#05 The Leader Returns

After lunch, my sister headed back to college while I did my assignments in my room. Suddenly, someone knocked on my door panicky. I opened it only to see my sister's face, full of fear. I thought she has left for college already?

"Amanda, hurry and get changed! Father is back." She rushed into my room and opened my wardrobe. She picked my best dress and asked me to change into it quickly, before meeting my father.

She went to her room to change too. But why did father suddenly come back? And at this time?

Without further ado, my sister and I helped each other out to style our best hairstyles, before heading to the living room. There, mum was already sitting on the couch with her makeup on, sitting beside our father who had just returned from work.

"Welcome back, father." We greeted him before sitting on the couch opposite them.

Father had the maids to prepare some snacks for us. He spoke to me after taking a sip of tea from his cup.

"Amanda." It's been a while since I last heard his voice, so it was kind of nostalgic. "I hope you're aware of your engagement." He added.

"Yes, I am." I replied sternly.

There was a moment of silence before I spoke again.

"Father, please let me go to school." Even though I already knew that the answer would be a 'no', I still wanted to try, rather than regretting later for not asking when I had the chance.

He paused for a while and said, "that won't do."

Figures. I wasn't expecting anything since I already knew the answer.

"Calnan Academy is an academy where most children of the big families go to, just like you."

I knew that already. So why can't I go?

"Frederick is an exception, though." Father added, without stating the reason.

In a battle between father and I, there is not a slight bit of chance of me winning. Anything he says is just, and even my mum obeys whatever he says.

I was so frustrated at the moment, my mind couldn't think of anything to say. All I had in mind was that I wanted to go to school so badly, but I was just unable to speak my thoughts out, not in front of my father.

Father finished his cup of tea when we were done talking, and left soon after. I tried begging my mum to let me go to school, but she just wouldn't let.

"No means no, Amanda. Listen to your father."

Sigh. Doesn't she have any sympathy towards her own daughter?

I walked up the stairs to my room in distress, when I heard my sister whispering to me from behind.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you."

I didn't understand why she apologized, but I think she was referring to her argument with mum the other day.

She went to her room to change the clothes before heading back to college.

"I'm off."

"Take care."

As for me, I returned to my room and resumed my work. It didn't take long to complete since Mr. Anderson's teaching was easy to understand.

As soon as I completed my assignments, I checked my phone to see if there were any messages. While I was at it, a notification came.

Ding!

A text from Andrea?

I clicked open to what she had to say. Before I had a chance to read it, my mum called for me. I had no choice but to leave my sister on 'read' for a while. I hope she understands.

"Mum, you called me?" I left my room and went downstairs to look for her.

"Amanda, your father is coming home tonight, make sure you behave."

"Okay, mum."

Oh, come on. Since when have I misbehaved whenever he's here?

I went back to my room only to find my sister's 10 missed calls.

Oops.

I called back to ask her what happened, and she just told me that father will be back tonight, so we'll have to take out all of our best clothes to wear. She told me to help her prepare hers because she'll be back later tonight.

Well, it's not like I have anything to do anyway, so I went to her room and took out all of her pretty dresses in her wardrobe. I was surprised that she has more than I do, when she seemed to be less girly than I am.

'Pink, pink, pink... why are all of her dresses pink? And they're full of laces and frills!'

I chose the one that would most likely fit her size now, since most of it are old dresses when suddenly, Alice knocked on the door.

"Miss, the lady is calling for you."

I hung my sister's dress for tonight on the wall, and went downstairs.

To my surprise, my father just came back and he was going to have dinner with us tonight.

We're finally going to have dinner together for the first time in so long, so when is Andrea coming back? Jeez. We can't afford to wait too long or mum will get angry.

"You're finally back, Patrick. How's work?" My mum seemed happy that father is back. Well of course, it's because she doesn't have to deal with us anymore, now that the leader is here.

Father ignored mum completely, and looked at me instead. His stern look is frightening which made me unable to calm myself down.

"Amanda, I skipped work because of you, be grateful." Father said as he sipped his tea.

"I am truly grateful for your return, father. But what is the matter that is so urgent until father has to sacrifice his own work for Amanda?" I tried my best to speak with a smile and without stuttering.

"..."

Great! He ignored me. Is my sister coming home anytime now?

Just when I had that thought, I heard the sound of a car engine coming nearer to the gates. It was Alice, driving my sister back.

She got down from the car and entered the house, when mother was nagging her to hurry up.

"Andrea, don't make your father wait."

"Sorry, mum, I'll go change my clothes quickly." She said and rushed to her room.

I'm glad I prepared her dress beforehand. If I hadn't done that, who knows if she'll end up wearing her dress inside out while panicking?

I chuckled at my own silly thoughts while imagining her doing silly stuff.

The chef had the best dish served to the dining table tonight as soon as my sister came. It was a luxurious meal.

The meal was delicious, and it's a balanced meal at that. My only question is...

"Why are we eating turkey... now...?"

"Your father finally came back after so long, can't you just eat his favorite food to celebrate his return?" My mum sounded a little pissed off and rolled her eyes while saying that.

Jeez. I was just asking a question, it's not like I didn't want to eat it.

I resumed eating, when father called me.

"Amanda." He always told us not to talk while eating. But since he's the one who started the conversation, I guess it's fine...?

"Yes, father?"

He passed me a plate filled with turkey meat.

"Eat lots. Your fiance loves strong women."