You guessed it, they moved in the next morning and no - I haven't strangled Lydia yet, not that I'm not tempted. That woman seems to have a bone to pick with me but I'm too busy to care about what her problem is. It's been a week since that night, two weeks to go before the show and I'm doing a fitting today.
I haven't had a moment's rest, after I get back from the company, I have to deal with a list, you heard it right, a list of things wrong with Fin. I don't know where they come from because I've barely seen Fin this week, I'm not sure if he's busy too or staying away on purpose, not that I blame him - I would too, if I still had Margaret.
How I miss Margaret...
Maybe Fin and I should move to his place, it's a real consideration now. Why did I ever want to live with them? - That's right, I didn't.
The list is...well, see for yourself;
1. Your husband is never home, he might have a woman outside.
2. Your husband looks at the maids funny.
3. Your husband doesn't look attracted to you, is he gay?
4. Your husband is always with a man.
You can probably guess the rest, they're all in that nature. My mother is too free, or she's getting back at me for all the times I wished she was more involved in my life but whatever it is, I'm about to loose it. And my father hasn't been back, no surprise there - yet, I'm not making a list.
1. Your husband is never home, he might have a woman outside.
Sounds about right but I'm not doing it. She's about to drive me crazy.
"Darling, take Lydia with you, she's bored sitting around all day, take her out to play."
This is where I am, I'm about to leave for the company and my mother is asking me to take Lydia out to play, pregnant Lydia out to play when I'm going to work. She's not asking where I'm going, if I'm going to busy, she's asking me to take Lydia with me - the woman I'm sure has an agenda against me.
"Mom..."
"Come on, I'm sure you won't be busy all day, you can take her around when you're done." And she doesn't let me finish. What did I do to deserve this?
"Mom, I'm going to work, I don't have time today. Maybe some other day."
"It's okay, I'd like to see your work."
Nobody will blame me if I pushed this woman in the pool, right? She doesn't know how to take a hint - at all and even when you're straightforward, she has the face to stick to you still. Where did they find her? They're the same kind of people. Two wasn't enough, now three? I'm thankful I haven't lost my hair yet, really - I've pulled it so many times in my head. Argh...
I'm walking away, I'd like to see if she's shameless enough to follow me - all the way to the company.
She's shameless enough to follow me to the company...
(ب_ب)
"You brought an assistant?" If only...
"No, she's my father's new flavour and pregnant. It's complicated." Yeah, I said that and Chris' face looks like he's eaten a fly - me too.
"Is everyone here yet?"
"About that..." What now?
"They changed your models." When it rains it pours... They can't do that, can they?
"Same sizes?"
"No, not even close."
The preview hasn't started and I'm getting sabotaged already?
"Why?"
"There's been a change in management."
"Someone I know?" With how things are going, you probably think I'm a troublemaker, don't you? In fact, I'm not, I just have that kind of face and personality people cannot help but want to break. Kid you not, I'm not making this up.
"Mhm, Mikayla Druid."
My God, all I am is her husband's ex and not the only one - not to mention the most platonic of all. Is it necessary to be so petty?
"What did they say?"
"Changes happen all the time and a designer has to be prepared." Prepared my foot! Will the model's measurements change drastically two weeks before a show? They didn't even try to come up with a plausible excuse. The injustice...I can't even kick up a fuss to console myself - their show, their rules - only when it comes to me.
"How bad is it?"
"You'll need to start from the scratch."
Can I give up just like that? - No. My pride won't let, stubborn useless pride that does nothing but put me in these ridiculous situations.
After meeting the models and confirming what Chris said, it's back to the drawing board. I can't transfer my previous designs to these models, they wouldn't fit. I spend the best part of my morning talking to the models, getting to know them and their likes to see if it could spring some inspiration...for the most part it gives me which direction to go then I spend my afternoon sketching, tossing the paper away, sketching, tossing the paper away... I don't know how long the process lasts for, when I take my head out of my sketch book, the sun is going down. My poor stomach, I've neglected it today but not for nothing, at least I have something to work with.
Shit. Lydia... I forgot about her.
"Hey...Chris, do you know where the woman I came with went?" I did say I would be busy, can't say I didn't warn her - right?
"Yeah, she's left a while ago." Great. I don't have her number too. She's a big girl though, she'll find her way home just fine.
I meet my father outside the house looking to be in a rush and we can hear my mother shouting inside. The scene we walk into, Lydia disheveled - crying inconsolable and my mother pointing her finger at Fin. Honestly...
"What happened?" My father beats me to it, more worried than I'd have asked but...
"This scoundrel tried to molest Lydia!" What?
"I caught him, I heard a scream and went to look, I found him trying to forcibly take Lydia's clothes off." Seriously? She's trying to scheme against Fin - thee Infinity Merwe? I'd like to see the look on her face when she finds out who she's messing with.
And no, I don't doubt Fin for a second. He wouldn't be tempted, let alone have a fleeting thought about this chick. Have you met me? And I'm his wife, if he'd be tempted by the likes of her, it's an insult to me. I'm really pretty, not to sound narcissistic but I'm extremely pretty.
She tried a laughable trick. How boring and a waste of time... I can't entertain them in this.
"Scum! How dare you!" My father goes to grab Fin's collar but I step in front of him. In my house, trying to put his hands on my husband, have I been nice to them they think they can play around however they like?
"Are you done?" Honestly... If they want to embarrass themselves, there are so many places to do it. Why clown in my husband's face? It's embarassing me!
"Trent..."
"Molest and that too her? Do you actually not have an idea who my husband is?" They stare at me dumbly...
You know what, I've had enough. What filial piety? There's only so much a person can take.
"First you bring this woman into my home...
"You make unfounded comments about my husband
"You make me cater to this woman
"And now you're accusing my husband of molesting her?
"What's next...is the baby she's carrying my husband's?
"Aren't you tired? Doesn't living the way you do exhaust you?
"Because it does me, it's enough. I've had enough. If you're not going to live with us peacefully or respect my husband, you're more than welcome to leave. I don't want you here."
They've never heard this tone from me, actually they've never heard any tone from me besides submission, obedience and all my niceness. To them, am I a pushover because I let them be?
"Trent..."
"TT..."
"Lady, you're in a relationship with my father, not me. You're his problem, not mine. I don't know how clear I can get but if it wasn't enough before, let me make myself crystal clear...
"To me, you'll forever be my parents' surrogate. No matter what tricks you pull, you'll only ever be my parents' incubator. Play your role well and enjoy its benefits. Let's not annoy each other."
I take Fin's hand and lead him away, before we ascend the stairs...
"Trent, you would abandon your family for a man you just met?"
This is the first time I can remember my father calling me by my full name...Trent. Ha, I always wondered what it would sound like in his voice, unfortunately...I stopped wondering. I stopped wondering about a lot of things a long time ago. It hurts, the disappointment never goes away. In the end, I can't bring myself to give up on them. They're supposed to be my closest relatives yet...It hurts.
When I turn to face them, I can't keep the tears at bay. Don't they see, do they really not see what they're doing to me, what they've been doing to me all my life? Am I in the wrong? Am I the one making a mistake, abandoning them, disappointing them? Is it really all my fault?
And like always, they look at me the same; expectantly - without any warmth or familial feelings he's taking about. Family...since when?
"You're funny, when have I ever abandoned family...
"And Infinity Merwe is my family. I'll never abandon him."
Sooner or later, I'll have to cut off this bond. It doesn't do me any good, it never had and now, the toxicity is turning towards my relationship with Fin. Will they ever stop?
Fin pulls me into his arms and I cry my eyes out. All these years, I've been hoping for a little bit of care from them, a little something and it's always this - them, their and whatever is in season. When will it stop?
"It's okay. Don't cry anymore..." Is he coaxing a child?
Next, what - would you like sweets? But it does the trick. I'll choose him, I'll always choose - no matter what.
Because, he's the first person to ever make feel like life has warmth, steady and safe. Mrs Infinity Merwe, I'll choose him over everything else. Always.