Page 36 of She will Always be Mine

“Actually, I don’t wanna go yet, Papa,” I answer sheepishly. “Monica said classes are slow because of the upcoming festival so I’m not really missing much.”

Lines dot my father’s forehead as he mulls over what I said and then nods, albeit a little reluctantly, giving Mom an unreadable look before going back to his food.

My mom is not being herself lately and the others are starting to notice, which is why I couldn’t go against her. I get a sense she’ll snap if I make any wrong move.

I don’t know if it’s only because of me or something else.

I get up from the chair as soon as I have finished my dinner and put the plates in the sink in our open kitchen. Without another word, I run upstairs to my room and shut the door behind me as soon as I’m inside. I still don’t know what I would reply to my blackmailer. And even if I did, I can’t do anything but wait for Pri to return so I can ask her for help.

Sitting at my desk in the corner, I nervously tap my fingers on the surface while reading the same text over again. It doesn’t take long until there’s another text from the anonymous sender.

UNKNOWN:Did you do as I asked?

Is he testing me?I can’t help but think.

If this is his way of not revealing himself, he already fucked up.

Still, it would confirm my suspicions if I can get him to divulge something that could help me prove it’s Zain. Just one tiny slipup from him, and that would help me to use it against him. I’ll make him pay for it.

He went too far, mentally torturing me while being right under my nose.

The sleepless nights I spent feeling claustrophobic...

I blame it all on him.

It’s the only reason I decide to keep his identity to myself for now, because I’m curious to see how long he keeps up the act. If I confront him right now, he might deny it altogether and he would most likely delete all our exchanges to make the proof disappear. I’ll have to do it face to face when the time comes.

UNKNOWN:I’ll take your silence as a yes.

“Of course you will,” I say with a sneer.

I wait for another text but it doesn’t come. He leaves me hanging because I don’t for one second think he’s back only to inform me that it’s over since I kept my end of the deal. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth and a bad, ominous feeling in my chest.

He seems patient and less antsy unlike the last time. I bet he plans to enjoy the power he has over me.

The stupid and naive part of me thought the worst was already over. A part of me hoped that maybe, just maybe there’s a slim chance of the tiff between him and Riaan simmering down and he would choose to end the blackmailing on friendly terms. But now, everything has gone up in flames.

Frustration has me gripping my phone tighter and I’m so close to hurling it at the wall, when my bedroom door shoves open and Pri enters.

“What’s up?”

“I need your help. Can you recharge my phone service online?” I ask.

I was going to wait until tomorrow to seek her help but I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight if I don’t text back. I stare at her hopefully when she nods and unlocks her phone.

“Sure. Why didn’t you do it yourself?” she asks, confused.

“I uh… didn’t have enough balance.”

“Oh okay.” She types on her phone and after a minute, there’s a notification on mine indicating the activation is done.

“Thanks, Pri.”

As if she can sense there’s something weighing on my mind, she makes no suggestion to watch a movie tonight, like we’ve been doing the past few nights.

Pri knows me all too well. When my mood is like this, she knows I would rather be left alone. Before leaving, she walks over to my bookshelf and chooses from one of the new books to read.

When she sees the one she likes, she mumbles on her way out. “I’m borrowing this, Di.”

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