Secrets of the Solomons

8. Fiona:

*29 days prior to the homicide*

OOF. I just woke up and got a message from Mom to come home right now. I forgot it was almost time for the annual family dinner, and unfortunately, this dinner will be held at our house since we just moved in. It's basically like a housewarming party. It's so annoying. Attending these get-togethers makes me want to kill myself. Imagine hosting one of these. Oof, I would rather be dead six feet under the ground. Why do we have to prepare for these the day before? It's so annoying.

Just as I walk back into the house, I see my older brothers in the living room playing video games while my eldest brother is in the dining room talking with Dad.

Fortunately, my dad had already forgotten about me bunking school yesterday and had gone to another topic to lecture everyone about. My eldest brother wants to marry this girl. My dad has no problem, except she is not British. He wants to maintain the family bloodline, and my brother wants to marry the "love of my life". Funny. Last week, he found out she was using him for money and wanted to steal from my family, so he decided to put her in jail and then oofed her cause he felt very betrayed. Yes, he did exactly what you think he did. He killed her of course not by his hand but by bribing a guard. I feel bad for whoever his future wife is.

I do feel bad for him because his heart is probably "broken" and he will never find another girl like her, but then again, it was his fault for finding the wrong person to give his love to in the first place.

So now all day, my dad talks about how we shouldn't trust anyone so easily and be like my 'dumb' brother. Meanwhile, the said 'dumb' brother is earning millions a month from doing god knows what. He may easily trust anyone, but dumb is the last thing he can be called.

Brother's way with words has always been able to manipulate people into doing or feeling the stuff he wants them to.

Right after I go upstairs and take a shower, I come down to see my older sister, who just got back from her class. Mom brings food to the table, and we all sit down to eat.

We were all eating peacefully in pure pin-drop silence until my dad broke it by talking with me.

"When do your finals start? he says while eating his food.

"Next week."

"How are your preparations?"

"Good," I say, seeming unfazed by the fact that he will try to start an argument with anything I say. So I keep my answers short and to the point.

"Your birthday is when again?"

"In 4 days." I feel surprised by the fact he bought it up first.

"Your coming-of-age ceremony is going to be held. You're turning 18 soon. It's time for you to be responsible and mature. I don't want to hear about bunking any classes anymore or being tired. It's time for you to enter the real world."

I keep eating while he starts lecturing me about how this age is important for us. But we both know this is just his chance to show off the fact that he has another kid who's going to be successful. After I finish dinner, I get up to go to my room, and my mom tells me to prepare for tomorrow and come down at 6 p.m. to help her prepare food for tomorrow. I just nod silently and go to my room to prepare my outfit. All the members of the family are coming, so I have to wear something formal.

This day just keeps getting boring. I hope tomorrow brings some excitement or a change of pace. It would be nice to have something different to look forward to. But hope is dangerous to have when your annoying relatives are visiting. Time to listen to Spotify and vibe while I fix a dress for tomorrow.

(N.B: Author over here. Do you guys want to know what the characters look like? If yes comment below. And if you have any tips for me please do comment below as it would be very very helpful. Enjoy.)