สะใภ้ไร้ค่าแห่งบ้านสกุลเจียง

“I'll be off now,” I announced as I came out of the dressing room where I had changed from my uniform to casual wear. My bag on my shoulder, I was ready to leave when I heard the yell from the boss's office,

“It's not yet 5 pm!” And I paused, it was just one more minute more!

We both looked at the time and just then it clicked 5:00! I gave my boss a sheepish smile before rushing out of the restaurant with hurried steps.

“Maria J!” Boss yelled causing me to burst into laughter, but I didn't stop, instead, I only ran faster.

Getting out of the restaurant, I let my hair loose, removing the band that held them together as I made my way to the bus stop. I had to hurry so that I wouldn't be late for my evening job.

The road as always was busy. I waited impatiently for the bus that stopped in front of me few minutes later.

“Hi, Maria J,” the bus driver smiled at me and I waved back at him.

“Hello Mr. Jack, so good to see you,” I searched for an empty seat, and home we went.

Soon, I was already at home. The house was quiet, I could tell that my aunt and uncle weren't around, or they were asleep.

“Anna?” I called as I made my way to our room. On getting there, I found her working on her assignment. The moment she saw me, she got up and came to give me a hug.

She has the sweetest smile that could melt even the coldest heart, I don't seem to understand why it hasn't melted uncle and aunt's heart yet. Those couples are just so cold-hearted that I can't believe that one of them is actually related to my mother.

Anna and I had the sweetest parents in the world. They could never harm a fly, but my aunty who is the older sister to my mother hates us with everything in her. She'll let us know that every day as we live here.

Anna and I spoke as I got prepared to leave for my evening job. While we spoke, I heard a tiny sound by the door and turned my head towards the door, squinting my eyes at it.

Quietly, I made my way to the door and opened it immediately. Aunty almost fell on her face, if not that she was held by her daughters. What was this? They were eavesdropping on our conversation? But, what for? It's not like we were gossiping about them.

“What nonsense did you just do?” Aunty Claire asked and I shook my head.

“I'm sorry, I thought it was Meli,” I looked at Melinda who eyed me.

“Well, I was just about to knock when you opened the door,” she said to me. I didn't argue, even if I knew that wasn't true. Anna looked at me, thinking I would speak back, but I didn't. Instead, I went back to pick up my bag.

“I'll leave now, Anna. Don't wait for me, I'll be home late,” Anna nodded, and I made my way out. The trio were still standing in front of the door, I wondered what it was they wanted.

I cocked my head and Melissa was the first to speak,

“Where are you going to tonight again?”

“Where else? Where she always goes every night. Right in the hands of some old man!” Melinda accused.

The words against Melinda were just at the tip of my tongue, and I wasn't scared to say them, but I refused to. Aunty Claire clicked her tongue as she spoke,

“What can you expect for a slut's daughter?”

My jaw clenched, I didn't want my fourteen-year-old sister to hear all that Aunty Claire was about to blabber out, so I closed the door behind me. Without answering any of their words, I began to make my way out of the house. I knew this would make Aunty Claire so angry, but I had to get away from the room.

“How dare you walk out on me?!?” Aunty Claire yelled before grabbing my arms so tightly, her fingers digging into them, I whined in pain.

I turned to her,

“Why? Do you want me to fight back? I don't have to. You're speaking about your own sister. And it's a shame that you couldn't caution your own younger sister to go through the right path!”

I pulled her hand away from me before walking out of the house. I could hear their call, insults, and words that fueled my anger some more, but I ignored them. Few more weeks to go, I'll get some money, and Anna and I will get out of this hell of a place.

And she is wrong, she's wrong about everything she said about my mother. My mother is not a slut, Aunty Claire is just so jealous of my mother because my mother married rich, but she married someone who was struggling. I can remember few times when I was young, Aunty Claire comes over to mother for help, and mother always helped. This alone gave me the answer I was seeking, Aunty Claire is just jealous of my mother. Even when the woman was already dead.

I got to the club and passed through the back door. I could hear noises from inside the club and also from the dressing room,

“Hey, Red temptress,” Henry, one of the bouncers, called, and I smiled before shaking hands with him.

“You're late,” he said, and I gave him the puppy eyes. Coming late attracts a fine of $20, and I didn't have that. I was here to make money, not spend them.

“I'll pretend I didn't see the time,” he said, and I giggled happily before blowing him a kiss. He caught the air with his hands before placing them on his chest, making me chuckle some more.

“I heard special guests are coming tonight, go get ready,” he urged, and I nodded before rushing into the dressing room.

“I heard one of them is a very powerful man, he is like some king from another region entirely,”

“They are all powerful, Judith,”

“I can't wait to blow their minds away with the new moves I learned recently,”

The girls kept talking, not even noticing my presence in the room. There were seven girls in total, and none of them took note of my presence. I secretly made my way to my locker and grabbed my things before entering the inner room to dress up.

Whoever special was coming, I hoped they had enough money to spend on me because I was desperately in need of some of their money.