Deja Vu

           Nina's POV

I jerked backward and shook my head tremendously. It was a sign of my panic attack again. I was so weak and vulnerable. I was able to stand on my feet, but the moment I turned around to run away, Sandra pulled my hair, making my scalp hurt and sending a painful shiver over my body. 

"You wench! Don't even think of going to that job again because what is the essence? So..you have been slutty around with the thought that we wouldn't find out?" Sandra pulled my hair harder. I whimpered in extreme anguish and hurriedly moved closer to her to lessen the pain that was threatening to take my soul. 

My aunt hit my back with her leg and I fell on the floor again. Sandra took the opportunity to forcefully sit on my stomach as she hit me on my face. I cried out in pain until I couldn't take it anymore. I pushed her hard and she hit her head on the tiles. The look honed by both mother and daughter made my upcoming sufferings flash before me. I shifted away when my aunt moved closer to hit me. "I have the money and I will give it to you" I confessed and wiped away the blood from my broken nose. 

The two of them paused for a few seconds before Sandra smiled in excitement. She stood up while rubbing her butt. "I will let what you did slide for now. Firstly, how much is the money? You must show me the evidence that all the money in your bank account has been transferred" She muttered. 

I almost declined when my eyes met with that of my aunt's disdainful gaze on me. 

I bit my lips to stop myself from crying as I regret ever saving up all my money in my bank account, but I had a bit of hope that I would at least be able to take a cab to meet my Gabriel at the planned location with the change I used to buy as a gift for him. Being restricted from going out today is my biggest fear because I have looked up to spending my twenty-second birthday with my online crush. Sounds naive..but that is my only reliable person. Not any other person, not even my so-called family. 

I pulled out my now shattered screen phone from my pocket and transferred my life savings of fifty thousand dollars. My heart dropped the moment the alert of debit showed on my screen. I just hope something great is coming my way because this is the most depressing situation ever. 

"You saved a few thousand bucks. Mum! I bet she was saving up to buy up our properties. Only God knows how much penny she had been saving up to reach this amount. Well…this will be enough for two times shopping " Sandra chuckled while I whimpered in silence. 

I rushed towards my room as the tears gushed out of my eyes. Even though I will meet him later today, the only thing that occupied my mind was talking to him as he seems to be my stress reliever. He just knows the right words to say to me anytime I am feeling down. Our relationship has been three months now after he replied to my comment on an animation video. Gabriel refused to show me any of his pictures as he had none on his profile, and I tried not to put pressure as he always suggested we meet in person instead. 

I halted my steps the moment I heard my aunt yell after me "Lock yourself up, darling! But the next time you will be coming out make sure you clean the other parts of the living room. I will let you be since you need your isolation, after all my husband has restricted you from going out as of today!" 

I felt a Deja Vu as this feeling of suffocation reminded me of three years ago when my Aunt announced that I wouldn't be attending college to pursue my dreams of becoming a certified museum curator. Recalling that devastating emotion that threatened to eat me up made me drag myself to my aunt's front to beg for her mercy. "Aunt, please I have to go to my nearby part-time job to get my salary. I won't have access to the money if I am absent today" I pleaded, trying as much as possible not to sound untruthful. 

"Salary on the thirteenth of the month Nina?! You are not only a brat but a vicious liar." Aunt purposely hit her knee on my nose and I groaned in excruciating pain. 

I stared at Sandra for a contribution, but she was busy with her phone. "Aunt, please, that is the last penny I have. Bestow your mercy on me and allow me to go for just today even if it means I won't go anymore. Just today" I begged desperately as tears finally fell from my eyes. 

"Ok, that sounds a bit suspicious. Do you want to go for today and not any other day? Like you are quitting?" Sandra squinted her eyes at me as she bounced on the sofa. "By the way, Mum, why don't you want her to go? She is being useful to me today because of that silly job of hers." She pointed her query to her mother who grunted and eyed me in disgust. 

"Aren't you wondering why I ceased lamenting about your father's bankruptcy and got focused on her?" My Aunt questions as she grabs an apple from the center table. 

"Why?" 

"The moment she moved her disgusting self closer to me for a supposed comfort, my senses recalled that your father mentioned her as a solution to the problem, but he needs my consent to give a reply to Mr King. I was so devastated by the first mention of bankruptcy that I couldn't easily recall his last statement about her" My aunt explained making me crossover to a baffled situation. 

Oh no! Are they going to sell me?