"Argh, make it stop."
My phone's ringtone is so annoying - morning after motto. Why is it so loud? Damn Margaret that bully. My poor head, it's a miracle it's still attached to my body - barely.
"Hello."
"Darling, did I wake you?" Mom? So not her morning but mine - after twelve where it's afternoon for mom, who's calling me.
My birthday has passed and it's not Christmas or the new year yet she's calling me... did someone die?
"No, no. You didn't wake me." It doesn't matter even if she did, she isn't asking for any particular caring loving reason. To her, she just wants to continue along to what she has to say,
"What's up?"
"Let's have lunch, your father and I have something to say." She hangs up.
Like I said, she only wanted to say what she had to say. My parents and I, our relationship is... lukewarm. I don't know them personally - no, that's wrong - we have a superficial relationship. I see them once or twice a year, more when they've had enough of each other and that doesn't happen a lot.
They have what we call an open marriage. In our social circle where husbands and wives are having affairs secretly, they decided against the norm and do it openly. I can't with them and that's the beauty of our relationship, I don't have to. They gave birth to me and hired a really great nanny then never bothered about anything to do with me.
I won't lie, there was a period of time when it bothered me a lot and I wanted to know what it was like to have a mom and dad ask me about my day at school or come to parent-teacher meetings but you can only try for so long, after a while - you laugh at yourself for trying in the first place.
My head...
This reminiscing isn't doing my hangover a favour. They want to talk to me huh, wonder what this episode is going to be about.
Bless Mama Jewel - the nanny from heaven - my house never looks a mess. She's the keeper of my life, I don't know what I'd do without her. The stuff listens to her more than me.
"Good afternoon and goodbye. I can't have lunch, my parents invited me out for lunch."
Awww... but the aroma is begging me to eat a little - just a little yet... I can't, my mother would make a fuss if I met them and didn't have anything to eat.
"Miss, I'll be gone this month. Remember to take care of yourself."
Right. I forgot about that. Her daughter's getting married. She needs her mother there...
How nice that feeling must be. I don't envy her or anything...
I bet my mother will fuss when I get married. Ha, if I drew myself a new life maybe my mother will fuss. I have the sad story of absentee parents throwing money at their children instead of giving them emotional support.
Yeah, who cares about that? It's not like I went through the there's a monster in the closet stage - FYI - I never got over that stage but...who cares about that?
Not my mother, I bet she doesn't know I'm... anyway;
"Enjoy the wedding."
If only my heels could carry me out of the house faster. I like running, it's the best thing I taught myself and I'm proud I did, with all I had at my disposal growing up, running isn't the worst outcome I find myself capable off.
I live in the capital - Bronze - who knows what the city is named after but so unlike its name, it's the hub of the richest amongst the rich and poorest amongst the poor. Of course I live in the best side of town, my parents for all their negligence make sure I have the best of everything.
When I was in middle school I visited Mama Jewel's house and because of my ignorance, I'd told her she could move her family to my house; needless to say her family never welcomed me into their home again.
The estate is about forty five minutes from the city, I am not fond of driving - not that I can mind you but it's better phrasing it as not fond of than I can't; you know, given the many cars my father sends on birthdays or sorry I can't make it situations.
They have something to tell me and I can't drink today, I have to think of what to do afterwards to cheer myself up. I'm not being pessimistic, you'll see - with them, it's a wonder I turned out so great.
Whether that's sarcastic or not, you be the judge but don't let me know what your conclusion is. I did mention I was super-hyper sensitive. Try living alone with the hired help for as long as you can remember then get back to me.
No offense, Mama Jewel.
I reach the restaurant and find out they booked a private room. Hooray, what they're going to tell me isn't anywhere near change of pace.
Every time, the little girl inside me hopes but...
Yeah, I should have definitely made plans for afterwards and I think the no drinking today won't be applicable too.
God, if you can hear me, let it be one of them being sick - that's more digestible than...my imagination really isn't creative enough to come up with a single guess. My parents' lives are...lively.
One, two, three deep breaths...here goes nothing.
"Mom, dad." and a lady I don't know.
"Darling, you're here. Come, come sit. As pretty as ever. How've you been? You seem to have lost weight. What's Jewel doing? I told you we should fire her."
Yep, all the time, it always goes like this. The questions then the answers but all in all, she's not talking to me.
"TT, you look well." Dare I come not looking well?
"Thanks dad, you too."
I sit down and look at the three people in the room. If it were anyone else, they'd do introductions immediately but what's the norm in my parents' handbook? Everything is always, all the time according to them. I want to call them self-centred yet...
"TT, this is Lydia Quinn. She's going to be your stepmother."
Ha. Ha. Ha.
No, seriously; thank my lucky stars for small miracles - there's nothing in my mouth otherwise - the unladylike behaviour I would've displayed.
My what now?
Oh how I suddenly miss the childishness of Sara Tilli, compared to them, isn't she more - agreeable?
I really really should've made plans before coming here, how do I make an escape now?
Well, Trent Dion, you have lived a full life. You can now claim to have a stepmother. Congratulations! - Not!