Scarred Heart

Chapter 2

                         Lina's pov

Today was as busy as any other day. I woke up around 4 a.m. to prepare my dad’s clothing since he leaves for the office at 7 a.m. I prepared breakfast while washing the dishes that Krista left uncleaned after using almost five cooking utensils.

She should have at least cleaned some of them. Ugh! Why? Why? I am not only their abused child but also their overworked maid, or better yet, a slave without pay.

Can I truly complain? And why should I? I have a roof over my head and food to eat, although the portions are small. They give me new clothes, maybe after two or three years. When I am lucky, then Krista will have them slightly torn after she wears them. It's something to be grateful about.

“Are you done?” I hear Mom's voice behind me. "Yes, I am mom.” I received a very loud slap across my face.

“You refer to me as madam, not mom. Did you hear me? Me!, your mom? Don't ever call me that again. It's Madam to you.” My cheeks burned, and my eyes became teary from the sudden slap.

“Did you hear me?”

Yee…, yees.. "

Stop stammering, or you will get it from me,” she roared at me.

“Yes, Madam, ''.  I mastered the courage to respond. “Good, now finish preparing my husband's food, or you will answer to me. Hurry!''

I quickly hurried to make breakfast. She turned her back and left as her high-heeled shoes made a clicking sound.

Why?! Why is life so unfair to me? What great sin had I committed to suffer this much? to get such unfair treatment.

My tears became more and more intense. I cried bitterly with anguish, regret, and hurt all together. I screamed for help in my mind, begging someone to come to my rescue. But who would? A rejected, uneducated woman like me? Worse than a beggar.

I wish there was someone who could comfort me and tell me that everything was going to be okay, but who? everyone is busy with their lives. Ahh! It's so unfair. But what could I really do? I am as helpless as anyone else who may be in a worse situation than mine.

I wiped my tears. I didn't want Krista to see me, and worsen it. She finds great joy in my suffering, and I don't know why.

8 a.m. came,  I was relieved. Everyone would go to their respective areas of work as Krista would go to college. At least I would have time to breathe in peace as I did the laundry.

“Remove that smile from your ugly face.” I quickly relaxed my face. How did Mom see it? I mean, I wasn't smiling that much.

“Loidi maan krista” (Hi krista's mom) “Acin kerac” (I am fine) madam responded.

What's Nhial doing here? I thought I would be alone.

“Ahh, you thought I will leave you alone?. A thief can’t be trusted. Nhial is going to stay with you and make sure you don't steal anything or run away. You can; I am not stopping you, but I won't allow you to steal anything.”

“No, Madam. I would never steal anything. I don't need Mr. Nhial to look after me.” I tried to protest.

“Who told you he's looking after you? Do you really consider yourself that important?” She laughed mocking me. “I don't care about you; I am just looking out for myself; I don't even acknowledge you,” as expected from her. I tried to make her understand, but it was fruitless.

“I don't like him.” I was slapped again. She pulls my hair and throws punches at me.

“How dare you?! This is my house, and I will invite whoever I want. If you want to boss people, get your own house,  and do that. But not in my house. Am I clear?!

“Yes, madam,” I responded.

It wasn’t that I was bossy; it was the fact that, I didn't like his brother. I will never call him uncle, because of his ill behaviour.

The guy was a pervert, and could take advantage of a little girl if she was not aware. People like Nhial are the kind who shouldn't roam the streets freely , but should remain behind bars. I am saying this out of experience, and I don't want any other woman to experience what I have been through in his hands.

I found him several times looking at me in a sexual manner that creeped me out. The way he looks at my bosom, my ass and other intimate parts. I caught him several times watching me bathe, and that's why I keep my distance. He would touch me inappropriately each time he came around. So he doesn't come to look after the house, but comes to harass me.

I told madam, this, but she never listens, and I almost got thrown out. She called me awful names , and made me drop my complaints about her drunkard pervert brother.

“Achuil, it seems you're too soft on this girl. She has become so stubborn that she doesn't respect her elders anymore." Nhial chipped in on the conversation. “Maybe you should allow me to punish her , since it seems she needs a man to teach her a lesson." No!, no! She can’t agree.

“She's all yours,''madam said and left as her high heels made loud clicking sounds. I can't cry now. He can’t see me weak, or I will be in big trouble. He didn't even waste a second. He got near me and tried to touch me and I distanced myself from him.

“Don't be rude; get me a glass of water." I hurriedly made my way to the kitchen. I did my breath exercise and  came with a glass. I slightly bent to put it on the table, and he spanked me. He dared spank me. How dare he?

“Nhial, how dare you touch me?” To say I was angry was an understatement. I was pissed. How dare he touch me in that inappropriate manner?

“Lina, why are you pretending? I'm sure you wish for more.” He didn't finish saying such foul words before I slapped him, he was mad, but not as much as I was.

"Lina, did you just slap me?!” he asked angrily. I was ready for anything; he could hit me or slap me, but I won't allow him to disrespect me in such a manner. I was okay with him insulting me, but touching me was out of the question. I won't tolerate such behaviour, no matter how helpless I was.

“How dare you?! How dare you?! He continued shouting.

“What's going on? Mom had arrived, and I was about to explain.

“ This ill-mannered child just touched my balls. ” What?! What the actual hell? I was shocked. I touched what?  ME? when?!  how?!  I couldn't even find words to defend myself. “That's not true...”. I didn't even finish my words before I blacked out.

Note

Please don't be confused, Lina loves calling Krista's mom as mom because to her she is and desires motherly love that Achuil doesn't give her. Lina struggles a lot calling her Madam because Achuil prefers Lina call her Madam rather than mom. Lina still believes Achuil will take her as her daughter.