Unbridle

#1

I woke to the sound of my alarm buzzing, 6:00am. I cleaned up, looked at myself in the mirror, wore in my jeans and white blouse. After making sure I looked decent I went to the dinning room.
Everybody was already there, my grandmother was glaring at me when I came in and sat on my place. We are not supposed to eat yet because the hasn't arrived yet. The fine chair is deserved for my father, to his right sit his brother, on his left sit my mother, I sit near her. My grandmother sit opposite of my father. Clara (my uncle's daughter) sit opposite of me, her mother to her right. There is always this boring sitting order, which was really stupid.

When I sat, I smiled at Clara. She winked back. Grandmother cleared her trough noisly, right, you are not supposed to wink, smile or breathe in this obnoxious household .

Grandmother hated me and Clara a lot and the feeling is mutual. She don't like us because we have XX chromosomes when she was expecting XY chromosomes (Like it was our fault). I never believed in the existence of mythical creatures before, but now looking at my grandmother I believe that maybe witches do exist, and she is one of them. Not the one in Harry Potter but the one in Rapunzel story.

"why are you staring at me like that?" she asks me.
Without answering I looked away. She has a very bad nasal voice too. Clara smiles at me again.

A few minutes later, my father and uncle came to join us. We all stood up, it's a tradition. Only when they both sit, we can sit again.

My father greets "Good morning" and sat down. We bowed our head slightly and followed his suite. The food was of course delicious like always, bless the health of our helpers.

I looked at Clara, she's fidgeting. Tapping her fingers on the table.
She looks at her father, sighs "papa".
Her father looks at her but grandma was the first to respond "Clara, don't you know-".
My father interrupted her "mother".

He looks first at Clara then at me says "I know what is bothering you two. I got your results".

He continues "you both have passed with excellent grades like always" he looks at Clara and says "except this time Nala is first and you came in second". she beamed at me. I smiled back.

Papa was smiling too, I made him happy. I looked at mama. She glances at me with a small smile then continued to eat.

My smile fade automatically. I just know that this lady has given me birth. I was looked up by maids till I was 12. Then all my own. Mama only smiles at me when we each other here and there in the house, she also used to comment on my dress I wear that's all. Nothing much and if you ask me I don't even know her side of the family nor her. Like, what does she do in her free periods? Why are all her friends so nasty?

My uncle says "I am really proud of you both. Well done".
I looks at Clara. She is clenching her teeth.
Our parents are not what you call as 'best' they belongs in the category of 'worst'. I have already lost my appetite and saw Clara deep in thoughts, not eating.
Who can eat this early? But we do, because this is another one of stupid tradition we have to follow. Only in this family we have to follow the tradition of 90's (of course grandma's rules). I wonder if my grandma even know which century she is living in.

After breakfast I went to my room. Clara entered furiously "that's it, 'well done'?".
"what else do you expect from them?" I ask her.
"I don't know? maybe what's your future plan? Nala, this is not a normal family'.
"like I already don't know that" I sighed. She started pacing. Clara is really beautiful. She has pitch black straight chin length hair compared to my wavy long chestnut hair. She is lot taller than me, 5'8 to my 5'1.