ESCAPING MY EX

PTE

food I am cooking. “Yes, auntie?” I answered and turned off the fire on the

d immediately get her a glass of water. I quickly gave it to her and

asked. She sighed heavil

was sitting. I nodded and went back to the kitchen. I am now preparing the dinner

it alone and maybe Temari is busy with her homework,” I said. She sat down on her usual spot as exactly Temari, my cousin who’s

she sat down in her seat. I took off my apro

you eat?” auntie told Temari. Temari heard his mom a

. “No…auntie! I am the one who wants to do it alone!” I said before auntie scold her

emari sarcastically asked her mom. My lip

mari was good to me when we were young, but she changed the moment I lived her

that I didn’t help your niece? This is just her responsibility to do all the household chores before she’s

I felt hollow below my stomach. Something pin

as filled with silence. I sighed heavily and still wore a smile with auntie. “I

Temari has never been good to you an

fine…” I said assuring her. She s

long before I moved on. Auntie Tamara took care of me for the whole 11 years. Auntie Tamara is widowed. Temari’s father died because

I am already preparing myself for the future I want to become. I want to be successful. I want to help au

er. She glanced at m

it?” sh

Her brows furrowed. “Aethel…I told you to stop visiting that hou

That house is where my good memories with mom and dad ha

. Mom’s family came from an old rich ancestry. And that house was given to my mom. It was one of those lands that my mom’s family-

Auntie Tamara was one of the witnesses of how great mom and dad’

get he chooses to play at the casino and get drunk every night. Until the only thing that was left for us is the money that

that he could earn more but failed again when he lost the gamble. And

having a child is really not the actual ending of every story. Every story always has something to say beyond t

t it wasn’t. It wasn’t

ly. That’s what happened and why

ad’s name was tainted for being a criminal. And even though my auntie asks the repor

e when the only thing I want is to be nice to them. Some aren’t distancing themselves from me, but they’d bully me nonstop. I

ontented with just the teacher noticing me until I found Jane. I was in my freshman year in college when

he’s also doing a part-time job, so she helps me to get hired. We are a waitress on that jo

ks nice. Well, Auntie Tamara has

t house is near my school and part-time job…” I said slowly. This is my

ven though you feel thankful for me you still feel that you’re a burden to me

ays be with you, auntie…” I said as tears started to stream down my face. Auntie sighed heavily and gently looked at