Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Girl with the Masks and The Student Body President: Kabanata 111 - Kabanata 120

Briefly, I considered asking to spend the night at Lilia’s under the guise she’d mentioned needing me, but it was a school night and where Mom wouldn’t have cared, Nana certainly would. Her granddaughter would never be used as free labour for the benefit of an irresponsible woman at the detriment to her sleep and school performance. She would remind me I had homework or otherwise studying to keep up with. There would be enough time to take care of my own children when I had them. The woman would need to sort out appropriate childcare like the adult she was.We pulled onto our street and Mom slowed the car. Once again, her gaze found mine through the rearview mirror and it was every bit as malicious as it had been when she promised to send me to join my father on the other side.“Listen, you little shit. I better not hear a word about Emily before they leave. Tara never fucked around and got herself knocked up so neither did you. God knows neithe

The lines of make believe and reality blended seamlessly. My mother and I shared jokes and laughter between us like old friends. It was a world I’d always wanted to be let into; one I’d dreamed so long of but had accepted I would never see. I’d fallen into a beautiful dream; it was the kind I would give anything to never wake from.When I first heard they’d be coming, I dreaded the very thought, but sitting there on the couch nestled into my mother’s side while she threw an affectionate arm around my shoulder, I found myself wishing they would never leave.The doorbell rang.“I’ll get it,” I said, springing from the couch in a better mood than I’d been in for perhaps years. I hopped over my brother who’d been sprawled on the carpet and all but skipped to the door.My blood ran cold at the sight of Lilia and Emi when I opened it. My mouth went dry. “What’s…is everything alright?

I fell asleep to the sound of my daughter’s breathing and was awakened by a sharp knocking at the door.“Kai! Rise and shine, sweetheart. You gotta get up for school,” Aunt Rebecca called from the other side of the door. A strange thing happened then. My insides grew warm, and I felt a faint smile climb its way onto my lips. Aunt Rebecca’s affectionate wake-up call was the sort of thing I never knew I needed…until I got it. Hearing her soft voice and the care she’d infused into her words lured me into the false belief that everything would be alright—that everything was already alright and whatever issue I’d left behind when I went to bed had already been taken care of.The knocking wasn’t enough to stir Emi, but I saw Tara begin to turn. She groaned at the rude awakening, not wanting to be awake sooner than was necessary. She’d spent the night texting. I’d woken several times throughout the night to fi

In the car, I was thrown immediately into an interrogation. Tara had had plans and I’d unwittingly foiled them. “Why didn’t you invite him over so we could say hello?”I rolled my eyes at her, not feeling nearly as playful as when I’d rolled them at Jayden. “I know your draws are already wet but try to contain yourself; you’ll see him at dinner.”In place of any offense she could have taken, I watched my cousin’s face light up at the reminder that she would be seeing Jayden in a more relaxed setting in only a few hours. She eased back in her seat, content to wait for his assured arrival. The reaction brought me no comfort, but I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of thinking her interest rattled me.At home, I was greeted by the sound of a child’s laughter; nothing could’ve been more out of place. At that time of the day, Lilia should’ve already come to pick up Emily. My mother wasn&rs

I caught the look he shot me in the brief moment our eyes met before he turned his back to my family. It was meant to offer reassurance; he wanted me to know he wouldn’t let me drown, not so long as he could help it.I took comfort in the gesture, deciding it wouldn’t be so bad to let him fight that battle for us.“Wouldn’t be right for us to be all over each other in front of everyone. I’ve got too much respect for you all to do that,” Jayden said. It was all a show, a carefully crafted performance in which he could bring himself more applause. He was the responsible student body president who was raised right by his parents and expressed himself well. Hard as my grandmother was to please, I could see even she had fallen into his well-laid trap.“And when there’s no one around you need to respect?” Nana asked, not wanting to be completely taken in until she’d satisfied herself with the knowledge he was