Forbidden Love novel Chapter 4

“Vera, Aisha, I thought you girls weren’t gonna come?” my mother, Fiona, asked, raising a brow.

“Oh, please, mom. Tell me why I would want to miss your wonderful cooking,” I joked.

She sighed, putting a hand on her hip. “You better go set up the table or else you will miss my wonderful cooking.”

I nodded and began walking to the kitchen with Vera. She was honestly so quiet, I would be surprised if my mom didn’t know something was up.

“Listen, sis, if you don’t want to be here, tell me. It’s obvious you aren’t okay. They’ll know something is up and they’ll want you to tell them what it is, even if you aren’t ready. I understand this is hard for you, which is why I’m telling you that—”

“No, you don’t! You keep saying ‘I understand how you’re feeling, blah, blah, blah’—when you don’t! You don’t understand what I’m going through. You don’t understand how I feel right now. You don’t even know what it feels like to be in love with someone because you’re too scared you’re gonna get hurt! So, tell me, how can you understand how it feels knowing that him and I broke up and he might find someone else? Do you even ‘understand’ how that feels?” she lashed out.

I stared at her in disbelief, my eyes wide. “Are you kidding me? You have got to be joking. For once in your life, stop making everything about you! I know you’re going through a lot but that doesn’t mean you can just lash out at other people! I have been in a relationship, and I’m so fucking sorry that I’m, quite literally, scarred. Maybe that’s why you and Dan broke up. Do you even try to understand how he feels?”

“I—”

“Of course not!” I cut her off. “Cause you’re a fucking selfish bitch!”

I was fuming with anger, and so was she. I was so sick and tired of her making it seem like she was the only person going through stuff. It’s always about her and how she feels, and honestly? I don’t mind most of the time. But even I have my limits.

If she’s going to yell at me for literally trying to help her, then fuck her. I don’t need to help a selfish person who doesn’t deserve my help and support.

“Aisha, I’m so fucking sick and tired of you acting all high and mighty. You always act like you’re the best child, with the best job, and blah, blah, blah, only because you’re a teacher at a private school. When, in reality, you’re a cold-hearted bitch! I’ve always been going through so much shit and you’re the only person who doesn’t even try to understand what I’m going through! Always too good for the rest of us, huh? Fuck you and your sick ego,” she spat.

“Do you hear yourself? I was literally telling you that I fucking understand how you feel because I do! And even if you believe I didn’t, at least I was trying to! And now you’re saying I didn’t even try to? I was just trying to help—”

“What’s all this yelling?” my mom yelled, coming in between the two of us. “Why are you both arguing like kids? Have you not grown up?” she asked, looking at the two of us.

I sighed. “Look, mama, I’m just gonna go,” I announced, getting ready to grab my things and leave.

“No, you will not. It’s a long drive back to your place and I want to spend time with my kids.” She set her foot down.

“No, mama, Aisha should go,” Vera said, angering me more. Who did she think she was, saying if I should go or not?

I gave her a heated glare and she backed down instantly.

“Enough of this bickering! We are trying to have a peaceful dinner tonight, as a family. You both should be ashamed of yourselves! Leave this kitchen this instant and go talk your problems out. Don’t come to the dining table until you’re done talking it out. And, as a reminder, none of you are going to leave this house without my permission. Understood?” my mother, quite literally, barked.

“But, mom—” I tried to say but she cut me off.

“Leave. Now,” she said, pointing to the kitchen’s entrance.

Sighing, Vera and I unhappily walked out of the kitchen. Our other siblings gave us knowing looks before they tried to make it seem like they were minding their own business. It was obvious they weren’t though.

Admittedly, I knew the fight was stupid and I didn’t want it to get in the way of us being sisters.

Once we were out of earshot of our siblings, I talked.

“I’m sorry for lashing out at you like that. I was…not in the wrong completely but also not in the right,” I apologized.

“Don’t apologize…” Vera sighed out. “It was my fault completely. I shouldn’t have said those things or yelled at you in the first place. I know you’re trying to understand what I’m going through… I was just angry and took it out on you. I’m sorry,” she then apologized.

I gave her a small, sad smile. “Don’t stress over it. Besides, as people say, if you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”

Vera smiled back, hugging me. “Let’s go enjoy this family dinner, eh?”

. . .

“Oh my god, mom, remember the time you were looking for all of us at the movies for two hours because you forgot that aunt Tina took us home? You were so worried!” Lin laughed out, causing the rest of us to laugh along with her.

“Hush, child. Didn’t we agree to not speak of that day?”

“But, mama, it was so funny! But at the same time, it was so cute,” Lin responded.

“I will smack all you kids across the face,” my mom said with a smirk. We all laughed once again. That day was probably the day I first realized my mom really did care about us a lot, and loved each and every one of us.

“How are all of my kids doing, hm?” she then asked.

We all looked at each other as we replied “good” in sync, which made us all giddy and stuff.

“Everything’s the same, ma. But I started talking to this sexy bartender I met a few days ago,” Anna replied.

“Yeah,” my other sister, Grace, said. “Apparently she was making the poor man blush. But everything is the same as always.” She hadn’t come with us to the club but we had told her about how Anna flirted with the guy.

“Agreed. I think we’re all just trying to get the hang of life since we don’t live with you anymore. I’m actually surprised we didn’t all just come back here and live with you,” my brother, Leo, said.

My mother sighed. “A mother is always going to be worried for her kids.”

“We can clearly see that, mom,” Donny, my other sibling, said, chuckling.

“We can always come back and live here.”

“No, my plate is full. I also…have something to tell you kids.”

“Mom, we’re not kids anymore, Charlotte said, rolling her eyes. I smack her across the head since she was sitting next to me. She glared at me though, which made mom chuckle.