It was well past midnight when Selah finally got home. The streetlights cast long shadows as she quietly approached the front gate. Their yaya, Celia, had been waiting up for her, and as soon as Selah knocked, the gate creaked open.
“Good evening, yaya,” Selah whispered, hoping to slip inside without drawing too much attention. But the worry in Celia’s eyes told her that her plan had already failed.
“Selah, your parents have been waiting for you. They’re not happy,” Celia said softly, concern in her voice.
Selah’s stomach sank. She hadn’t realized how late it had gotten while she was out with Crielle and Aviona. They’d lost track of time, laughing and chatting at the mall, followed by a long dinner. She knew her parents would be upset, but she wasn’t prepared for the confrontation she was about to face.
As soon as she stepped into the living room, she spotted her mom, Loyden, and her dad, Charles, sitting on the couch. The tension in the room was palpable. Both of them looked tired and worried, but there was also a clear frustration on their faces.
“Selah,” her mom’s voice was sharp, though restrained, “do you know what time it is?”
Selah glanced at the clock—12:45 AM. Much later than she had intended.
“I know, I’m sorry,” Selah started, but her dad cut in.
“You didn’t tell us where you were going. You didn’t call, didn’t text. Do you know how worried we’ve been? Anything could’ve happened,” Charles said, her voice firm but clearly layered with concern.
Selah felt a mix of guilt and frustration well up inside her. She hadn’t meant to upset them, but she also felt suffocated lately. With everything focused on Silas, she just wanted some space. But she realized now that disappearing for hours wasn’t the right way to handle things.
“I just needed to get out,” Selah said, her voice quieter now. “I was with Crielle and Aviona, at the mall. We were just hanging out.”
“You needed to get out?” Loyden repeated, her brow furrowing as she stood up. “Selah, we understand you’ve been feeling neglected with Silas needing so much attention, but this coming home so late without telling us where you were it’s irresponsible. You didn’t even reply to our messages.”
Her dada crossed hee arms, looking at her sternly. “We’ve always trusted you, Selah. But tonight, you crossed a line. You could’ve at least let us know you were safe.”
Selah bit her lip, feeling the weight of their words. She knew they were right, but it was hard to explain the feelings she’d been carrying. “I wasn’t trying to worry you,” she said softly. “I just… I just needed some space. It’s been hard at home with everything being about Silas, and I didn’t want to be a burden.”
Her mom’s expression softened slightly, though she still looked upset. “You’re never a burden, Selah. We love you. But you can’t disappear like this. We’re a family, and we need to take care of each other, especially now.”
Charles stepped forward, placing a hand on Selah’s shoulder. “We know it’s been tough for you since Silas was born, but this isn’t the way to handle it. We’ll work on spending more time together, but you have to be responsible too.”
Just as Selah was about to turn and head to her room, the weight of everything she’d been holding inside for weeks, maybe even months, suddenly hit her. The disappointment in her parents' eyes, the sense of being ignored since Silas was born, and the overwhelming pressure of trying to balance it all it all bubbled to the surface. She couldn’t hold it in anymore.
Her feet froze, and she turned back to face her parents, her eyes welling up with tears. “You think I don’t understand that I should’ve let you know where I was, that I came home too late?” she said, her voice trembling. “But do you even understand what I’ve been feeling? Ever since Silas was born, I don’t exist anymore. It’s always about him, his needs, his care. And I get it, he’s a baby, but I feel like I don’t matter to you anymore.”
Loyden and Charles were taken aback by the outburst, their expressions shifting from anger to shock. Loyden stepped forward, but Selah continued before she could say anything.
“I know you love me, I’m not saying you don’t. But you’ve been so focused on Silas that it’s like I’m invisible. I try to help, I try to stay out of the way, but I’m still here. And it hurts so much that I have to beg for your attention now.”
Her voice cracked, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to get the words out. “Tonight wasn’t about being irresponsible or rebellious. I just wanted to feel like myself again. I wanted to be with people who notice me, who actually talk to me without always mentioning the baby.”
Selah’s sobs grew louder, and her mom, now in tears herself, rushed over to embrace her, but Selah pulled away, needing to say what was on her mind.
“And I’m trying, I really am. I love Silas, I do, but I can’t help feeling like you’ve pushed me aside. I’m alone in this house, even when you’re here.”
Charles’ eyes were filled with regret as she looked at her daughter, realizing how much she had been struggling. “Selah… we never meant to make you feel that way. We just thought—”
“You thought I was okay,” Selah interrupted, wiping at her face. “But I’m not. I’m hurting. And I don’t know how much longer I can pretend everything’s fine. I’m not fine.”
Her mom reached for her again, this time pulling her close despite Selah’s initial resistance. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Loyden whispered, her own tears falling. “We didn’t realize how much you were hurting. We should’ve been paying more attention, and I’m so sorry we made you feel this way.”
Charles, now standing beside them, gently stroked Selah’s back. “We never wanted you to feel invisible. We’re so sorry, Selah. You’re our daughter, and we love you. We should’ve seen it. We should’ve been there for you.”
Selah cried harder in her mother’s arms, finally letting out all the pain she had been carrying for so long. “I just want to feel like I’m still part of this family,” she whispered between sobs.
“You are, Selah,” Loyden said softly, holding her even tighter. “You always will be. We’ll do better. I promise.”
For the first time in what felt like forever, Selah felt like her parents finally understood her. The weight on her chest eased slightly, though the pain hadn’t completely disappeared. But in that moment, she knew she wasn’t alone anymore. Her voice had been heard.
YOU ARE READING
La Familià (Lim X Vergara Family) Au
Fanfictionwhen Selah (🐰) the daughter of Charles and loyden Vergara, she is an only child who grew up with a luxurious life but also grew up as a spoiled brat, a bully who likes to insult Others , she has everything and her life is almost perfect, but one da...
