I stand behind the curtains of the podium watching mom walk to and fro biting the tip of her fingers. I told Mr. Han to wait for me by the car as I don't want him to be invovled in anything. So, I told her I was going to bid goodbye to everyone before leaving. 
"Anna," she atops.in her tracks and walks toward me. "Who is that guy you were dancing with?" She questions, her voice stern and anxious.
"My boyfriend." I say.
She let's out a sarcastic chortle, "Your boyfriend?" She mocks. "I told you to get along with Jon, and you are here with your boyfriend.  Jon is a nice man," she says, her voice turning low and soft.
"So? What does that have to do with me?" I scoff. 
"He is the right man for you. He has an interest in you and moreover he will give you a great life. He is going to take over his father's business, and we will be partnered soon."
"Business! Is he gonna give me a great life or bllow your husband's business."
"Anna, it's foir your own good." She steps forward and takes my hands, buting it in hers. "You both will be a good match. I've told him about you and I told him that you are single." 
How can she lower her voice and soind soft just to set me up with someone to make her husband's business successful? Too make the partnership happen.
"I told you I was in a relationship." I reply bluntly. 
She pushes my hands away and yells, "I don't care." She steps back and points her dinger at me. "That guy,  your boyfriend waa nlt invited? What is he doing here?"
"He was invited." 
"I didn't!"
"Bray did." 
"Bray?" She chucklea.  "Aince when had you'll been close to make decisions on your own?"
"Since when did you start caring about your daughter." I snarl, and she states with furrowed brows and squinted eyes. "Have you ever cared about me? You haven't." My words come out low—i don't want this to happen, I don't want to cry, but tears begin to prick at the back of my eyes. I sniff, lifting my head a bit as I blink multiple times to let them flow down. "Mom, when you marrued again, did you ever have a thought that you had a daughter. I know this may sound like I'm selfish and jealous, but I don't care. You treated his children as your own and cornered me. Mom, you gave birth to me. You have no idea how I felt being in that house. You made them luchboxes, and I have to fill my own lunchbox. You made their favourite dishes and I have to pretend like I enjoyed the food. You spent time with them and I stayed alone in the room. Yoi attended their parent's meeting but not mine." I feel a tear roll down my cheek, biti g ny lower lips I rub my cheeks with the back of hand. "Whenever Kate showed of her results, you told me to succeed like her. Mom—" i study her for a moment. "My results were better than hers, but you didn't know and never cared to know it. Do you know that I worked on lart tiome jobs to live in the college dorm?" A dry chuckles escapes my lips, just by the way she glanced at me now—she surely doesn't know it. "And when Bray made tine to visit home, every time I stayed out at night in the playground behind the apartment, he sat on the swing next to mine, and to my surprise, he understood me. He helped me to live in the college dorm, he signed the guardian paperwork, and when I graduated, he helped me to move out again because he knew what I felt being in there." I stop. As i inhale a deep breath, I wipe my stucky cold cheeks.
"They lost their mother, Anna. Kate and Amy were still growing they needed the love of a mother to help them. Bray was mature and grew up when his mother died, so he knew to move on. The girls needed me." Mom's words did nothing better. The more speak the nore it hurts.
"They needed you?" I snicker. Fresh tears begint to beim my vision, and I hate myself for showing her that I really needed her after all. "Were you different before?" I sneer. "From the time when you found that dad was sleeping with another woman till now, yoi are the same. Back then, I told myself you must be devastated and you were broken. Mom—" the mention of her comes put low as a whisper. "Even I was effected because of dad, but you never ever gave thought of me. You just left me alone." I inhale a deep breath in. "You have no idea who i am—" My voice comes out louder. "—what I like. What I don't like, you don't know I'm allergic to blueberries and i like cotton candies and ice creams. Omce you rven bakes a blueberry cake on Amy's birthday and forced me to eat it without making a scen. Mom, you don't know me at all, but he does— Mr. Han, my boyfriend,Jackie, he knows me. He walked with me to school, made me soup when I was sick, helped when I needed it, and he was my side, to make me stop crying whenever you and dad quarrelled. He was aith me all day. Do you even know when I got my first period? No, you don't, but he does. It was all over my skort, and he helped me change. He even dry cleaned them because he knew I washed my clothes. He was the reason why he could live. And on that night, when dad brought the divorce papers you ordered me to pack in five minutes, you never cared what I carried, and you pulled me out with you to grandma's place. Do you even know that I couldn't sleep many nights because I didn't tell him goodbye. Everyone knew Inwas always with the son of the front hoise except you."
I sniff, wiping the uncontrollable tears that jeeps rolling down. I bite my lower quibering lips staring at her, stadning in feont of me listening to me for the first time. "When we moved to grandma's place, I was transferred to a new school and I couldn't make it." My voice cracks, but my stubborn instinct told me not to stop. I don't care whether my words make an impact on jer or not, but I just needed to let it out, i needed to tell her. "I was going crazy without him by my side, but later, I made myself to move on. As you were busy making money for yourself, for yourself." I pressure on each word. "Grandma looked after me. She was with me, and after she passed away, I was left alone. You know mom, dad was better. He just left me behind once, but you, you kept abandoning me while you were with me. And just after two months of funeral you introduced your boyfriend to me. He was like totally not bothered about my presence." I laugh at the thought of hkw she brought him all of sudden to home and announced that she was going to marry him and he will be my step dad. 
"After school, I was lucky to stay in the college dorm. As you never cared how I was doing, I worked since then to make some earnings so that I can completely move out from the family, to stay away from you. Grandma knew, I mean your mother knew who you were, she saved some money for me and advised me to find happiness. And now—" I say, "You are bothered about my relationship out of nowhere. I know it's only because of your current husband's stupid business." I bark with gritted teeth. "Mom," my voice comes out low again, I take step forward closer to her, and she looks at me, with the same taken eyes below the knotted brows. "Did you ever, even once think about me, all these years when I was away?" 
She remained silent, her eyes fixed on me, I knew the answer. I already knee it, and now her silence gave me the answer, vut I wanted to hear her say. At least lie to me saying that you thought about me. How I've been doing since I left home.
"Mom," I call out again, I hate myself for doing this, to seek for her comfort again and again. "Whenever I saw any kid in the streets run 5o their mothers, I wish I had that feeling as well. I know you were affected by dad's betrayal, but even though I lost him, i lost my dad the same way you lost your husband. You were the best mother when I was a kid, when we were a family of three, but why did you give up?" Ny vision blurs with acrystal clear shield on my eyes, I blink and this time I die wipe them away, instead O took her hands. She looks down at our hands and at me. "Why did yiu give up on me?" I ask, my voice low as a whisper.
"Will you break up now if I say I did think about you?"
"No," I say instantly.
I look i to her eyes to find an answer, and the reply I got took me off guard. She chortles and pushes my hands away. Taking a step back, she runs her hand through her strands, God, I wish I didn't have to take over those same brunette hair. 
"Give up on you?" She snarls. "Anna, I didn't want a child. Being a mother was not in ny plan at that time, and you were an accident." She scoffs, crossing her arms. "I tried to get rid of ny pregnancy but was too late. And whenever I see you, I remember him, your fucking dad."
"Then why are insisting on my relationship now?" I yell. "You know, this while conversation between us shouldn't have happened. How can you be soo scheming?" I wipe my cheeks, inhaliing a deep breath I looked atvger for the last time.  Why did I even think of ralking to her knowing she was not going to understand me?— "I wish we'll never see each other again." With thay said I turn to leave and I stop before I could take the second step as she called out, jer voice loud this time.
"Anna," she ahouts again. "You're not going to anywhere. I want you to get along with Jon and marry him later."
I turn to face her amd snap, "What maded you think I would losten to you?" 
"I'm not requesting, it's an order!"
I chuckle. "You don't havr the right to order me." 
"Anna," I flinch at the loud rough voice. I'm glad every guests has left or this whole absurd scene would be an interesting show. My gaze shifts to the left, Mr. Bendrick, Bray's father strides towards us.
"Honey," Mom let's out a low miffle as she takes a step back when her husband reaches to her. I couldn't help but a sarcastic gein made it's way on my lips to see her act miserable, lile the damsel and distress. She wipes her eyes, like as if tears formed in there. 
"What happened?" Mr. Benderick asks. She oasses me a glance and I rolle my eyes as I turn to take my leave.
"Wait," the rough voice stops. 
"She refused to meet Jon." Mom cries.
This woman is wicked beyond my thoughts. Damn, why did I even feel the need of her love.
"Apologise to her." Mr. Benderick growls.
We haven't spoken since the time we met, onky once he spoke to me and that was warning me to stay away from his children. That was it! I rarely even faced him that I have no clear image of he looks and now, even he was talking to, I didn't want to look at him.
I sigh, "I don't have to." I reply bluntly watching mom.
"You should and you're not leaving u til yoi do it." He says, his voice stern and grating.
I look at him, this can be the second time to face him and talk, the mast time i just nodded but now, I will not.
"You're not my dad to order me." I spit, every words comes oit venomously.
"I said, you're not leaving—" he grinds his teeth. "And you should accept the interest of Jon." 
"This is hilarious." I laugh. How could they treat like i mever existed and now want me to listen to them and agree to be ina relationship with a man for their benefits. I'm not their peoduct to ise as they wish. "Mr. Benderick, don't you have two daughters." I ask, raising a brow amusingly. "Oh—" I take a moment to fake think and continue, "Does he know that kate was once pregnant after a ome night stand. And your second daughter Amy, why don't you do the match making for her. Or— jon is not interested in her?" I don't know what has gotten into me to speak my mind out,  and all the words rolled down my tongies with clear sarcasm.
A gasp esacoes ny lips and brows furrows when he graps my wrist and lofts mybhand closer to my face as he pulls me. I stumble forward, glaring at him.
"I mever knew you were such a brat." He remarks.
I exhale, trying as I move nyvhand down and try to release my hand. I push his hand off with ny free hand but hus grip gets tighter causing pain.
"I've always been brat." I spit. "Let go." I say.
He chuckles, fuming at me. "Say that again." He demands.
"Let go." I wriggle ny hand, trying to pull away but couldn't make it.
"Apologise to your mom and do what she says." 
"I will not." I say pressuring on each word.
Mr. Benderick remains silent for a moment, and he raises his other hand in the air. My eyes close on its own and shoot open the second, feel the pull. I was pulled away, and Mr. Benderick is on the ground holding his right cheek. My brows meet as I move my haze to lerson standing in front of me, the tall figure, Mr. Han.
He bends and pulls Mr. Bendereick up by his collar. I could see his knuckles tightened on Mr. Benderick shirt, the muacles truned white.
"If you ever dare to hurt ny girl, I will not hesitate to make your life the worst." Mr. Han's words came out, low, dry, cold, and stern. I haven't seen him as this, and he sounded scary.
His elbow swings back and quickly jumps forward, stopping him from giving another punch. His grip on Mr. Benderick's collar loosens, and he gazes at me.
"Let's go." I whisper, and he nods.
The chilly breeze brushes against my bare skin as I lean over the side of the car, staring straight at the empty garden behind the large fence. The dark sky and the bright moon are just perfect for this chilly weather. Mr. Han is standing next to me, silmce ligering on the air around us. 
"You must be cold." He breaks the long kasting silence.
I lower my head and take a side glance at him as he removes his blazor and puts over my shoulders. I cross my arms, pulling the edge covering my net sleeves. I inhale a deep breath and look ahead again.
"Won't you ask what happened?" I ask.
"I know you don't want me to ask about it." He says.
I smile, "You really know me so well." 
"Do you regret coming today?" He asks not in curiosity but concern, and I can sense that from his tone.
"No," I exhale. "I'm happy I came today, I could see Bray after a long time and know my mom's true colours." I turn my head slowly to my right, noticing his hands balled and gaze up at him. He is staring ahead with a frown , his jaw tensed.
"Are you still mad?" I ask, looking away.
"No, I'm not." He replies dryly.
I look at him, "Your hands are in fists, and you look tensed." I point out.
He passes me a glance and looks down at his. He unwraps his fingers and eases his posture. "I just wish to punch him harder." He grunts.
A soft chuckle escapes my lips as I look straight, watching the trees sway for the wind. His punch was indeed hard for Mr. Benderick to stumble back falk on the ground.  What does he mean by even harder?
"How did you know?" I asks curious to know how he'd showed uo at the right time as he had no idea that I was going to argue with mom. I told him I would bid her goidbye and be back.
"Bray looked for you, and he told me that you and your mom can never have a proper chat. I'm sorry for not waiting as you told me. I had to find you." I hear his shoes squeek as he stands upright and turns to ny direction. I avert my gaze to him.
"Anna," he calls out,  damn, his voice is aoft and low loke as ifbhe had an awful argument with his mother. "How have you been after you left that nighy?" He asks.
"I don't know," I reply in a low voice, which seemed to come out as a whisper. "When I left that night, it was like I left an important part of life behind." I look away fixing my gaze back to nature, as these intense eyes make me cry. "I spent my days with grandma and told her about you. You know—" I inhale a sharp breath and continue, "She told me that as you were an important missing piece in my life, I would definitely meet you again. And she was right. She rold we were meant to enter each other's life." I pause for a moment, feeling his gaze still on me. "I wanted to look for you but didn't know how." I look up at him. "Do you know how much I missed you?" I mummer as I take a step closer to him and slip my arm around him, resting my head on his chest, staring straight at the fence.
"I have no idea of how a home would feel, but now I do." The cornwrs of my lips twitch, feeling his arm snake around my figure. "The warmth of being next to you, listening to your heartbeat, I feel protected. I feel home." I say.
"This home will always protect you, give you warmth, and will treasure you until it is destroyed. It has always been and will always be only your home." His words were enough to make me feel special. Mr. Han, the life without him is nothing but a sad song, and with him, it is the life...