5!I Said No

Chapter 5

ANDREA

The drive home is a blur.

My phone lies on the passenger seat, its screen glowing with missed notifications. I had seen it the moment I got into the car, countless messages from my aunt and uncle, Veronica and Marcus staring back at me.

I don't return any of them.

Each name represents a conversation I am not ready to have. A judgment I am not ready to face.

With a clenched jaw I keep my eyes on the road and drive, the events of yesterday playing on a loop in my head.

When I finally pull up to the house it is early enough that the neighborhood is still shrouded in a quiet morning calm, but my house is buzzing with activity.

The sight of all the flowers and the lively energy feels like a punch to the gut. This isn't my reality anymore. It is a fantasy built on lies.

I park and take a moment to steady myself before stepping out of the car. As I approach the front door it swings open and my uncle stands there, his face a mask of worry and fury.

"Andrea!" he roars, his voice heavy with anger and disbelief. "Where the hell have you been?"

The accusation hangs in the air like a physical blow. I stare at my uncle, his face filled with anger, and a cold emptiness settles in my stomach.

Before I can respond Veronica and Marcus appear behind him, looking equally relieved and worried.

Marcus reaches for me, his face filled with concern. "Andrea, thank goodness you are alright. Where have you been? We have been so worried."

I step back, avoiding his touch. My expression is cold and distant. I walk past them into the house. My aunt is waiting in the hallway.

"You could have answered your calls. You got us really worried." Her tone is gentle but firm. "We need to get ready for your graduation and your engagement ceremony."

"There will be no engagement ceremony," I announce, my voice steady and loud enough for everyone to hear.

A stunned silence falls over the room. Marcus's face goes pale, his mouth opening and closing without a word.

"What do you mean?" he finally manages to ask.

"I mean exactly what I said," I reply, my voice unwavering. "I'm calling off the engagement, Marcus."

My uncle's face turns a shade of red I have never seen before. "What do you mean you are calling off the engagement?" he asks.

"How can you come back from God-knows-where, reeking of a man's cologne, and then call off your engagement?" he continues.

Veronica steps forward, her face arranged in concern. "Andrea, what's wrong? Are you having cold feet?"

I turn to my cousin, who has become a stranger hiding behind a mask of fake sympathy. The betrayal echoes in my memory, clear as day.

How could I have been so blind? I think as I look at Veronica with a blank expression, feeling a surge of anger and betrayal rise inside me.

How did I never realize what a calculating, manipulative person you are? I think, but say nothing.

My uncle's voice breaks through my thoughts, loud and angry. "You will go upstairs, get ready to be engaged to Marcus, or you will cease to be a member of this family."

My heart aches at his words. It hurts more that he cares more about the engagement than my wellbeing or even my graduation ceremony.

I take a deep breath and stand tall. "I'm not getting engaged. It was my choice to get engaged and now I no longer want to get engaged. You can do whatever you want, Tío."

My uncle's face twists with rage. "If you don't get engaged to Marcus today then you leave this house and never come back. I don't want to see your face ever again."

I feel a pang of sadness but stand my ground.

"Fine. I'll leave," I declare.

I can't bear to look at Marcus and Veronica. I don't want them to see how much they have hurt me. I don't want to give them that.

The shock in the room is palpable as I turn and walk up the stairs. I immediately hear my aunt and Veronica hurrying behind me.

Before either of them can reach my bedroom I slam the door in their faces and lock it.

I grab my suitcase and begin to pack, my hands trembling slightly but my resolve firm. I pick up my passport and my essentials. My movements are mechanical as I push down everything rolling inside me.

I take one last look around my room and head downstairs with my suitcase.

My uncle's voice continues to echo angrily from below. "Your parents will be disappointed in you."

His words send a cold shiver through me.

My aunt tries to calm him down while Marcus and Veronica speak urgently to each other in the corner.

As I reach the bottom step my uncle glares at me. "You really mean to leave?"

I meet his eyes. "Yes."

And with that I walk past them all and out the front door.

Into whatever comes next.