Face slapping

My father and mother were both on the floor and the room was all scattered. My mother's eyes were already red with tears.

"Wh... What has happened here?" I asked, taking slow steps toward them. My mother bent her head and burst into tears.

"Mom! Answer me. What happened? Why is the house upside down?" I asked, getting more anxious

I couldn't think of anything. I was aware that we just paid the house rent and we are not owing the landlady so I couldn't think of the possibility of being chased out of the house.

"The landlady wants us to vacate her house before morning," my father broke the news and I felt like I am being poured cold water. What has gotten over the landlady?

"Wh... What did you say? H...ho...how can she say that? Are we still owing her?" I asked, my lips trembling. Why is everything turning out bad for me since I woke up?

"We are not owing her. She returned the money for a year's rent, asking us to leave her house before morning. Or else, she will ask the hoodlums to chase us out," My dad explained with sadness. Tears were teeming down my face. Where do we go from here? All the money she returned is not enough to rent a new house and pay for the commission.

"I will be back," I muttered and ran out, not waiting to hear their response. I heard my mother calling out to me but I turned deaf ears to it. I need to meet with the landlady and know why she is trying to make us homeless.

Thankfully, I don't need to enter any vehicle or walk for a long time before getting to where she stays. She stays at her second house that was situated on the next street. I barged into her four-bedroom flat without knocking and I met her counting some bundles of money.

"Ah! Is this what your mother taught you? To barge into someone's house?" She asked, closing the bag of money.

"I am sorry, ma. It skipped my mind," I apologized, breathing heavily.

"Why are you here? Are you not supposed to stay with your parents and help with the packing?" She asked, crossing her legs. She opened a pack of chewing gum and threw it in her mouth.

"Why? Why did you ask us to leave without prior notice?"

"Prior notice?" She repeated and giggled. "Are you telling me I have to ask for your permission before I decided to use my properties? The one I worked hard for?" She added.

"That's not what I mean but....," I tried to talk but she interrupted me. She stood up and walked closer to her bedroom, her bag of money was with her.

"Shut it. I don't want to hear anything from that filthy mouth of yours again. Just go back home and obey the order. I want to use my house tomorrow morning and that is final," She said and footed into her bedroom.

She tucked her head out and mumbled, "Don't do anything stupid. He is the only one who can ask me to take you back," She slammed the door after saying this, making me swallow the question I wanted to ask. Who is she talking about?

I asked myself over and over again as I walked home. I was about to take a step inside when my mind clicked on who she might be referring to. Derek Hunter.

"But can he? He doesn't look like he had the power to do that," I told myself and took a step but my mind was telling me otherwise.

"Fuck!" I cursed and ran out. I need to look for him and confirm with him. I stopped when I got to the bus station. Where am I going when I don't even know where he lives?

I looked around and couldn't find anybody around. I guess my plight didn't let me know the time is already far spent.

(NARRATIVE)

Anna sat on a bench in the bus station. She was breathing heavily and sweat was oozing down her forehead.

"Where can I find you, Derek?" She asked rhetorically but she heard a response.

"You've found me," Derek replied.

Anna turned and saw Derek standing behind her. He was wearing a blue t-shirt with white shorts. For the first time, Anna realized he has a good look but she wasn't in the mood for that.

"Derek, did you do it?" She asked, standing up.

"Do what?"

"Did you ask the landlady to send us out of her house without a prior notice?"

"Hmmm... It looks like I did," Derek replied, pushing her aside and sitting on the bench.

"What! I thought you only have a problem with me at school. Why did you come to my house?" She asked, creasing her brows and looking at him with disbelief.

"Well, I play my game the way I want,"

"I haven't seen a guy as petty as you are," Anna accused and he got up angrily.

"I am not petty,"

"Yes, you are,"

"I am not petty,"

"Oh! Yes, you are petty,"

"I said I am not petty,"

"No, you are petty, Derek Hunter,"

"I am not petty and don't you dare call me that again," Derek declared.

"Call the landlady now and ask her to allow us to stay. We aren't owing her," Anna ordered and Derek chuckled. He sat back and clapped his hands. This girl is becoming more interesting.

"Kneel and beg for my mercy," Derek commanded, unsmilingly.

"What? I would rather die than kneel in front of you,"

"Then go, take your family and go and sleep under the bridge,"

"What!" Anna growled, looking at him unbelievably. She is seeing him as a heartless human.

"Yes, if your ego is much more important than your family's well-being. Then so be it. Go and sleep under the bridge," Derek said, stood up, and walked away. Anna shut her eyes and clutched her teeth tightly. She has to do this for her parents.

"Wait!" She shouted and Derek stopped in his tracks. He smiled and turned to face her. She opened her eyes slowly and took a few steps forward.

"Fine, I will do it," She said. She wants to get everything over and done with. She didn't know he is as crazy as this. It was just as if all he has been doing since they met was planning on how to defeat her.

She bent slowly and was about to kneel when a voice made her halt.

"Don't do it," A voice said in the dark, the voice was running towards them. Anna rose and fixed her eyes on the direction of the voice. The owner of the voice stopped beside a streetlight and the light shone on her head. It was Anna's mother.

"Mom!" Anna called and ran towards her. Tears were streaming down her face as she run to her.

"Mom! What are you doing here?" She asked, holding her mother.

"Your father and I were worried when we couldn't find you anywhere near the house. So we decided to look for you," Her mother answered and her eyes landed on Derek. Her worried face changed into a frown.

"And you, who do you think you are to ask my white angel to kneel in front of you?" She asked, walking towards him. Anna tried to stop her but she jerked her hands away.

"Do you think my family will succumb to your ugly request because we are in a tight condition? No! I didn't raise my child like that. She has her dignity to protect," She took the last step in front of Derek. They were both a step away from each other.

Derek clapped his hands and laughed. "Wow!!! What a crazy family you've got," Derek muttered and a kpaaaak was heard.

Anna held her face, startled.

Who was slapped?