Bitter Pill(Undeserved)

CHAPTER 4 *Trouble at Home*

I walked back home from my school, with the hood of my hoodie covering virtually half of my face. 

It is Friday, the last day in the first week of resumption, and I already wished it was the last week of the session. 

 I don't quite get the problem with me. During the holiday I was eager for the resumption and praying it comes quick. 

 Not that I have friends, I thought leaving the house every morning would at least distract me from focusing on my parents' absence was what I loved. 

But now that school has resumed, and just a week in, I want so badly for time to fly, and we go on vacation. 

I am not surprised at this though. I get this way every time the school year begins again. Might be because of my inability to make friends or talk to one in school. 

 Perhaps the fact no one notices me and when they do, it's to ask about a question they don't understand in class, which I ignore. 

  It's no news that I am the top student not only in class but in the entire school. Most student only knows me by my name; they don't know me for me, some even pass by me in the hallway and don't know it's me. 

 And the few ones who are classmates who know me not for just for my name, I am not sure if they would recognise me outside the school premises. 

 Why? they can't precisely see behind my hoodie on the long bang, covering half of my face, nor can they see underneath the baggy clothes I have on every day. So recognising outside school premises might prove difficult for them at the very least. 

  As I got closer to the house, I contemplated on doing my maths homework first or the English essay. 

I think I'll do the easy one first and probably one on the English tomorrow. 

 Yeah, maths happens to the be the easy one not because I fail or hate English but because my English decides he is going to tell us to write an essay of no less four thousand word counts. 

   We are to give a clear narrative and description of where we would be in 15years, our career choice, side of the country we would love to settle in and why. 

As funny as it sounds, I have never really thought about where I would be in five years not to talk of 15years time. 

 I know to live in the countryside like this, every kid my age already has mapped out plans on when to leave town, what state they want to go and why they have no reason to come back. 

 But for me, aside from the thought of going to college, I haven't thought about any other thing. 

 The only reason for my eagerness to live for college as soon as possible is because I want to do away with my parents so badly. And I want to stop living in the shadows because of my sexuality.

 Now that this homework on what my life would be like in 15years is rearing its ugly head suddenly.

I have to take as much time as possible to think deeply about what my life would be like in 15years. 

I stopped in front of the house, heaving a sigh, as my eye catches sight of my parents' car parked in the garage. 

 I don't know what's up with them, but they've been home these days more frequent than usual, and sincerely it doesn't sit well with me. 

 As I got closer to the front door, the booming sound of Jaidyn's voice reached my ears, and I paused in front of the door, to see if I make sense of what was going on because I could hear my parents' loud voice as well. 

 I knew they were arguing this has been going on since last week, and what's more disconcerting is the fact that they stop whatever the argument is about the minute I walk in on. 

    "You've controlled my life enough, and I will not let you take my happiness away from me, I don't care what you think or what the world thinks but if you think I am going to do as you say then you are in for a lot of surprises." 

   That was Jaidyn voice, I have never heard him raise his voice at our parents ever, whatever the situation is. It is dire if Jaidyn is talking to our parents like that. 

  "You call that devilish joy happiness, over my dead body we allow such act to fester in this house. Now listen to me, boy. We are your parents, and you would do as we want, and that's final."

 Dad's voice boom with authority and I hissed. All they know how to do is play the parent card. 

   "When was the last time you acted like proper parents in this house? You've never cared what goes in I and Reilly's life until this moment, you didn't even show up for his birthday, and you are here talking to me about being parents, that would only work if you were actual parents, to begin with." 

  My mouth opens wide in a silent gasp at Jaidyn audacity I can't believe those words came from him. 

I did not know he felt this way; he was always trying to make me understand why our parents acted the way they did and try to persuade me not to share them, and I never thought for a moment that he also felt neglected. 

 I pushed the front door opened and stepped inside the house. 

 "How dare you talk to your parents in such manner, The devil----." 

 My mom paused her statement the minute she noted my presence. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, and I noticed she was trying to control her anger. 

  I looked between my Parents and Jaidyn. With a shake of my head; I continued on my way to the room. 

 I know that is the end of whatever conversation they had going on, they won't talk about it again till they see I am out of the house. 

 I throw my bag on the recliner and strip out of my clothes. I need a quick shower to get the sweat of the day off my body. 

  I didn't waste time in the shower as I am hungry, and I needed to fill my stomach. 

I throw on some loose shirt and pant, making my way to the kitchen, Jaidyn was no one in sight, I guess he stormed off to his room properly in anger. 

 I ignored my parents, who sat in the living room with worried and angry expressions on their faces. 

 'Hypocrites' I mumbled under my breath. They teach things, yet they don't practice, They think God's work is all about doing charity and going from one prayer meeting to the other. 

 God also sends in the bible that parents are caretaker of us children. I hope God doesn't forgive them for neglecting their duties as caretakers. 

I fixed myself a sandwich, poured a glass of milk, and with a bowl of fruit, I exit the kitchen but stop halfway as I watch Jaidyn march into the living room with angry steps. 

 He looks at my parents in disdain walks on with a hiss. 

  Jaidyn stops in front of me and ruffles my hair with a sweet smile on his face. 

  "Don't worry yourself overthinking about what you just witnessed okay, everything is fine. I'm spending the night at Skylar's. His parents are out of town, and he fears staying in the house all by himself. Don't miss me that much okay."

   Jaidyn Informs, and I nod as I stare at him with worry, but try not to since he said I shouldn't. 

 He places a soft kiss on my temple and walks out of the house, slamming the door behind him with a loud bang, startling me.

 Mom springs to her feet and rushes after him,

 "Come back here Jaidyn we are, not done talking with you."

 She calls, but Jaidyn was long gone.

  "Let him go. He would come back may the Lord have mercy on his corrupt soul."

 Dad says, stopping mom from opening the door, and I just watched as she sighs, walks back to dad, and they both walk to their bedroom.

And I couldn't help but wonder if they failed to register the fact that I was right before their eyes, yet they didn't acknowledge my presence, or perhaps they didn't see me. 

Am I that insignificant to them?