Luxury In Adversity

CHAPTER 6

"Mummy, can I have a boyfriend?"

There was echoes of dropped cutleries clashing on plates, littered food on the floor and table following the dropped cutleries and some choking persons who couldn't swallow their food in time before the bomb. After everywhere had quieted, it was followed the awkward reactions of each member, of course, except baby Emmy who had innocently said what was on her mind. She didn't even notice the change in ambience after her question as she still busily tried to push a large chunk of her bread into her mouth so she'll finish quick.

Chris was flabbergasted at what he heard, coupled with the actions of everyone at the table, he was sure his little baby had actually asked about having a boyfriend. After he recovered slightly, he turned to see his wife already looking at him troubled.

"Where did she hear that from?" he mouthed quietly

"How would I know, ask her" she mouthed back. Clearing his throat, he braced himself to ask his daughter softly without scaring her.

"Baby, what did you say?" he asked hoping to get a negative answer even though he knew it was his wishful thinking

"I said, can I have a boyfriend?" she dropped her spoon to pick her boiled egg with her hand

"Ehmm" he scratched his head not knowing what next to say

"Swidy, who told you about having boyfriends?" her mum eased the awkwardness while helping her cut the egg to pieces so she'd use the spoon and not her hand.

"It's Sammy. He told Jade he's my boyfriend. I told him no, only my daddy is my boyfriend"

"Pff" Sam and John uncontrollably spit out their tea and started laughing.

"Hey, what's funny?" Emilia glared at them while her dad smiled lovingly at her.

"Baby, do you know what a boyfriend is?"

"Yes" she grinned toothlessly. "A friend that is a boy" she added. "That means you are my man friend..." she added after much thought "or daddy friend?" she got confused making everyone at the table laugh out loudly.

"Well, in a way, you are right. I am anything you want me to be for you" he smiled

"Okay then, you are my only boyfriend" she declared righteously

"And you promise you'll not replace me and I'll be your only boyfriend?"

"Yes, I promise" she nodded continuously

"Who is Sammy and Jade?" he asked

"My classmate and jade is his best friend" she replied honestly

"Then when he says something like that again, tell him your big boyfriend at home will beat him up at night and break off his arms and legs and destroy his face and make..."

"Ehem, time to go to school" Lydia kicked his leg from under the table to let him know his protectiveness was beginning to sound ruthless. He noticed his daughter looking at him open-mouthed

"Would you do that dad?" she sounded scared

"of course not, daddy lost track of what he said right?" Lydia picked up baby Emmy and turned so they'd both face Chris

"Yes, yes. Mummy is right" he smiled awkwardly and hurriedly left. "Let's go" he added while at the door. Baby Emmy looked at her daddy doubtfully and wrapped her tiny arms round her mummy's neck as if seeking for safety.

All this while the boys ate their breakfast, except for few episodes of laughter, they watched the drama quietly. There was this growing rage in them towards Sammy even though they knew he was a kid like their sister and unknown to them, this was the protective side every brother has towards their sister. The anger slipped into their appearance and prevailed throughout the day.

*****

"Hey, watch where you are going?" she shouted angrily at the boy who bumped her without apologising. He kept going without giving her face. Nobody has ever acted nonchalant towards her more so, an ordinary student. She was fuming and stalked towards him, dragged his shirt and turned him to face her. Due to being taken unaware, he couldn't stable his stamina and ended up falling towards her. She was not expecting such a reaction so with widened eye, she grabbed the nearest thing for support which turned out to be his shirt, hence they both fell shamefully with the girl falling on her back. To prevent himself from crushing her, he placed both his hands on the floor beside her head.

She was shocked at what she saw. Wasn't this Luke, the heartthrob of their school and for a minute, she was dazzled as she looked into his eyes but he had fury in his eyes.

Why won't he be angry. Firstly, he learnt that a small boy was hitting on his cute adorable sister and now this foolish girl bumped into him. At least he ignored her not wanting any form of dragged out apology as he knows he'd exaggerate it but still, she ran up to him. What for now?

"What are you looking at me like that for? Is that how much you want to get laid?" he sneered "Unfortunately, I don't like your type. Even if you throw yourself at me, I'd end up throwing you in the dumpster where you belong" he pushed himself up to walk off.

'What get laid? What's not my type? Who belongs to the trash?' After he got off her, her muddled head got cleared and she thought about all he just said and immediately became furious.

"Hey you". Luke halted but didn't turn. "What nonsense did you just sprout from that gutter of yours you call mouth. If you don't know what to say, then don't say nonsense. I'm not your type? Hmpph. Of course I'm not, my type is for people with much higher class than you so why would I want to throw myself at you to get laid. It's you that belong to the trash, infact you whole family belong to the trash. Your whole generation..."

"Such a clown. You talk too much. Look how you've embarrassed yourself in front of the whole school and you claim to have standard. Good luck with that" he smirked and walked off leaving the girl red from both anger and embarrassment. She was so angry she almost cried so she stormed off to the toilet to let out some steam. She's someone who gets angry easily and the talks till her heart is calm then her anger would dissipate but this guy didn't even allow her to talk and even made her feel embarrassed for talking. This was ridiculous. She felt wronged and tears easily slide down her cheeks.

After crying for a while, she looked into the mirror and saw the mess her face was. She looked for tissues in her bag and cleaned her face of the tear, snout and her initial makeup leaving her completely bare. Just then she remembered her dad saying she's very beautiful with her natural face causing her to smile.

"Of course, I have my dad who is the principal of this school, who dares to bully me. Luke Aaron, whatever your surname is, you might be the heartthrob of this school but I'll show you that I own this school. I have my dad to avenge me" she told herself and with a smirk, she redid her makeup and happily walked off to find her daddy.