I said ,"I am back". I didn't get a response right away as Kia's dad came running from the kitchen.
He said ,"Kia? What took you so long sweetie? I heard jia js coming home so I was preparing for her. It's been a while since I had seen my child" he smiled warmly .
I said ,"That's cool, do you need any help?".While I was raking my shoes off, I noticed he didn't respond as I looked up and saw astonished face.
Huh? Did I say something wrong? Why is..he crying?. I went closer as I said ,"D-dad are you alright? "
He cried even more ,"No..no..no it's just yo- thanks kia for forgiving me".
Poor man, he clearly thinks his daughter is still here. "Yeah poor guy, the novel Kia never really gave a shit about him. She would never ask to help him" said the Settings unbothered. I felt…my heart clenched slightly.
The memories were enough to prove that Kia who was mentally not doing fine had been shunning her father and mistreated him a lot because to her he is the only one to blame.
I hugged him. As he hugged back crying intensely. I felt a mix of conflicting emotions. I for some reason felt really sad.
"Kia I am really sorry..only if I had been more considerate.. I am really sorry for what you went through, I had always cared for you. I never wanted to make you cry, I-I wouldn't ever harm your mother. Believe me", his voice was broken and desperate.
Years of holding back and misunderstanding flooded out like a broken dam. I said ,"..I am sorry too, it's okay I believe you"
I forgive you too dad. I hope you stay well. This was the moment when I had come to terms with the fact I can't escape. I can't go back.
A bitter acceptance came out of my messy heart.
According to the Settings it is not possible for me to return since Kia flounce was an empty shell operated by how this world's force thought suits her the best for when the plot begins.
Simply a puppet being prepared for the puppet show.
..
..
As I helped him in the kitchen it felt strange. It was something I craved ever since I was born. We talked a lot as if I was his real daughter.
Does he know his daughter was never real? I kept such thoughts out of the way as I helped him.
I couldn't help but notice how different he was from my own father. My dad would only make me my favourite snack on my birthday,it didn't last for long. As things changed real quick and the little care I received also vanished…
Right now it makes me feel like I had been thrown back at that moment but..it's not my father.
I can never see him again.
Despite everything I missed him. "Kia? Honey, are you crying again? Aww my sweet little child I told you father is alright.", engulfing me in a warm hug while patting my head affectionately .
A gesture my dad never did… I looked at him. He is obviously thinking I am crying because I realised what I did in the past was wrong, and felt guilty. But he doesn't know it's out of the questions kind of thinking since I am not Kia.
if only I could see my father again..
Seeing me still sad. He sighed as he said ,"Kia don't cry, do you want dad to make you your favourite thing?"
I could care any less.
As he sighed again and said ,'" Oh I see, my little girl is all grown up for dad's special celestial brownies? "
I froze for a moment, I looked at him with bewildered eyes.
What!? It is the same thing my dad used to make for me when I was a kid for my birthday...when things were different and alright. Even the name is the same.
What..what is happening to me. I am not a crybaby!
It reminded me I never had a father who would cook for me, cry for me, or even care if I existed. He had a daughter who hated him, misunderstood him and wouldn't care about him. I felt my eyes get blurry.
I cried and he comforted me just like the first day I cried to him.
[A few hours later]
"Woah! Daddddd! You cooked all these?!" ,said Jia, she rushed over and hugged dad.
He said "look,look who is here?...my precious jia~ .If you are so surprised over dad's cooking then what will you do if you learn that Kia has also helped me cook for you?" , his voice sunny and wistful.
As Jia almost choked mid air.
She dramatically glanced at me and then at dad before questioning,"Did the sun rise from the west today? You two reconciled?! Really!?" As dad nodded, smiling .
The rest of the evening felt good.
We three spent time like any other family. It was awkward at times but it made me feel better.
As dad was already asleep by the evening the cooking took a toll on him. As jia and I were in the living room.
She said ,"Kia, look should I get these as well?" As she showed me some products online. I sighed. Who can guess her husband cheated on her?
My gaze judging,
Where did all those big talks of revenge go? I didn't ask since Jia didn't want dad to know about this. I sighed, a sigh filled with various emotions, mostly irony.
She noticed, her rosy lips morphed into an awkward pout as she asked "...I mean..Kia" he tone willow and soft, like something was weighing on her mind.
I sighed again this time more heavily with annoyance.
She smiled sweetly, her pretty face was enough to melt my half hearted annoyance.
"What?"I asked, putting my hands over my eyes for safety purposes, it was impossible to not get blinded by her smile.
Geez, pretty privilege..
"...Ahh nothing it's just, I expected my husband to come at least once, he didn't even call". My expression was afflicted with a hint of heartbreak.
Just like Kia, Jia's luck value was not too high, I guess it got used up on all her beauty.
"Beauty and luck value has nothing to do with each other otherwise you would have looked like an uncanny valley" spitted out Settings with a dirty laugh.
This fucker.
"We don't curse here Kia" said the shitty Settings.
My dad's luck value was average. I didn't gain much luck at all. But right now how can I think of my future when jia keeps on acting back and forth between a heartbroken wife to a vengeful ex.
The doorbell rang all of a sudden. Jolting me off my jumbled thoughts. I glanced at Kia who was tenderly wiping her ushed tears
I opened the door, I saw a tall man wearing all black with his hair tousled to the side. His expression conflicted with annoyance and resignations. With one look I knew it was none other than my brother in law.
He said impatiently ,"hello kia dear. May I please enter?" I moved aside to let him enter as jia immediately hmphed, dismissingly with a dramatic hair flick clearly not in the mood for her cheater of a husband
Geez..it's going to be rough today. My energy feels too drained. I should drink something-
"Kia! Come here!",said Jia, eyeing brother in law like a beast.
Ahhhhhh. No way I am gonna get swept up in their mess ... ahhhhhh!
"Ooohhh looks like the drama is about to start kekekekk" said Settings with its fucking useless laugh.
"You should stop addressing me this way! I am the only way for you to escape your doomed fate woman!" The settings yelled with blazing annoyance.
Now, I was now sitting on the middle sofa like a middle schooler as her parents fought like crazy. It was all random shouting.
"You said you would buy me the new Chanel purse!", Jia retorted.
He clapped back "Money, money, money! I don't have sooooo much money!", For some reason my brother in law had to use weird, dramatic movement to emphasise his points.
" Then why did you marry me!? You know I am no girl you can keep with a limited budget! Besides,....
we are not supposed to argue about this!" Jia yelled then shifted to normal volume.
Seriously a mid-life crisis between sentences?
He scorned, "What was the reason we are fighting?! Damn it!"
As they both looked at me. I sighed "According to my sis, brother-in-law cheated with the driver's wife."
He went immediately ."Yuck…blagh bleeeeegh.." I gave him tissues as he said almost in tears "ewww jia come on she is fuckung 67!"
I yawned, as she snorted, "67?! And you still cheated on me with a fucking OLD GEEZER!?"
Ahh drama.
He yelled back ,"me?! Why do you always think I cheat?! Do I look like I have no sense of taste? She literally is a living corpse!"
Wait ... I just remembered something. Did you….see my-"
he nervously gulped and cut her off , " ….Jia let's not divert alright. I really want to end your eternal suspicion for once and all "
She shot him a confused look, as she grew more suspicious
I said ,"He clearly didn't buy" yawning,
As he said ,"kia! What? She didn't even finish what she was questioning about!"his voice was laced with absurdity as he masterfully used his weird movements of emphasis.
It was too annoying to see them just having a staring competition so I blurted out nonsense, Jia just needed no reason to argue so..
It was bad as Jia started to smile. It gave me and my brother in law both a shiver down the spine. We both gulped, suddenly I found myself hiding behind the sofa.
As he looked helpless he said "jia I am sorry. Forgive me, I will buy it. I will buy your darn Chanel purse. I-i will also clean the house..and Jerry's wife? She is like my mother…please…forgive me ".
At this point I wouldn't be surprised if he grovelled for her sake
She seemed to stop smiling her ominously pretty smile,as she said at first in normal volume and then it changed drastically into full flare yelling ," Hmm..sounds good, but still we are not done yet! Have seen my MARIA!".
So the thing she was about to ask about was her fly? At this point I lost my energy to react.
As he asked,"who!?"
She went on a rage," My fly!? I couldn't find her the entire night. You killed her didn't you?!"
Wait…what is happening? A fly? Named Maria? What the hell? My brain felt fried,
The Settings commented "Is this a sitcom for the most ridiculous reasons to argue?"
no who the fuck names a fly? And WHY is he taking it seriously? I regained my absurdity.
He said ," Jia sweety, I am not so jobless to kill a fly..who had been stuck inside an airtight jar for over 6 months. Also enough with the flys. I also think we lost Mario."
she gasped as if someone struck her hard in the stomach before speaking between heavy breaths, "Mario?! Geez.."
I gulped as I questioned,"Umm..w-who is Mario? "
They both yelled at me as if I asked the obvious "the cockroach!"
I genuinely can't take this brain rot! Ahhhhh! Their ridiculous sitcom went on for more than 4 hours.
Is this how poor Timmy felt every time his parents ? (Her old neighbours son)