"We bloom until we ache'
-Serendipity-
A part of him started to react to this incredible human before him. His jaw dropped, his eyes began to blink, and his body started to tense up. They could not take their eyes off each other. Her gaze captivated...
"Ruby, I'm sorry if I upset you yesterday, but your old man wants to see you and reconnect. It's not all his fault," she cautiously informed you.
"Yeah, right. Heard that a million times. It's always the system's fault," you scoffed, air-quoting with your fingers. "Does he think I'm thick? I'm not slow or dumb."
"Ruby, please!" Your mother began pleading, a move you detest. The incident was fourteen years ago, but forgiveness hadn't come yet.
"No... No! He's not my dad, Mum. He always thought he was top dog—better than everyone else. Let me go for my annual. Calling me after years of abandonment just rubs salt in the wound," you felt a migraine brewing from the suppressed fury. You couldn't handle it right now.
You bolted out of bed to run a bubble bath, wanting to block out anything about your father, the source of your pain. It's February, time to head back to uni for your master's degree.
Your mother, sitting on the bed, watched you with soulful eyes. She grabbed your arm before you dashed to the bathroom. "Are you sure, love? Don't let it stop you from being happy. Our mistakes won't be yours or your siblings'. Be the best you that you can be, okay? Don't give up on love."
You chuckled bitterly. "Love's overrated. Watching Mom's heartbreak is the worst. Look at you and 'dad.' Both of you were hurt." You wiped your face. "You started dating at 27, married at 28, had me at 29, Bryant at 31, Becky at 33, then dad got his 'late whisperer mark' at 34 and found his 'true' soulmate at 36. He could've said no; he was already married and had moved on, but no, when he saw her, he forgot all about us. So, tell me again: if this system isn't messed up, don't blame it on the system. He lost love for your mother, who supported him for years and helped him through law school, so you abandoned your dreams of being a stay-at-home mom. And what did he do while you raised three kids? He packed his bags and left in the dead of night with his beautiful blond bombshell to New Zealand, starting fresh, forgetting about the poor red clan. So, I hate him, and I hate this system!" The bitterness was palpable.
You broke free and ran to the bathroom, tears streaming down your cheeks.
Your mother's eyes welled up, too. The pain still lingers after 14 years, and you've not recovered from your dad's betrayal. She doesn't know how to mend your relationship with your dad, and it does nothing to prevent you from reliving the pain.
You sobbed in the tub. The betrayal by two men you loved hurt too much.
You used your 'Alchemist' cosmetic products to scrub your face hard, hoping to forget.
That was half a decade ago. Your first puppy love was before the soul mark appeared. Greg Sutherland and two of your girlfriends first met in a theme park. You clicked right away. He went to Redlands Private School in New South Wales, which is close to your home, when he was 16 and in Year 10.
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