Chapter 12

"What are you doing with your life? I'm so disappointed in you, Gavriella!" My dad's voice was laced with anger. His eyes, though, showed a restraint, a struggle to keep from hurting me physically.

"Trishia convinced me to come. I didn't know she'd take me to that abandoned place with her friends, Dad," I explained, trying to make him understand.

I knew it was hard to believe but I was hoping my father would believe and listen to me this time. That I regret coming with Trishia and being convinced by them in the first place. I know I made a mistake and I was admitting it. I was even thankful because he came to rescue me. If he hadn't arrived, Harold might have done something far worse.

"Who are those you were with? Are they even students at your school? That boy you were kissing—how long have you been seeing him? And that place? I can't believe you, Gavriella!" Each word was a painful jab, especially when he started shouting, but I knew I had to endure it; it was my fault.

"The two guys are Trishia and Phyllis's boyfriends. Trishia introduced Harold to me. I swear I didn't know him, Dad."

"Is she telling the truth, Leanna?"

Dad turned to Leanna, who then looked at me. Tears welled in my eyes; it felt like my father doesn't seem to believe me that she has to ask Leanna about it. Leanna's sly expression confirmed my suspicion: she'd lie to ruin me. It's her nature. I know she's willing to lie just to mess up with me.

"I know Harold, Dad, and I know he was Gav's boyfriend."

"You're a liar!" I shouted, furiously.

Feeling so angry and disgusted, I immediately stood up in my seat after hearing Leanna's lies. She bowed her head acting guilty and regretful which I knew was all pretense.

This bitch! Why is she so good at threading lies?

"I've seen you with him, Gav. I asked you who he was once, and you said it was none of my business—"

"That's not true! I didn't even know him until today! Dad, please listen—Trishia introduced him, and—"

"You two were so sweet together! Everyone on campus knew he was your boyfriend, so don't lie, Gav!" Leanna cut me off. I couldn't believe how she could easily cry and pull her tears but she looks very convincing.

"Stop denying it, Gavriella!" Dad's accusing tone stunned me.

To my shock, my Dad approached Leanna and comforted her when he saw her crying. My knees weakened in disbelief knowing I can no longer defend myself. I shook my head, unable to believe what I was seeing. How can he turn so blind for his love to his wife and stepdaughter? I was his daughter, why was it so hard for him to believe me?

"I'm telling the truth, but you are choosing to believe her over me? I'm your daughter, Dad!" The pain and resentment were obvious in my tone.

"Because the circumstances support what we saw, young lady! If your sister's lying, does that mean that asshole was lying when he said he was your boyfriend? I saw you two kissing, young lady! Now you want me to believe you?"

"Because it's the truth, and that bitch is nothing but a deceitful liar! She's not my sister, and she will never be—"

My words were cut off and I almost lost my balance when I felt the sudden hard slap of my father to my left face. I felt my cheek ache in pain and I was sure it was now red and swollen. Pain and resentment started to rush all over me as tears began to stream on my cheeks. This is the first time my he has slapped me. The physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional agony my father gave me. I couldn't believe he'd hit me for believing his wife's daughter's lies. It was so unfair!

My gaze locked with his, full of hatred and accusation. Tears streamed down my face, but I didn't care. I met his shocked, guilty eyes, showing him the depth of my hurt.

"I never taught you to talk like that, young lady! You've lost your manners." My father's voice held a reluctant regret, a hint of sorrow, but what good was it? The damage has been done.

"You're getting worse and becoming hard-headed. It's like I don't know you anymore, child."

His voice was full of disappointment when he tailed those words. Is that what I am to him now? A disappointment? A burden? I feel the same, I didn't know him anymore either?

"You're so unfair, Dad." Overwhelmed by tears and resentment, I ran upstairs, leaving him behind.

"Gavriella, come back here!" I heard Dad's angry voice calling out my name, but I kept running until I reached my room.

He was so unfair! Why was it so hard for him to believe me, when I was his own daughter? He was blinded by his wife and stepdaughter's lies and pretenses. Why does it seems like I never seemed to do anything right in his eyes. Did he love them more, enough to be blinded by their lies?

How I missed my mom terribly. If she were here, she would never let this happen. But she was gone, and I had to accept that. Yes, she had taught me to be strong, but it was so hard when I had no one to rely on. Dad was treating me as if I'd never done anything right. Heaven knows I tried to make him proud, but things had spiraled out of my control. Yes, it was my fault for trusting those people, but I learned my lessons and got what life can give- to not trust people so easily because they can betray you. Why couldn't my father understand I was a victim, too? He chose to believe the lies of others over me. Our relationship turned bad when he let these people jeopardize our lives.

I know crying is a sign of weakness but it somehow eases all the pain I feel inside. Hugging my pillow, I wished it were my mom. The bitter truth was she wouldn't be coming back and I have to accept that this battle was now mine all alone. I had to be strong; it was my only option. I wouldn't let Chelsea and Leanna drag me down. Yes, I would cry now, but that didn't mean I was defeated. I would get through this because I was brave. My mom taught me to be one.

A sad smile touched my lips as I wept. I wished things would get better soon. Not remembering how long I had been crying, I was in that situation when I felt my eyes slowly turn heavy until sleep claimed me.

---

At school, I tried to avoid and refrain from having any interaction with Trishia and Phyllis. It seems like they were avoiding me too because they don't come and talk to me like usual. Although they tried to talk to me and apologized after a week, I finally decided to ignore and get away from them. I won't mind losing those kinds of friends because they weren't true friends at all. There are times I wanted to confront them but what was the point? I didn't want them back. I was done with them. I was fed up and I realized they are not good for me. One time they had the guts to face and talk to me, I was in the school's canteen at that time. Trishia and Phyllis joined me at my table and started approaching me.

"Gav, I'm sorry about the other day," Phyllis stated. It's pretty obvious her tone was not even sincere and that made my blood boiled in anger.

I couldn't help but glare and turn to them angrily. Falling for their lies again would be like hitting my head against a brick wall. I can let it all pass and forgive them but I cannot easily forget. I trusted people twice and I ended up being betrayed twice. I was sure I would never befriend these people and let them betray me again.

"Really? How sorry are you?" I asked in a sardonic tone.

"You both left me like a scaredy-cat! As far as I'm concerned, that's not what friends are supposed to do. Well, that is if you were my real friends?" I made sure to put an emphasis on the word "real friends".

"What are you so upset about? It's not even our fault your Dad came!" Trishia sourly stated.

"That's not the point! If you'd brought me back to school like we agreed, I wouldn't have been in that situation. I made it clear I didn't like that jerk, and I wasn't comfortable with him, but you baited me to him! What kind of friends are you?" I shouted, fuming mad.

"Oh don't give me that fucking crap, Gav. We didn't force you to come with us."

“You two saw him making advances, and you never bothered to help me at all! And you know what he said? That you told him I was an easy lay and love to play hard to get. How long have you been telling boys those lies about me? How could you do that to me!" I stated accusingly.

"Oh, don't act demure, like you didn't enjoy it," Phyllis said.

"This is how you treat us after befriending you? You were nothing before you hung out with us. You're popular because of me!" Trishia boasted.

"What the fuck are you talking about? I never wanted to be popular, and honestly, being friends with you isn't worth it. I'm done with you, so leave me alone. I'm better off without you." After saying those words, I grabbed my things and left.

"Fine! It's not like we liked you anyway!" Phyllis yelled, but I kept walking.

I was so glad I got rid of those toxic people. I knew I had made a good decision. From now on I will be keen on befriending people and choosing persons who to trust.

"Hey, Gav!"

Kaycee's voice made me stop from walking. I was walking in the hallway when she got my attention as she walked towards me, smiling.

"Hi!"

"What's the commotion you had there at the canteen with Trishia and Phyllis?" Kaycee asked with that mischievous smile she was wearing.

"Don't mention those two bitches please..." I replied in a foul mood.

"What happened?" Kaycee's face turned concerned and worried.

"You were right; they betrayed me. I hate them, Kaycee." I muttered a curse after that.

I then told Kaycee everything—how Trishia had practically sold me to Harold and how my dad had found us. I know her concerns and sympathy were genuine. She was even angrier when she heard about Trishia lying about me.

"I told you they couldn't be trusted. They'll only cause you trouble and betray you when you're useless." She angrily stated.

"I just don't understand how Dad and Leanna found that place? I mean who told them?"

"Get over it. What matters is you're not friends with them anymore, but I'm afraid you'll lose your popularity if you're not part of them anymore."

Kaycee might be kidding me. I never wanted to be popular on campus. It might be hard to believe but all I just wanna do is to study, earn good grades and graduate with honors. I never even bother to join that stupid sorority because I don't wish to gain fame and lots of friends.

"I never wanted that popularity anyway. Didn't know I was popular, huh?" I joked.

"Well, I didn't think so either," Kaycee replied cockily, making me laugh.

It's good to find a friend like her in the sea of fake and pretentious world like this. I could feel her genuine concerns even from the very first time I met her. Something's telling me that I can trust her, my instinct told me so...