Just Listen

Chapter 39

KP's POV

Five minutes hadn't passed and I was already back on Instagram, I stared at the picture that Angelo once took of me. It was a picture of my side profile. I remembered the day, back when we were happy, a ghost smile appeared on my face. My heart ached, why did things have to be this way? I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.

The sun's golden rays gently patted on my skin, romancing me into the reality of a new day. I sat up and stretched my limbs. The first thought that came into my mind was Angelo. I quickly rolled over on my side to grab my phone on the nightstand. I checked whether I was still tagged and, my heart sank, disappointed. What had I expected? It was what I had asked for in the first place. I sighed when I realized that he took down the picture without replying to my DM. Well, the least I could do was thank him for obliging, and I did as such with a heavy heart. It was better this way he and I would never be.

I got up and did my morning routine, getting ready for school; Only to realize that all of my essentials were back at my house. I groaned as I got dressed in whatever I found in the closet majority of the clothes were too small; Leading me to settle for shorts and a blouse. Walking out of my room, I Internally scolded Uncanny for not being ready to be my mother. I went downstairs, Aunt Veronica's radiant face greeted me. "Shouldn't you be on your way to school?"

"Shouldn't someone have thought of that?" I mocked, glaring in Uncanny's direction. She only responded with a grunt; as a reminder that we hated each other's guts. "Where is my father?"

"Oh, I also came to see him. He went to a doctor's appointment," replied Auntie.

I chuckled lightly, least impressed, "He went with who?"

"Relax, I called in one of my helpers to assist. They'll be back before you even know it," Uncanny smiled, sipping on her coffee.

"Excuse me, just who are you to my father? If he means the world to you, shouldn't you be by his side?"

Uncanny rolled her eyes, getting up to clean her used cup. She dried herself and took her handbag in one hand; the other was putting on her shades. She stood in front of me. I crossed my arms, admiring her scarlet suit pants, a blazer, a white bralette with nude heels. She had a taste for fashion; it suited her. I shook my daze off. "I have work to attend. If you are not happy, go and see your dad. Simple as that," she emphasized with her hands turning on her heels and heading for the door.

"You'll never be a family woman!" my voice came out strident.

"Just like I never asked to be a mother, yet here you are. Breakfast is in the oven," she sang as she closed the door behind her.

I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. Aunt Veronica wordlessly hugged me from behind, "Don't get yourself worked up, sweetie. She still has a lot to learn. Solitude made her think that she was invisible and that she doesn't need anyone. Give her time."

"How did Daddy fall in love with her Auntie? Just what does he see in her?" I croaked. It pained me to think that my father was still attracted to her. "We will only be a dysfunctional family. We have been a dysfunctional family."

"We won't be anymore," Daddy spoke.

I turned around to be greeted by my dad walking on his own two feet, except he was still limping. I couldn't help the smile that smeared on my face. I left my aunt and rushed to Daddy's side, embracing him in a tight hug. His arms always felt like home. I knew that I was safe with him, whether mentally or emotionally; he always kept me off harms way except for Uncanny. Auntie chuckled, walking towards us, "Nice to see you being all high and mighty, Mikey. You called for me?"

"Ah yes! Let's have a sit, shall we? You too, Kamilah, join us. Thank you, Max," he acknowledged the helper that took him to the doctor's office. The guy smiled and left us alone as we went to the lounge.

Daddy sat in front of Aunt Veronica and me. He gave me a weird vibe that whatever he wanted to say would not appease me in any way. "Listen, I wanted to tell you that with this trip to visit Uncanny's family, I want to ask for her hand in marriage..."

"WHAT!?" I stood up involuntarily.

"Kami,"

"No, dad. You can't be serious."

He sighed with a weak smile, "I am, sweetie. I want to make her officially mine. I wish you would not think the worst of her all the time."

I laughed hysterically, "Really? Do you want me not thinking the worst of the woman who abandoned me as a baby? The same woman who left you? Dad? Please." I covered my mouth as I went upstairs. He had to be kidding me. I would never let it happen. Uncanny won't marry him. Deep down, I feared that she would reject him and he would be heartbroken all over again.

Aunt Veronica sat next to Daddy. She looked at him with concern. "Are you sure about this, Michael?"

He nodded, "Then you have my blessing." She gave him a weak smile before hugging him. "I'll go check on her before I leave."

Minutes later, she knocked on my door. "Kamilah,"

"No, Aunt Veronica. He cannot marry her. If he does, he'll regret it for the rest of his life," I know that I sounded bitter, but Uncanny left a bitter taste in my mouth. How could I vouch for her when she never showed me any compassion?

"Kamilah, what if he doesn't? I've known Michael since we were born. I know him better than anyone as his twin sister. I know he loves your mother. Uncanny, on the other hand, is a diamond in the rough. Try to understand her, moreover that she was a victim of gender-based violence."

"She might as well have provoked him," I mumbled.

"Javan Rossi?" she whispered his name breathlessly. Then I remembered what Miss Tremayne Duke had told me. Her eyes were glossy; she was still in love with him.

I scooted closer to her, wiggling my eyebrows, "You know, I don't know much about you Auntie, Are you still hungover, Mr. Rossi? Why don't you go after him?"

Aunt Veronica gave me a sad smile. It must have hurt her than I had thought. "Sometimes, it is better to let sleeping dogs lie. Besides, I have other things keeping me busy. Such as work and my son."

"Your son? I didn't know you were married."

She smiled at me, kissing my forehead. A warm gesture my father never missed. "I'm not married, Kamilah. But, like your mother. I also had a child in my teens. He is about your age, younger even. His name is Vinyl. Fortunately for him, he took his father's last name-that I still struggle to pronounce," she giggled. "You see, Uncanny and I's beef goes deeper than her stealing a guy I liked. Vinyl was a product of a forbidden passion between me; and Uncanny's Uncle."

"Wtf!" my jaw dropped. Why was I surrounded by so much drama? It was my friend's first now within my own family! "So, you were in love with an older man?"

"Yes," she bit her lip. "And Vinyl was a product of that. Sometimes I believe Uncanny went after Javan as revenge for her Uncle being 'misled' by me. Honestly, I did love him at some point. Life has a way of making people suffer, and it took him away."

Damn. I didn't expect such a turnout of events. "You will meet Vinyl soon enough. Maybe, we will come with you to South Africa, and you will have a new best friend. I'm sure it hasn't been easy, considering that Lucrecia turned her back on you. By the way, you haven't told me what happened. Anyway, you'll tell me another day. I have to go now. Behave okay?" she kissed my forehead before rushing out. So, my aunt has a son who's younger than me. I lay on my back and tried to sleep when suddenly, the thought hit me. I sat up abruptly. Could the same Vinyl I met at the hospital be her son?