A jolt against Adrianna thighs cuts off her trails of thoughts as her phone rang . She stared at the caller ID that made her heart jumped in fear.
" I have to go , mother . " Adrianna muttered hurriedly and made a cross sigh with her rosary before rushing out of the church.
The Reverend mother slowly shook her head as she stared at Adrianna shoulder . " Peace be unto you , dearest child." She muttered with a silent prayer .
The Reverend mother is acquainted with Adrianna since when Adrianna was a little girl. Her parents always brought her to the church. The church is the only place for Adrianna to think well. That girl has burden in her heart that no one can ever fix. The guilt Adrianna is having is murderous. The Reverend mother slowly shook her head in pity.
"Hail Mary , full of grace....." The Reverend mother hummed softly with the rosary over her head .
Adrianna rushed out of the chapel hurriedly with her body jittering. She feared of Aunt Clarice reaction. As she took a glance at her wrist watch she took in her lips and ran over her hair with a soft exhale. It's past 7, Aunt Clarice would be starving and she could already view Stacy rolling her eyes waiting for her at the door .
Something struck on her face and she staggered almost falling on their face " Christ." Adrianna mumbled breathlessly holding her breath and saw the thing that struck her face. A ball, it was a ball. She saw a group of children running towards her with their sober cute faces.
" Sister .You aren't hurt? Are you?" One of them asked concerned .
" She got hurt!" A boy among them pointed at Adrianna bleeding nose. Wild gasp erupted from the children lips and they stared at Adrianna soberly .
" Oh goodness , sister .We are so sorry. " They held their ears with cute pouts on their lips .
Adrianna finally smiled , holding unto her bleeding nose" It's fine. Just be careful , okay. So you wouldn't get injured . " She smiled lightly and gave them the beach ball.
The children let go of their ears with dazzlingly smile spreading across their lips" Thank you., Aunty." They said with happy grin on their face.
The boy who asked the earlier question whispered to his friend and they started giggling spreading it to the other kid's. Adrianna stared at them confused. Are they laughing because of her bleeding nose or worn - out clothes and shoes. She looked tattered and she is aware of that. But these are the finest of her dress, you don't want to see the rest of her rags which she call dresses .
Suddenly the boy got pushed out among his friends and bit his lips shyly adding to her perplexity. If theses children dare spout nonsense , hell she was going to give them some home- training they refused to collect.. Adrianna creased her brows with a frown as she turned sharply walking away
" Go on. Tell her." Incoherent whispers from the kids
behind the back as she walked away.
" Be a man!" The boys encouraged giving him a little push.
" Auntie , you are really beautiful." The boy word made Adrianna halt in her tracks. No one except her parents called her beautiful. And the boys get displeased by her tattered looks. The clothes she wore are dresses Stacy turn to rags but Aunt Clarice gave it to her like it was something valuable.
" You are more beautiful than my mother. " The boy rushed to her with a wide grin " When I grow up . I would marry a beautiful woman like you . "
Adrianna bashed her lashes before releasing a thin line of smile , she bent closer to the kid's height " Don't just marry a beautiful woman. Marry someone you love . Okay. And don't talk about marriage yet. You are way too young for that. But thank you for calling me beautiful. You are so sweet." She pulled his cheeks playfully and roughed his hair .
Adrianna phone made a buzz and she knew she was doomed at that incessant ringing of the phone . She turned off taking to her heels fastly, she doesn't want any trouble tonight with her Aunt.
The boy stared delusioned with a sweet smile. His friends came closer. He staggered holding onto his sister shoulder.. " She called me sweet." He muttered holding his chest and his friend shook their heads bemused.
" Get off me!" His sister playfully snarled.
" Oh jealous!!!!" The others jested and bursted into laughter's holding their stomach as their laughter exploded more.
•
•
Adrianna stood at the door breathing through her mouth. She couldn't believe but she had to run all the way home, the bus drove off before she could get in. She couldn't enter a taxi because of her insufficient funds.
When orphan kid's whine about their guardians being wicked , yet they are dressed averagely, get pocket money and attend the regular school. Adrianna couldn't help but feel their ungratefulness. She would do anything to be in their shoes.
Adrianna turned the door knob slowly with her head popped inside , her heart accelerating at each turn. She breathed out relieved and walked in but felt a splash directed on her face. Her eyes widened with outrage as she stared at her dress. Did she just get bathed with fish water?
" Oh sorry. I thought you were the dumpster. You look pretty alike." Stacy threw the bucket at her feet and turned at the stairs.
" Mom, dino girl is here!!" She said with a wicked smile directed at Adrianna.
The name Dino girl was given to her by Stacey . On prom night , the most memorable night Adrianna have ever dreamed of. She had been crushing on a particular boy in highschool for the past two years but couldn't muster the courage. Strangely, the boy asked her to dance. She get to dance with Jones. Their school football Captain and girl crushes.
She couldn't contain her joy. She happily endured her burden. But on prom night , her dress she bought with her part time salary got drenched with fish water. Yes fish water! Stacey had assumed it to be a rag and she used it to clean the kitchen. She threw it away soiled and unrecognizable. Adrianna threw her fists up when she discovered Stacey cruel act.
She complained to Aunt Clarice who snubbed her completely and Adrianna had never felt dejected. Aunt Clarice got bored and went into the store. They was a string of hope for Adrianna. Aunt Clarice is a fashionista , she has to have some dresses. Her hopes got diminished immediately as she saw the outfit , Aunt Clarice brought out. A dinosaur outfit. It made her look like a clown on that day and she felt stupid.
Adrianna didn't want to disobey Aunt Clarice even though she didn't like the dress. She tried to talk her into giving her another dress, only for Stacey to ruin her chances telling Aunt Clarice that she was all giddy to attend prom because of a boy.
So hence her miserable night, she was forced to go to school dressed as a dinosaur , while Stacey in her elegant beautiful black net outfit. The whole school jeered when they saw her and gave her the name "Dino girl." Jones felt embarrassed , so embarrassed he couldn't stare into her eyes , he just walked off only for him to dance with Stacey that night.
" I really thought I felt something special like a connection. If you didn't want to dance with me, you should have said so but you came dressed this way just to humiliate me. You are a sick weirdo. " Jones spewed angrily that night.
Adrianna didn't knew who gave him the wrong impression but ever since that night till their college examination. Jones hated her ! Even his stares were so cold. His pride got hurt but her heart was shattered seeing him together with Stacey sharing their moments. Moments she dreamed about, moment she saved for.
Worst Stacey got hooked with him and they started dating. Adrianna couldn't shake off this feeling that. Stacey had planned this all along. It was hurtful seeing him every weekend in their house and seeing him kissing Stacey, sometimes she heard them making out.
Adrianna then realized nobody in their right sense would ever look her way and even if they did ,it would be for a fleeting period before her ugliness struck them hard on the face .
" Oh goodness. Stacey ." Adrianna held her dress squeezing out the fish water.
" Adrianna. Is that you. ?" Clarice approached the door with cucumbers on her face , just like her daughter she is obsessed with skin care. Adrianna looked beautiful without taking care of her skin and it annoys them.
" Oh goodness. Why are you stinking. ?" Clarice covered her nose , stepping far away from Adrianna immediately.
" It .. Sta..."
" Adrianna bumped into me while I was about to throw it out." Stacey cut off with a wicked sneer on her face.
" How dare you. " Clarice hand strucked her face . Adrianna gripped her wet dress with tears brimming at the corners of her eyes.
" You foolish .pauper. Do you plan on tainting my polished tiles. Do you know how much I got it! You disgusting thing! You incorrigible fool! You bastard!!! How dare you smear my polished tiles. Can your late parents afford it . You miscreant!" Clarice angrily screamed and pushed Adrianna roughly.
" Wipe it off . " Clarice muttered with her eyes blazing in anger.
Adrianna helplessy swallowed , she searched for the mob stick to no avail. Clarice stumped on the floor impatiently " Where is the mob stick!" She snapped at Adrianna furiously.
Adrianna took in her lips with unshed tears" I. It was here this morning." She muttered inaudibly trying not to release her tears.
Stacey tore off Adrianna dress from her body and threw it on the floor stepping on it with her feet. " Wipe it before it gets inside the kitchen."
Adrianna couldn't take it in. Tears brimming at the corners of her eye . A tear slipped off Adrianna eyes and she clenched her dress tightly breathing slowly. " I just got that shirt yesterday and... And you tore it off."
" Oh I am sorry. " Stacey said with a glitzy smile crept up on her lips. " I thought it was one of the rags."
" But. It's new It has a.. a logo and..."
" Stop ranting. "Clarice angrily cuts in " Now make it shine. Go on there prepare our meal and make me a bath ." Clarice adds before walking away .
" And oh. Go to my room and pick up my dirty laundry. Dino girl." Stacey grimly whispered and crouched her face.
" eww you smell Adrianna. Really,,,,,, bad." Her wicked laughter followed as she turned her back heading out of the door.
" Mom , I am going over to Jones." Stacey yelled from the door.
" Alright sweetie. Have fun. " Clarice yelled back from the living room, Clarice soon was laughing as she watched her soap operas.
Adrianna stared at her naked breasts. She was in her bra, she stared at the torn off dress. Her gaze fell on something , the mob stick. It was behind the door all along and Stacey stood behind it purposely.
Adrianna released those fresh tears she has been holding onto. She held her chest as her heart wrenched in undescribable pain. She felt so tortured she couldn't make a noise while crying.