His Precious Lies

11

Everything I did that night was wrong, starting with my pitiful meekness. It was eight o’clock in the morning when I got home to our house.

Yawning, she got out of the car. I was supposed to be out at six o’clock, but because they still needed me, they extended the time I had to go out. I found Mom in the living room reading a newspaper.

“Hi, baby,” mom greeted me. She hugs me tight.

My eyes widened when I looked at my mom. Even though it's new to me the way she acted, I did not prevent her from embracing me completely.

“Hi, mom”

“Dear, are you okay?” she asked me.

“No, I'm not okay, Mom. I'm tired. I want to take a nap.”

This is the first time that we had a conversation like this; this is also the first time that she asked me if I was okay, and this is the first time that I admitted how I really felt. Everything between me and my family is new to me, especially since we weren't like this before. In such a short period of time, it's like something new to me.

“Okay, okay. You should rest. I'll just send your food to the room.”

I nodded and went upstairs.

Furthermore, I remember last night again. I wasn’t ready that night. I didn't expect that to happen to me. I fell asleep crying that morning. I just woke up to someone's knock.

“Come in,” I said with my eyes closed.

“Dear, eat first,” said Terry to me.

I woke up, but I was still drowsy.

“Are you crying?” Terry asked me.

“N-No.” I lied in response to her.

“Then why are your eyes puffy?” Terry’s curiosity asked me, which caused me to bow to her.

I was so bitten that I bowed down. It's hard to lie to Terry.

“I'm hungry already.” I changed the subject.

“Liar!” Terry's eyes narrowed at me. Terry sat on the bed and then arranged the strands of my hair.

“I know, even if you don't tell me. You are tired and in pain right now. But it's okay; you'll get out of there too,” Terry told me seriously.

I sighed and looked up at Terry. “I don't know, Terry. It's like I want to give up.”

“Don't step on anything. Just fight. You have the Vergara blood. Vergara is probably my daughter!” Terry smiled at me.

I've known her ever since I was a kid. And she knows me well, too. But being a Vergara is not easy. You know why? Because when you have Vergara blood, you must be great at everything. Nevertheless, I’m not. I was trying to be one. However, it's hard to insist on something you can't reach. It's difficult to always chase time, to always want to prove something, and to wait for praise from them.

You must be perfect in their eyes; everything I do has to be in line with their eyesight. It's hard to be Vergara because you need to prove to them your efforts hourly, minute by minute, daily, monthly, or yearly. It's hard to be their child because you're always waiting for their compliments, even though you know it will never happen. Occasionally, I can't help but ask if they consider me a child? Or am I just an employee for them? For years, I have been submissive to them; only now have I felt a little hope—hope that one day they will also see my value as a child.