Celina footsteps were heavy hurried almost running. She gasped continuously, panting,
Her hair soaked from running through the rain all the way here, the cold seeping slowly through her bones, clothes clinged to her body. She paid no attention to the wetness or the chill. All her mind centered on was her father who lay inside the hospital, fighting for his life.
The down-part of her heels clicked on the marble tiles as she ran forward to the entrance of the hospital in hasty steps as she entered. Celina gasped at the sudden warmth of the place that hits her, refreshing her wet body and at the same time hurrying toward her father's ward.
Droplets fall from her clothes with each step, leaving tiny puddles behind her. A proof of how thoroughly drenched she is. She had never felt panic like this before.
Celina drew stares from people and the staff like the nurses rushing in every direction some moving in haste. Her wet clothes clinged to her perfectly chubby body,everything grows a little silent,as she passed some group of male doctors their gazes lingering as if assessing her.
While some whistling in pure awe of her beauty and caught off guard by her curves. Her silky white Luna crop top hugged her chest outlining it's fullness and roundness. Her long white stretchy skirt whichbmatches her top, with slits at both sides of the skirt, from the upper part of her knees, down to her foot, completing the look.
The skirt was slightly revealing, It tightened around her hips, accentuating her curvy, chubby body.
As she hurries along, it exposes a large expanse of her legs drawing every eye.
The bold color of her outfit accentuated her glowing, sun-kissed skin and the fabric shimmers under the white lights, catching every reflection of her as she glides toward the steps.
Celina sigh in embarrassment. It Is so obvious that she's the center of attraction.She was in so much hurry that she forgot to wear a coat, immediately hearing the news that her father fell in a coma and was rushed to the hospital, It destabilized her senses making her act in a haste.
Celina couldn't care less about people attraction towards her. After all, it is something she was used to.
All of Celina's focus was on her father. His life was at stake, fear gripped her heart at the final turn down the hallway of the VIP lounge where he was admitted. The sounds of her heels echoed in the hallway, Immediately, she entered the exact hall.
Walking a few steps, she locks eyes with the disdainful gaze of Mrs. Andrea Saunders, 'her stepmother'. Mrs Andrea is tall and slender, adorned with expensive jewelry, dressed to the nines. Her red nails glint in the harsh light, and her hair is perfectly styled, as if crafted by a professional every time.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the 'caring' daughter," Mrs. Saunders mocked. She was know for her luxurious lifestyle and ill-natured attitude."What are you doing here, Celina? Come to play the role of the doting daughter uh! now that you heard your father is sick?"
"Mother..."Celina hadn't finished her statement, tears brimming her eyes when she was cut of rudely.
"Hush little one, I thought we had a deal,who would believe u would come running immediately u heard ur dad had just a 'little' illness". She gesticulated the little in an iffin.
Mrs Andrea laughed sarcastically accompanied by Diana saunders, Celina step sister, a slender lady not as beautiful as Celina, but like her mother she was dressed stylishly.
"where did u think u are going? you dumb fool! " She hissed, rolling her eyes in disgust immediately she and Celina eyes meets she got chills over her.
"mom!?I hate her!I hate that she's more preety than me, look at those eyes Mom like, she would kill me if she got the chance"she overreacted angrily.
"Have patience sweetie, she would be out of our life for the time being"vMrs Andrea reassured her daughter.
"Mom please" Celina pleaded almost kneeling" my dad, ur husband is in a critical condition ,I swear on my life I wouldn't set my foot anywhere around you, if u let me see him just one more time, I beg of you".
"Don't call me mom! Am not ur mother,you dumb idiot. if u still have a little sanity within you, then go find her in the grave" she cursed.
Celina holding the hem of her lace begged her "Get ur filthy hands off me" Mrs Andrea screamed" you trash!"
"Please dad is in a critical condition, I can't leave him like this am scared he might die".
"He won't die..I'm not so heartless, he's in coma according to the doctor he has a hundred percent chance of surviving. "she laughed again ripping her cloth from Celina hand
"Let go already dumb...only God knows if a miracle might happen if I let you see him".Mrs Andrea continued.
Immediately Celina eyes widened, obviously in shock
"please don't harm him please"she cried,one thing she hated was feeling helpless and couldn't bear the thought of losing him of not being able to tell him how much she loved him like before when he was healthy.
'Healthy?' An irony of what she believed of him.
"You dumb fool, I can't afford to harm my husband after all he doesn't know what am capable of "she grinned mischievously "he hasn't even written his will yet" a slow hissing sound drawled from her lips.
"We had a deal, leave now when he's okay and our deal has been accomplished.Then you can come back, else". she laughed darkly, "you already know what would happen right?" and winked suspiciously.
Mrs Andrea saunders turned her back at her, grinning from ear to ear and covering her mouth with her fingers instead of keeping it low, she was laughing loudly, obviously enjoying Celina displeasure.Then she turned back slowly facing Celina, her face which was purely full of joy changed in that moment, glaring dangerously at Celina clothing, her face showing a sign of disgust.
Moving stealthily at Celina, Mrs Andrea grabbed Celina hard forcing her cold,shaking figure to kneel at the bare floor. While kneeling she felt cold seeping more to her bones, tears stung at her eyes, but she was helpless, having no way out but to agree to their demands.
She couldn't fight or struggle. whether she could see her father or not lay at the will of her stepmom. She had to submit to her authority else at the flick of her finger anything could happen and she wouldn't see her father,
Thinking about leaving her father without holding his warm hands once more, without clinging to him, smelling his clean scent, made her senses run wild, sad and angry, passing through an overwhelming rush of conflicting emotions that surged within her, feeling the urge to protect him more, to sacrifice anything for him.
She was disrupted from her thoughts as her stepmom gripped her top, squeezing it fiercely like it was a curse.
Celina almost made a shrieking sound but she held herself, swallowing her sobs.
Mr Andrea yelled "you think I don't know you?":she sneered."you go about acting like you are one untouched saint, faking a good demeanor to people, acting like u are the most modest girl"she paused allowing her words to sink in, watching Celina blank face.
Mrs Andrea didn't relent but instead she continued harshly "But You know what you are a prostitute, knowing that you have a disgusting, shapeless chubby body, you wouldn't mind displaying it in a shameless manner".
She saw a drop of tear sliding from Celina eye, rolling down her cheek, she knew then she had got her, but that's not what she wanted to fully achieve she wanted her broken. To rant in anger so she would use that opportunity to deny Celina her greatest desire to see her dad.
What made her laugh was "whether Celina lose her cool or not she wouldn't let her see her dad, anything might happen.. when she see him and then BOOM!!in her face all her plans would fall through.
She wouldn't let that happen. NEVER!!
Full of spite and rage Mrs Andrea saunders gripped the other edge of her cloth and squeezed it "You know how clothes cling to your body, yet u still wear it, shamelessly flaunting ur shapeless figure...do u know what u are?" she screamed in Celina's face, spitting on her forehead.
"Just a slut!! That's what u are, a whore, nothing but a slut! and a whore!!" Mrs Andrea went on and on cursing at Celina.
Celina heart clenched as her emotions crumbled in broken pieces in her soul, feeling sad like her heart want to be ripped out but was adamant not to. She was hurt at her stepmom words, her stepmom never miss a moment to remind her how shapeless she was, how ugly her chubby body was. It was disheartening.
But nevertheless Celina refused to succumb to the growing pain in her heart,her emotions resurfacing in pain at the deep inflicted words hurled by her stepmom.
One thing was certain from what she had gathered, her stepmom was always jealous also her stepsisters anytime they wear matching outfits as a family or normal clothing, their eyes would be in awe for a moment when she comes In and a second later, it would be masked filled with venom towards her almost immediately.
All Celina emotions she was trying to hold back was full of rage and unbearable pain.
Until she heard..
"A slut, just like ur mom, no wonder God decided to do her a favor and take her life at that moment she took her last breath." Mrs Andrea finished saying her last words panting heavily.
Alexa and Diana froze, the words from their mother's mouth struck like a blow. For a fleeting moment their shock was visible and then, almost too quickly, it vanished, buried under a mask of practiced composure.
Celina features were filled with unbridled rage and straighted her knees to stand at that moment. Tears rolled down her eyes hiccuping, pain filled in her heart, hurt visible in all her expressions, her posture almost shaking with deep-rooted pain.
"Don't....ever... ever...ever..."Her voice shook filled with dangerous promises and authority "in your life call my ..mom a slut or disregard her in any way ruining her reputation...else" Celina mocked at the end of her last word, laughed drily "You would know what am capable of" She finished her finger pointing directly in her stepmom face as a very hard warning that couldn't be taken lightly.
Mrs Andrea was thrown off balance and took steps aback, even Alexa and Diana had goosebumps at their skin, seeing Celina almost reddened eyes and rage filled actions.
It was crystal clear that their mom threaded grounds she wouldn't have and from Celina stance, her words were not joke and it was something that couldn't be triffiled with even their mom was taken aback.
Mrs Andrea saunders was shocked to her bones she didn't expect Celina words to affect her that much, the way Celina eyes roved towards her like celina meant every threat she uttered. Mrs Andrea felt chills run through her spine that instant, using the fact that her husband life is in her hands made her immediately regained composture.
Alexa was taken aback by the words Celina uttered. She always knew how Celina was sensitive towards anything related to her mom, even the tiniest little bit of things about her mom was held so dear to her heart but seeing how beautiful Celina was in anything she wears, how people swoon and compliment her many ways fueled her anger.
Anytime Celina walks into a place and Alexa is there it just seems she's out of attention.
Celina probably captured every eye,also with her annoying interesting conversations with people, her exuberance, everything irritated Alexa to the core. she saw it as fake demeanour Celina was exuding.
Mrs Andrea laughed mockingly
"Capable... I'm sure I misheard? Or did you just mentioned what You are capable of!? Are you kidding me right now?" Her face changed in a moment.
Celina swallowed her pain, her distress, knowing her father's life is at stake, she felt so stupid standing up to her stepmom at this crucial time in her life but she couldn't bear the fact that her stepmom insulted her mom, it ripped her heart in shreds. She hated it when her mom is disrespected.
It made her mad with rage. She cried thinking about her dad, her step mom might use her threat against her dad...
"Might" was an understatement, she knew how heartless her stepmom is and using her dad to force her to do her biddings. But she had no choice but to persevere and see her dad or she end up being thrown out and humiliated.
"Don't u dare talk of capability" Mrs Andrea thundered, her voice full of authority and spite and then smiling at something pleasant
"You forgot for a moment that my husband life is still in my hands".
Mrs Andrea pressed her painted fingers in Celina's jaw holding her in place and laughed, then freighing to wipe her tears "ohh little one you make me feel bad I treat u this way," then Mrs Andrea faking her voice to became calm
"is okay! okay!?,"
"This clothes it makes me angry recalling how my husband bought matching sets for a dirty thing like you and my girls but it only suited you the most, making my daughters feel insignificant and it made me angry! Because you are shapeless and disgusting more because u are chubby". Tears flowed freely From Celina eyes as Mrs Andrea wipe them and then her voice changed in a moment.
"Alexa don't u think it best if we do alitte finishing touches on this dress it isn't to my taste" Mrs Andrea grinned looking lovingly to her daughter.
Alexa smiled, cocking up the bottle of wine and pouring it slowly on the glass cup until it filled to the brim "I guess so momma, I could do a thing or two" as the three of them smiled wickedly.
"If you could beg more considerately, I might allow you see ur dad for even a minute or maybe thirty seconds depending on how well you can plead efficiently... don't u trust me darling". Mrs Andrea finished grinning from ear to ear.
"I love your dress Celina I forgot to add, more Preety than mine, funny how they bought us the same clothes, matching sets for us three and yours is the best". Alexa swirled the glass of wine in her hands after taking few sips, her emotions hooded with a smile,If one deeply observed her eyes was sparkling with anger.
Celina wanted to argue with her step sis that all the gowns were equally beautiful and none was the best over the other. Fine! even if sometimes hers was the best she always make sure her dad buy her step sisters something preety too as compensation but them!
They didn't care, they felt she bewitched dad to do alot of things for her and less things for them even if it's so obvious that their dad always make sure he pleases all of them.
Her heart broke a thousand times whenever her mind flashed back how her dad was in coma, he didn't deserve the sickness. Celina had to be in her stepmom side maybe she would let her hold her dad once more.
With a heavy heart, full of desire to see her dad.celina pleaded "I know!I trust you, I just want to hold him, just for a sec or thirty minutes.. whatever time allotted to me, I just want to see him please...please" tears spilled down her face.
She was about to kneel when she felt a cup of wine poured over her head, making her hair more damp and her shirt stained, Celina gasped turning to look at who did it and felt so helpless.
Blinking downwards, the wine stained her top down to her skirt made Celina emotional. She was wearing this clothes about to leave their home for good and decided to wear it while she was leaving so she would remember her dad very much until the sad news of her dad beign rushed to the hospital and now the clothes is ruined.
"Ohh am sorry I didn't see u there" Alexa grinned, satisfied with her malicious intent eyeing her from head to toe with disgust.
"Do you know how much you disgust me celina" She grabbed her hair as Celina screamed in pain trying to get Alexa hands off her hair."your presence alone sniffles the breath out of me".
"Resist me again Celina, you wouldn't know what I can do.. unless you try". Then Alexa stop pulling her hair and lowered herself to Celina kneeling posture.
Alexa whispered in Celina ear "Who knows I can put a word for u to my mom and u can see dad" Alexa noticing how Celina eyes grew wide and then softened like she was pleading that she should do just that.
Alexa laughed mockingly clearing her throat "But should I... seeing the way you make sure am insignificant If both of us are in the same place...make me reconsider..." Alexa drawled, playing with Celina emotions reducing her hope to pieces.
Alexa then brushed her fingers as if dusting the stained white top "But should I" Alexa laughed, standing up, twirled and flinging her hair off in Celina face "Absolutely not". Alexa was the 1st daughter followed by Diana and then Celina the last but different mothers. They hated celina because she was their dad favorite and more beautiful in comparison to them.
"This bitch! staring at her sours my mood". As she shared the glasses of wine to her mom and Diana.
" ohh sorry I ruined ur top" she continued playing innocent, moving to wipe her top and then dropped the napkin on the floor.." I'm so sorry it just dropped" as they all laughed sarcastically.
"Cheers!!to more luxury" as their glasses clinked.
"kneel! You bitch then I can reconsider" Mrs Andrea mocked.
Celina kneeled helplessly, crying, pleading to her step mom. "I beg of you let me just hold his hands just once more".
"Don't forget to use the napkin to clean our shoes" Diana hissed.
Celina cleaned their shoes not able to comprehend the cruelty of their act, hoping her dad would be okay, believing her step mom words were truth, even tho she knew they hated her and since they had the only opportunity to belittle and render her insignificant,they would do it with due willingness.
"Can I see him now, I can't bear the thought of not being able to say goodbye to him." Celina stood up, inspite of the embarrassment she would see her dad. Her joy was cut off immediately her stepmom yelled"security" then a group of men came in a uniform clothing.
Celina eyes widened in astonishment
"Take, this disgusting thing out of here" as her daughters crackling sound of laughter echoes as she was taken by the security admist her struggles.
"...Just one more time, please don't do this to my dad." Celina screamed struggling with the security...."To meeee.....I wouldn't be able to forgive myself..." Her voice echoes loudly as she was dragged out, her stepmom and her daughters laughter resounding in her ears.
With tears streaming down her face, celina was thrown out of the hospital. Her lips moving whispering prayers no harm comes to her dad,she tried getting in but she was thrown back into the rain.
A loud scream left her mouth still pleading as her stepmom kicked the trash can on Celina, leaving her soggy in the rain, laughing at Celina despair as she and her daughters went inside.
Celina swore with tears in her eyes that next time she meets them,she won't be helpless.
With one step up and another step in full height despite the coldness enveloping and the rain pouring in torrents on her outside the hospital,
The last tears slid down her cheeks as her fingers wiped them off. Her eyes visible with a glint of determination adamant and unquenchable.