Chapter 2: New house

Moving to her Uncle Ben's house, she never expected they will welcome her with a warm treatment. It even surprised her when the room she will about to occupy was beautifully decorated and painted to her favorite color pink. The room was located beside Elena's room and it was wide, tidy, and cozy. Her Uncle Ben said that her Aunt Meryl was the one who took pains in decorating her room so she gladly thanked her. She did appreciate the couple's efforts and how they welcomed her into their family.

"Do you like the room, Bea? If you don't like the paints and decorations, we can redecorate it according to your will?" Her Aunt Meryl generously said.

They're currently having dinner and tonight was her first dinner in their house so the kind woman cooked a lot of food for them to celebrate and she gladly appreciates her efforts. Aunt Meryl is an epitome of a good and responsible mother. She was sweet and naturally generous and cheerful while her Uncle Ben is a bit strict but nice also. Elena was lucky to have these two persons as her parents thought. Their house was three times larger and luxurious than their house and they have a lot of maids serving them but nothing goes better still than her original home.

"No, I love it, Aunt Meryl." She answered and gave the woman a genuine smile.

"Anything you wanna add or change to your room, feel free to do it. Just say so, Elena and I can help you. Right, Elena?" Her eyes automatically went to Elena then the latter just smiled at her. A sweet yet sly smile.

She was well aware of the irritating glance and annoyed expression of Elena whenever she meets her. It's quite obvious she doesn't like her. She just smiled back at Elena imitating the kind of smile she gave her.

"Thanks..." She answered.

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. You are a part of this family now so if you have any problem please do not hesitate to tell us okay?" Her Uncle Ben stated.

She can feel the sincerity and concern through his voice and it was good to hear those words coming out from a relative who really cares. She nods as an answer. She was thankful indeed but she knew it will take time before she can cope up with these new changes.

"Are you always like that? Shy and silent? Only answering if being asked?" Elena suddenly asked her. Her tone was like her usual voice but she felt a tinge of irritation in it. It was so obvious that she was not happy that she will now live in their house.

Elena is three years older than her and they were studying in the same school. She's pretty and smart, taller than her age, and popular in school. She was known as the campus queen bee because she has a lot of girlfriends and was active in joining in teen pageantry and charity campaigns. She once became a child endorser of a famous toothpaste brand and that's one of the reasons why she was famous in school beyond the fact that her Mom was a former beauty queen and her Dad was a well-known lawyer in the country. Elena is nothing but a great pretender, she must say. She was a stagey and self-centered brat. She remembered befriending her and trying to be close with her since they were relatives but she harshly told her she doesn't like her and never wish to hang out with her. After that, she never attempted to get close to her.

"Come on Bea, you don't have to be shy. Like I've said, you're a part of the family now so we're expecting you to treat us as your family too. Elena will be like your older sister, your Uncle Ben and I will be like your Mom and Dad. Will that be okay with you?" Her Aunt Meryl stated truly to her words that took her attention from what her thinking.

"Yes, Aunt Meryl." She replied.

She gave the woman a genuine smile because it somehow warms her heart hearing those words. The woman is beautiful and sweet. Elena probably got her beauty and complexion from her but not her attitude and behavior. She just can't help to admire the good woman. Elena is indeed lucky to have a kind and amazing mother in her life.

"Mom, she can't treat you like a Mom because she doesn't even know how it feels like to have a Mom right?" Elena stated then laugh mockingly while looking at her viciously.

"Elena, your mouth!" Aunt Meryl scolded her daughter. The woman suddenly became alarmed and looked at her apologetically. Something in her eyes shows pity and sympathy and she knew what's behind it.

"What did I said wrong? If she has a Mom then where is she? Tell me, where's your Mom Bea?" Elena asked intriguingly trying to intentionally annoy her.

Her head automatically stoops down. She doesn't know but it somehow offended her every time people asked her that question. What is she going to say? She doesn't know where her Mom is or she would tell her she has no one? Because the truth is she has no idea where her mother is. If she has one or who is she?

"Elena, I said shut up!" Aunt Meryl angrily scolded her daughter that made the latter shut her mouth. 

The girl is simply evil and disgusting. Truth is, it did hit her. It caused her an unexplainable pain inside. Every time people ask her about that matter, although she's trying to not get affected, it still causes her pain inside. She was good at hiding it for she wanted to get used to it but there are some instances and situations that she still gets offended by it.

"Stop it now, Elena. Don't bring that up again and apologize to Bea now!" Her uncle Ben told her daughter.

She saw Elena glared at her but when she noticed her parents looked at her, she immediately changed her reaction from angry to apologizing look. The witch is very clever and pretentious the reason why she dislikes her. She knew her intentions. She wanted her to feel sorry for herself and feel out of place.

"I'm sorry, Bea." Elena apologized.

"It's okay. You were right, I don't know how it feels like to have a Mom. I don't need her anyway." Her voice broke. Too bad she wasn't able to hide it. Her eyes turned teary but she resisted her tears from falling. She'll never cry nor give Elena the satisfaction that she can hurt her or insult her in that matter. She will not gonna cry not in front of Elena.

"Oh, honey... Elena doesn't mean to upset you. Never say nor believe that you don't need your mother. I know I'm not in the position to say this but your Mom might have a good reason why she can't be with you right now. Do not loath your mother, Bea. Every Mom loves their child, always remember that." Aunt Meryl explained to her in a soothing tone.

That words left her thinking. What is her good reason anyway? It was easy for them to say it because they were not in her situation. They never felt the hurt and feeling of indifference. She knew Aunt Meryl has good intentions in saying those words but she doesn't believe her this time. It's easy for her to say those words because she doesn't know the woman who gave birth to her. She was not stupid to notice that Aunt Meryl was just making stories to make her feel okay.

She went silent for a long time and she never bothers to answer. What for? Elena was right, she doesn't know how it feels to have a Mom. It hurts yes, but it's true. Mom, Momma, Mother, Mommy, those words are odd to her. They have one meaning but she doesn't even know what it meant. How will she know? She'd never seen her before? She'd never felt to have one.

She noticed Aunt Meryl managed to change the topic by asking what's her likes and dislikes. She asked what's her favorite foods, hobbies, and other stuff she might be interested in just to cheer her up and brighten her mood. She somehow replied in every question out of generosity to avoid being disrespectful but honestly, her mood already got spoiled. Although she acted like she was not affected by what Elena had said earlier but throughout the dinner, she seldom participates in their conversation. Elena offended her in the most sensitive part of her personality and she knew she intended to insult her. She doesn't like her being in their house and that was clearly obvious.

After dinner, she asked permission to go to her occupied room to avoid more longer talks. She reasoned out that she's tired and wanted to take an early rest. Her Uncle Ben bade her goodbye and Aunt Meryl kissed her on the forehead. The couple both wished her to have a comfortable and good sleep on her first night in their house. She thanked them for the warm welcome and the delicious food then went upstairs towards her room. The moment she entered her room she immediately lay on the bed and cried out the pain she feels inside having the heavy and painful feelings she was carrying. She suddenly missed her Dad and wished he was around.

So what if she doesn't have a so-called Mom? It's not as if it's her fault? Did she turn out to be a bad child without her anyway? She might be bratty but she knew what's right from wrong and in her ten years of existence, she never causes a problem to her Dad. She doesn't need that woman. She and her Dad considered each other a family anyway. It's not her loss if her mother was not around. She chose not to be and whatever her reason is, she's not interested to know.

But she doesn't understand why the people around her trying to show her that it was a totally big loss when it was not even her fault why her Mom left? They usually pity her which she never asks for. She never asks for their sympathy and never wished to be tolerated. It's just so frustrating because it somehow still causes her pain whenever they mention that so-called mother of her as if it was her fault why she's not around? As if it was a big loss to her why she doesn't have one. It still makes her sad sometimes but she never felt sorry for herself because she knew it is not her fault.

She never let her father knew about this feeling of her even before for she knew it will only make him sad and worried. She remembered asking about her mother one time and she can clearly remember his reaction. It shocked him and made him anxious for a moment but the one thing she cannot forget is the pain and discomfort she saw in her father's eyes the moment she mentions her. She hated herself for causing him such a feeling of discomfort at that time. She could still remember what he answered that marked in her mind at that time.

"She was not here because she chose to be away. It's not our loss, it was hers. I'm your father and your parent, Sunshine. Am I not enough to fulfill her loss? We are a family even it's just the two of us, always remember that..."

Sadness tinged her father's voice when he stated those words and she hated herself that time for asking that stupid question. He's right, they were family even it's just the two of them. Why look for that person who chose to be away? Whatever her reasons for leaving, she's not willing to know about it. She loves her father so much and he is more than enough for her. If people like Elena and the rest of her classmates who bullied her for that reason, she doesn't give a damn.

That night she slept having in mind the only person who supports and has her back no matter what. She never bothers to call her father about it for it only worries him. She slept having swollen eyes because of crying but she slept having a peaceful mind knowing she'll be okay when she wakes up because realizing what her father said, he was indeed right. Why would she let being affected by what other people say? She was a tough and smart girl, her father raised her to be one. Despite her young age, she knew she can make all this through...