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Home / Emotional Realism Maikling Kwento / Summer Break: My Rental, Their Resort / Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

Lahat ng Kabanata ng Summer Break: My Rental, Their Resort: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

9 Kabanata

Chapter 1

Mom was a little surprised by my quick response. She sent another voice message, softening her tone when she said, "Don't overthink it, Michelle. It's rare for your aunt and her family to visit the big city. We can't let them stay in a hotel, can we?"You have a big bedroom and a comfortable bed. You're still young, so it shouldn't be a problem for you to stay in your company for a couple of nights."I didn't reply to her voice message even after I listened to it.My family had always been like this.When they needed someone to yield, they would tell me that I was young.When they needed money, they would tell me that I was successful.When they needed someone to shoulder the responsibility, they would tell me that I was the elder sister.A few moments later, my sister, Tiffany Roth, sent a link to her short video into the group chat. She was clutching her brand-new selfie stick. She spun around the room and said, "This is the first vlog of my summer break series! Our family's

Chapter 2

I stripped the bed of the bedsheets and washed them before I went to work the next day. I packed the bedsheets into my suitcase when I was done.I planned to terminate my lease. Coincidentally, the apartment's lease expired in the afternoon on the first day of summer break.My company had approved my request to move into the employee dorms a month ago. At first, I planned to take my time moving into the dormitories after the break ended, but after receiving Mom's voice messages, I changed my move-out date to that day.The realtor looked at the pile of cardboard boxes in the living room when he dropped by to inspect the house. "Are you moving out right now?" he asked."Yes," I answered. "I'm moving to a new place."He then looked at the selfie lights, phone stands, and unopened LED light panels in the living room. "Are you taking those with you?"I shook my head. "They belong to my sister."All the filming equipment belonged to Tiffany. She had left them behind the last time she

Chapter 3

Dad immediately called me, but I didn't pick up.I continued ignoring him when he tried to call me again.Finally, Mom sent me a voice message."Your father's in a foul mood on the train, Michelle. Answer his call. Don't humiliate us in front of your aunt."I glanced at the time. Their train would arrive at the station in about 90 minutes.I switched my phone to silent mode and continued putting my things away in the dormitory.My company didn't give me a big unit. There was a bed, a desk, and a small closet. The garden beyond the window was decorated with strings of red lights.The closet was still half-empty after I hung up my clothes.When I lived in my old apartment, Mom's, Dad's, and Tiffany's clothes had taken up three different closets. As a result, I had no choice but to squeeze my clothes into a plastic container on the balcony.Tiffany had still complained about the arrangement, saying, "Your clothes look so shabby, Michelle. Don't put them with mine. I don't want th

Chapter 4

It was almost 9:00 pm by the time Aunt Elise and the others arrived at my old apartment building.I didn't drop by to meet them.Arthur called me, saying, "A group of people is claiming to be your family, Ms. Roth. They're insisting on entering your old apartment.""I've already terminated the lease and returned the keys," I said.Arthur sighed. "I understand. But your father keeps insisting that it's your apartment. He's also accusing me of kicking you out of your home."I could hear Dad's voice on the other end of the line."Tell Michelle to answer my calls! She's just a young woman. She doesn't know anything. Our family is supposed to stay in this apartment. She doesn't have the luxury of terminating her lease whenever she wants!""The lease expired earlier this afternoon, sir," Arthur said in a hardened tone. "I've already returned the deposit to Ms. Roth. I need to find a new tenant for the apartment now. You and your family are not allowed to enter the premises.""What's

Chapter 5

About ten minutes later, Dad used an unknown number to call me. His voice was hoarse when I picked up."Are you really going to keep making a scene in front of Aunt Elise and her family, Michelle?" he asked."I wasn't the one who asked them to come here today, Dad," I answered.He choked on his words. After taking a deep breath, he hissed, "Stop spouting nonsense. We've already finished the meal. Wire the money to me right now.""Aren't Aunt Elise and her family going to pay?"Aunt Elise immediately spoke up on the other end of the line. "Your mother told me that you're footing the bill for this meal, Michelle. We already had to spend quite a lot of money on our tickets.""I didn't agree to footing the bill."Everyone fell silent."Were we tricked into coming here, Mom?" my cousin, Hunter Fernandez, asked in a small voice."Zip your lips!" Aunt Elise hissed in barely suppressed anger.Meanwhile, Dad acted as if he had found a lifeline."Did you hear that? We have a child wit

Chapter 6

The company's garden was uncharacteristically quiet on the afternoon of the first day of summer break.I dropped by the convenience store after I finished my report and bought two boxes of frozen pizza.The manager gave me the last bag of oranges. "You're working during the break?" he asked.I nodded.He didn't question me further and just said, "There's some water over there if you need it."I carried my things back to my dormitory.It wasn't a big place, but I could block the raucous noises outside once I closed the door.The bed and desk belonged to me. I didn't need to vacate them for someone else.I booted up my computer and pulled up the transaction records for the past six years. I expanded the drop-down table, revealing the payments that I made for Mom's and Dad's living expenses and Tiffany's livestreaming equipment and viewership-boosting services.I also paid their rent, their health check-ups and nutritional meals, and a gold bracelet that Mom bought for Aunt Elise

Chapter 7

Mom used Aunt Elise's phone to video-call me on the morning of the second day of summer break, and I answered.Mom was sitting on a long bench outside the police station. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were bloodshot. Dad stood to the side with a defeated expression.Meanwhile, Tiffany was curled up in a corner. Half of her eye makeup was ruined. Her phone was charging.Aunt Elise and her family were nowhere to be found. It was likely that they didn't want to be near my family.Tears spilled down Mom's cheeks when she saw me. "Do you have to be so ruthless, Michelle?" she asked.I looked at her and said, "The damaged lock, the meal, the hotel, the livestream—am I responsible for any of them?"Mom stopped crying for a moment.Dad snatched the phone out of her hands. "Stop being so calculating. We raised you for so many years. Is this how you're going to repay us?""Dad, who was the one who said that I was going to cover all your expenses during your time in New Grandia?"He

Chapter 8

Dad showed up at my company on the first day of work after the break was over. He had brought Mom and Tiffany with him.They stood in the hall on the first floor.Dad was wearing a thin coat that he had just bought. His collar was a little wrinkled. Mom was carrying a thermal food container. Meanwhile, Tiffany wore a mask. She kept her head down, but her phone was lit up.I received a call from the front desk. The receptionist sounded a little hesitant when she said, "Someone's asking for you, Michelle. They claim that they're your parents.""I'll come down," I said.Dad marched toward me when I made it to the hall, exclaiming, "I can't believe that you still have the nerve to show up for work."He didn't keep his voice down, drawing the attention of a few of my colleagues.In the past, I was terrified of such confrontations. However, I stood my ground this time."What are you doing here, Dad?"Dad was rendered speechless by my question.Mom hurried forward and offered the th

Chapter 9

Mom, Dad, and Tiffany were quiet for a long time after that day.Aunt Elise sent a bill into the family group chat that included charges for the train tickets, the hotel room, the welcoming party, and the damaged lock's compensation.Everything was listed clearly.She didn't bother me this time. Instead, she tagged Dad directly."You told me that Michelle was going to cover our accommodations and expenses, Kenneth. Now that she's refusing to pay, you'll have to foot the bill instead."For the first time, no one in the group chat spoke up to defend Dad. In the past, they would always convince me to yield to Mom's, Dad's, and Tiffany's demands."Your parents had a tough life.""Your sister's still young.""You're living in the big city. Be a little more understanding."Now that Aunt Elise was the one who was asking Dad to pay her back, their words seemed to dry up."Hold on," Dad finally said."Sure," Aunt Elise replied. "Just don't hold on to my money for too long."I nearly

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