Secrets

Chapter 1: Welcome Home

It's been two years since my father and sister left for Cambridge, Massachusetts. My sister got accepted to attend Harvard University and father took her. He said he would be back by a year but never did return. He let me live with my grandparents and I had no problem with it. I worry something happens to my father. I tried to call him many times but he never pick up or it would say it was switched off. Nana said it might be because he was busy. Then I try calling my sister, but it would say it was switched off. I assumed she might be busy with studies so I didn't bother calling her again.

One night I have a nightmare. It is about my sister. She is in a lot of pain and is crying her eyes out. I wake up and look around as if I was searching for something. My forehead is sweating and my body starts to shake. I went down to the kitchen and got myself a glass of water and gulp it down. Unconsciously, I took my phone with me. With the bad feeling in my gut, I call my sister. It was ringing for a long time and she didn't pick it up. I almost start crying. I try calling her again, however, this time it was cut off. I can feel something was not right and I told myself I was worrying too much.

Weeks later Nana told me father and big sister would come back home. I was overly excited and happy. I want to give them a warm welcome so I went to the store to get some balloons and party poppers. Nana said they will arrive in two days, on a Friday. It gave me plenty of time to plan the welcome party for my father and big sister.

Today is the day for father and sister's arrival. I decorate the house with balloons in all light and beautiful colors and give Nana and grandpa their own two party poppers. Minutes before their arrival I hide behind the couch and my grandparents hide behind the doors to the living room. The front door was left unlocked so we could hear when they arrive. 

Five minutes after we was hiding, the front door open with a kreeen.  I am excited and can't wait to hug big sister. The middle door that separates the front door and the living room open. My grandparents and I jump out from our hiding spots and pop the poppers and yell: "welcome back". However, midway in popping the party poppers, I saw my sister with a man beside her. She is holding a baby in her hands and look pregnant. I drop the poppers to the ground and stare at her. They didn't look happy, but they didn't look sad either. My big sister's eyes look so dead, they had no emotion in them. It was as if she was dead inside. I walked towards her but Nana stop me. She told me to go to my room. I nod sadly and look at big sister one last time before I run upstairs to my room. I close the door behind me and sit down on the bed. The gut feeling I felt for weeks had come true. My sister looks like she was in a lot of pain.

Sitting in my room made me thirsty after a while. I slowly open my room door and silently walk downstairs. I hear father yell at Nana. This made me stop. They were arguing because of father sound so angry. I lean closer in on the wall and eavesdrop.

"... I earned a lot of money using her" my father said proudly. "People are willing to give us a lot for letting her sleep with them"

It shocks me, but I wasn't sure who or what they were talking about. What he said shocks me I almost made an attempt to shriek. Nana replies to him and she sounds furious.

"How can you do such a cruel thin just to earn money!" she lowers her voice. "How can you sell her out like this?!". Nana almost starts to break down in tears.

"Is this why you never picked up the phone, son?" grandpa asks. "Because you were too busy selling her to other men?"

Father answers in a calm manner, "Yes"

I had forgotten why I came down until I start coughing. I quickly calm myself down before I walk in. I got a glimpse of my sister before I run into the kitchen. I walk up to the small white cooler and pick up a water bottle and close it. As I close it I jump when I saw the man father and my big sister brought back with them. He gave me a weird look then look at me from head to toe. I ignore it and turn around to walk back to my room.