Stop Yelling!

(AUTHOR'S POV)

“No, dad! I won’t marry him!”

Pah!

The slap rang in her ears before she felt it. Her right palm cradled her cheek, her feet shuffling back, goosebumps travelling up her neck in response of what would come next.

The hand rose again intending to come down harder on her face and she flinched, bending her head to hide her face but the pain never came.

“If you hit her, how are we supposed to explain to Edmond that his bride is damaged goods?”

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at the person that spoke, “Mum --”

“Swallow those tears. If you cry anymore, your face is going to be puffed and all red. You are an ugly crier, Ria.” The woman grabbed her, freshly manicured nails digging into Ria’s arms shoves her into a chair.

“No, mum, you don’t get it.” Ria turned to face her.

“What is it that I don’t get?” the woman was already on her phone texting fast.

“Dad’s saying that I have to get married in Racquel’s place.”

The woman looked at the man standing in the middle of the cramped bedroom, his nose flaring, eyes bulging and sighed, “Mark, I told you to break it to the girl gently.”

He scoffed in reply, “All she has to do is get to the altar and get married. How is that such a big deal?”

Ria’s mum turned to her, “See. Do not dismiss the kindness of your father. Everything has been planned out. All you have to do is get married.”

Ria shoot up and then fell back into the chair, her legs jelly as pain clawed its way up her throat.

She suddenly became very aware of the nail marks on her arm where her mother held her a minute ago.

One slapped her, the other marked her.

Both acted without restraint.

She shook her head vigorously, hoping it was another one of her family cruel jokes.

“That man is Edmond Cozen mum. You possibly can’t be thinking of pawning me off to him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. No one is pawning any one off.” Her mum said sharply, grabbing a brush and running it through Ria’s hair.

“Hmm, hair is wedding-ready. You were born with my mama’s hair. I always say that.”

“Mum!”

“Stop yelling!” Mark shouted.

Ria cowered in fright, her hands formed a closed fist in her lap powering her from completely breaking down.

“Mark” Ria’s mum called out gently.

“What, Eunice?!” He snaps.

“She acts like Edmond Cozen is a natural born devil. Raquel was excited to marry him!” he says.

“True.” Eunice shrugs and grabs a fistful of Ria’s hair, tugging on it to make Ria wince in pain at the full beautiful tresses in her hand.

“I always hated mother’s hair.” she muttered.

“Racquel was excited to be closer to his money. She chose it. I didn’t and I still don’t.” Ria said.

“Oh God!. On God, you’re the hardest kid to parent. Look at your siblings, they are perfect in every way.Racquel is a three time award winning champion and Rachel is the best in her gymnastics class. You, on the other hand …Eunice trailed off.

“She took after your mother.” Mark snides.

“And your great-aunt.” Eunice retorts immediately.

“Both terrible people.” she added shaking her head.

Eunice dumped Ria’s hair, leaving the soft tresses to form confused waves, “As your parents, we have failed you, so we have decided to help you out.”

She grabbed a piece of tissue and wiped her palm which held Ria’s hair down, chuckling softly to herself.

“I have a degree, but you won’t let me work. I have listened to you all my life. Please just allow me on this.”

“Stop squirrming. We are doing what’s best for you.” Eunice hit the middle of Ria’s head with the handle of the hairbrush.

Ria’s neck curled up from the sharp pain, “I’m not ---”

“Where’s the makeup artist and whatever? We have only fifteen minutes left.” Mark interrupted.

Eunice pinched Ria’s chin in her fingers, her nails causing Ria to scrunch her face, “Doesn’t matter. Your slap already added colour to her cheeks.”

Ria looked from her mother to her father and from her father to her mother. Her mind was grasping at straws for survival.

“Where is Racquel? If she wanted to marry Edmond so bad, where is she?”

“Your sister disappeared. You know wedding jitters and all?.” Eunice smiled.

“You have to take her place.”

“You could call her.”

“With that degree, I thought you’d be smart.”

“Idiots also study physics, my dear. I know someone in college who studied chemistry. Guess what he did after college?” Mark asked cackling.

“What?” Eunice joined him in laughing.

“A high school teacher. His pay is so terrible, he celebrated buying a car with fifty thousand miles on it.”

“What?” Eunice scrunched up her nose in disgust.

She turned to Ria, “See, we are saving you from a life like that. We are literally the world’s best parents! You should thank us.”

“That’s right. Ria said it herself when she gave us that printed mug, when she was like what five? twelve?”

“I was four.” Ria muttered, her heart dropping with every word from her parents mouth.

“I think I threw it out that same day. The idea was nice, but it was just so tacky.” Eunice shook her head.

“Gosh, we should have known she’d turn out to be like this.” She added.

“Irreedemably redundant?”

“I’ll leave the large words to you, darling.” Eunice struts over to Mark and gave him a peck, red lipstick appearing on his cheek as she pulled away.

Ding- ding!

The alarm on Mark phone rang out.

“It’s time for the wedding. Ensure she puts on the wedding dress.” Mark said to Eunice.

His hand made a move for the tissue box on the dressing table and Ria flinched.

Her mind was running faster than a racehorse. She should have run away from home yesterday, she should have never returned after her degree. Heck, can she run away now?

“But that’s what Jerry here is for.” Eunice puckered her red lips and motioned to the armed bodyguard standing at the open door of Ria’s room.

Ria sniffled. Running away now would not work. They will likely pack her in a bundle and throw her in front of the altar like that.

She placed her arm in the crook of Mark’s elbow, a cheerful smile on her lips, “Don’t be late to your own wedding, darling.”

Ria stared at her mum, a resigned look on her face, “Mum, I just want to live.”