Summer’s timeline
Today, the Robinson will leave the island. I want to see them one last time but if I see Kaye, I might not able to let him go. So I’ll just satisfy myself watching the dock over this hillside. People already look so small from up here but I’m assuming one of them is Kaye.
The slightly rusted swing squeaks as I kick my feet on the ground. A garden shouldn’t have a mini-park inside it where it can house a small building. But this estate has it. Where people are being robbed by their homes, the Higgins continue living like royalties.
“Summer!”
I jump on the swing hearing Clark’s thundering voice. When I turn around to look, his menacing face has me trembling that I quickly take a few retreating steps. Yet, his fast strides catch me easily, slapping me hard to my cheek. I fall to the ground but he grabs me up by the neck.
“Ack!” I choke at the force of his hands around me.
“What did you tell the Robinson?” Clark demands with seething eyes. “Why did they leave the island? Tell me!”
I flail my arms when breathing becomes difficult and my vision starts to blur. What is he doing? Why’s he so angry to the point of wanting to kill me? Clark continues demanding, squeezing my throat tighter and even shaking my body to force an answer from me.
“Didn’t I tell you to not meet them anymore? Yet, you tipped them off about my plans! You told them, didn’t you? Answer me, you little whore!”
I claw his wrists in attempt to wring his hands off of me but he’s way bigger and stronger. The tight pressure to my lungs makes me want to cough but that only chokes me more until my legs become weak that I buckle and stumble down the grass.
Clark’s grip momentarily loosens and I’m able to heave air back to my lungs in between coughing fit. Just then, two servants arrive, holding a few cleaning tools. They look at Clark and bow before him then look at me with indifference before scurrying away.
“You’ve got some nerve, little bitch. You’ll pay me big time!” Clark announces before turning away, leaving me shivering in fright as I watch his departing figure.
He got angry with just that? What did he really want with Kaye then? While I watch Clark’s back, I saw a figure in my periphery. I turn and catch sight of Mildred, Clark’s younger sister. When our eyes meet, she quickly turns away and flees. Since how long has she been watching while I’m being strangled to death?
From then on, Clark’s cruelty continues. He’s made abusing me his hobby. Strangling. Putting pillow over my face while I sleep. Forcing me to drink unknown, bitter fluid. Beating me up. Pushing me off the stairs to name a few. Yet, people turn a blind eye to all these.
Mr. Higgins, though he’s woken up, is still weak. I haven’t even met him ever since I step in his estate. I heard he’s poisoned and although he’s recovered, there were several complications afterwards. Despite that, he’s stubbornly holding onto the title of Higgin’s family head.
Although Clark is already an adult, Mr. Higgins insists that Clark needs to mature and earn apposite experience for him to be able to handle the estate and their businesses. I don’t even know why I’m being kept here when I obviously don’t have a place in this estate.
Yes, I have nothing and no one. I know that Kaye told me to meet new people and enjoy my stay here while waiting for my mother but I couldn’t. I just can’t dare. When my life’s dangling in a precipice, how can anyone expect me to enjoy living?
Hence, I turn all my thoughts and sorrows into writing. It’s supposed to be a diary but Mrs. Higgins once found it, thought I’d submit a complaint for child abuse and shredded it to pieces. When Clark also found out about it, he made me his punching bag once again.
Luckily, I found an unused computer at the Higgins’ library, complete with an internet connection. So I resort to electronic diary but people prefers calling it blogging. In order for this cursed family to not easily trash my handiwork, I save everything in cyberspace.
Over the years, I keep a timeline of my story, a journal of my thoughts and the trove of my plans, appearing to be a serial fiction to the outside world. Little did I know that people can actually read it and my story slowly but greatly spread to the public.
“Summer!” I jump on my seat and quickly shut down the computer before turning to the servant that came in the library. “The head master is calling for you in his room.”
“W-what?” I ask in shock. “How about Mrs. Higgins? Is she there?”
“She’s gone to town. Quickly! Don’t let the head master wait for you!”
After all these years? I slowly get to my feet and walk across the hallway towards the master’s bedroom. I slide my sweaty hands over my dress and take a deep breath. What could he want from me? Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Come in,” A slightly trembling voice croaks from inside and so I let myself in. “Ah, so you’re Summer?” The old man that’s sitting on the bed asks with curiosity in his beady eyes. “Lock the door and come over here.”
I do as I’m told and stand by his bedside. “Good day, Mr. Higgins. How are you feeling?”
The old man chuckles yet he suddenly goes into a coughing fit. I panic but he waves his hand to me as if to say not to worry. I swallow while watching him wheezing and his eyes tear up even more. Is he really alright?
“Uh, you’re aware that I’m your father, right?” I neither deny nor confirm it, choosing to stay silent in wait for his next words. “I’m sorry if I wasn’t there when you were growing up. Me and your mom clearly agreed to have you in this world because she badly needed money. If it’s a girl, I’d give her ten million and leave you with her. If it’s a boy, I’d give her double the price and take you with me.”
“So why am I here?” I ask unblinking.
The old man sighs and turns to the slightly open window. “She lied to me and refused taking the money then resort into hiding. In retrospect, I didn’t understand why she did that and got upset with her. But…” He looks back to me with sad eyes. “More than seven years ago, she found out that she had a malignant illness and only had a short time left. She didn’t want you to be sent to orphanage. Thus, sending you here and explained to me everything.”
“W-what did she say?” I frantically ask because mom told me nothing when she left.
“Just so you know, Clark is my wife’s son from her first marriage. After having our Mildred, she couldn’t get pregnant again. She knew I prefer a male heir for all these things.” He proudly gestures around him as if meaning the luxury. “My wife found out about my pact with your mother so she sent someone to take care of her, essentially threatening the baby in her womb. That’s the reason why your mom went into hiding and lied about you being a girl, resulting to her betraying our agreement. However, your mother actually didn’t. She completed our promise and gave me a son. As long as people think you’re a girl, no one’s going after you. You just have to wait until you reach the right age to inherit everything—”
“Because of this great inheritance, people become difficult to trust especially the ones that are close to you,” I supply without emotion, unable to relate to his supposedly grand story. “Who do you think poisoned you, Mr. Higgins? When I become of age and be found out am actually a man, wouldn’t I get poisoned as well? Even living in a female disguise, I’m not safe at all.”
He stares at me as if in pain before looking down at my neck. Clark’s handprint from his constant choking is visible from my A-line dress. It won’t come off because when it slightly fades, he’d make sure to put the mark back on like a collar of possession.
“I-I’m sorry,” he sobs into his knuckles and shakes his head. “I couldn’t protect you—”
“You couldn’t even protect yourself. Why would you think I’d rely on you? This house that you’ve built with your sweat and blood has poison in it, Mr. Higgins. The high fortress that you thought would safeguard you is actually a prison that’s slowly killing you now.”
“That’s why I need you here, Summer. You will save this place so I won’t die with regret. You will right my wrong.”
“I have my own life and I’m going to live it the way I want it to. Besides, if I do what you tell me, who’s going to right my wrong? I would’ve to lie on my deathbed greatly regretting, hating myself and the world… repeating your very own story.”
“W-what do you mean, Summer? Are you planning on leaving? But all of these belong to you. You’re the rightful heir.”
“You still have Mildred, Mr. Higgins. I never wish to have your wealth. I’d rather eat dirt and live long than drink from a golden cup with poison in it. You made this prison to yourself, Mr. Higgins. Thus, you live in it. I’m truly sorry.”
I bow before him and leave his room. We may share the same blood but I can’t feel warmth of a family around him. For me, there’s only my mother and the Robinson. I return to the library, log into my account and compose a favorable reply to an email under the guise of a different name.
Calling me into his room after so many years only means one thing. The head master knows he’s near his end and the estate will collapse along with him. The wife has won and his son will soon reign and stand above the ruins. Thus, my time to leave.
I’m still sixteen, an underage about to brave life outside the island. I never possessed anything valuable in me so I resort to stealing some jewelry and prized decors from the villa. Carrying them and some of my feminine clothes, I leave the island in a boat in the middle of the night when everyone’s dead asleep.
After crossing a ten-hour span of endless water, I finally step on dry land in a foreign city lit with bright morning sun, feeling nervous and afraid yet hopeful at the same time. I sell the treasures I took and earn myself a small amount of fortune.
I haven’t had a wink of sleep and can’t even stomach a morsel of food because of the nerves. With my haggard look, I meet up with the person who promised me money in exchange of selling my story.
Since I’m still underage, I had to lie about having a vacation with my family in the city. But little did he know that I’m yet to find a place to stay when all this bright sun turns to dusk. Even so, as long as I have money, I can survive living alone in this foreign land.
To be honest, I only considered publishing just to secure a source of income, no matter how small, in order to continue living in the city. I never expected my story would turn out big. In just two years and they’re now adapting it into a film.
Making stories—an entertaining one—is no joke. But it’s not uncommon either. A writer needs only the right vehicle to push him to success and I happen to luckily found one. Well, to be exact, they’re the ones who found me and I just ride along their directions.
“How about making a female protagonist this time?” My editor suggests on the other line while I’m enjoying a date with myself in a bar over a cocktail drink. “You know I’ve always been curious since you’re writing a first person POV but you’ve been writing in a male’s perspective when you’re a woman yourself.”
“Nah, I’m just comfortable that way,” I say and furtively touch the neckline of my red, haltered dress. “But, if it’s what the executives want, then I’ll do my best.”
“Among all the writers we have, you’re the youngest to debut and always been the easiest to talk to. And look at you now—rich and successful.”
“I started in this industry without knowledge whatsoever but you all guided me to the right path. I’m confident that you only know the best for my career. I’m a writer and writing is what you only require of me. What’s there to complicate?”
“Alright,” he chuckles, sounding satisfied with my answer. “We’ll further discuss this over dinner as soon as you finish the other work. We’ll be in touch.”
“Yes. Good night.” I end the call and sip from my drink. “A female POV, huh.” I mumble to myself while watching the night out of the window.
“Excuse me, may I join your table?” A man asks, one of the many who attempted to keep me company tonight.
“No,” I answer without looking up.
Even though it’s obvious that I’m not a woman why would they still… To my annoyance, this one has the audacity to slide into the chair in front of me, inviting himself to my table. I turn around, ready to lash out at him only to lose my tongue and my mind as well.
Oh! Oh, my God! This is… It’s… My heart pounds immediately in my head, making me nauseous. It’s him, isn’t it? It’s K-Kaye… Kaye Robinson! The urge to cry and jump into his arms has me flying off my chair and run away instead. Oh, God! Oh, God!
I knew I ran away but why am I in his arms right now? Oh, my God! Kaye is…W-wait, wait! Why’s he kissing me? What—He’s Kaye right? It’s definitely him. He’s never changed much but why are we entering a hotel?
I try stopping him but even I can’t stop myself from clinging onto him. I’m drowning with desire and overwhelming emotions I can’t somehow give a name to. The only one sure thing that keeps ringing in my ear is that I don’t want to leave his embrace. It’s here, I believe, where I truly belong.
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