The Blame

3

YUNA 

Dad's name flashed across the screen for the fifth time, and I stared at it until it stopped.

Of course, the whole campus knew by now. It was only a matter of time before my family did too.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and swiped the icon.

“Did you not want to pick up the call before, Yuna Reed?” Dad barked over the phone.

“I've been busy,” I muttered under my breath. I wasn't ready for their screaming.

“Busy embarrassing the family's name.” Mom shrilled, “And what is this news about you and your sister fighting over Ethan?” 

Fighting?

Over Ethan? Really?

A humorless laugh escaped my lips.

“Who told you that we fought?” I asked calmly, my fingers tightened over the strap of my bag.

“Ana called us crying!” Mom snapped. “ She said you slapped her and caused a scene at the arena. Why should you be fighting with your younger sister and even lying on her name? What is wrong with you? You are supposed to protect her!” 

I swallowed the thick knot that had formed like a rock in my throat and glanced out of the moving car window. “I didn't lie on anyone's name. Everyone saw her with Ethan. Ana was sleeping with Ethan behind my back.” I responded calmly.

Silence.

For one hopeful second, I thought they'd believe me and back me up.

Dad sighed, “You should have handled it privately.” 

Privately? Why should I have handled it privately when they embarrassed me openly, with no respect for how I'd feel?

“You humiliated your sister in front of the entire college hockey team, Yuna. She is younger than you; you're supposed to protect her “

Protect her?

Who would protect me?

My grip tightened around the strap of my bag until my knuckles turned white and the sharp pain went straight to my head.

“They all saw Ethan cheating with her,” I whispered under my breath. 

“And whose fault is that?” Mom shot back. “ If you had been enough for the poor guy, he wouldn't have looked elsewhere!”

My cheeks reddened, and my eyes stung; within seconds, they became clouded with unshed tears.

Emma's head snapped in my direction, her mouth slightly open.

Balls of hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I moved the phone away from my ear. 

Emma stretched a handkerchief to me, and I took it. I sniffled and wiped the corners of my eyes before pressing the phone back to my ear.

I didn't cry because of the cheating. 

I cried because my own parents had decided that I deserved to be cheated on.

“You'd better pray your scholarship doesn't get revoked,” Dad said coldly. “Without it, you'll have nothing. Be grateful and stop creating problems.” 

Dad's chilling voice rang through the phone, and a bitter laugh escaped my lips.

“If you want someone to yell at, call Ethan,” I muttered. “ He's the reason why your favorite daughter's face is all over Wolveridge Buzz!” 

Before either of them could respond, I ended the call.

Fuck!

Why do they always do this?

The silence in the car was deafening. I wanted to dig up a hole and bury myself in it. 

Emma reached over and squeezed my shoulder. “You okay?”

Emma knew what had happened at the arena. She was also one of the few people who knew exactly what happened every night after I stepped behind the velvet curtains of Eclipse.

For her to see me like this too…… 

I stared at the blank screen in my hand, my eyes swelling with fresh tears.

I didn't want her to witness all that.

“No.” My voice came out barely above a whisper. “I don't think they've ever been on my side.”

I turned back to the car window, watching the building fly by as the car glided down the hallway, and tears fell down my cheeks.

When Wolveridge University offered me a full scholarship, I thought everything would change. I thought Dad would finally look at me the same way he looked at Ana. I thought Mom would finally stop comparing us.

I thought all the sleepless nights, the sacrifices, and the endless pressures were worth it.

Oh, how wrong I was. They had chosen Ana a long time ago, and I was only beginning to accept that they always would.

****

Emma packed outside the club and turned to me.

“Are you sure that you can work in this condition?” She asked carefully and placed her hand on top of mine. “Look. You are hurting right now. If you need a night or two off, I'm sure the manager would understand.”

“I can't afford to slack,” I muttered and forced out a smile. “I'm fine. For real.”

I needed to continue working. I needed the money, now more than ever. Especially with the fact that I would have to move out of my shared apartment with Ana.

Emma watched me quietly for a while, then nodded her head. “Fine.” She muttered. “But always let me know when you want to rest a bit.”

I squeezed her hand that was on top of mine and nodded my head.

It was still early, the club's parking lot was barely occupied, and there weren't any queues outside. 

All I needed to do was get inside and dress up nicely.

“Let's go,” Emma said as she stepped down from the car.

Emma pushed open the staff entrance as we rounded the building. Music thundered through the walls.

The scent of cheap perfume and cigarettes wrapped around the hallway leading to the dressing room.

I walked into the dressing room with Emma and set my bag on the bench beside my locker. 

I reached inside my locker for the tiny sequined bodysuit hanging neatly on a padded hanger. Beside it rested a long pink wig and a pair of glittering six-inch heels. 

I peeled off the clothes I was wearing and slowly slipped into the tiny pink sequin bodysuit, my black hair secured with a pink wavy wig that felt all too natural.

With each makeup product I applied on my face, Yuna Reed, Wolve

ridge’s honor student, was gone, and Velvet, the club's rising stripper, smiled back at me in the mirror.