TEACH ME NOT 2 HATE LOVE

70

👧 Tajea POV 👧

So, it happens that dad got fired from his job. I'm not entirely sure, but I heard rumors in town that he was caught stealing with some of his friends. And it seemed to be the truth, based on dad's action and attitude about it. Not even Mom dared to ask about it.

Anyway, with my dad being unemployed, I had to fill in the gaps. Shoulder all the responsibilities. The bills. Food everything. Sometimes I could barely do it all, but I managed. I had to take on another job and do some overtime on top of overtime.

While my dad sits at home and drinks himself to wreck, and my brother continues to be a lazy ass. And every time I complain, girl gets slapped and scolded by her drunken dad. And I'm sure you've all heard of the saying. The last straw that broke the camel's back. Well, that's what happened one night. A night that I'll never forget.

Now you all remember that I told you I was saving earlier to further my education. Well, this bastard of a brother of mine, along with my deadbeat drunk dad, had better plans for it, it seems. These two sons of b*tches took every dollar I worked so damn hard to save and did sh*t with it.

I've sacrificed so much, and it was all for nothing. And when girl gets upset about it, she gets insulted. Plus, an unexpected hit with a bottle to the side of the head by her drunken dad. Girl was literally seeing stars. And it didn't stop there. Girl got a few more face hits and kicks too.

But I wasn't some pushover like my mama. I wasn't going to lay there and let a man, father, or not beat the crap out of me like some punching bag.

It felt like I was possessed when I started throwing beer bottles at my dad, screaming like a crazy person. Bursting his head and face even. Theo made the mistake of getting in my way, assaulting me, and so I stabbed him a few times with an ice pick, almost killing the bastard.

I know I should feel bad about this. They are my family. My blood. But they force me to hurt them so bad.

That day, mom disowned me. Ran me out of town. But that didn't hurt me as much as seeing the hurt and disappointment in her eyes caused by me. It haunts me up to today.

Anyway, that's how I ended up here in Orion City. There, I met up with Regina, my childhood friend. She helped me out a lot, as you all know.

Of course, she knew about all that since I told her. Which is why I don't understand why she brought this sh*t here.

"Hello, Taj," Theo greeted. He was smiling even, as if we were old pals. B*tch please.

"Regina, what is this trash doing in my house?" Did you have to ask? Of course, I'm mad at her. For real. For the first time.

"Girl, just hear him out," Regina pleaded.

"I'm not interested to hear what this scumbag has to say," I roared.

"Mom wishes to meet with you," Theo said.

"What did you say?" I uttered in disbelief, tears in my eyes. Despite what happened between us, I still love her. Even though she chose them over me, she loved them more than me. "Don't BS me. If she wants to see me so badly, why didn't she come here herself? Why did she send you—the person I hated more than anything in this world? It's because of you."

"I know, Taj. And I am sorry," he interrupted.

"Well, I'm not sorry I stabbed you. You deserved every one."

He laughed, then sighed. "We are staying at the Orion's Hotel. Mom, Dad, Tajray, and Tayson. Tayson is getting married there two days from now. You should come."

"Why should I? I wasn't invited. And even with an invitation, I still would not go."

"I see you are still as stubborn as a mule," Theo said.

"And you are a scumbag."

"Was a scumbag," he corrected. "But things change now. I'm now in the military. I've been married for the past five years with two kids who would like to meet their aunt someday."

"Are you joking?" I scoffed. "You think saying all that would make everything OK? Because everything is not OK."

"I don't. But so many years have passed since we saw each other. Hate each other. But being in the military and surviving war taught me many things. One of them is that life is too precious and short to be in malice with the people you love."

"Well, let me live my short and precious life in peace. Thank you."

"Alright, I will," he said sadly. But who cares about how he feels? "But we will be leaving after the wedding."

"Why are you telling me that?"

"Would you just stop acting like a child?" Theo got impatient and shouted at me.

"Taj, don't." Regina tried to stop me, but it was too late. I started throwing my things at Theo (ornaments, chair, TV remote, shoes) like a damn mad person. And he barely manages to dodge some and get hit by the others.

"How is that for childish?" I even tossed the TV at him, which missed him by a few inches. "Now get the f**k out!"

"Taj!" Regina shouted, disappointed in my behavior. That's her problem. She shouldn't have brought him here.

"You too! Both of you get out right now. Before I burned this sh*t down with all of us." You could hear my foot bash into the floor as I headed to my room. Slamming the door. And I cried like an idiot. Why am I even crying? I want to see my family again, but I just can't forgive them for what they did. Forgive myself for what I did. This is stupid.