forbidden fruit//a.aretas

~Chapter 16~

3rd person

"It all started in my childhood home. In the countryside of Colombia."

Flashback

Jasmine, 6 years old pushed around some plantains on her plate. It was her least favorite food. Yet it seemed to be the only thing the 6 year old remembered having. Her father Andrés, owned a massive plantains plantation. And Jasmine found herself forced to eat what her mother made with the crop.

"It's best you eat before Papa returns. You know he doesn't like when you don't eat." says an older boy. Jasmine's brother, Alejandro. He was 12 at the time. Just beginning to get sucked into his father's business. And no. Not the Plantain business. That was just the coverup to appease the corrupt government.

"pero hermano mayor..." (but big brother) Jasmine mumbled. She didn't like the plantains. They were a constant reminder of her father's business and greed, that wielded cracks within the already broken family.

"Listen to your brother niña(little girl). You are well aware of what happens when you don't obey your father." A voice said emerging from living room. It was their mamá, Rosalyn. She was beautiful, and enraptured Andrés with her beauty. Though it wasn't enough to keep him from the cartel. She was the one who often tried fixing their broken home. But the cracks were too deep. To great to overcome. The door swings open to reveal another man. A young adult with unruly, thick, black curls. Jasmine's other brother Carlos. He was 19, the eldest of the Alvarez children. Already deep into the dealings of Andrés' work.

"Jasmine eat the fucking food on your plate. Papa is already on his way home with Diego. He's not in a good mood." Carlos yells angrily. Banging his fist on the table next to Jasmine. Who flinches a little.

"Carlos. Don't yell at your sister, she's just a child." Their mamá pleads. Carlos grumbles angrily under his breath, leaving for his bedroom.

"Carlos." Rosalyn yelled. Following after her eldest son. Jasmine looked down at her plate. Tears beginning to cloud her vision. She could only stare at the plantains on her plate and watch as they were soaked in tears. Alejandro looked at her sadly. He felt bad for his sister. Andrés was extremely hard on her. He made it very clear he didn't want a daughter. But Jasmine yearned for his attention and love that she saw her brothers receive.

Papa doesn't like tears  jasmine thought to herself. Vigorously wiping her eyes.

"¿Hay esa comida en tu plato?" (is that food on your plate) a low voice said from behind the two kids. He was so quiet that the kids didn't hear him come in. Jasmine felt her pulse quicken as she turned towards her Papa. Andrés glared at her with a hard look, eying the dried tears on her face. Then he looked at Alejandro, who couldn't meet his eyes.

"Go to your room Alejandro." Andrés spoke. Jasmine quickly turned in her seat, looking down at her plate. Alejandro looked down into Jasmine's pleading eyes. She didn't want to be left alone with her Papa.

"But-," Alejandro quickly shut his mouth when he saw the look In Andrés' eyes.

"Yes papa." And with that Alejandro disappeared up the steps. His retreating steps echoed in Jasmine's ears. She felt her fists get clammy, as the air seemed to thicken. The silence was loud. You could hear a pin drop.

In a flash, Andrés had Jasmine's hair in his grip. And he began dragging her. That's when the screams began.

"Daddy no! Please, I didn't mean it!" Jasmine screamed, as her Papa began dragging her to the basement door.