Girls of Volin High

Meeting The Roman Family

THIRD PERSON POV

“Is it okay to let Charlotte babysitting my brother and sister? She seems busy when we arrived at her home.” Dawn asked Cataleya, who is driving.

“Yes, it’s fine. Don’t worry too much. Charlotte has nothing to do. Even if she does, she wouldn’t say no since she knows the real reason why your siblings can’t follow you today.” Cataleya assured.

“I wonder what will happen today. Do you think my mother would be there as well?” Cataleya shrugged her shoulder.

“I don’t know. My question for you is what will you do when you meet your grandparents? Will you introduce yourself as Your mother’s daughter, or would you ask them another question? What is the purpose of meeting them today, Dawn?” Cataleya asked since she is curious.

“To be honest, I don’t know,” Dawn said while looking outside of the windows. The scenery seems serene, and it helps to calm her troubling mind.

“But- I am curious about the reason why my mother decided to abandon us. Although I am happy that she is not there to hit me anymore.” Cataleya cringed when she heard Dawn’s resolution.

“Was it that bad?” Cataleya asked while keeping her eyes on the road.

“It was. I was a middle schooler who has no idea why my mother would do this to me. That woman hit me everyday without telling me the reason for her doing so. At some point, I thought it’s what all parents should do until one of my middle school teachers noticed that I’ve been missing school too much.” Cataleya raised her eyebrow.

“Did your teacher went to see you at home?” Dawn nodded.

“A few days later, that woman abandoned us. Luckily my siblings don’t have to experience what I had experienced. Every time my mother hit me, I would push them into a room and close the door. I tried to silence my voice so they won’t hear me.” Dawn chuckled.

“There was a time where it was so bad that I had to go to the hospital. I tried asking for their help, but it never came. Perhaps my mother did something now that I think about it. If my mother came from a respectable family, it all makes sense now why no one dares to help me.” Cataleya sighed.

“Your mother is one of the best students in Volin, but instead of helping the country, that woman decided to raise her hand against her child. A traitor like her should never be a student of Volin. Because of a man, that woman decided to betrayed Volin.” Dawn turned to face Cataleya.

“What did my mother do to Volin?” Dawn asked.

“Your mother decided to ignored protocol and left her position just to be with the target. That target is an important member of a notorious drug cartel in this country. But your mother ruined the plan.” Cataleya stopped the car in front of a grand house.

“And we believe that you‘re the daughter of that man.” Dawn was surprised to hear that.

“You’re just joking, right? My mother often says that my father is a useless bump who-,,” Dawn realized that she could be the daughter of a drug dealer.

“You never know for sure because your age seems to fit the time. It’s just what my mother suggested. Nothing is confirmed.” Cataleya smiled.

“If that is true, will I get arrested?” Cataleya laughed.

“Of course not. Unless you distribute drugs to your classmates- then we have no choice but to arrest you too.” Dawn shook her head no.

“Now, are you ready? We’re here.” Dawn got out of the car together with Cataleya. Even though Dawn’s chest is about to explode and her stomach about to burst from nervousness, she endured it.

“Don’t be nervous. Just think of this as meeting the principal. Trust me; my mother is the worse.” I’ve met the principal, and that was feeling different than what I face that day.

“Miss Volin- welcome. Miss Clarkson did inform the master that you wish to see him. Please follow me.” Is this man what the rich called a butler?

“I have never seen this young lady before, Miss Volin.” Cataleya clears her throat.

“A butler shouldn’t be nosy, am I right?” Cataleya smiled while the butler didn’t say anything.

“The mistress and master should be in here. Please enjoy your stay at the Roman Estate.” The butler opened the door for us to enter.

***

DAWN’S POV

“Good afternoon, Miss Volin. To what we owe this pleasure of meeting you today?” That older man- he must be Mr. Roman, my grandfather, and that woman beside him must be Mrs. Roman.

“Oh- I don’t think I saw this young lady beside you before.” Of course, you haven’t. You never even care about us, old man.

“Oh, I thought you might notice it by now. This girl is your granddaughter- well, one of it.” Oh, wait! I didn’t expect Cataleya to say it without warning!

“Miss Volin, there is a limit to how you could joke about that. As you can see, my daughter is far from being the person who would have a child out of wedlock.” I hid behind Cataleya when Mrs. Roman glared at me.

“You looked Rebecca when she was your age, but our Rebecca would never do such a thing. Even if she does, she won’t lie to us.” Why does it hurt when they said that? It feels like they’re looking down on my siblings and me.

“Volin High has the official documents and proof that Rebecca Roman gave birth to Dawn Roman, Arthur Roman, and Lily Roman. Yes, your daughter gave birth to three children with a different father. And you think your daughter is as pure as she pretends to be?” Cataleya scoffed.

“I have a grandson?” Mr. Roman suddenly says.

“Where is he?” Why is this man suddenly asking for Arthur?

“I see. So you wish to acknowledge your grandson instead of your granddaughters? How typical of you.” Cataleya placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Tell them what you wish to say. Do not hold back.” This is my chance to say anything that I wanted. I should take these chances.

“My mother, your daughter, abuse me because I was born. My mother often blames me for being a waste of space and being born as a female. But when my brother and sister were born, she abandoned us without telling us why she was doing so. I’m here to know the reason. Why does my mother hate me, and why did she left these scars for me to remind myself that I am a disappointment.” Just what am I saying in front of this old couple?

“Even I will do the same thing if something like you is born from me.” I looked up to my grandmother with a heavy heart. How could this woman say such things?

“Say that again one more time.” Cataleya takes a few steps forward.

“I said I would’ve done the same if that thing came out of me.” My eyes widened when Cataleya slapped my grandmother hard on her cheek.

“Who gave you the authority to question God’s creating? Do not act high and mighty when you’re at the lowest of the hierarchy, Mrs. Roman.” I reached out to grabbed on Cataleya’s wrist.

“I want to go home.” Cataleya sighed.

“Are you sure? Because I can just kill them for you.” Cataleya offered, but I don’t think that the right thing to do.

“Alright,” Cataleya said after I shake my head no.

***

CATALEYA’S POV

“Dawn!” I smiled upon seeing Dawn’s siblings walked out from the helicopter, followed by Charlotte.

“How was it?” Charlotte asked while we walked towards the car.

“The Roman couple didn’t acknowledge Dawn and her siblings. Dawn was heartbroken and didn’t talk to me the whole journey to the hanger. By the way, where did you go with the kids?” I asked.

“We had dinner at The Hills. I decided to use a helicopter to avoid traffic.” Charlotte explained.

“Did you and Dawn had dinner?” I nodded my head.

“It was a very awkward dinner since Dawn refuses to say anything.” Charlotte sighed.

“What did the Roman couple said?” Charlotte asked. I waited until Dawn and her siblings to be in the car before telling Charlotte every single word that the Roman couple said to Dawn.

Charlotte is as pissed as I was when she heard the things Dawn had to listen to.

“Did Dawn said anything about her next plan? Did you tell her your grandmother’s plan for her mother?” I shake my head, no.

“Should we? I mean, that woman abandoned her kids for a man. It shouldn’t be a problem for grandma Irina to do whatever she wants.” Charlotte shakes her head no.

“We can’t do that. What if Dawn still loves her mother despite everything that happened to her? Even Arthur and Lily said that they would never hate somebody.” We both heard someone knocking on the car window.

Lily was knocking on the window.

I smiled before walking towards the driver's seat.

“I’m sorry. I need to speak with Charlotte alone. So, are we going home now, or should we go somewhere else first?” Arthur and Lily begged their sister with their pleading eyes.

“Alright. The kids want to go to the park. You guys can leave us there. We will walk home.” I smiled.

“To the park, we go.” Charlotte gave me her approval when I face her.

“I have nothing to do, so it’s fine. Let’s go to the park.” Charlotte smiled. While I was driving the car, I couldn’t help but look at Dawn using the rearview mirror.

“Dawn, sometimes what happened to us is one of God’s way to show us that that person’s true colors. Perhaps what the Roman couple said to you was hurtful but take it like a champ. Trust me; they’re not worth your time.” I said while watching her reaction.

“I’m not sad because of what they’re saying. I’m sad because I didn’t get to do anything to them. I mean, if they didn’t gave birth to my mother, I wouldn’t even exist in the first place. Now that I think about it, it’s all their fault that I have to live this way.” I laughed.

“So, tell me. What do you want to do?” Dawn looked outside of the window while I pressed the call button for Swan.

“I don’t know. Perhaps make them realize how fun it is to live in poverty. Or show them how it feels to be at the very bottom. Whatever it is, I want them to suffer the way I did.” Dawn sighed.

“Did you hear that, Swan? Can you do it?” I asked Swan, who’s picked up the call.

“Consider it done. I know what to do. Should I do something about Dawn’s mother as well?” Dawn was surprised to hear Swan’s voice from the car speaker.

“Wait! What do you mean? I was just-,,” Charlotte clapped her hands.

“Let Swan handle that. We should have fun in the park. But before that, I need to remind you that you need to choose your elective since the week is almost over. You need to choose by this Friday, or the school board will randomly choose it for you.” Oh!

“Why not join the boxing club?” Swan asked through the speaker.

“Or MMA club. It’s fun. Trust me.” Charlotte turned around with a smile. Seeing how speechless Dawn is, I clear my throat.

“Dawn can choose whatever club she wants. Let’s not pressure her. So, which way to the park? To be honest, I never went to the park before. Is there a park open at night?” Dawn finally give a small smile before telling me the way to the nearest park.

“Cataleya, is it just I, or I think we’re not alone?” I looked at both side mirror and noticed the same car followed us since we left the hanger.

“Swan-,”

“On it. Don’t worry. Enjoy yourself.” Swan said before ending the call. I can’t help but get worried for the kids. It’ll be hard for Charlotte and me to protect all three of them while fighting them off.

Are they here for Dawn or us? Why are they so adamant about disturbing us even though they know we’re from Volin High.

Are they tired of living?