The scent of roses in this house is very distinctive. The flower frames and vases always hold fresh, neatly arranged red roses. Our family has always loved red roses for their beauty, their soft yet sharp scent, and their deep symbolic meaning. Red roses are a symbol of love and courage. It's ironic, because this house is no longer as beautiful or as bold as it once was.
The man, William, was sitting on the living room sofa, sipping hot tea from a small porcelain cup. He was wearing a long-sleeved white shirt, neatly rolled up to the elbows, and black trousers, which made him look even more arrogant than usual. He leaned back calmly, one leg crossed over the other.
I stood on the stairs, half hidden behind the wall. I hugged the railing and stared at him silently. But William seemed to notice. He turned his head slowly, and his gaze fell directly on me.
"What are you doing there?" he asked, his tone casual, but I could sense his displeasure hidden in that faint smile.
I looked away. "Nothing," I replied curtly.
I slowly began to descend the stairs and approached the sofa. My breath was long and heavy. "Why are you still here? Aren't you going home?" I asked, my tone impolite, but I didn't care.
William raised an eyebrow and then smiled sarcastically. "I just want to spend some time at my beloved girlfriend's house. Why, hm?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Don't you have work? You should just go home."
William laughed softly, restrained. Then he sighed like a teacher dealing with a naughty student. "It just so happens that my workload has been thin lately. That's why I want to spend some time with... my angel."
I felt nauseous. "Shut up. You disgusting thing. Don't ever call my mother that."
"Why? It's an idol. Most girls like being called that. Including your mother."
"Your ass idol!" I snapped. "That's absolutely disgusting."
William sipped the rest of his tea and set the glass down on the glass table with a soft sound that only made my chest feel tighter. "Hey, kid. Watch your language with me. You owe me a lot, you know."
I frowned. "Owe me? I never felt like you were nice to me."
William brushed his black hair back with his right hand. He stood up, straightening his shirt collar.
"If it weren't for me, your mother might still be curled up in the corner of her room. Crazy. Talking to herself. Crying every night. Now? She can laugh. She can sing. All because of me."
I took a step closer. "It's no different than before. She's calmer, but also more distant from me. Don't you realize you're hurting me?"
He stared at me. Then, flatly and slowly, he answered. "I know."
"Why?" I asked softly, my voice more like a whisper than a question. But from my lips, that one word carried a hundred meanings. Why did you do that? Why did you ruin our relationship? Why do you want to take my mother away from me?
William didn't answer immediately. He stepped toward me, stopping just inches from my face. His hand lifted and gently patted my shoulder.
He bent down, leaning slightly toward me, and whispered in my ear. His voice was soft, but it sounded like a devil's whisper.
"Because your mother is mine alone. I don't like sharing her. Not with anyone. Not even with her child. With you."
I stared into his eyes, his green pupils feeling like they were stripping me naked.
"Is that why you're keeping me away from my mother?" I asked, my voice starting to tremble.
William grinned. "Bingo."
With that, he turned. With a leisurely stride, he walked away from me. His leather shoes echoed off the floor of the too-quiet house. He headed for the kitchen, or maybe to my mother's room. I didn't care.
I stood frozen, my body frozen. My ears still ringing from his last sentence. My hands clenched into fists. Then I slowly sank onto the sofa, limp, like yesterday, like the day before, like years repeating themselves over and over again, suffocating.
My palms covered my face. My breathing was heavy. My chest was tight.
Many thoughts crossed my mind. About my father. About my mother. About this house. About me.
About how alone I was.
***
That day, the sky was clear, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the living room curtains and illuminating the dining table. The faint aroma of Mom's homemade toast lingered, mixed with the scent of the red roses that always graced this house. I sat quietly, staring at my empty plate I'd just cleared, while Mom and William were still busy chatting.
William looked so relaxed, sitting with his legs crossed, occasionally sipping his tea, occasionally flashing Mom a smile. A smile that, to me, looked more like the devil's. A smile that seemed to say he was the winner in this house.
I wrung my fingers under the table, trying to control my emotions that felt like they were about to overflow.
"Then, let's go for a walk to the city park," William said, gently patting the back of Mom's hand. "I heard there's a small festival there today. Lots of food vendors, music, and even a small amusement ride."
Mom's eyes lit up. "Wow, that's so much fun! Grie, you'll love it, won't you? You always loved playing in the park when you were little."
I looked up and met Mom's face. The smile on her face was genuine, just like her mother's smile before everything changed. My heart wanted to say yes out loud. But then my gaze fell on William, who was staring at me with a sharp, mocking gaze, as if to say, I'm the one making your mother laugh now, not you.
I gritted my teeth, then tried to keep my tone calm.
"Yeah… maybe."
My mother chuckled softly, then stood up. "Then let's get ready. I'll go change first. Grie, you change too, and dress nicely. We don't get opportunities like this often."
I nodded slowly, got up from the chair, and started walking toward the stairs. But after just a few steps, William's voice called out to me.
"Hey, kid."
I stopped in my tracks, turning my head halfway. "What else?"
He smiled lopsidedly. "You should learn to be grateful. If it weren't for me, your mother might still be stuck in sadness. So… don't ruin today's mood with that gloomy face of yours."
I glared at him with hatred, but I knew if I answered too harshly, my mother would be disappointed. I took a deep breath, then replied coldly.
"I don't need you to make Mom happy."
William's smile faded slightly, his eyes narrowing. But I immediately turned and went upstairs to my room without waiting for his response.
In my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the slightly open window. The morning breeze drifted in, bringing the scent of wet grass. I grabbed clean clothes from the closet and began to change. I muttered to myself,
"Why do I have to go with them? Why can't I just say no? But if I don't, Mom will be sad…"
I stared at my reflection in the small mirror in the corner of my room. My dark eyes looked tired, with dark circles under them. I was 16, but my face looked like someone who had endured the burdens of life for too long.
I patted my face lightly, trying to regain my composure. "For Mom... I'll go. But if William tries anything, I won't stay silent."
After getting ready, I went downstairs. Mom was standing there, beautiful in a light blue dress, her hair tied back in a half-tie. I was momentarily stunned; my mother truly looked stunning.
"Grie, come here," she said cheerfully.
I smiled slightly and walked over. William stood beside her, wearing a black shirt and a thin gray jacket. He glanced me up and down and chuckled.
"At least this time you don't look like a street kid," she said sarcastically.
I clenched my fists, but my mother interrupted me with a chuckle. "Enough, stop making fun of each other. Let's go before it gets too crowded."
William's car pulled out of the driveway. I sat in the back seat, staring at the busy street. My mother sat in the front seat, occasionally chatting with William, occasionally laughing. I remained silent, but inside I felt like a thousand needles were pricking me.
I desperately wanted my mother to look back, ask how I was, talk to me. But no. During the ride, only my mother and William's voices could be heard, mixed with the soft music from the car radio.
I bit my lip, trying to hold back the pain in my chest. "Am I really worthless in her eyes? Have all my struggles for two years been in vain?"
When we arrived at the city park, it was bustling. Many small children were running around, laughter could be heard everywhere, and food vendors were shouting out their wares. The aroma of satay, roasted corn, and cotton candy filled the air.
Mother looked so happy, her eyes sparkling like a child's. She held William's arm and pointed in various directions. "Look, there are small fireworks for sale! Oh, and there's a ball-tossing game stand too!"
I walked behind them, my head down, feeling out of place amidst the hustle and bustle.
Suddenly, Mother turned her head. "Grie! Come play over there!"
I looked up, a little surprised. "Eh?"
Mother laughed. "Don't be shy, come try that game."
I looked into her eyes, saw how genuine her smile was. For the first time, I felt a little cared for. I nodded. "Okay…"
We walked to the game stand. William handed the cash to the attendant. "Three tosses for this kid," he said, patting me hard on the shoulder.
I turned to him, annoyed. "Don't touch me."
He just laughed sarcastically. "Hurry up, show me what you can do."
I took a deep breath, picked up the ball, and threw it at the stacked bottles. The first two throws missed, just grazing the rim. William chuckled behind me. "As expected, incompetent."
I clenched my fist, picked up the last ball. I closed my eyes for a moment, imagined William's face in front of the bottle, then threw with all my might. THUD! The bottles fell apart.
My mother immediately applauded. "Well done, Grie!"
I turned to William with a triumphant look. He just snorted, but I could tell he was upset.
I smiled a little for the first time that day.
But deep down, I knew… this happiness was fragile, and could be gone at any moment.