Chapter 18: Caught

I can not believe this is the last day I have at home, I have been eager to move out and just have a space that belongs to me. My mom and dad do seem a little off today, they have not spoken to me much about what exactly I am going to be doing but for sure my dad being my dad already googled my entire curriculum.

I hope they do at least bring it up today during dinner because I would love to explain to my parents on my own what I am going to be studying and how it is going to benefit me.

I woke up with a lot of enthusiasm obviously, I put on some Sade and made sure the volume of my speaker was at full max. I finished packing up everything I needed and double-checked my bag over a thousand times making sure that I did not leave anything important behind. Cape town is way far from Pretoria and I doubt I'm even going to come to visit home. My parents will only see me whenever I feel like coming back home and sadly I doubt I am ever going to feel like coming home.

"Haya." my mom opened the door into my room.

"Yes?" I turn to look at her.

"Your father and I want to talk to you," she replied.

"Come with me." she left the door slightly open.

"Okay, I am right behind you ma," I replied following my mom into the sitting room.

"Good morning mom and dad," I said sitting down on the opposite sofa to them.

"Morning." they both replied at the same time which almost made me giggle but my dad threw a sharp stare at me and I immediately stopped myself.

"So Haya, we want you to explain to us exactly what you are going to be studying at Stellenbosch and how it is going to benefit you in the near future." my father said in his usual serious tone.

"Well mom and dad I want to begin by telling you two that the road I am taking is not an easy one but I am ready to put in the work especially because it is truly something I love doing. I am going to be studying media, media involves everything that has to do with art and I love regarding myself as an artist. Media majors study to become involved in copywriting,photography, writing,film,radio and most importantly the music industry." I replied.

"I already know everything you just told me, I want to know what you are going to be doing. Which job are you going to get exactly?!" my dad replied almost raising his voice at me.

"I am not sure yet dad, I am still going to decide once I am at school. I will decide which one I would like to choose as a career. This is supposed to be an adventure for me, I do not want to have everything figured out just yet." I replied.

"So I should take the money that I do not even have and invest it in something I do not even know where it is going?" he replied and I looked at his hands that had suddenly formed fists.

His sudden reaction took me back to the day my father punched me several times because he caught me and Jahin together late at night on the streets. I had not told my parents that I had started dating someone because they would tell me to break up with him that was for sure. I had to keep it a secret because it is very difficult for us black kids to break it down to our parents that we are in a relationship.

"Jahin I think that is my father's car approaching us! hide me before he sees us." I said feeling agitated.

"Dude! what? do your parents not know that you are with someone?" Jahin giggled.

"No, I will explain everything to you just hide me," I replied hiding my face behind Jahin.

My dad's car parked right in front of us and then he got out. He walked towards us shouting out my name to see if it is me. I saw no point in hiding anymore because he had just caught us.

"Haya! is that you?!" my dad shouted out my name.

"Yes, dad it is me." I tried to look as casual as possible with Jahin I even smiled at my dad when we continue to approach him.

"Boy! come here!" my dad almost grabbed Jahin by his shirt but luckily Jahin was able to slip away from him successfully.

"Dad what are you doing!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"Boy I said come here!" my dad kept approaching Jahin increasing his pace with each step. Jahin saw that he needed to get away from my dad so he started running away from him. Jahin turns to look at my father for the last time giggling and shaking his head at him before he suddenly disappeared into the street.

My father walked back to his car where I was standing. He aggressively pushed me against his car so that the neighbors would not see what was happening then he started punching me on my head, shoulders, and chest.

I knew I could not cry or scream so I just stood there praying that he would finish quickly. He opened the boot door and threw me inside of it then closed it and started driving to our house.

When we got there he parked the car in the garage and left me inside the boot. I found it difficult to breathe inside the boot so I slowly passed out.

I woke up wearing pajamas on my bed and I heard people arguing from a distance. It was my mom and dad. My dad kept saying that I deserved it for standing in the street with a boy who is probably twice my age for his nosy neighbors to see.

"You should never lay your filthy hands on my daughter! do you hear me?" my mom screamed at my father.

"Never! I mean never tell me how to discipline my kid do you hear me?" my dad screamed back at my mom.

"I'm calling the police." my mom replied.

I did not want to relive such a horrible memory with the police department so I tried to stand up from my bed to stop my mom.

When I got into their bedroom my dad took my mom's phone from her and aggressively pushed her on the bed.

"What are you looking at! you want me to put you into the boot again?" my dad said approaching the door then shut it close in front of my face.

"Haya I asked you a question?!" my dad interrupted my thoughts.

I looked up at him then stood up and ran to my room.