Chapter 4: HER STEPMOTHER RAGE

After just back from college, Irene rushed into her room. She does not live in a hostel because does not want to be bullied all the time, moreover, her house is also quite close to the college.

One by one things that embarrassed her today came to mind. Tears began to flow. She observed her face in the mirror. Somehow she felt so sympathetic to her own life and that feeling is one that she really hates the most.

'Why do I have to go through things like this in life? ' She is always questioning herself every single day. The insults that she received are very difficult to accept sometime. 'Are the other person's life is so perfect that I, who am deficient, become a game to them?'

Irene wiped away the tears. "I cannot be weak. Cannot. It's not long now. Time surely passed away fast. When I graduate and work, all this will end." She persuaded herself.

Suddenly her body felt unwell with severe stomach ache. Cold sweat began to trickle down to her forehead.

"Oh no! What now? " Irene asked herself. She, who was standing suddenly felt her surrounding spinning and getting dimmer.

"Sis?" Ivan her stepbrother got close to her room and calling for her at the time.

"Sis, quickly get out of your room or mom will be angry with you again." Ivan said mixed with worry as he knew the true situation of their family. Because his sister did not respond, Ivan continued to enter his sister's room without asking permission. His eyes become round as he were shocked to see her sister lying stiffly fainting on the floor.

"Sis Irene!"

In a moment later,

"Are you on an extreme diet?"

Her stepmother who there accompanying her in the small clinic stared sharply at her. She knows exactly what she means by that stare. Clearly the woman's inside is soaring with anger at her.

"I'm not. I'm too busy with studying and sometimes forgot to eat. " Irene's answer was a little deceptive. Even though actually she ate too little due to lack of money.

The doctor just smiled understandingly. "I know college student drill, but you must eat well. You're so thin and losing nutrition. Now you got gastritis which can be dangerous if not treated well. Please be careful with you health next time. Okay?"

"I will. Thank you doctor. "

Once at home, Irene could already guess what her fate would be after that. Olivia, who is called mother by her is actually her stepmother. Her father remarried when she was only 5 years old. At that time, their lives were not so difficult that his father could afford to buy the land that provided their house, but after the financial crisis, his father's business collapsed and he could only afford to build a small three-room house for them to live in.

Now, her father is working freelance here and there and her stepmother works as a clerk in a small company which is their main source of income.

Before entering the house, Olivia picks up the broom that was already in front of the house and quickly swung it towards Irene with a feeling of anger.

"Argh! I'm sorry mother." Irene continued to moan in pain as her hands tried to stop the swing of the broom. "Please stop! It's hurt..."

"I'm tired of looking for money to feed you, send you to college, why are you getting sick now and make it difficult for me to pay for a taxi and clinic? Who do you think you are?!" Olivia crazily screaming without caring about her surroundings.

Irene was only able to cry in pain. It's true her stepmother prepared food for her at home but it always just rice and kimchi. Delicious food was only given to Ivan her only son. Just when her father has been at home, she will get some protein to eat, but she just can touch it a little as her stepmother always sends a sharp glare at her every time she reach for it. Even that, she thankful enough being able to life on. And yes ... Her father never knew about the harassment that she had to endured since childhood.

"You and your father are the same. Every single day always makes trouble for me. I already kind enough allowing you to go to school until college. If I'm a bad person, it's been a long time since I've left you become a beggar. It's much better for me to spend the money for my son Ivan. But now you are deliberately trying to raise my high blood pressure." Olivia began to slap Irene's face as hard as she could.

"Mom!" Ivan didn't take a night class tonight because waiting for his mom and sister coming back from clinic. Now, he was shocked by what he saw and tried to help. He knew that his mother's attitude towards his step sister was never good but he never saw his sister being beaten so much like that.

"Mom, enough. She is sick." Ivan pleaded while blocking his mother's blow.

"You see, my son didn't even go to night class because he was worried about you, but you are busy enough making my life difficult."

"Mom. Please..." Ivan pleaded again. Olivia stopped her movement when she saw the face of her beloved son.

"Don't you dare to show your face in front of me today." Finally, Olivia threw the broom in her hand and then leaving the two siblings there.

Ivan turned to see Irene that sitting on the ground with her face wet with tears. His heart becoming sad to see the fate of his sister. Such events are not once or twice, but always happen in their families. However, he is thankful that the relationship between him and his step-sister is just as good as the real siblings probably because they have the same father.

"Sis, get up now and go relax in your room. Later I will bring some food for you to ease your stomachache. "

Irene didn't give any reaction to Ivan at all as if her mind was drifting somewhere.

Ivan sighed a little as he continued to pull his sister's hand and then continued to support her bringing into the house.

Once in the room, Irene continued to lie down on her tattered bed still without saying a word to Ivan.

"Are you okay?" Ivan was also worried when he saw his mother hitting Irene too hard just now. "You want me to get some medicine or ointment for you?

Seeing that there was still no response from his sister, Ivan continued to say,

"If there are people bullying you in your college, let me know. I will oppose everyone who does that to you. I am in a taekwondo club anyway."

Irene looked at her 15 -year -old brother with a slightly surprised face because he speaks as like he know something. 'Even with mother you can't do anything, how come you want to fight everyone at college?' Irene just said it in her heart.

"There's nothing like that. I'm okay. Hurry up and steal some food at the kitchen before mother get to see it. I'm so hungry right now. " Irene urged her little brother. She doesn't want Ivan to feel so worry about her.

Ivan smiled. Satisfied to see his sister was already a little lively. He then continued to get up from his seat and leaving her sister's room to find some food. Sometime, that what he do to help his sister.

Irene, on the other hand, just stared blankly at her brother's fading steps with a lot of things playing in her mind including the face of Mr. Victor itself who just entered her life suddenly.

Irene let out a long sigh. "Please... Tomorrow please become a good day for me." She praying with all her heart.