
But my brows knotted when I felt something was strange inside the hut. I smelt a faint scent lingering in the air. A man's perfume. Was someone been here?
Before I could call Mom, a figure appeared from the small kitchen door. A man. His face so familiar that my feet stayed rooted on the spot. How? Why?
"Sydnee," called Mom as she appeared from the kitchen's door. She stood beside him and took his hand. A small smile curved at the side of her lips. "Your father is back."
"But why?" I was more of a whisper than a question so I cleared my throat and said, "He's not welcome in this house."
A long silence passed between the three of us. Mom was scrutinizing at me while the man, my father, had looked away. Hurt flashed in his eyes but I did not let it soften me.
He was a criminal and he was the reason why my life and Mom's life became a mess, and will always be a mess. If only... if only ---
"Sydnee," father called. "Please let me explain."
"No." I shook my head. "We had survived without you. We had survived and we no longer need you," I spat.
His other hand clenched. But before he could utter another word, Mom took a step forward and slapped me across my cheek. I faced sideways and I fought my tears as they brimmed in my eyes. My cheek went numb and I swallowed the lump in my throat. I would not cry.
"Ungrateful child!" Mom spat. "He is your father! You don't have the right to talk to him like that!"
My body shuddered at her words. Dad held Mom's shoulder and faced me with a tired, pleading look. "It was an accusation, Sydnee. But I don't have the power to fight with a duke. They put me to prison because they were afraid that I will ---"
"Enough with your excuses, Dad." I faced both my parents with a blank expression. "Do you know how those students look at me at school? They made fun of me and they loved to bully me. They thought that I am also a criminal like you. And I endured those things, Dad. All because of you! You shouldn't ---"
Another slap and I stumbled back. I threw a horrified look at Mom and gently covered my bruised cheek.
Her eyes were dilated in anger and her breathe came in quick rose and fall of her shoulders. "Out," she said and pointed the door at my back. "Get out!"
"Hon," Dad interrupted.
But I did not want his words. I ran outside the small hut and back onto the highway. It was not long ago that I strode the same street going back home, but here I was, running to where my feet will bring me to.
My mind was racing with questions as my feet slowed until I walked the sideway. Did father escaped from prison? Did he bribe his way out? But he did not have the luxury to bribe someone nor to buy some expensive things... so why he came home with such expensive perfume, not to mention, his clothes were expensive too!
A body slammed against me that I lost my balance. Someone held my shoulder to help me find my balance, and when I did, I looked up to the man who helped me. A stranger.
"Look ahead," he said. His brows knotted.
"Sorry," I mumbled and walked passed him.
My eyes wandered the sorrounding. I was in a park. I took a step ahead and sat on a swing. No one was around the park. The big lights were on and the chilly air blew passed me. I shivered in the cold.
Not long after, I heard the sky rumbled like a heavy stone was rolled above. My heart beat fast and I stood up. But the rage in Mom's eyes stayed in my mind. I sat back on the swing and let my feet sway the swing gently.
And then the rain poured with unforgiving strength that soaked me in seconds. I sighed and looked at the big and heavy raindrops falling under the streetlight. After a few minutes, some water accumulated near the swing and other hollow spaces in soil around the park. I kept still, but when a lighting struck at the distance, I stood up and walked under the rain.
I hugged myself and looked around the place. I only noticed that the place was a residential area, but there was no waiting shed nearby. So I walked and walked under the rain. Cold wind passed by me. I kept my arms around my body and occasionally rubbed my palms against my arms.
My plan was to look for a waiting shed but as minutes passed by walking under the cold rain, my steps became small until I stopped in the middle of the rain, shivering because of too much cold.
I could not see clearly ahead because the rain blurred the images around and I must be delusional to see a car approaching me. The headlight shone right on my face so I had to cover my eyes with one hand and squinted them to see clearly.
It stopped before me and the driver's door opened. An umbrella popped overhead before a tall man stepped outside and closed the driver's door. Rain chattered on the car's roof.
The man walked towards me. Because the headlight was against my eyes, I could not see the man's face clearly. I only recognized him when he spoke louder than usual.