Wednesday, 7 April 2021
Faith hears Chris’ doorknob hit the wall. The lights are switched on after. Marc, Ian, and Steven barges in.
Chris sits up from his mat, “This is not what it looks like.”
Everyone ignores him.
“Faith, get up!” Ian shakes her leg. “So, this is where you are.”
Faith pretends to wake up, looking shocked.
Marc is sitting at the foot of the bed, looking at the floor. He does not say a word. He keeps shaking his head in disbelief at where he found Faith.
“Pack all your things now,” Steven commands Faith.
“Should I change?” Faith looks back at him.
“No,” Steven argues. “Just do what I told you to do and pack your things!”
Faith has a glimpse of Chris.
He has his fist clenched while looking at the back of Steven. She knows that if they are not her uncles, he would have had his way.
As Faith walks out of the room, she sees Howard standing at the door with his feet tapping. Faith avoids eye contact with him. The rest follows behind Faith with Chris at most back.
“I spoke to one of your seniors in your division,” Ian turns around to speak to Chris. “You might hear from them when you’re back to work. I heard you weren’t at work today when you were supposed to.”
Chris is leaning against the door with his arm folded. He just smiles at Ian.
The ride home is noticeably quiet.
Faith runs up to her room as soon as she and Marc reach home.
She quickly takes out her phone and dials Chris’s number, but it goes straight to voicemail. She dials another three times before Marc knocks on the door.
“We need to talk, Faith,” Marc says through the door, sounding disappointed.
She puts her phone underneath her pillow and opens the door.
“Yes, dad?” Faith lowers her head.
Marc passes through and sits on the chair. “Come here, sit.”
“Is there anything that we are lacking as your parents, Faith?” Marc asks, but Faith keeps quiet the whole conversation. “We gave you everything you ever wanted. Your own room, the devices you wanted and many more. Why are you doing this?”
Faith lowers her gaze and fiddles with her fingers.
“You have nothing to say for yourself?” Marc asks again. “Not even apologising to me, Faith?”
I don’t want to say sorry just because you want me to say it.
“Your mother lost a few of her jewellery,” Marc said. “Was it you, Faith?”
Faith doesn't speak.
“It was you isn’t it?” Marc's eyes widen. “Your mum and I are beyond disappointed in you, Faith.” Marc stands up from his chair, shakes his head and walks out of her room.
Faith closes her door immediately and goes back to her phone.
Nothing. There aren’t any calls or messages from Chris. It is like he just disappeared.
She then remembers what Chris said just yesterday:
“No matter what happens, Faith, promise me we will not leave each other.”
What happened to that promise, Chris?
As soon as she wakes up the next morning, she checks her phone.
Nothing, again.
She calls Chris again but this time it finally rings.
He answers the phone.
“Chris?” Faith asks for him.
“What do you want, Faith?” Chris doesn't sound glad to hear her voice. “I’m at work.”
“I want to know that we are alright,” Faith is worried. “Remember what you said yesterday?”
“What did I say?” Chris sounds more annoyed.
“You said that no matter what happens, we promise-”
“I’m busy, Faith” Chris cuts her off. “Anyway, your uncle fetching me from work to your place later to talk. I gotta go now.”
Chris hangs up the phone.
Faith keeps pacing around her room.
Why is Uncle Ian bringing him here?
What are they going to do to him?
Faith startles by the sound of the knocks on her door.
“What did you do to all the jewellery you stole?” Marc asks firmly.
“I sold them to get money to spend,” Faith lowers her gaze as she spoke.
“How much did you get from selling them?” Marc sighs.
“Around two thousand dollars,” Faith’s voice became softer as she wraps her arms around herself.
“What did you do with that money, Faith?” Marc’s getting angry.
Faith doesn't answer. She is afraid that Marc will get angrier, but Marc senses her.
“You spent it on Chris, didn’t you?” Marc’s voice is taut with anger. “You did right, Faith?”
Marc shakes his head and stomps away. “I really don’t know what to do with you, Faith.”
It is almost eight in the evening; she hears a car drives into their driveway. She looks out her window and sees Chris alighting Ian’s car. Chris doesn’t look at all happy.
Faith’s heartbeat rises as they approach the front door.
A few minutes later, Marc knocks on her door.
“Get yourself to the lounge, now!” Marc says and walks off.
The atmosphere over at the lounge was intense.
Everyone is sitting on the couch but Faith.
Marc has his arms crossed over his chest. Uncle Ian stares at Chris with a clenched fist. Uncle Steven is looking at Faith with a smirk and his leg crossed and shaking. Zaily sits on the couch next to Marc with an obviously disappointed face.
“So, is there anything you want to say for yourself, Faith?” Ian breaks the silence. “What about you, Chris?”
Chris shrugs his shoulder. He is showing no fear because somehow, he knows that Ian, Steven and Marc have nothing to report against him.
“You seem so nonchalant huh, Chris?” Ian's eyes squint towards Chris with his voice raised.
Chris smirks.
“Have you ever touched her?” Ian asks.
“No, I have not,” Chris answers firmly.
“Are you sure?” Ian stands up and points his finger at Chris. “What if I bring both of you and get some check at the hospital, do you dare to? You do know that she’s underaged, right?”
Chris stands up and looks at Ian, “Let’s go, then.”
Faith becomes so scared, but she composes herself so that it wouldn’t look like Chris is lying.
Oh my god, Chris’s crazy!
Marc raises his hand, signalling Ian to stop and sit down.
“We brought you here to settle this once and for all,” Marc says looking at Faith and Chris. “Faith, take everything that Chris gave you and return them back to him. There should be no memories of him in this house.”
Faith freezes and stares at Marc with sadness in her eyes. She turns her gaze towards Chris. There isn’t sadness let alone any emotion. Chris doesn't even look back at Faith.
Marc looks at Faith, “Go, now!”
Faith runs up to her room, sobbing and wiping her tears. She grabs everything that is from Chris and put it in a bag.
I can’t believe he doesn’t even care or fight for me!
Faith brings his things down. She stares at him while tears come running down her cheeks. Marc takes the bag from her hand.
“We don’t owe you anything,” Marc passes the bag to Chris. “You can leave now.”
Chris stands up, takes the bag, and walks towards the front door.
Faith screams for Chris as she cries harder, “You promised me, Chris!” Chris ignores her completely. “You promised no matter what, we will not leave each other! You promised… you promised…”
Zaily hugs Faith as she cries. “He’s not worth it, Faith.”
“He’s worth it, mum!” Faith pushes Zaily away and runs up to her room and locks the door.
She takes her phone and calls Chris, but it goes straight to voicemail repeatedly. She is staring into space as her fingers kept dialling Chris’s number like she is in a trance. She doesn't know how many times she called Chris.
Why did you just leave me like this, Chris? Why?
