Are You Tempting Me?!

Back in my room, a little space that was meant for keeping foodstuff before it was given to me by my own mother. She said there was no space for me in the main room. I had no choice but to accept it. It was a tiny space with a damaged window. It was manageable during the summer time but when winter came, it was so unbearable.

I sat on my mat since I wasn't given a bed or a simple flat mattress. I was lost in thought, thinking about the beating I would receive from my parents when they're home. They didn't always hear my plea especially when it's something reported directly from my sister. I knew she was going to make them hit me more and that alone, frightened the life out of me. I tried my very best to sleep but...

It was 6:00 a.m in the morning and I had yet to wake up. I didn't wake up on time because I slept very late or rather, shot my eyes late at night.

I woke up at 4:30 a.m at the dot, every morning and every day. I cleaned the house, took the trash out, did the laundry, cooked for the family and other errands if needed. But that unfortunate day, I could not wake up on time and was woken up by my sister with a bucket of cold water.

It was winter time and everywhere was freezing and I could barely get decent winter clothes to cover my whole body. I sat up immediately, my face lowered to the floor and I was shivering. I was completely drenched from my head to my toe.

"Why are you still sleeping by this time of the day?!" She raised her voice at me.

I couldn't look at her, I lowered my head, facing the unrugged wet floor. I spoke to her with fear in my eyes, still shivering from the cold water she poured on me.

"I...I'm sorry sister Hualing, I'll go and start now"

"You lazy girl! Why won't you wake up late after doing all sorts of things with those men. And just how did you find such a man, huh?! You do not deserve good things like that because you are worthless!!"

I just stood there like a statue on the cold floor, with my head down. Her words were heavy and at that moment, I couldn't even shed a tear. It was horrible!

After a few seconds, I glanced at my sister and I saw how she was busy throwing daggers at me with deep hatred in her heart and I could feel that burning desires in her heart to rip me apart. I just stood there without even breathing out loud, just waiting for her command. I waited for a few more seconds without hearing anything from her and I got even more scared, because her silence was worse than her speaking out. And in the next second...

"Chen Lijuan!! Are you tempting me?!"