by S. G. Sonysa
“I’m sorry for doing things which made you dislike me. I’m really sorry for everything,” I said, looking at my feet.
When I looked up, Chase wasn’t there. He left me without saying anything.
I sat on the floor and cried my heart out.
Chapter Fourteen
Graduation Dinner (Part 1)
Hailey
The house was in chaos today because we were preparing for Chase’s graduation. His mom and Kate had prepared all his favorite food.
His family invited my parents tonight to be a part of this celebration. My dad, mom, and Emily would be coming here in the evening. I was really happy that my dad was coming. I hadn’t seen my dad for three months, and I missed him. I was sad that Granddad wouldn’t be able to come because of his health issue. The doctor didn’t allow him to travel so far.
My best friend was also coming on leave for a weekend. I felt excited to see him after a month. I knew you were wondering who I was calling my best friend and how the nerdy, antisocial girl now suddenly had a best friend. Cameron was actually someone who didn’t think that I was some weird creature that came to earth from some planet to complete my punishment for treason. He was the one I liked to call my best friend.
Before, I never thought and cared that I had no friends, but when I became friends with Cameron, I came to know the real meaning of friendship. He was the first person to understand me and who genuinely enjoyed my company as much as I enjoyed his. He sometimes acted a little cocky, but that was what made him a fun guy. I cherished his carefree and confident personality.
Chase and I still hadn’t cleared the issue between us. I wanted to know what I had done at the party or after the party that made him so angry at me that he had stopped talking to me.
Why I didn’t remember anything was still a mystery.
I planned to finally talk to him after dinner so we could stop this useless fight. Our relationship wasn’t good before, but it was friendly enough to give me hope that someday he would start liking me. Now it felt like everything was falling apart.
I felt the bile rising again, making me rush to the nearest washroom. I had been sick for few weeks and felt nausea all the time. Sometimes, the mere sight of food and its smell made me want to puke.
I told my mother-in-law about the constant vomiting and fatigue. She told me that I must have eaten something bad that upset my stomach. She made me chamomile tea, which soothed my nausea for the time being, but it didn’t completely go away.
For the past few weeks, I had been eating crackers and light food like oatmeal, bread, and veggies and drinking juices instead of coffee because its smell irritated my stomach.
Tonight I knew there was going to be so much food and I would have to eat with everyone at the dinner table. I just hoped that I wouldn’t embarrass myself tonight by throwing up at the sight of all the food.
I helped my mother-in-law here and there with the stuff of arranging things, and when we were done, it was already evening.
The bell rang, and I ran to get the door because I knew it could be my dad. I opened the door, threw myself into my dad’s waiting arms, and hugged him.
“Dad, I missed you so much.”
“You’ve no idea how much your dad missed you, my little girl,” my dad said, kissing my head.
I pulled away from him and hugged my mom. I didn’t hate her nor loved her after what she had done, but I respected her for my dad’s sake. She surprised me by pulling me into a warm hug, making me feel like she missed me.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Emily hissed in my ear
I looked at the plain black sweatpants and white shirt that I was wearing.
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” I asked her.
“Oh God, everything is wrong with your clothes. Don’t tell me this is what you are going to wear tonight.” Disgust was clear in her voice.
“Why would I wear this for dinner when I have a beautiful dress in my room for tonight?” I said with a smile.
Emily’s face dropped.
I had a beautiful dress that Allison bought for me for tonight’s dinner. Allison was Chase’s older sister. She was nothing like Kate. She had two cute kids; a boy who was four and his name was Chris, and a small two years old girl named Susan. Her husband was also very nice and friendly. They both looked perfect with each other, and I could see how much they were still in love after five years of their marriage.
I showed my parents to the guest room so they could freshen up and left. I went to my room to get ready for dinner. I plugged the hair straightener to heat it up and went to the washroom. I washed my face and applied some makeup, which was also courtesy of Allison.
After applying makeup, I straightened my hair and left it open. When I took a final look at myself in the mirror, I felt proud of myself for making myself look presentable enough for tonight’s dinner.
I heard a whistle and turned around to find Cameron standing in my bedroom. I ran to him and hugged him.
“Hi, how are you? When did you arrive? And how did you get inside my room? Did I forget to lock the door?” I asked.
“Hailey, stop with the questions. I’m fine. I came half an hour ago, and you forgot to lock your door.” He shook his head with an amused smile. “I see you are all dolled up tonight. Was all this effort for my brother?” Cameron asked.
I rolled my eyes at his comment.
Chase didn’t even look at me. It didn’t matter if I dolled up or not because he wouldn’t notice me.
“But you want him to notice you,” my heart said.
I shook my head and realized that I was extremely nervous for tonight’s dinner. Something didn’t feel right.
Cameron noticed my internal battle, and said, “Don’t be nervous Hailey. You’re looking very beautiful, and everything is going to be alright.”
“Thank you, Cam. And you’re looking pretty… nice.”
He smirked at my compliment then smiled amusedly. I knew he was controlling himself from laughing at me. Seriously, who complimented a guy with pretty nice? Apparently, I did.
It was just too embarrassing and a jab to a man’s manliness. Argh! What was I saying? I groaned at my stupid thoughts and hid my face with my hands.
Cameron cracked into laughs and wiped his imaginary tears.
I glared at him, and muttered, “Jerk.”
But he just smiled at me.
“Excuse me, at least call me a handsome jerk. And if you will continue doing interesting things like this, then I am sure I wouldn’t get bored tonight,” Cameron said.
I rolled my eyes and dragged him downstairs.
Cameron went to the back garden where we had arranged dinner while I made my way to the kitchen to check for the last time if everything was ready for dinner.
“Is everything ready?” I looked at the dishes.
“Dear, everything is ready. Don’t worry about it and go enjoy,” Amy said with a smile.
I smiled at her and left the kitchen.
Chapter Fifteen
Graduation Dinner (Part 2)
Hailey
The dinner was going great. Dad and my father-in-law were talking about politics and business, which was quite boring for my mother and my mother-in-law to listen to, so they started talking about some new turkey recipe.
Emily and Kate looked pretty engrossed in their discussion about the new designer and model that walked on the ramp this year in Victoria Secrets’ fashion show.
Allison and her husband were busy pulling Cameron’s leg and teasing him constantly about his secret girlfriend that he had been hiding from everyone.
Chase was standing with them, smiling at their childish bickering.
I was in the kitchen helping Amy in heating up dinner. Amy was their housekeeper who was on leave when I came here, but now she had returned. She set the table and went back inside. I called everyone for dinner.
Everyone settled around the table, and I got the seat across Chase. The plates and dishes were
being passed to one another, and I couldn’t stop myself from staring at Chase. He looked handsome as always in fitted black button down shirt and jeans.
I didn’t expect him to start loving me, but I wanted him to at least like me enough to glance at me. I didn’t know why but I craved for his attention. Just one glance and his smile was enough to make me happy.
Was it too much to ask from one’s husband?
“Hailey, snap out of daydreaming and start eating before your food gets cold,” Allison said.
I smiled and put some salad and a small piece of baked chicken on my plate. I made the baked chicken for Allison’s kids on her request, but that was the only thing I could eat during dinner. I was hoping that no one would notice my plate.
I ate salad then cut the baked chicken in small pieces and stabbed it with the fork then put it in my mouth. On the third bite, I felt my stomach flip. At that moment Allison eyed my plate.
“Hailey, why are you eating kid’s food?” she asked me.
“Hailey is eating kid’s food because she is still a kid.” Emily laughed sarcastically.
“Hailey is eighteen. Eighteen means she is not a kid,” Cameron said to defend me.
I cringed knowing that it wasn’t the truth
“She is not eighteen. Didn’t she tell you that she is sixteen?” Emily said, making everyone freeze around me.
I wanted to say that I was going to be seventeen soon as my birthday was near but I stopped myself.
“Oops! I think you all didn’t know this. Sorry, sis.” Emily had a smug smile on her face.
My heart stopped beating. I felt ashamed to look everyone in the eye. My head started to spin, and I closed my eyes.
“Is this true Hailey?” Chase asked me in an angry voice.
He stood up from the chair and threw the spoon on the table.
I looked down at my hands. They were shaking in fear. I glanced at mom, but she averted her eyes.
Taking a breather, I got up and looked at everyone in the eye.
“Yes, I’m going to be seventeen soon. I lied to you all about my age.”
“I can’t believe this. I’m married to a kid. Don’t you know how old I am? Why did you agree to get married to me? Why did you lie to us about your age?” Chase demanded, slapping the table in anger making my heart jump in my chest.
“I was planning to tell you everything,” I mumbled.
“When were you planning to tell me this?” Chase shouted again.
My body started to shake. I felt my temperature dropping, and my hands turned cold.
“Chase you are scaring her. Now, she is your wife, and you cannot change it,” Allison said.
“I can change it, and I will change it.” Chase hissed.
I blinked my eyes to stop the tears that were pooling in my eyes at his harsh retort.
My dad looked at me with guilt and shame in his eyes. I didn’t want him to blame himself for my misery. I felt ashamed for the lie that I asked him to tell. I opened my mouth, but a sudden headache and dizziness made me clutch the table. I refrained myself from falling down on my knees as my body was shaking with anxiety.
My eyes landed on Emily. She had a satisfied smile on her face. I concealed the tears that burned my eyes by shutting them for a moment.
“Chase, you need to calm down. It’s a family dinner to celebrate your graduation, and we have guests. We will discuss this matter after dinner,” Chase’s dad said.
Chase glared at me then sat back down on the chair beside his dad. His face was red with anger.
Cameron was staring at me like I betrayed him by hiding the truth. And I felt guilty for hiding the truth from him.
Chase looked at me like he was disgusted with me after hearing the truth. I felt pain in my heart again. I wanted to run far away from everyone’s questioning gaze. I didn’t want to explain anything to anyone. I didn’t want them to find out that no one in this world cared for me and I had to agree to this marriage to get away from my stepmom and half-sister’s house.
I decided to escape from the scrutinizing gaze of the people around me.
“Please excuse me,” I said and got up from the chair.
I was about to leave when Allison pulled me back to the chair.
“Let’s finish dinner first. You haven’t touched anything other than salad,” Allison said, putting something on my plate.
I glanced down at the plate and words came out of my mouth before I could’ve stopped them.
“Oh, God. Why is this so green?” I said, looking at the green pasta.
I felt the bile rising again. Putting a hand on my mouth, I got up from the chair and ran towards the nearest washroom, which had to be in the living room.
I threw up everything I tried to eat during dinner. After puking my guts, I washed my mouth and took a glance at my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks looked sunken from the constant puking and lack of food. The tears that spilled from my eyes during vomiting were dried on my face.
I looked pale and tired. I closed my eyes then heard a knock on the door.
I didn’t find the energy to speak.
“Hailey are you alright?” Allison asked me from outside.
“I’m fine.” I lied when I was actually exhausted.
After a few minutes of sitting on the floor and concentrating on calming my breath, I got up and splashed some water on my face. When I came out from the washroom, I took a lungful of breath.
Amy came running to me. “Are you alright dear?” she asked me, handing me water.
I took the glass of water and gulped down some.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Miss Kate made the green sauce pasta.”
I closed my eyes and thought she was not going to let go of this easily. I needed to apologize to her. I prepared myself to receive her hateful glare and taunts. I made my way outside to the garden. My mind was begging me to run back to my room and never come out.
I reached near the table and found Kate crying on Chase’s shoulder.
When everyone noticed me standing there, they fell silent. Kate’s eyes snapped to me.
“You… you always ruin my mood. You knew that I made that pasta for Chase that’s why you pulled that stunt. I hate you. I hate you so much,” Kate yelled at my face.
I opened my mouth to apologize to her when Chase decided to intervene between us.
“First, you lied to us about your age and now you do this. Did you plan to ruin my life with your presence? I’m not going to forget my graduation day ever because you have made it so special by ruining it,” Chase said.
The anger was clear on his face.
“Stop doing things that make me and others hate you more each day. You should be ashamed of yourself for lying to us and making us fools for so long,” he said, gripping my shoulder.
His words started to play around my head, “Stop doing things that make me and others hate you more each day. You should be ashamed of yourself for lying to us.”
I should be ashamed. I should stop doing things that made others hate me.
“Apologize to Kate for the stunt you pulled earlier, which hurt her,” he said, gritting his teeth.
I just stared at him in complete silence.
Cameron got up from his seat and made his way to me.
“Brother, I think that’s enough. Don’t make a big scene out of a small thing. It’s not your forte. Kate is enough to create drama,” Cameron said.
“Shut up, Cameron. Don’t put your nose in my business.” Chase sent daggers my way.
My father-in-law interfered before a fight could break between the two brothers.
“Boys, stop,” Chase’s dad said, glaring at Cameron and Chase.
Cameron glared at Chase and clenched his jaw.
Emily smiled and took a sip of her drink. She was enjoying everything that was happening.
“What did I say, Hailey? Apologize to my sister then apologize to everyone for lying.” Chase hissed in anger.
I felt so
mething breaking inside me with every word that came out from his mouth. I literally heard the shattering of my heart and felt the pieces dropping into the pit of my stomach. His anger was not the one that hurt. It was his words, and they knocked the breath out of my lungs. I started to feel like someone just left me to die on the shore, where I was drowning in helplessly.
I would’ve apologized to Kate and tackled this situation with more dignity and confidence if Chase hadn’t interfered and broke my heart.
The line “stop doing things that make me hate you more each day” kept replaying in my head, slashing my heart, again and again, making it bleed until I was gasping in pain. He broke every ounce of confidence I had gained in the past few months and made me feel worthless like before.
My heart was bleeding, and I felt like dying from inside. But I put my mask on, my face devoid of emotion. I looked Chase straight in the eye.
“I’m really sorry, Kate. It wasn’t my intention to offend you, and I’m sorry for hurting you,” I said to Kate. “I’m sorry for lying and hiding my real age from all of you. My parents are not responsible for this lie. I’m the only one you should blame for this,” I said then took a deep breath. “Chase, I hope you’ll forgive me for everything that I have done so far to make you hate me more each day. I’m really sorry for ruining your day,” I said, looking at Chase.
Before anyone could see the tears falling from my eyes, I turned around and ran to my room. I locked my bedroom door and threw myself on the bed. Putting my face on the pillow, I cried.
The tears soon turned into loud sobs. I wished that I had a normal life where I wouldn’t have to play the role of unwanted wife.
I married him hoping that he would give me a beautiful future, and hoped he was different from other people. I thought someday he would love me, but now I knew it was just my silly imagination. I fell in love with him thinking that he was different.
Now, it looked like I was wrong about him and I was only chasing false dreams. He hated me, and he would always hate me just like all those kids who hated me in school for being different, freak, loser, and dumb.
