The Republic of ARMY

5. Mother's Intelligence

My father left the table as soon as he declared me a failure, as usual. I started to figure out that maybe he never really gained weight because of all the storming out he did during meal times whenever he declared my endeavours a failure.

"Fine!"

"If dad says mum is stupid, then where did I get my intelligence from?" Nick asked in a low whisper that we all heard. I figure my dad heard it too, because his shoulders seemed to slouch a little bit at Nick's innocent question.

See, my mum was an up and coming genius with computers before she married my dad. She was one of those child geniuses who got scholarships to study outside Kenya, and so she left when she was fourteen to go study at MIT. When she was in her last year of school, she started working fulltime as a civil engineer.

Her brain was unmatched.

She was not only bright, but also worked hard for her dreams. That was not very common amongst girls her age.

When she met my dad, she immediately fell for him. Due to her skinny body, he immediately assumed she was still in college. He was in Michigan for a business convention and he saw her on the venue grounds.

She was an adorable intern to him.

Her wide, doe eyes just caught his attention and he couldn't look away. It wasn't until much later that he found out that she was actually a graduate and one of the best civil engineers in Michigan. She was even about to open her own company when he proposed.

She moved back to Kenya, and since my father was filthy rich, she dedicated her time to being a good wife. She gave it all up. Just like that.

That was something I would never do.

Maybe that was why my father kept telling me I was a failure. Probably because my mum failed to pursue her dreams after they became an item. My mum was a romantic and would do anything for love.

I never understood why my dad became especially mean to her after I turned six. She had already given birth to Nick. He was declared a genius just a few years later when he was in kindergarten.

"That was disrespectful. I am going to get him to apologize!" I said, getting up and almost upsetting the table in the process.

"Raina stop!"

"This is abusive!" I shouted, clearly agitated. "Mum! You don't have to stay with him! Yes, he might be filthy rich, but you were richer than him at some point, weren't you?!"

"Raina-"

"He isn't good for you!"

"Raina!"

I sat back as mum rubbed my hand comfortingly. "Mum, you know that I like be you with all my heart. So I will keep saying this. We are all grown up. Nick will be going to your alumni soon. I have a stable job. Ryan will probably be an honest man soon... You don't need to be with a man who abuses you in his spare time. When was the last time he did something for you? He only does things for publicity!"

"Raina, we should probably go to bed," Nock said, suddenly seeming more mature than I had ever seen him be. "And mum, she is right."

We all stared at the young genius who never had to study because of his photographic memory. Talk about good genes and he is the poster child for them. He was both handsome and brainy.

Is that even a word?

I settled down in my teenage room and turned off the lights. Despite counting sheep, listening to relaxing music, reading a novel and singing myself a lullaby, I still couldn't sleep.

Then my bedroom door slowly drew open and my mum's silhouette slipped in. I made space for her, and she gratefully sighed after getting in. Her arms went around me in comfort, and I rubbed her back as she sobbed quietly.

I let her cry quietly until she was calm. Then she spoke hesitantly.

"I have decided."

"Mum?"

"I'll support you with all of my heart."

"But-"

"If you ever decide to buy a place where you can get piece of mind, you need to let me know."

"But-"

"Raina, listen to me. You were my parents' favourite grandchild. They left property worth millions of dollars for you and your brothers. They knew your dad would probably cut you out of his will, so they left you and I an inheritance. The account is in Switzerland. If you say the word, we can just go."

I didn't know what to say. "Does dad know?"

"No. And he never will."

"You should go mum. You need a break. Once I leave with Ryan, and Nick goes to MIT, you should go on holiday and never come back."

She laughed before kissing my forehead. "You'll never understand grownups at this rate."

"But mum-"

"Good night sweetie," she said quietly, and held me until I dozed off to sleep.