Chapter 3 Trying To Be Friends

• We had just dropped Dad off at the airport and were returning back home; by we, I was talking about Cecile and I. well, Laura didn't go with us. She was busy with her phone call and her mom suggested we left her behind, not like she wanted to come anyway.
• I guess she despised my father as much as I despised her mother, but strangely we do not seem to harbor any hate for each other. Of course, we were victims of circumstances, we didn't ask for any of this, but I must say; she has something to gain from this union after all; her mother had caught a rich man and so now, she doesn't even need to worry about money.
• Dad will probably get her a car, give her access to his credit cards, and take care of her bills and every other mouthwatering benefit that comes with family bonds. What do I care? As long as they stay out of my way, I don 't give a damn about their existence.
• “Hey Noah, your Dad says you are in your final year of college and well, I was looking forward to getting your new sister admitted in one. So do you think it is okay to enroll her at the same college as you? Would that be fine with you?" Cecile suddenly asked, breaking the silence in the car.
• Well, I have been enjoying the silence so far and I have no interest in talking to her. I just wished she had stayed silent a few more minutes and we could have gotten home without saying a word to each other. I know she hasn' t really done anything wrong to me in her own way, but I dislike the fact that she was about to take my father away from me, she was going to take my mom's place and it just doesn't sit well with me.
• Did you hear me, Noah?" she asked from the back of the car.
• I groaned. “Look, I don't know, just do whatever you want. I didn't ask you to marry my dad or move in with him, I don't get to tell you what to do, it is all your decision to make,” I blurted harshly without looking back.
• "Wow, easy there. Your dad says that you weren't in consent with this union and I understand how you feel. My daughter feels the same way but this is actually for the best, your dad and I both love each other," she said
• “Gross,” I murmured and crumpled my face.
• “I know you don't feel this is right but with time, you will see that it was for the best. Your dad and I will be happy and so will Laura and you. You both can finally have a mother and a father, instead of just one,” she explained.
• “I didn't say I needed a mother, I am fucking twenty-years old and I have been living without mom for years, so keep your reasons and explanations to yourself!!” I yelled and matched the accelerator harder unconsciously.
• "Okay calm down or you will get us both killed, let's say you didn't need a mother and Laura doesn't need a father which you both do by the way, what about your father and I? Do we not need love and support? We need happiness, are you really going to deny your old man that? Remember he has sacrificed his happiness all these years to look after you, now that you are all grown up, does he not deserve some happiness as well?” she asked in a soft voice
• I could see from the rear-view mirror that she was looking at me but I didn't want to look back or give her the impression that I was giving her attention.
• “Don't try to use that on me… Making me feel bad with emotional blackmail isn't going to work, maybe you should try something else. You and father could have been happy without tying the knot, this is the 21st century and you don't need a ring to be happy in a relationship. I have nothing against you two loving each other, but was marriage necessary?" I queried; a part of me wishing that she responded while another part wished that she just went silent forever.
• “Of course, there is joy in marriage and a stronger bond as well. Without marriage, our relationship would easily fall apart, marriage makes us have a reason to be committed to each other for a lifetime. The vows we took on the Altar keeps us together, always and forever, till death do us part.” Cecile explained
• "Oh save me that sermon, marriage doesn't change a thing but only makes things complicated. You can be committed and bond to each other without saying those vows, it is all about your will to love each other, not some stupid white gown and vows taken on altars. Now please, just let me be, I have no problem with you admitting your daughter in any college, as long as she stays out of my way,” I stated in finality.
• I heard her sigh and then saw her through the mirror as she pushed back and began to use her phone; I sighed in relief and faced the road. Aside from the lights on the street, it was dark and empty. Dad and Cecile should have been banging away under the sheets right now, but he has to be on his way to Russia due to a massive explosion in one of his major factories.
• The fact that it happened on this very auspicious day, does it not signify something? Maybe this union was bad luck and the factory explosion was just a sign. I know I am probably thinking like an oldie right now, but how wrong can I be ?
• ** * * * * * * * * *
• There was silence between us for the rest of the trip home; it wasn't a distant one anyway. I got home and drove the car into the garage, she got out at the same time as me and said thank you but I ignored her . After I had confirmed that the car was properly locked, I left her out there and walked into the house.
• I went straight to my room and got ready to take a shower. Well, I wouldn't be able to sleep comfortably if I didn't shower again; that would be the fourth one for the day, given that I had already taken my bath before Dad called me down to drive him to the airport.
• I also hoped to wash my brain and memories so I can forget seeing him kiss Cecile; like, gross!! How do I ever get that out of my head? I grabbed a towel and was about to change out of my underpants but a voice in my head whispered words to me.
• It said I was too harsh to Cecile and I should apologize. I really didn’t know which part of me thought of that but I didn’t like it, too bad that I couldn’t ignore it. I decided to go to her room and do it, but just for today, I am not going to be nice to her after today.
• To be continued!!