30

Eve's POV

Mr. Maya finally arrived when it was in the evening... I could see that he was sort of surprised when he found us altogether in the living room.
    
    "Hey Eve"  He spoke to only me.
 "Welcome, Mr. Maya"Helen perfunctorily greeted him..while Robert took his seat, he had greeted him when he went to open the door to let him in.
    I was waiting for Liam and his father to exchange pleasantries but none resumed first.
    
"Eve, can I see you for a moment?" Mr. Maya said to me.
  I glared at them first.
  "Come on Eve, you are different from all of them. When will you get it straight into your head that you are now my wife? Did you sign the papers?" He asked me... rising his voice at me.
    
    "I..... " I really didn't know what to say because I don't know why he's mad at me.
  "Daddy" Liam interrupted me then he came forward.. ; stood right in front of his daddy.
    "What is it Liam?" The old man asked.
    "Daddy I was very sick" Liam told him.
    "Oh! 'Was?' You don't look it"
    
    "That's not the response I was expecting " Liam said softly, but that soft voice sounds more like it's gradually accumulating bitterness and anger 
    "What were you expecting? Oh, you want me to run helter-skelter because you fell sick? You do have the doctor's number don't you?" The man responded and Liam smirked.
    "It's about the sickness or me not being able to take care of myself but it's about your I-do-not-care " Liam shouted at him
    "And you are an adult Liam!" Mr. Maya fired back.
    
    "We need to do something" I told Helen.
   "Just stay out of it" Helen responded.. pulling me backward.
    "It's not their first time" Robert added. "I...I need to go outside now" He trembled and rushed out.
    Robert is a one really scared guy.
    
    "An adult. Of course, I am an adult." Liam let out a hysterical laughter. "Dad I almost committed suicide! You almost lost a son!" I...i was so down yesterday...I wasn't myself"He shouted.
    "An heartbreak! An ordinary heartbreak.. Mark told me you lost your girlfriend to someone else.."
    "And not even a sign of sympathy from, I didn't even set my eyes on you..." Listen Daddy, It's not only because of the heartbreak but because the pain reminded me of my family situation, the pain made me think I am one dejected fellow... just because  I have irresponsible father who only chases what's under skirts, who doesn't care at all about your son .. I.. I... thought I deserve all this because of my attitude towards people but ...no I don't deserve any of the pain.... Then I... I wanted to put an end to my existence... I...." His eyes were already teary.
  "But you are right" He sniffed and failed a smile. With that, he climb the stairs in a hurry.
    
    "Liam..." I was about to run after him..
 "Eve come on" Helen pulled my hand..." Liam can be really dangerous when he is very mad " She said to me. "He would sort himself out. This is what we get whenever Liam is back from college" 
    
   "Oh, this is great. Liam finally accepted you as his stepmother nevertheless" Mr. Maya clapped his hand as he put on a smile as if I didn't just watch the wicked part of him.
    I looked at him with fierce hatred.
    " Come on Eve, it's just a father and son slight argument. Don't be like that. So what about the form I gave you this morning?" He asked me as he came closer to me... "Excuse me Helen" He told her..
    
    "You are no longer my father!" We heard Liam's voice, we looked up only to seeing rushing down the staircase with some keys. They were his car keys.
    "Helen, do you have any idea about my apartment?" Liam asked her.
    
    "Err... I haven't been there for a while but it's well tidied " She responded.
    "Oh Good," Liam said then he faced his father.
 "I have had enough of your drama dad, I am finally moving to my own apartment. Isn't that what you have always wanted? being the adult... that I am..." He paused and laughed.
    "Good... Leave already Liam" Mr. Maya shouted
 "Leave if you can't get used to your father's attitude" He added.
    
  "I promise you father, you will regret everything. Everything!" Liam fired as he hastily walked out of the house. Helen and I ran after him...
    At that moment, Mark was just returning...
    "Mark I... I won't be living here with you anymore. I am sorry and I hope Dad explains himself to you" He told Mark and rushed to his car... he paid deaf ears to whatever we were saying...not even his brother.
    
 "C'mon Robert!" The guy hesitantly opened the gate for him...when he was about to move out, he looked at us again and said;
    "No guys, I'm not gonna change my mind. Besides, I have always wanted to move to my own apartment but looks like I made up my mind sooner without expecting it" With that, he drove out.
    
   *****
   ...

 "Dad..what..." Mark bumped inside angrily.
     "I did what I had to do..." The foolish old man interrupted. "Or do you want to be sent out of the house also?"
  "For your information, you didn't send Liam out. He made that decision himself! That's what he said.." Mark fired back.
  "Oh, why then are you making a fuss?" Mr. Maya said.
    "Dad" He shouted then lowered his voice. "You know you are not being fair at all?
 " Oh by putting my darling little wife first before anyone else means I am not being fair at all? Really Mark?"
   Mark shook his head.
    "You have always been Mild Mark, don't get yourself into this... Just go your way" Mr. Maya added.
  Mark scoffed; "Well I can smell the spirit of shame that would surround me very soon" With that, he climbed the stairs.
    
    "Eve; my darling little wife" Mr. Maya came closer to me.
 "I am not feeling Okay"  I moved away when he almost placed his hand on my waist.
  "Why? What happened?" He asked.
    "Wish you were like this to Liam" I didn't know when those words slipped out of my tongue; he stood there looking at me like...
   "I need to go sleep now" I quickly added then walked upstairs.
    
    **