2. My Stepbrother

Hyacinth

We left the reception. A man whom I didn’t know was driving a limousine to wherever he was taking us. Raven was resting on the reclined chair while I looked vulnerable in the other corner, watching the lights outside. I hugged myself, feeling cold. A phone rang and Raven pulled it out from his pocket and answered it. 

“Yes?” Raven sat up and reached his forehead. “Damn it. I’ll be there tomorrow. Please handle it.” He hung up. I quickly looked away as he chuckled and sat behind me. He snaked his arms around mine and shoved his face to my neck. “I'm Sorry that I didn’t pay attention to you. I was busy.” 

I ignore him. I need to. He will get tired and leave me be. 

“You haven’t eaten anything tonight, so a dinner in our house will be perfect.” 

“I’m not hungry.” 

“You are not. Stop pretending, Hyacinth. Your father just starved you. I just saved you from your family.” 

“What?” I creased my brows and turned to him. “Save me?” I pushed him. My blood just went up straight to my head.“You saved me? Fuck you! I never needed saving.” 

Raven tilted his head. 

“I will take your word for our honeymoon.” He casually leaned on the white leather seat. “For now, we need to eat.” 

He’s peeving me and I badly wanted to beat him up. 

“Just mind your own business. We might be married, but I will never be the wife you want.” 

“Too late for that.” 

We ended up in a mansion, probably a compound that seemed to be out of nowhere. It was far from other neighborhoods, just what I had dreamt of back then. I don’t know how Raven got this rich. But his mother was classy and rich that my father married. He was eighteen and I was fifteen. 

Eight years ago, when my mother died when I was ten. I was already disregarded by my father. During my whole childhood, I watched how my father bought things for my sister, while my mother, the mistress whom he had an affair with after his wife divorced him due to multiple affairs, was treated like a whore. 

I don’t know much… but I would like to think that he married my mother after his divorce so he could use her body. I would see her cry often with black marks on her body. She buys me things with my father’s money. She tried to please Rosie… we all tried. 

Moving on… my mother died unexpectedly and I was left alone. I suffered from a lot of humiliation from Rosie, and even her friends would play pranks on me. Almost every day, I came home with dirty clothes. 

I was in a middle school close to my junior high when I came home and saw a young man in a senior school uniform outside the door, smoking. I stopped and looked at him. He’s very handsome while smoking. But I only gave him a bored look at that time. 

He dropped the cigarette and stepped on it as he smiled at me charmingly. 

“Sorry,” He grinned. 

“Why are you smoking here?” 

“Well,” He shrugged and looked at me from head to toe. I tried hard not to react because he’d make fun of me. “Why are you dirty?” He finally asked as I looked at myself and my old shoes. I only kept quiet. I don’t have to explain myself. No one would believe me anyway. I headed inside just to find my father, Rosie, and another woman. Rosie was giggling while all arms with the woman. 

“Hyacinth! Why are you a mess?” My father exclaimed. Disappointment in his eyes and disgust. “Your new mom is here, go and change quickly.” He commanded. Damn, I hate that voice. 

When I reached my room, I quickly took a bath and the nanny who cared for me. Mrs. Nancy knocked on my door. She took my clothes as she sighed. 

“Is it Rosie again?” She asked but I never told her. “You have new clothes that Rosie chose for you, I don’t think that they’ll fit you…” 

“I won’t wear it,” I told her as I wrapped the towel around my hair. 

“Dinner will be ready in an hour, make sure to go downstairs.” 

I don't have an appetite to eat. Not even in front of their new family. I am sure that Rosie said things to them. They always believed her. I turned on the fan to dry off my hair as I cleaned up my backpack. An old one was almost like a rag but I could still use it. 

I was preparing my notebooks for my homework when a soft knock interrupted me. I looked at the door as the door gently opened. A woman from before, with short blonde hair and green eyes, pushed the door wide open. She was wearing a white elegant dress and her smile was beautiful. 

“Can I come in?” 

I was silent for a while but she entered as she closed the door. 

“I am your father’s new wife. My name is Darcy.” She sat down at the edge of the bed with a little soft sigh. “I know thatit was too sudden, but I hope to be friends with you first. I don’t want to push on acting as your mother.” 

“It doesn’t matter to me,” I utter. “I don’t complain to my father. I don’t care who he marries.” 

“Your name is beautiful. Hyacinth, right?”

I nodded. I tried not to think that she was an evil stepmother. Or one of Rosie’s new puppets. 

“So, darling. I don’t know what happened to school, but I’ll make sure to keep an eye on you and keep you safe.” 

I was surprised… probably taken aback by her words. I don’t know why but why is she saying this? 

“Why? We don’t know each other.” 

“I know a bully when I see one.” She tilted her head with a charming smile. “Oh, my son. Maybe you met him?” 

“You have a son?” I was surprised. Maybe he’s so young as a child? 

“Yes, from my first husband.” She added. 

“Oh, I see.” I had thought that her son might be the one smoking outside. “Your son was smoking outside?” 

Darcy chuckled as she nodded. 

“Well, that boy needs a scolding. Thank you for telling me that.” 

I bit my lip. I shouldn't have said that. I will be in trouble. Damn, this mouth. 

“Is he in trouble?” I feel guilty for saying it. 

“No, darling.” She grinned as she probably saw the panic in my face. “Raven is old enough. He just has to retake a few subjects that he failed so he can graduate. He got into a lot of trouble, but he’s kind. I assure you that. Now, let’s go downstairs for dinner.” 

I shook my head. I feel guilty for telling them that her son was smoking and I don’t want to see Rosie. 

“I’m not hungry.” 

“Well, at least eat something.” She tried to convince me. But I am indeed hungry. “Come, eat something.” She took my hand as I followed her. 

Downstairs at the dining table, Rosie is dressed beautifully while the guy named Raven casually wears a white t-shirt as Darcy makes me sit next to him. The guy looked at me and I could see it in my peripheral vision. 

Rosie called Raven’s attention and they were chatting over the table. But I was curious as to why he spoke to her casually and in a monotonous way. 

“Are you a sophomore?” Raven turned to me. I was puzzled but when I looked at him, I nodded. “What’s your name again?” 

“Hyacinth,” I mumbled. He took another steak and placed it on my plate. 

“Hya, you need to eat more. You are so thin.” 

“I~~I’m good,” I mumbled but he only winked to insist that I eat. I don’t have a choice but to finish another slice of the steak. I had never eaten like this before. 

The dinner was somehow… just great. Rosie shone as always and Samuel told Darcy that his daughter Rosie was always on top of the class. She’s also the captain of the cheerleading team. But he didn’t know that Rosie bullied nerds too andcheated on her exams and other homework. 

I was mostly quiet over dinner and the dessert came. I was waiting for it. Mostly Rosie told me that I was too fat to eat dessert so I never wanted to be embarrassed again. I excused myself quickly as I headed to the garden. I felt so full and I started wandering around, hoping that I could graduate sooner. 

“Your sister is a liar, isn’t she?” I was startled by the voice as I turned my head at Raven. He handed out a dessert from dinner since he was holding both in his hands. 

What is he doing?