Retching

But I didn't want them digging up my grandfather's coffin either.

Lawrence paused for a moment. He looked at me and praised, "So Yvette's idea worked. You are more docile now."

Before the Marlins found me, Yvette Marlin was the one who lived in my place. Yvette's grandfather was the only family I knew before that fateful day. Her father died at a construction site, so his wife tossed me to Yvette's grandfather and went MIA.

I didn't wonder why he brought up Yvette. Lawrence beckoned me like he would a dog. "Come here."

I was in the spot furthest away from Lawrence, and I didn't even spare him a single look after I got into the car. All of a sudden, I was very interested in the rug underneath. I did not do as he said. I refused to.

That only made him sterner. "I said, come here."

I did not answer. I tensed my back, trying my best to save my crumbling dignity, even though it was gone the moment I begged for mercy from my tormentors.

My silence infected the air. Lawrence wasn't used to this kind of quiet, or he probably didn't want to wait, so he extended his arm and got closer to me.

My back tensed further the moment he extended his arm, but I was already backed to the window. There was nowhere else I could go.

The moment he held my arm, my nose was assailed by the stench of alcohol. That brought up some memories.

I did something wrong, and my parents took away my cards. Furious, I stormed off and went to my grandpa's place.

My grandfather was seriously ill by the time I got there. Without a single cent to my name, I had no choice but to call my parents, yet I couldn't get through.

Then, some rich kids from Astonia showed up, looking gleeful and mischievous. "I heard you need money, Ms. Marlin? How about you get on your knees and grovel to us? Maybe we'll lend you some cash if we feel like it."

Every time I closed my eyes, I could see Grandpa coughing on his bed, and every cough seemed to take everything he had. Sometimes he'd even spit out chunks of blood.

I went down on my knees without hesitation. The room was quiet, save for the sounds of my groveling. I did it so hard, my forehead was still hurting.

When I was done, the rich kids laughed and tossed me a grand total of fifty dollars. "That's how much you're worth, Ms. Marlin. Mr. Seinfield's words, not ours." They left happily.

I had no choice but to take out a loan from the loan sharks, but my grandfather died in the end, anyway. He didn't get treated in time.

When I was done with the funeral, it was time to pay up. I called Lawrence and asked for a loan, but he sneered and hung up.

These memories suffocated me, and goosebumps appeared on the arm Lawrence was holding. It didn't feel like a hand was holding my arm. No, it was more like a serpent coiling its slimy body around me. I could feel my heart freezing up.

My head started to spin. Nausea caught up to me, and I wanted to hurl. I swung Lawrence's hand off and bent over, my hand clutching the front seat.

I held my neck with my gloved hand and started to retch, but nothing came out. Of course. I barely had anything to eat the last few days.

Even so, Lawrence covered his nose with a tissue and looked at me with disgust. "Yvonne!" he warned.

I ignored him and kept on retching until I shook off that urge to vomit.

Lawrence's veins were starting to throb. I knew that look. He was on the edge of exploding. I did not try to play dumb like I used to. He would not tolerate that kind of behavior from me.

My body was weakened, and I was wobbling. I kept my head down, and my hand was still holding the front seat, though it was shaking.

Back Home

"Sorry, I… I'll clean it up. I'll take a seat in the car behind us. Sorry I, uh, sorry I dirtied the place."

Lawrence stopped moving again and looked at me suspiciously. A tense moment later, he extended his hand and tried to check my temperature.

The sight of his encroaching hand made me freeze. I knew I shouldn't move away, or it would make him mad. I used to worry about making him mad. Every time he got angry, he would mock me relentlessly like I was the most worthless thing in the world.

It was embarrassing and heartbreaking for me. I remained stiffly in my seat, but I told myself not to move away.

However, the moment his fingers touched me, I had that feeling of a slimy serpent coiling itself around my body again, and I dodged his touch.

Lawrence's hand froze in midair. He was looking at me, and I could sense his impatience and frustration. My head was starting to spin again.

I shook my head, but he was gone. In his place was my grandfather, bedridden and hooked up to all kinds of machines.

The hospital stopped my grandfather's treatment because I failed to get a loan and pay the bills. I was kneeling beside my grandfather, crying in an ugly manner.

It took my grandfather everything he had just to say something, but he forced a smile and asked, "How are they treating you, sweetheart?"

I covered my face and sobbed my heart out. Even though my parents cared about Yvette more than they did about me, even though Yvette was hostile toward me for some reason, even though Lawrence despised me, and even though no one liked me at all, through my sobs, I replied, "They've been treating me great."

My grandfather extended his hand, trying to pat me. "You found your family, sweetheart. A loving one."

Before I could get closer to him, he closed his eyes. Forever.

I blinked, and a drop of tear fell.

Lawrence wanted to scold me, but he swallowed his words and looked at me. In the end, he said nothing and coolly told the driver to drive away.

I wiped my tears with my sleeve and curled up in the corner, trying my best to stay inconspicuous. Everything around me was blurry. I hugged my legs, thinking, 'If only Lawrence had helped me, Grandpa could've been saved. I could've never taken out that loan. This mess could've never happened.'

Yeah, if only.

The car came to a stop, but the inertia pushed me ahead, and I bumped my head against the back of the front seat. My wound—now with scabs—threatened to rip open again.

Lawrence took a glance at me. "What's with your forehead?"

I covered my forehead and said nothing. All I did was shake my head.

He didn't press further. Lawrence got out of the car and left me to my devices as he strode into the Marlins' estate.

I got into the house and wanted to get upstairs and jump into the shower. When I was undressing myself, I took off the tattered glove, revealing my left hand. There were no wounds, but my pinky was bent at an unnatural angle.

I did it to myself. I broke it, and my tormentors laughed in glee before they would give me some scraps.

This was also a reminder of my experience. This was something I would carry with me all my life to remind me I must stay vigilant. Always.

I took a shower, changed into clean clothes, put on my glove, and went back downstairs.

It was time for dinner. My mother couldn't believe I was back. She waved at me and grumbled, "Where have you been? You couldn't even call us?"

I thought this was a little unfair to me. Just when I was about to talk to my mother, someone interrupted us.

"How do I look, Mom?" Yvette came fluttering down like some kind of fairy. She was in a dress I'd never seen before.

Arrogant Lawrence

That grabbed my mother's attention, and she looked away from me. "You look great."

Yvette just stood there and smirked at me. "You're wearing an awful lot, Eve."

Everyone turned their attention to me. I met Yvette's eyes, and her gaze was sardonic. My heart skipped a beat, but I did not talk back like I used to. I composed myself and was about to say something, but Yvette held my mother's arms, smiling sweetly.

"I bought the same dress for Eve, too, Mom."

Mom nodded, apparently happy that Yvette was so thoughtful.

Yvette looked at me again. I did not miss the malice in her eyes. "Do you want to get changed, Eve?"

I stayed quiet, thinking about my scars. I declined, "No, thank you."

Yvette looked hurt, and she forced an answer. "O-Oh, alright."

Lawrence did not look happy at all. He gave me a glance. Maybe it was a warning, but he didn't make it too obvious. After all, he was a guest in someone else's house.

My mother noticed my clothes and frowned. She lectured, "Yvette's just being kind."

Yvette paled, as if on command. I had no idea humans could do that. She forced a smile as if Mom had just brought up something sad for her. "It's alright, Mom. I can understand why she hates me."

I did not talk back to Mom or call Yvette a hypocrite like I used to. I fell silent for a while and answered, "Thanks for the gift, then."

Whatever my mother wanted to say to me, she choked on it. Lawrence was surprised as well.

We started dinner, and my mother eagerly filled my plate with food. Unlike my old self, I kept thanking her. That shocked her so much, she nearly checked if I had a fever. I did not.

She heaved a sigh of relief and said nothing. Instead, she gave me back the card she had taken from me. "Your father and I were worried sick when you left the house, Eve. We'll never try to control you again. Here's your card. Your father put some money into the bank."

I gripped the card tightly and loosened up. This card came too late.

Yvette's knuckles were white from how hard she was holding her fork. She kept staring at me, and when I met her eyes, she smiled again. "Law, you still haven't given Eve any present."

She leaned forward just to get closer to Lawrence. The necklace that was perched on her collarbone slid down, and it stood out. I remembered that necklace. I saw it in an auction, and Lawrence was there as well.

I adored the necklace, but I didn't have enough money. Lawrence told me he would buy the necklace for my birthday if I behaved myself.

And now Yvette was wearing it.

Lawrence looked at me and, as if he wanted to explain himself, spoke. "The necklace goes better with Yvette, so…"

'So, you gave it to her,' I finished in my mind.

I hung my head low and said quietly, "It's alright. You can give the necklace to whoever you want."

'You don't have to tell me. I know you hate me,' I thought. I cleaned my hands and stood up.

"Thanks for the food. Enjoy the rest of your dinner, Mom. You, too, Mr. Seinfield."

As I expected, Lawrence gave me a surprised but satisfied look. I got to the second floor and ran into him at the corner.

Lawrence was leaning on the wall, playing with his lighter. He puffed a ring of smoke, but I stood in my place. I did not pounce at him like the old me would. He arched an eyebrow. This was not what he was used to, but he seemed happy about it.

"So, you really have learned your place, Yvonne." Lawrence tucked his lighter away and closed in on me.

The stench of tobacco was taking over the air around me. It choked me, and I scrambled backward. Lawrence stopped in his tracks and did not go any further.

He looked at me and, as if he was pitying me, spoke. "That necklace belongs to Yvette, but since you behaved yourself, I can also give you a present."