"Sometimes a pinch of sadism is the ingredient that makes victory taste that little bit sweeter."
-Andrea Pirlo
The next morning I woke up, the sunlight kissing my face.
I got out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom.
I washed the sheets and gave them to one of the maids to dry.
As soon as she saw the sheets, she gave me a look of concern.
I smiled sadly.
"Don't bother Melia, that concern gives me hope. I don't need hope right now."
With that being said, I headed upstairs to get ready for school.
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I combed my hair first before putting my uniform on.
My hair was a bit damp so I added the curl activator and some hairspray, teasing it with the afro comb.
I wore stockings and black heels.
I took one look in the mirror and beamed.
Gorgeous as always.
I added a sunflower brooch to my shirt and put sunflower hairpins so that it looked like I had a bunch of the flowers in my hair.
I twirled.
Queen, as always.
Grabbing my handbag, I headed downstairs to have breakfast.
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"Good morning disgrace," taunted my brother.
I held back a laugh at how ridiculous he looked in that tuxedo. He wore it every day, even to school. His parents justified it by saying he was channeling his inner musician.
Personally, the only thing he was channeling was a longing for Emperor penguins.
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"James, please. Mind your language. She's still your sister," said the birth-giver, sounding anything but strict.
She looked impeccable, dressed in a blood-red dress, her hair done in an up-do. Her gold jewelry only accentuated her features. She needed no make-up.
Still did not change the fact that she was a monster inside, but oh well.
"Yes James, she may be a disgraceful beast, but she's still allegedly our biological sister," said my sister, sipping on her coffee.
I may be a beast, but at least I'm one that isn't blander than the food they cook in the hospital. Besides, which sensible doctor wears their coat to breakfast?
"Now Kate, that wasn't very nice," tutted my sperm-giver, hiding his pleasure at his prodigy. His daughter.
Kate.
What a bland name.
I pretended not to hear them.
"My my, aren't we happy this lovely morning? I guess I'm thankful that you're all so gosh-darned toxic," I spat, with a serene smile on my face.
"I believe Mother did not discipline you enough," said Kate.
I laughed.
"I daresay Richard didn't dick you enough," I retorted.
She looked downright mortified.
I guess she's wondering how I knew she slept with the owner of the hospital she works in. A married man he was.
And now she was the Superintendent of the hospital. Guess her sugar daddy couldn't make her admin without raising a few brows.
"You scandalous child! Slandering your sister like that, have you no shame?" asked the sperm giver.
I laughed at him.
What a joke.
"Shame is a personal emotion, so I guess you must be versed in rhetorics," I replied, eating my toast.
"She's the most shameless girl I've ever met Father," said James.
"No worries, you'll meet more. But I'm guessing it isn't girls you'd like to meet."
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
James was a closeted gay and he knew that if he revealed that fact to his beloved "Mother and Father", they'd disown him.
I made it my business to know my "family's business". The only thing that tied them was their hatred for me.
"A family that hates together..." or did I misquote?
But underneath all of that, all of them had some dirty secrets. Secrets that once unveiled, would destroy them in an instant.
I could've done that. Destroy them.
But to do it at once would be boring.
So I watch the colour drain from their faces and delight in their temporary change of tone.
The secrets were as follows:
1. Kate is having an affair with the owner of the hospital she works in.
2. James is a closeted gay, a bottom to be exact.
3. The sperm-giver has been stealing money from the birth giver's company.
4. The birth giver sells drugs at the country club and is addicted to them herself.
And I had proof on a single disk drive that I wore on my finger.
At any given time I could expose the bastards.
But the weak part of me longed for the day that they'd love and accept me.
Alas, I had a role to play. The disappointment.
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When breakfast was finished, I stayed back to help wash the dishes.
Washing clothes and dishes were the only things I delighted in doing.
I made it a rule to learn the other chores from the maids.
The cook was scared of me.
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When I finally got outside, my tormentors were leaving in the family car.
Together.
As one.
In love and unity.
Sometimes I wonder what it'd be like to be there, laughing and smiling with them.
That isn't for a beast like you, Octavia.
I smiled as I remembered what today was.
Fresh victims will arrive today.
Humming happily, I skipped over to my car and sped out the yard.
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So another chapter.
We're slowly getting to know Octavia.
A big shoutout to my friends who read and gas me up.
A fact about me: My favourite colour is royal blue.
