ONTF- 5

JOANNA'S POV

I was pissed off of what Jea did to me. She really had the nerve of setting me up with the guy I don't feel with.I was fuming with annoyance with her.

I was dialling Jea's number for nth time already but she never answered my call. I helplessly cried out to tears because of frustrations.I threw out the phone in the passenger seat and drove home.

Home?Do I have a home? Can I call that home? When all the time of my existence, housemaids and only Nana Yoyeng fill that house to be called home. They are not my blood, they are paid to give service to me.The care and attention they gave me were not out of love but out of money.

Suddenly, as if the weather conspired with my gloomy mixed emotions, it rain hard and flashes of thunderstorms echoed my ears. I slowly drove the car because I can't clearly see the road anymore.

I did not expect any signs of bad weather today since I left the house maybe because I am too preoccupied with my own feelings and emotions. Or shall we say, I have no one to confide with the tremors inside me that I think might explode already. I stopped the car

at the side and helplessly cried out in frustrations. I punched hard the steering wheel to release the tension building inside me. I blurted out a long and deep shouts that I was the only one who could hear.

I felt alone and nowhere to go. I don't want to go home yet. I am sure Papa was not even home at this time. I checked out the time in my wrist watch. It was already five in the afternoon but due to the heavy rain and thunderstorms, it looked as though night time already. After, I have released my emotions, I have felt relief and slowly my high emotions calmed down.

As I about to drive the car, my phone rings. I wiped my wet face and sigh hard before I answered the phone ,"Oh, hi, Papa, where are you?"

"Aren't I suppose to ask you that question? Where are you at this time of the day? its raining hard, Nana Yoyeng said that your out with your friend, you are suppose to stay at home and prepare yourself for your coming marriage that's gonna happen next week," Papa said in a demanding voice.

"Papa like what I have said last night, I will never marry that son of your friend out of arrangement. I am old enough to choose the man I love for marriage.Please Papa try to understand me," I insisted and pleaded.

"No, Joanna, listen to me, your marriage had been long arranged since you were born, so you have no right to disagree. I am your father. I know what's right for you. Marriage is not all about love, you need to protect our family's wealth for goodness sake," he impatiently explained.

"I have followed you all these years, Papa but not anymore this time.Bye, Papa," I ended the call.

I have heard Papa cursed over the phone before I ended it. I don't want to hear his demands anymore. I am sick and tired of following him, his manipulation in my life.