PATRIARCHAL NIGHTMARE

Saturday Night

The monster brooding underneath my bed crawled up onto me and morphed into a familiar figure. He tried to throttle me as I try to fight back. My ladylike hands were useless against him. His eyes glaring red, hair grubby, and strapping arms strangulated in my neck. I can't breathe. I can’t scream for help. I’m dying!

I woke up with my pulse racing, sweat cascading over my face, and my muscles tightening up. I lulled my breathing to mellow it and with Liam consoling me by massaging my back.

"Hey, are you okay?" blurted Liam.

"It's just a nightmare,” I said as I knead my neck.

I noticed how dark it is already outside. I worked myself up and reached my handbag on a rustic table abutting the corner most of the room.

I dredged my phone and noticed several messages from Ashton and Mom who's sickly worried.

Ashton's missive contains a congratulatory bit with a little bit of japing. I texted Mom back and told her that I'm totally fine. That she has nothing to worry about.

"Relax babe. Let's just have a dinner first then I'll drive you home,” assured Liam.

Henry implicitly held out his arms where I ensconced unhesitatingly. I cooped myself up instantly and rest in his bulky chest. And I looked up to him, ran my fingers in his jawline, and play with his pinkish lips. In his arms, I felt safe.

"Thank you for saving my face last night. I felt like a massive trainwreck,” I said smiling.

It feels so soothing as he caressed my hair and as I can feel his soft breath grazing through my fingertips.

"I'll always be there whenever you needed me to,” said Liam as he kissed my forehead.

" Let's get ready downstairs. Jake's waiting already at the dining table,” he added.

"How about your father? Isn't he going to join us?" I asked.

"Father is always out of sight but luckily, not out of our mind. He's been trying to enjoy the remainders of his time wandering. If he had some extra time, he likes to pay visit to his other children. I just wish he wouldn't darken their doors.", he replied.

So, I garbed myself with a plain white T-shirt and a baby pink high-waisted shorts that I was supposed to wear in the afterglow of Henry's birthday.

Liam as well changed his clothes with a salt and pepper sweatshirt and black shorts. He stared at the mirror hanging beside the door and disabused his unkempt hair. Since I'm all-set, I tread behind him and pitched in.

I love how even his backside is nice-looking and how robust he smells.

After all that sprucing up, we strolled wearing foot sandals since the tiles are ice-cold.

"Wow. These looks like some lucrative pieces here,” I said as I distract myself from the abstract paintings hanging in the hallway.

"Yes. Dad also hired a curator to upkeep and retain the painting in mint condition as much as possible,” said Liam.

I stopped one time at a painting of a girl in her red dress with fine pedigree and in her hand, leashing a wolf.

"This reminds me of a storybook that I read in my younger days,” I said proudly.

"To reach your goals in life, you should learn how to tame the demon that's living inside you. Let it not control you or else, you'll be taken over,” I continued.

It hits home in a bizarre way. Maybe because I was raised by a strong, lionhearted woman who defied gravity. My mom's fearless and she's my forever idol.

The ballroom looked very spacious after pared down from last night's vibrant embellishments. The humongous empire chandelier that floats in the air radiated incandescent glow struck the marble flooring beautifully. It's like a road trip from the guest room to the dining, more like sightseeing.

We arrived at the dining table, which is surprisingly insignificant compared to the palatial feeling of the chateau.

"Hey brother. You're behind the time. Hi Serena! Nice to meet you again!"  said Jake while sitting upright and banqueting in a multitude variety of feast.

"Better late than never right Jake,” smirked Liam.

Liam helped me get onto the chair and laid down a table napkin on my lap to fend off grubs. How can someone look so ravishing in an ordinary outfit? We sat across Jake who's almost half-done in his plate and we started shoveling in.

"So, Serena, you like Liam, right?" initiated Jake.

"Actually, the two of us are officially dating now. Right babe?"  replied Henry as he simply wraps his arm around my waist bringing electricity throughout my whole body.

I didn't even know where the babe endearment came from but I find it profoundly sweet that I blushed indefinitely.

"Yes. We are,” I replied.

"I just like to warn you about Liam since he's cagey. He doesn't like to show his vulnerable side that much. He bottles his feelings oftentimes. But as I can see, you're a person that he can trust and weirdly, I'm so happy for you two,” said Jake.

"Hang on,” Jake added as he plummeted his hands down in his pocket to pluck a latest edition of iPhone.

"Since this is the first day of your everlasting love, let me take a picture of you two lovebirds,” Jake continued beaming a genuine smile.

Then there's Jake. A guy whom I just met last night, good-natured and urbane, who loves to interlope and who likes being a wingman.

We we're all having a fun time at the table while some kitchen helpers roam around servicing us some refreshments and gregarious smile. Even if it's a celebrity's abode, it feels homey.

After the palatable dinner, Liam and I packed in and said our goodbyes to Jake who's also going to depart tomorrow morning.

Liam bid his goodbye with a kiss that lasted for a bit when I saw a shadowy figure of a man standing outside our house’s front porch.

A man who looks like to nudge in his fifties. Tall and muscular build. Absolutely a gym freak. He's wearing a French coat with portmanteau bolted on the ground. One that Sherlock Holmes would wear in a gruesome murderous scene.

I stalked him for a while and hid behind a willow tree to get a superior view.

This man anxiously tried to tick the doorbell multitude times but couldn't pluck the courage to and he keeps rubbing his hands together in such a violent way.

As he tried to turn his head around and check if there are other people behind him, my face went from being a wary one into a spiteful facade.

It's Dad!!!

My teeth gritted and my muscles getting tensed up. My blood boiled and I couldn't compose a cohesive thought.

Should I confront him? Should I stop him before he could hurt mom again? I wanted to hurt him the way he did hurt mom.

I hate this. I hate him!

After a minute, he'd just given up and leave unnoticed by anyone but me. He's the blackguard in my repeating nightmare. He's the cause of tormenting pain that pinned Mom down to the dirt.

Why now?

I reclined on the tree crying my heart out. Wishing Liam was here to mollify the stinging pain. I'll bide, at least, after my bloodshot eyes vanish. It took me a moment to calm myself and put my best foot forward to covert the feeling.

"Hey mom! I'm home. I bought some snacks for movie night,” I uttered.

Saturday Night is Movie Night. It is a staple for both of us. A happy hour to windup our exhausting mind and body after the stressful workdays and schooldays. 

As I was walking along the hollow hallway, I can hear some muffled talking coming from the dining area. I tried to eavesdrop when...

"Hello! You must be Serena".

I flinched a little from shock when a rugged man, snowed hair and stubble, appeared right in front of me. I can see from behind him, mom preparing bulk of meal.

"Hi darling. I thought you were still going to stay at Liam's place?" Mom greeted.

Perfect timing indeed. First, dad wants to barge in our lives again. And just when the time mom took her first daring step to completely cast-off dad for our leeway of mind, the divine intervention was caught working with the devil's right hand. Just fantabulous.

I felt like my heart's about to burst out from exasperation, that I just ran straight to my bedroom without uttering any more words.

I sputtered hysterically and tossed my tote bag my bedside floor and tried to cry myself to sleep.