FOUR

"Hello, Mr. Adizua are you outside?"  Mr. Adizua was her mother's driver. It was Thursday evening and he was waiting outside the hostel for her.

"Okay, I'm coming".

Juliet wasn't in the room so she picked up her bag which contained a few of her personal items that would prove useful to her at home. She wore a simple black shirt that she stole from Gabriel and a pair of  black sweatpants, yes she had a thing for black. She locked the room door and walked casually to the car. She wasn't in a hurry to go home and see her mother. 

At home, she was a different person, a whole new person. She didn't talk much, only when she needed to. She didn't go out unless it was absolutely necessary. It's safe to say she was fake at home, pretending to be who her mother wanted her to be. Because she was constantly seeking validation, she did everything to please her mother. However, Miss. Daniels was impossible to please.

She opened the door to the back seat and entered the car. "Good evening, Mr. Adizua"

"Morning" the driver replied. She quietly placed her air pods. She stopped by the supermarket market to get sanitary pads and snacks to munch on while at home.

Home was empty, except for the four domestic staff. Mom was at work,  her father was never in the picture and she sometimes wondered if maybe that's why her mother was such a bitter person. Grandma had told her that she was a carbon copy of her father, her mother hated her father. Maybe that was why her mother was so mean to her. She was a constant reminder of a person her mother didn't want to see.

She has always wanted to know why her father left, but there was on one to ask. She had summoned the courage to ask mom one morning but changed her mind the minute she got to her mother's room door. Although she felt like she had the right to know who her father was, even though it was just his name she got. She knew who her mother was and it'd only badly for her.

The car stopped in front of the big black gate of the house and the security officer of the house opened it. She quickly got out of the car. On her way in, she was greeted by the gardener, a stout man who had a little crush on her. She greeted the chef, Mr. Benson and the housekeeper, Miss. Rose.

Her house was a simple penthouse, it was awfully big. She didn't like such a big house. It was just her and mom, so why were there so many rooms? But then again, it wasn't her house, she wasn't allowed to complain.

Her room was the first on the first floor, it was painted white per her wishes. She had a simple poster bed. On the walls were abstract painting and in each corner sat a green plant.  A dresser  and mirror were present. She fought hard to get another mirror outside the one that came with the dresser for the sake of her mirror selfies , all in all it was an aesthetically pleasing design.

She quickly sent her mother a text, letting her know she got home safe. She had a little chat with Gabriel. He had also gone come, to see his mom. He was such a mummy's boy.  After a relaxing bath, she took a brief nap.

When she woke up, she heard her mother's voice. She rolled out of her bed. Her mother's room was massive and probably the biggest in the house.

"Good evening, mommy" she said, standing at the door of her mother's room. It was a habit she had formed. She stood at the door so she could slip away before her mother found something to say about her.

On her way back to her room, the chef was coming up with her meal.

"Thank you" she smiled at him, as she took the tray.

After eating she sent her plate to the  kitchen and left.  She didn't  interact with her mother for the rest of the night. She opened her laptop, wanted to watch something on Netflix. Maybe a movie or series, she didn't  care.

After she was born, her mother took out her womb. She sometimes wished she had a sister or brother. She wondered if her father was in the picture maybe her mother would be nicer but she'd  never know. This was her reality.

She woke up the next morning and realized that she had fallen asleep in middle of her movie. But somehow, her laptop was sitting on her reading table, closed. The lights in her room were turned off.

Mom

She forced herself out of bed and got ready for the day. She wore a regular black dress that stopped right above her knees. Breakfast was ready by the time she went down to the kitchen. Mr. Benson prepared mashed potatoes and steak with a tall glass of  smoothie.

She thanked the 30 something year old man as she walked out of the kitchen with her meal.

Mom had left early for an important meeting with some equally important clients. She left a message saying she would be back in the afternoon. She silently wished her mother would get caught up with work and forget she promised to come. When mom return, they would both go shopping for an outfit for the wedding. She loved shopping but not with her mother.

Miss Daniels came back home at 1:30pm. She quickly had lunch and they both left the house. When her mother returned, she quickly changed into a good ol' pair of blue jeans, ripped and a brown v neck crop top. Her mother didn't mind her piercing, if anything she complimented her for it, said it looked nice . For a split second, she considered getting more piercings but Gabriel told her she was being stupid.

"Where are we going, ma?" Mr. Adizua asked when the duo entered the car.

"Sweet Sixteen" she answered. Sweet Sixteen was a luxury brand that sold everything concerning women's fashion. Clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, make up and so on.

The car ride was awfully quiet. She felt utterly uncomfortable, she was holding her breath through out the car ride.

"How's Gabriel?" her mother asked out of the blues. Her mother was aware of her friendship with Gabriel, both their parents knew. They pair were inseparable.

"He's fine. He sent his regards" Gabriel did no such thing.

"How are your classes going?" Miss Daniels asked and she winced internally.

"Fine" her answer was short. She didn't like talking around her mother, scared she'd  say the wrong thing and get punished for it.

"Fine but you're getting a C. Two for that matter!" her mother spat

She kept quiet. What was she to say? Nothing.

"You think it's  a good result. I keep wasting my money and time on you" her mother hissed.

She faced the window and closed her eyes, tightly. She was fighting the pool of tears that had already formed in her eyes.

The car came to a stop and she jumped out of the car almost immediately, desperate to get a second away from her mother.

"Welcome to Sweet Sixteen"

They were greeted by a tall, dark skinned lady. She wore a big smile.

"What are you looking for?" the lady whose name was Ese asked.

"A simple dress, perfect for a wedding, blue" Miss Daniels replied.

"Ok, would you like a glass of champagne while you wait for her?" Ese asked and Miss Daniels nodded.

Mom took a seat and began to make business calls almost immediately. She went round the store, picking different dresses that caught her eye.

After an hour of decision making, she settled for a one shoulder ruched spilt thigh bodycon dress, blue of course. She also picked out a sliver round toe rhinestone ankle closure heels.

Her hands shook as she took the bag containing her new items. She never understood why her mother had such an effect on her. After hearing harsh words from her mother half of her life, one would expect her to be immune. She wasn't , not completely. Some days she would ignored but some days, those words hit her like a ton of bricks against a glass ceiling. She would find everything in her crashing down, her mother's words shattered her. Of course they did, to hear the one person who you adore and love and respect constantly reduce you to nothing over and over again with their words broke something in you. It broke your heart and spirit every single time.

The car ride home was suffocating and she found herself shaking.

"Have you spoken to Mary recently?" her mother asked.

She shook her head, she didn't trust herself to speak. If she opened her mouth tears may fall instead.

"Why?" questioned her mother.

Mary was her cousin from her mother's side, obviously. She knew nothing about her father and his family, she also knew to not ask.

"I tried calling her last week, she didn't pick" she said in a low tune. Her mother was irritated.

"Open your mouth to speak!" her mother barked.

She repeated herself, a little bit louder.

"Why don't you know who to talk? Why are you so timid? Always acting like a slave. Stupid girl"

The car had just entered the compound, she apologized and ran out of the car.