Chapter 8 Heated arguments

The naked man's face twisted with frustration. His hands clenched into a hard fist.

I don't know why, but I was so taken aback that I couldn't stop staring.

You know that feeling of getting starstruck?

Well, here, I wasn't star struck, I was just shocked and disgusted at the same time that I didn't know when to stop staring.

I thought I had locked the kitchen door earlier when I jammed it.

"Why the hell did you not tell me that someone was in your kitchen, Rachael!" His voice barked as he stormed back into the living room.

"Now she'd seen me naked. Are you happy now? I told you about how discreet I intend this to be, and yet you do this to me?"

His voice roared again, and I heard some ruffling sounds of clothes being put together.

"How was I supposed to know she's in there?"

My mother yelled back at him and shortly, she was in the kitchen.

My mother turned her sharp gaze towards me. Her lips pressed together in disgust, and then she marched towards me. "You?"

She shook her head and hissed in disgust, her eyes dripping with irritation.

"What on earth are you doing sneaking around the kitchen by this time? I thought you said you'll be going somewhere this morning?"

She smacked her lips and I could see her struggle to keep her hands to herself. She wished she could smack it on my face so terribly.

"Or let me rephrase it, I thought I saw you leave the house this morning, Gwen? What the hell are you doing here?"

I scoffed. "I wasn't snooping around mum. I came in earlier to make an omelette, and in the process, I heard you guys munching on each other. Decided to stay here and have my brunch to avoid getting in contact with you guys, and yet your naked man walked in here to meet me, how is that my fault?"

My mother's eyes narrowed angrily, "I let you stay here, Gwen." She started, her voice low but laced with serious warning. "Not to snoop around and cause problems for me. Mr Rig is out, and I don't know if I'd ever see him, and I know you're happy right?"

"I'm not causing problems mum, you're the one parading a naked man in a house you have a three year old living inside of it. You couldn't even pretend for at least two weeks for me to leave before you showed me how you desecrate this house for Lyla!"

"Watch your stupid mouth, Gwen. Watch it, Lyla is in school and will get home by 4pm, so don't bring Lyla into this conversation."

I bit my mouth in disbelief, "you allow Lyla to stay till 4pm? I thought their school closes by 1pm? Come on mum!"

My mother exhaled harshly. Shaking her head, and then with a chiling calmness, she tossed her feet to the fridge to get a cold bottle of water.

"I won't let you stay here up to that two weeks, if you keep on meddling in my affairs, Gwen. Trust me, when I said I'd kick you out like you weren't my blood!"

She stated, and dashed out of the kitchen.

My stomach tightened, I knew she meant every word she had said.

The darkness in her gaze and strength of her tone was enough to tell me that they were not just threats.

It's not like I haven't been minding my business, but this time around, I'd mind it even harder. I can't afford to be thrown into the streets now I was penniless.

I bit back the lump in my throat, and stalked towards my room.

I crawled back into my small pink space and shut the door.

The look was still the same it was since I was a teenager, aside from the fact that it used to be a bright pink colored room, now it was dull colored, since the painting had faded away.

I had taken down the pictures of Barbie that were formerly on the wall after I got back from med school, and when Lyla was born, I used them to decorate her room.

Right now, the only thing that gave life to my room was the easel, paint brushes, and stacks of half finished canvases leaning against the wall.

I needed an escape.

It's been two weeks since I painted and my hands have been itching for my paint brush.

I came back with the painting materials I was using in Chicago, but I hadn't unpacked them.

So I was just going to make use of this one.

I sat on the long seat, and drowned into my own world. My world of painting.

And with each motion, the world faded away.

The anger, the naked man, my mum's threats, all faded beneath the strokes of my brush.

Painting and playing the piano has always been my favorite things to do. Aside practicing medicine, of course.

I hadn't been putting much attention to piano since I married Oliver.

You'd probably think I'm a fool if I say this, but I'd say it regardless.

The piano was also part of me I allowed to die. Leticia didn't like the sounds of pianos, saying it reminded her of her past.

Whatever past she was talking about, I don't know.

I had to obey and pack the piano because Oliver would always warn me to listen to his mother.

Also, I didn't really know how to play it to my taste.

I lost track of my world to painting, but the spell was broken when my phone buzzed.

"Your licensing application has been denied."

It read.

My stomach dropped. "No way!"

I whispered. "This must be a mistake."

My hands trembled as I began to compose an email to send to the licensing department.

I had just applied today, and got rejected almost immediately?

An application that was meant to take two weeks?

My phone buzzed again, interrupting me. Amelia was calling.

Amelia was an old friend from medical school, and we haven't spoken since I left school.

Picking up the call, the first thing she said was my name in a low voice.

"Gwen." Her familiar voice on the other end sent a mix of nostalgia and dread through my chest.

"Amelia. It's been ages."

"Yes Gwen, I need to tell you something. Please make sure you don't disclose what I told you."

She hesitated to speak again, then continued hurriedly, "it's about your licensing spot. It wasn't denied, it was bought."

"Bought? By who?"

I croaked as anger rampaged my throat.

"Leticia, your ex husband's mother. I have to go Gwen. Remember, I wasn't the one that told you."

She ended the call immediately and for minutes I stared blankly at my phone, numb in disbelief.