Rhythmic Hearts

; prelude

Tears were already forming in my eyes as soon as I saw my Dad shaking his head disapprovingly.

"What did you say, again?" He asked in a condescending tone.

My hands were trembling as I clasped them together. "I-I told Mom that you had an affair with—"

Suddenly, I was interrupted when I felt him slap my left cheek. I could feel my cheek burning as I touched it. The prickling sensation left me brimming with tears.

I can't believe my own father would actually do this to me.

"You," he pointed at me. "should really stop blabbering about nonsense things! You know what I hate about you the most? Your mouth! You're so talkative to the point that you even told your mother about my secret! Didn't I tell you to not share it with her? But hell, you even had the guts to say it right infront of her face! I wish I just never had a talkative daughter like you. You're such a disgrace, and you will always be a disgrace to everybody. You always bring disaster and nuisance to everyone just by blabbering. And that's the part what I hate the most." With his hurtful words, he then left me here crying.

Now, I want to hate myself too.

It took me several minutes to recover before I wiped my tears. I stood up with all my strength. And even though my heart was still aching, I took a deep breath, before I started to run.

I have to get back at our house. I need to go back for my Mom. I know that she's being a paranoid because it's already midnight and I just sneaked out of the house without her knowing. I need to comfort her, and tell her that everything's gonna be alright—I hope.

I was panting as soon as I got there. I didn't even had the strength to knock on the door, I just opened it and then I found my mother there, sitting at the couch with some luggage infront of her.

"I've been waiting for you," she said. It was obvious that she was mad at me just by the tone of her voice.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I just—"

"I already know it. I know that you told your father that I already knew his secret. He just called awhile ago. And thanks to you, he wants us to be divorced right now. As in right now. So I might as well be leaving this house. You must be grateful because from now on, you won't be seeing me anymore. I have always been a selfish mother, and I'm sorry for that. But thanks to you, I learned that my husband is actually cheating on me. Oh, how I wish I knew that earlier." I shook my head as I tried to prevent my tears from falling.

"Mom, don't leave me, please. You're wrong—you're not self—"

"Be a good daughter to your father, okay?" She then stood up while bringing her luggage with her.

I walked closer and hugged her while tears were streaming down from my face. "P-Please don't leave me, Mom. I love... you. Don't ever leave me, please..." I was grateful because she hugged me back, but as soon as she released me, she started to walk closer at the door, leaving me alone.

"N-No... no, please," I whispered and held her wrists. She shook her head while looking at me.

"You need to learn to live by yourself," I furrowed my brows as another tear dropped from my eye.

"But you know that I can't..." I whispered.

"I know that you can. You can, and you must. Take care of yourself, got that?" I didn't get to answer her because I couldn't speak clearly. I was crying my heart out.

"Mom.." I continued to follow her until a taxi stopped infront of our house.

"Mom! Don't leave me... please." I muttered, but she didn't turn her back.

She just went straight inside the car without even looking back at me.

I kept on crying, even though it was already raining. Soon, I was startled when I heard a loud beep.

The man got out of his car, and there I saw my Dad.

The corner of my lips lifted. I'm glad he came back for me.

"Dad!" I greeted and was about to hug him when he suddenly pushed me away from him.

I fell on the ground, and felt a pang on my chest.

"Don't you ever come near me. And don't you ever call me 'Dad' because from what I remember, I don't have any daughter." He sternly said.

I just watched him enter the house while tears were streaming down from my cheeks.

I continued to sit on the floor because I couldn't find any strength or courage to stand anymore. As soon as I saw him exit the house with some luggage with him, I felt a sharp pain shot through my chest.

"Don't think that I came here for you. I'm already leaving this useless house from now on, because you are a useless person and you deserve to live here just by yourself." I suddenly felt numb.

This is too much.

All that I could feel right now is sadness.

Sadness, sadness, and just sadness.

I saw my Dad carrying his luggage towards his car. But before he could even enter, he suddenly turned his back at me.

"Before I could even forget, just continue being a delusional girl and I suggest you to be more talkative. You know? So that you wouldn't just harm me and your mother, but also everyone else in the whole world."

I was just 11 years old when I felt so devastated.

And since then, I stopped talking.