She shook her head in displeasure. My mother was past the point of flushing red whenever she walked in on us, and merely exhaled, “I wondered where you two were. I’m about to start on dinner, so come down when you’re done.”
She focused her gaze at me, and I straightened so my father had his face enveloped within my breasts. If it fazed the older woman I could not tell, as her nasally voice continued, “Renne, have you finished your homework? You have school tomorrow.”
My father dropped his hand from my back. I forced a smile as I nodded, “Of course, mother,” I handed my father his glass, then turned to sit and press my back to him.
I doubted her sudden interest in my schoolwork. I was always ranked first in my class and she had never seen me complete my assignments. I usually finished them before leaving the school building. This was all convenient justification for barging in.
She continued to hold the door ajar, and a chill swept in to fan my disdain. I harbored very few secrets from my father, and there was little about me that he refused to accept or understand. My father felt me shiver and wrapped his arms around me. He should understand that as Veztia, my mother was my rival. I questioned who his frustration was aimed towards, as his deep breath warmed the room. He used his pyrokinesis subconsciously, warming our bodies and the water as he spoke.
“Love, the bath’s getting cold. We’ll be out in a bit.”
I felt him tilt his head and my love for him became insignificant. My parents also had a way of communicating with only their eyes. I was immediately excluded from the rest of their conversation.
They married for love instead of convenience. I was a part of my father but held at a distance. I have heard him having sex with my mother, and I worried that meant he loved his wife more than me. I became restless. I was as much of a woman as she was, but I was still young and could give him so much more. There were so many reasons why he should choose me.
Could we go away? Move to an island where no one knew us and simply start fresh? After the divorce, he would be free to love me. Or we could stay right here. Continue to love each other as we have been, only without hiding behind walls and closed doors. I had so much to offer him. I just needed the opportunity.
My mother looked away and shook her head again. I was no threat to her. I was not even seen as competition since she was already avowed to my father. Their wedding rings shone like the color of daybreak and I was wrought with jealousy. They had two kids and a full life together.
“Alright, just keep it down in here; Izu is downstairs,” she sighed.
My mother closed the door as she left, and I wondered if she would ever leave my father willingly. There had to be some way I could have him all to myself without killing her. He told me that marriage was only “the way for two strangers to become family” and since we are already family, it was unnecessary. We could not be any closer to each other since we shared the same genetics. That was also why our bodies were so compatible. I was born to be loved by him.