Precursor Cassandra

"Tak, tak, tak".

"It's me". A male voice said.

"Tak, tak, take ..."

The knock-on our wooden door continuously ringing as my mother went up to open it at this very late hour. The sky gets darker, and I can hear the rustling sound of the trees. The wind gets cooler than before. At least a quarter before one of the dawn my father appeared. As the door opened up for him, he faintly smiles to my mother as my mother starts to look at him with worry on her face. I slowly lit my head up and act like I was only awakened when my father arrived. They both sit on when the father calls up my name.

"Sandy, dear?"

I began to straighten up my face and returning to my senses before answering him back.

"Dad?"

I replied in a soft tone.

"Dear, will you come here for a minute? I'm sorry to disturb your sleep. But will you, please?"

This time, I don't know what to answer but I only obliged what he told me to do so. I walked up into our small kitchen where he and my mother usually talks to. I show up in front of them without any traces of hint on my face to look on.

Father asked me to sit beside my mom, and as he was about to discuss, my mom raised her palm that indicates my father to stop as she bowed her head which makes me think she was hiding her tears from me.

"I-I-If you were about to discuss the same thing again, please do stop".

Then she heavily released out her breath as she said those words, which makes me stunned for a moment. She never intended to interrupt my father before, and what she did now makes me think something strange. Dad also looked surprised by what my mother did. He stretches out his arm to reached my mother's and held it tightly. This time, it encourages to clear one thing.

"Dear, please don't do this. Let me just say it one more time. Let me explain so that our dear Sandy will make up her mind."

He said with a pleading voice.

I can feel the sincerity he has, through those words he mentioned. My mind is a mess, and he keeps on referring to that thing.

Its been a year since my father kept on persuading me to agree with the proposal of his previous family. I didn't want to interfere with their matters, what I want is to live peacefully with my mom despite having a low-quality status of life. Being poor doesn't make me less human, but people do think it is. In this ruthless society we are living, status defines who we are, and what we are and what we can only be. I hate to think that my beloved father is one of them.

"George, will you please. Please stop it?"

My mom starts to speak up again in a strong tone to be heard on her voice.

"Why Lucy? Tell me what reason do you have for stopping me into it?".

Father seems at a loss as he replied.

"I only asked you to stop doing it, don't make me explain further."

"Why do I need to do so?"

"For the sake of my child, please stop coaxing her. She already made up her mind."

"She's too young Lucy, to make such a decision. I know time can definitely change it. If you just let me keep on doing it."

Father speaks out loud, enough for me to hear clearly that intention of his.

I looked up and saw the clock that it keeps on ticking. A few minutes passed when I gathered myself back to face reality. Determined enough to take my father away from our house. I lift up my face then I stand up and walked towards the direction of the door. I slowly loosened d all the big rusting nails from our wooden door that serves as our lock, and proudly opened up the door.

"Dad, please leave."

I said without looking in his face. I used all the courage I had, to show respect even if it is no longer offer.

"I-I'm ..."

I point him the door and in a low voice but enough for them to hear, I can't take it anymore, without thinking what to say, I carelessly said cruel things in front of him.

"From now on, I don't want to hear anything from your family, from the status you are trying to strive for. If they can't accept us, then let them be. If you can't accept the life you build here, then don't expect us to do the same thing as yours. If joining us is the reason why you belittled yourself, then get out of our lives. I never wished to have a father you! Money can't bring us happiness, it never brought joy into my heart. Only your desires are the thing you want to succeed the most. Your selfish, mean, arrogant, and the most coward man I know. Now, can I ask you to please leave our 'little' house immediately?"

Without any hesitation, I went back to my bed without looking back as he was making his way back to that door to leave.

I exhaled heavily as I lay in my bed. I keep on tossing, turning just trying to get myself back to sleep. When I finally felt tired, my mom silently walked back to bed and touch my head back and forth as if she was lulling me to sleep.

*In the market.

"Someone held her tight" a scream almost shakes me from the place I am standing on. People gathered around me and starts to hurt me. They grab my hair and keep on pushing me to kneel myself down before that girl who accused me of stealing her purse.

"Come on girl, return that back!" The old fat woman shouting at me.

" I don't know what you are referring to, so please release me!" I was struggling to fight back.

" You!" The girl screamed and the only thing I could remember was my cheek felt pain on it. She hardly slapped my face, that I can barely feel my burning cheeks grow on my face. I turn my cold glaze unto her and asked for the evidence. The short middle-aged woman comes close to search for my things and none of this proved that I stole something.

"Plak!" someone hit the woods and the face of a man fell into the ground. A burly face man squatted and look for the wrist of the man who lies on the ground and tied it. These men caught the attention of all, and people start to leave me except for those who captured me like I'm a criminal. The burly face man walked toward me and asked them to release me right away. In an instant, they do it without saying a word and the woman who slapped me was now standing before that man and asking for her purse.

I frowned and ask for justice. I wipe up my dress down at my knees and straightened myself. I am determined to talk to that girl and ask for that apology publicly as she humiliates me without hearing any word from me. When I started to walk up, the burly man faced towards me and held me into my wrist as if I look like a criminal who was caught tightly by his grip.

"Will you please let go of me?" I calmly whisper.

But he doesn't loosen his grip, and he held me tightly that makes me scream for help*.

"Sandy! Sandy! wake up!"

I slowly opened my eyes to see myself lying on the bed, with my mom worrying about the dream I might have again.

My mind finally finds peace as I saw myself sitting at my bed in our tiny house.

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