Chapter 5: Here Comes The Rain

It was Sunday, and I hadn't gotten enough sleep because of yesterday. I couldn't help but think about it. I mean, it might have been a peck, but he kissed me—even if it was on the cheek. No one kissed me there; even the boys only kissed my forehead.

‘Ah, I think I'm going insane because of him,’ I thought while messing with my hair.

"Hey, Rosie, you awake? Better get ready. Dad said he has something to speak to us about." Athan knocked on my door.

"I am; just give me a minute," I stated, grabbing a pair of pants and a white shirt.

"Sure, Rosie. For you, getting ready equals an hour, never a minute," he said to me before I heard his fading steps. Well, he was right; it takes a lot of time for me to get ready.

After I got dressed, I immediately came downstairs to see what my uncle's announcement was.

However, when I got down, I saw something I didn't expect. There, at the table, my uncle looked very troubled and was crying, while Athan appeared almost angry and hopeless.

Unable to stop myself, I came down and sat in the chair beside my uncle.

"Uncle Peter, Athan, is there any problem? What are you going to announce, Uncle?" I spoke rather carefully as if saying that they could take their time before speaking. Despite my question, I was actually scared. Scared that whatever the news was, it was definitely not a good one.

"You see, we are able to have a nice life because we have a business, right? Not some big company, but a small restaurant." My uncle said, to which I nodded, signalling for him to continue.

"Well, these past few days, we've been having a problem, and... the business is about to face bankruptcy," he finished, looking down.

"What... what? I... Is there something we can do? I'll help. I can stop studying and work," I said with all honesty.

That restaurant was more than just a business for them. It was something left behind by Auntie Mich, Athan's mother. Auntie Mich was actually a chef, which was why they chose the restaurant as their business, and it became extremely well-known.

They adopted me and helped me in times of need; the least I could do was help them. I would do anything for them. I... I found love again in this family, at least bits of what I cherished before, and I was willing to protect them.

"Actually, there is, but I... I am so sorry, baby. I am so sorry... If you don't want to, you can back out. I'll take care of everything. You don't need to worry. I am so sorry, baby." With a trembling voice, he kept on apologising to me, which confused me. He was hugging me and calling me his baby. I missed that. I missed being the baby of the family.

"I am confused, Uncle Peter. What do you mean? What can I do, Uncle? I'll do it," I said without hesitating. However, in the back of my mind, there was a small voice telling me to say otherwise.

"There is a friend of mine who is willing to help our business, but... but I'll have to marry you off to their son. I am so sorry, baby. If you don't want to, you are free not to do it," he said.

And I froze. A cold wind seemed to touch me, and the oxygen in my body seemed to have been sucked out. Marriage is something I was not ready for. An arranged marriage was something I was afraid of. The source of my misery, my nightmares.

"I... I... could you guys give me time to think?" Not waiting for their reply, I got up and locked myself in my room, just cuddling in my bed.

The instant my back fell on my bed, a soundless cry for help escaped my eyes. I feared being in a situation like my parents. I feared being in a relationship full of lies and regret.

All night, staring into oblivion with continuous tears flowing from my eyes, I thought about what I should do. For two years, they had been by my side, helping me get through my life without any exchange and loving me unconditionally. With all my tantrums, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, suicidal attempts, and stubbornness, both of them stayed.

They did not even complain about my actions. They didn’t give up on me when I did give up on myself countless times.

I heard Athan knocking on my door, but I just ignored him and kept on thinking. I just needed time alone.

After a long time, with a trembling body, I knelt down on my bed, shut my eyes tight, and intertwined my hands together. I prayed.

"Dear God, what should I do in this trial you have situated me into? I beg for you to touch me with your holiness and guide me to the path I am about to take." I earnestly closed my eyes and pleaded with all my heart for Our God the Father to help me.

Before the darkness consumed me, I came to a conclusion.

They loved me, and I loved them so much. They suffered with me, and so would I.

With my eyes closed, the memories of what they had done for me all of the years up to now flooded me and engulfed me with warmth and love… But that instantly changed as I fell into a sleep and visited my usual dose of nightmare.

~~~Nightmare~~~

In the centre of our old living room, I saw a 15-year-old version of myself crawling across the floor, her body trembling as she reached out to an unconscious woman lying in a pool of blood.

All she could see was the crimson stain spreading across the floor, a shattered vase, and a man standing at the top of the stairs. He didn’t move, frozen in place by a wave of fear and regret.

Shaking, the girl held her breath, trying to block out the suffocating metallic scent of blood that filled the air. With a trembling hand, she slowly reached for the woman, but just as her fingers were about to touch the woman’s lifeless form, the lights flickered and went out.

Time stopped. The room was swallowed by darkness.

In the centre of the void, the girl sat alone, helpless.

Then, suddenly, the woman—who had once been dead—and the man—who had once stood frozen on the stairs—began to move toward her. Their voices echoed in the silence, repeating the words that would haunt her forever:

"It’s your fault, you killed us!"

"It’s your fault, you killed us!"

"It’s your fault, you killed us!"

~~~End of nightmare~~~

"Rosie! Rosie, wake up! Please, Rosie!" Athan's voice broke through the nightmare as he grabbed both my shoulders, shaking me awake.

I shot up, gasping for air, my body still trembling with fear and covered with cold sweats. It had been months since my nightmares stopped visiting me, but tonight, they had returned.

Without thinking, I threw myself into Athan’s arms, hiding my face against his neck as tears streamed down. The warmth of his embrace surrounded me, offering a sense of safety as though he could shield me from the horrors of my past.

Athan held me close, brushing my hair gently as I cried, our silence comforting in its simplicity.

But just as I started to calm down, an irritating voice interrupted us.

"How dare you both! Leave me alone in school?! If you had told me you were going to be absent, I would've stayed home too!" Danny's voice rang out, his frustration unmistakable.

After an hour of explaining, he finally understood, and the three of us shared a tight hug, the tension easing between us.

Once everything calmed down, I took a deep breath and stood up. Smiling at both of them, I said, "All right, you two go have fun. I need to talk to Uncle first."

But before I could leave, Athan grabbed my hand, concern written across his face. "Are you sure you're okay?"

I gave him a playful roll of my eyes. "Geez, Tan-Tan, I'm fine, okay? I’m Rosie, remember? What could an arranged marriage do to me? I’ve been through worse. I’m tough. I’ve learned to handle it."

With that, I left my room and made my way to my uncle's office, my heart pounding with each step.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and met my uncle's gaze. "I’ll do it."

The words left my mouth, and I could feel a new nightmare unfolding before me. But this time, I was ready. Stronger. More certain than ever. I knew I had people who would stand by me no matter what.

Whatever nightmare I had to face, I would confront it head-on. I wouldn’t run from it this time.