Behind the mask

Chapter 7.

Khaya's POV

Walking down the stairs, I can hear muffled voices as I get closer to the kitchen "Can you go get your sister please." I hear Elizabeth ask someone in the room "No need." I say walking into the room "Morning." I add, and taking the next available seat next to Genesis. I can feel his stare trying to burn the questions in his head on the side of my face "You good?" I ask turning my face to look at him "Yeah, sorry." He quickly said looking away, luckily everyone else was too busy either cooking or talking to each other to notice Genises' weird behavior.

"Who broke the punching bag in the gym upstairs?" Joshua asked looking baffled "I saw Genises coming out of the gym last." Sabestian said, a shocked look mimicking that of everyone else in the room "That wasn't me-" He tried to defend "You and Khaya were the only ones to use the gym this morning..." Dimitree says looking between us "Khaya doesn't look like she could break a brand new punching bag like that within just a few hours." Sabestian says making Genises' mouth fall open in shock "and what makes you think that?" I ask with a smirk on my face "Your build is too small to accomplish something like that." He says, which in turn makes me almost laugh "Really? I didn't know you were an expert." I say and start laughing, not being able to contain it "Unbeknownst to you, your mom is the best fighter in this room. Even though her build is small too, if she really wanted to, she could tear a punching bag like that too." Joshua says, shocking everyone in the room once again, excluding myself and Elizabeth

"So you broke it?" Dimitree asked, disbelief clear as day on his face "Yes, I'll replace it-" I say hut get cut off by Elizabeth "Nonsense, we have back ups incase anything happens to the ones in use." She says placing a pancake on top of the stack that she made "Uhh, ok." I say shrugging and looking at the still shocked people in front of me "What?" I ask snapping them out of whatever trans they were in "Don't mind them, they're just shocked you, their younger sister, could tear a punching bag in half and they can't." Joshua says laughing "That's mainly because we spend at most 30 minutes on the punching bag for warm ups before sparing with each other. I don't know how long she was at it before I got to the gym." Genises defends

"How long were even going to go at it?" He continues to ask "Until the timer ran out, and i was only going to use the punching bag for 35 minutes. You do remember my phone going off after the bag broke right?" I ask getting up to help Elizabeth set the food on the table along with Joshua and getting a thank you from her "... you broke the punching bag within 35 minutes!?" He questioned after a while of everyone's stunned silence "You could say that." I answered "But you left right after. Weren't you going to do anything else?" He asks "Well yeah, I was going to use the elliptical trainer for 25 minutes and then spend another 25 minutes with the barbells, but I was too embarrassed that I didn't notice you were there and left." I responded, sitting down again after all the food was sat on the table "What was there to be embarrassed about?" Dimitree asks this time, but I just shrug not knowing how to answer that question.

"Anyway, you boys should finish your breakfast, it's already 7:15 so hurry up." Elizabeth pipes up this time as it was a Friday, Genises had to go to school while Joshua, Dimitree and Sebastian had to go to work. "You and I could go shopping if you'd like?" Elizabeth says again looking at me "Sure, why not. I need a few things anyway." I respond putting a piece pancake into my mouth. Wow Elizabeth is a great cook "How's your hands?" Sebastian speaks up for the first time since the punching bag conversation started. Why is he asking me that though? Doesn't he hate me? "It's fine." I give him a short answer not without noticing the glances thrown my and Sabestian's way "Uh, so Khaya I would like to go over a few rules that you have to follow." Joshua breaks the silence "Ok?" I question taking the last bite of my bacon and sitting up straight in my chair.

"1. No Smoking. Drinking is allowed, but in moderation and with either of us around.
2. No boys-" He's cut off by Elizabeth's glare, amusing me "I mean, if you're going to start a relationship with someone, you should introduce him or her to us." He corrects himself which gains a satisfied nod from Elizabeth. Clearing his throat, he continues
"3. Under no certimstances should you go down to the basement. We have a company that deals with weapons, so it is dangerous for you.
4. Tell us if you're going somewhere, along with an estimate time of when you'd be back and the location of your whereabouts.
5. No inappropriate clothing. I've seen the things girls your age wear and I do not want to see you dressing like that.
6. If there is a problem, tell us immediately.
And lastly, I've seem your grades to know that you don't need me to tell you to keep them up, but no fighting in or outside of school." He finishes now leaned back into his chair, at this I cross my right leg over my left leg and intertwine my fingers as if I'm in a business meeting. I've come to realize that asserting yourself makes you look more confident and garentees a high possibility of getting what you want "I will respect the first 3 rules,although if you invade my privacy, I won't respect your privacy. Additionally, I have a few problems with the rest." I say looking Joshua straight in the eye which shocks him, but he covers it up quickly.

He's about to speak, but I continue "Firstly I will tell you when I'll be going somewhere and when I'll be returning, but I won't always tell you where I will be going. I understand that you are concerned for my safety, but I can assure you that I can take care of myself. Secondly, you do not have the right to dictate what I wear and therefore cannot tell me what I can and can't wear. I will dress myself in whatever clothing I feel most comfortable and confident in. Lastly, I won't cause any trouble, but if I am provoked, I will fight back." I finish now crossing my arms over my chest "If you have any problems with what I've just said, then you'll have to live with it." I state, taking my plate and getting up from the chair, walking away to put my plate in the sink and walking out of the kitchen.

Ugh it's starting to hurt again. I should really get Amo to check if everything's still OK. I should start a new design to get my mind off of this, yeah I'll do that.

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