A few minutes passed and nothing can be heard aside from the whispers of the wind brought by the night. I am still holding the burning cheeks that my mother just slapped in between my palms.
“W-why?” breaking the silence, I only managed to croak the word.
She slapped me again on the left cheek even with my hand covering it. It was not as strong as the earlier one but my head still turned on the side.
I heard the shocked gasps from the househelps that were concealed behind the shadows. I can’t ask them for help, the only thing they can do is watch me getting beaten by my mother. They may want to help me since Ii was close to them, but they can’t do it at the expense of exposing themselves in my mother’s anger. The hate my mom feels about me might be transferred to them, hitting them, or worse, she’ll fire them as easily as that.
“What?! Do you still have the guts to answer me back, you ungrateful b*tch?!” I shut my eyes close as Ii feel my mom’s loud voice reverberating throughout the house. Fury is still reflected dangerously in her eyes while my dad is behind her, acting as if he had seen and heard nothing. Well, what do I expect from him, anyway? He indulges my mom so much that he is willing to sacrifice his own daughter to fulfill his wife’s wish.
My tears continued to fall on my face like a waterfall. I can already feel the numbness on my cheeks from the three strong slaps I endured tonight. As much as I want to defend myself and prove that their accusations are wrong, I can’t because I know inside me that no matter what I say, they will never believe me. I am convicted in their eyes and for them that is all that matters. 
As I felt numbness in my cheeks, I forced myself to block out whatever my mom was saying to me. It doesn’t matter if I listen or not, those words are degrading enough for me and I can’t take any more of those today. If only I had the option to cut my ears and stop hearing from her, I would gladly do it.
I just stared blankly at her side until she turned her back at me. Maybe she gave up knowing that I wasn’t listening to her anymore. I was even surprised that she did not hurt me for not listening. Maybe her palms are numb too, given the strength she put in there earlier. But when I noticed that she started walking towards the grand staircase, I panicked and tried to stop her on her way. 
“No, mommy! Please, believe me, Chaos is not a bad influence, he is not what you painted him to be. In fact, the truth is he’s helping me!”
“Help?” she shook her head. “I can see that you are utterly blinded now.”
She faced me properly, “If he is really that ‘good influence’ as you insist he is, why did you go home late today? For goodness sake, it’s 7 pm! Is that the definition of good influence to you? And what help are you talking about? Help, meaning he’s helping you how to ruin your life, is that it? I can’t believe you!”
I shook my head as a new set of tears fell. “Mommy, please, for once try to listen to me.”
“That’s it, Tanleigh Mystic. Get out of my house! I don’t want to see you here or around me. Do not bring any belongings. After all, the things you have now were paid and provided by us. If you want to be with that guy, go ahead!”
With that she immediately turned her back on me again and proceeded to the stairs.
As soon as she left, I could feel more than a dozen eyes watching me. I know the househelps and drivers are just here somewhere but they can’t get near me, not when my mom hadn’t fully left yet. I understand them though, I really do. And I very much prefer they stay out of this than risk losing their job or getting hurt in the process.
I can hear my mother’s heels clacking against the stairs while she’s going up to the second floor of the house. I continued to sob uncontrollably hoping that she would somehow change her mind about me.
When she proceeded as if she heard nothing, that’s when I realised that maybe I’m really not as important as I think I am in her thoughts. I looked at my dad, thinking that maybe if mom wouldn’t, then he would.
“D-dad.” My voice cracked from crying too much.
“Get her to leave the house, Fernan,” I heard my mother speak as she continued to ascend.
I looked at my dad with hopeful, misty eyes. Maybe he’ll be kind enough to help me this time. However my hopes shattered when he shook his head and looked at me disapprovingly.
“If you were decent enough, you would know that this hour is not the proper time for a girl to go home, especially with a guy by her side. You went too far this time, Tanleigh. You should’ve kept your mouth shut if you do not have anything sensible to say.”
He turned his back on me and went after my mom hurriedly.
Just as he walked towards the stairs, he looked at me one last time. “It’s better if you leave,” he said with finality.
I stood there frozen and dumbfounded. Is this real? My parents insist on me leaving? I mean, I know a time would come where they want nothing to do with me, but I did not expect it to be today. Not when I finally had the courage to find the help that I needed.
Dad’s words echoed in my mind.
It’s better if you leave…
Better if you leave…
If you leave…
You leave…
Leave…
Leave.