Too late to love me

Crystal's PoV

"Shut up Crystal!" My mum barked with so much anger in her voice. I blinked back my tears and brushed back my hair.

Why can't she understand? Why is she always quick to anger as if I've never helped the family?

"How can you be so insensitive? Your sister has been working tirelessly to secure this collaboration and now you don't want to support her dream?" She panted heavily.

"It's okay mum. If she doesn't want to help, don't force her," I heard Cherry's voice in the background.

"No, it's not okay! How can Crystal be so jealous of you because she doesn't have a job? It's not anybody's fault. Anyone who envies her blood is a wicked person." My mum added harshly.

I closed my eyes and clenched my hands together. She was doing it again and my parents had failed to see the mind game she was playing. Or maybe, they intentionally ignored it.

"Mum, it's..." I started but before I could complete my statement she shut me up.

"If you still consider me your mother, you will send the money before Friday," she hung up.

I stood rooted there as I clutched onto the phone tightly. My lips quivered and the tears threatened to spill.

Why do I have to do all the work? After all these years, they've never acknowledged me or my efforts.

Why can't they treat me the same way as Cherry? Am I not their child too?

Hot tears finally rolled down my cheeks and I sniffled. I don't know how long time went by, I just stood there lost in my thoughts.

"What stunt did that bitch pull this time?" A familiar voice suddenly hissed, startling me.

I snapped my head to see who it was and it was no other person than my best friend, Nina.

She stood at the entrance of my room with a tray. The frown on her face didn't go unnoticed. The only difference was that her current scowl was deeper.

Quickly, I looked away and blinked. "It's nothing." I said with a cracked voice and walked over to sit on my bed.

Nina was soon storming towards me. "Don't you dare try to sweep what just happened under the carpet. I'm sure that bitch did something again." She hissed and slammed the glass of milk on the lamp stand.

I tossed my phone and massaged my temple. "Stop it Nina. Don't call her that. She's still my sister you know," I raised my eyebrows.

Nina paused and folded her arms. She looked at me for a while before bursting out laughing.

I sighed and leaned against the wall. I'm not in the mood for this right now. I have to figure out how to get the money.

"Listen to me young lady, that girl doesn't see you as a sister and you're the one desperately trying to fit into their perfect picture," she threw her hands in the air.

Nina continued, "I don't care what you say but to me Cherry is a bitch. Not just that but also a free loader, a parasite..."

"Enough!" I clasped my hands together facing her.

Nina's face relaxed a bit but the anger didn't go away. She could always vent out her anger. I mean she has been doing it on my behalf for as long as I can remember.

"I need to think, Nina and you are not helping," I rolled my eyes.

"C'mon Crystal, if it's about thinking of how to get the money... Well, I mean Cherry can't do anything right and I know she's demanding for more money," she paused to take a deep breath. "If it's about trying to figure out how to get it, it won't work because I won't give you the space and time to think about that."

I bit my lips as I watched her. Nina kept ranting, pacing back and forth. When she realized that I wasn't talking or responding, she stopped and faced me.

"Say something Crystal because I feel like I'm going crazy and it's so annoying that I can't drag Cherry out and whoop her ass."

I swallowed and leaned forward, "what was I supposed to say? You didn't give me the opportunity to think, remember?"

Nina's gaze finally softened and she slumped on the bed, beside me. She didn't face me but grabbed the glass of milk and drank the entire liquid.

What the... I thought the milk was meant for me?

After a few minutes, Nina held my hands in hers. "Crystal, you know I love you right?" She asked quietly and I nodded.

"And that I could never deceive you?"

Once again I nodded.

"So why can't you believe me when I tell you that those people aren't good for you? Since you were young, you've been the outcast of the family," her eyes glistened with unshed tears and she blinked them back.

My chest tightened and my throat burned.

"You're the youngest, yet you've long borne the burden of the eldest child. You sacrifice when you're not supposed to, yet it has never been enough. Don't you think you deserve the best?" She questioned.

That question pierced through my heart. My parents made me believe that I wasn't worthy of good things. Growing up with that mindset, sacrificing unnecessarily became easier.

"I don't know, Nina," I replied with a bitter smile.

Honestly, I don't know. Do I deserve better? If things get better, can I handle it? Won't I sabotage it?

Nina sighed. For a minute, neither of us said a word. The air in the room went still.

"What's the plan now? The last time I checked you were fired from your last job because your mother and Cherry showed up there and caused a nuisance." 

The plan? I don't have any. It was already bad enough that I don't have savings because they are always demanding money.

It would be insensitive to ask Nina to lend me because she's been the one footing the bills around here since I lost my job.

"Hmmm," I buried my face in my palms. Because if I don't send that money, my mother would stop at nothing to punish me. Cherry would make things worse.

"What if you go somewhere quiet. Somewhere far away they wouldn't be able to find you?" She suggested.

I chuckled. It was funny how I had thought about doing something like that in the past but never brought myself to actually do it.

"I can't leave them, Nina." I wiped the lone tear that rolled down my face. "Maybe I'm cursed or just stupid. Who knows?" I shrugged.

Nina held my face, making me look at her. She flashed me a small smile. "You're not cursed nor stupid. You're just..." Her voice trailed off and she tilted her head.

"You're just kind and sweet."

My heart warmed at her words. As if she read my mind. She opened her arms and I hugged her.

What would I have done without my best friend? She stayed beside me even when my family threatened her.

How do I pay her back? Life hasn't been easy on her either, yet she took it upon herself to be there for me at all times.

If only I would get the job, life would become ten times better.

We broke the hug and Nina tilted her head. "What are you thinking about?" She asked.

"The position that I applied for at Deburn. I'm not very confident because my portfolio was a bit lacking. I doubt that'll get the job." I replied.

"Speaking about that, are you worried because you would lose out on the good pay or that you'll lose the opportunity to be close to Jordan?" Nina raised her eyebrows.

I opened my mouth to talk but no words came out. Her question was sudden and I didn't have a response.

It would have been easier if it was just about the job. However, my desires for Jordan were forbidden. Ye

t, I couldn't bring myself to stop.

Getting the job might lead to my doom but losing the job would mean losing my life.