Maya never wanted to attend the family dinner, but her mother is not taking no for an answer.
She had rehearsed all week's deadlines at work, which could result in her demotion since the rumors were flying around her workplace, a migraine, a sudden business trip that cannot be declined, and none survived her mother's final words.
"You are not missing this dinner; we're family, and she needs our support".
"Family" and "support" are not supposed to be together in the same sentence while talking about Kim.
Everyone saw her as soft-spoken and elegant, but Maya's heart knew her as cold, evil, and competitive. At first, Maya didn't mind her.
She had already believed it was a childish rivalry when they were young, or maybe time to adjust since her mother just wanted peace to flow in her home, and she accepted to love her husband's child without any drama.
Growing up, her mother asked her to treat her like her own immediate younger sister—no difference, no coldness, just love and acceptance—and that's what she has been doing.
At a point, everything changed. It was subtle at first, extra praises and patience, then it wasn't anymore.
She became the daughter everyone wants their daughters to emulate. The standard their father wants Maya to attain.
Along the line, Maya stopped fighting for space in her home, seeking her mother's love and comfort and her father's validation and approval.
How she hoped to grow up quickly and get her space where no one would measure her and find her lacking.
Then, there was David and Nora. Nora has been part of our world since she was little, a sister Maya had always believed should be exchanged for Kim.
Her life with her was the only part of her world that felt untouched; the two of them felt safe and familiar.
She had met Daniel in their second year at the university, when Nora had issues locating her new department.
He had helped her locate it. In their first year in school, Nora introduced her to him, and that's how she experienced the newfound love.
Maya had believed she was finally blessed with the love she had been craving.
At first, it felt simple with him, then safe that she told him about the tension back at home, how she felt neglected.
Enough that led him to make promises on how he was going to make a home for the both of them, how he was going to give her the peace, love, and comfort she yearned for.
For the first time in a long time, Maya believed that she might have something that was now hers.
Daniel had paid a visit to her family house a second time. Her mother had insisted, saying they needed him to come around more often whenever they were on holiday so everyone would get to know each other.
Not knowing that the one that promised her love was now in love with another woman, he was looking everybody in the eyes except her. Maybe the guilty conscience or both were just playing dumb.
Everything unfolded in her eyes the morning her mother called her, panicking that Kim was rushed to the hospital since she had been complaining about feeling dizzy.
On reaching the said hospital, Maya saw her mother, who seemed to be panicking.
"Mama"
Maya's voice was low so as not to wake up the sleeping tigress, but it seemed she had been waiting for her; she opened her eyes with a smile plastered on her face immediately she sensed her presence.
"Sister,"
Kim called out while reaching her hand to her, which seemed unusual and uncomfortable for Maya.
Maya's heart always knew Kimi was never to be trusted. She stood where she was without an attempt to acknowledge her greeting.
"Maya," her mother called, gesturing her to reach out to her sister.
"What happened?" She asked, ignoring her mother's initiation.
Her mother handed her a folded test report without a word.
Maya had always found it difficult to read a test report, but one thing is that she can perfectly tell what the patient was diagnosed with.
All these years with Daniel had paid off. He had taught her how to read a test report; Maya blinked on seeing the result.
"She's pregnant," she asked, confused at the panic her mother was having a while ago. "Is that all?
Her mother stood eagerly, waiting for an outburst or comfort; none was forthcoming.
She looked at her as if she didn't understand the gravity of the present situation.
"Your father doesn't know yet," her mother said in a tight whisper, her hands twisted together. Maya had noticed immediately, which was not usual whenever something was threatening the family peace.
Maya frowned lightly as she adjusted her skirt, feeling strangely restless. She was quite sure that her mother wouldn't react in this exact way if she were in this situation.
"He's not going to kill her," Maya said nonchalantly.
On the hospital bed, Kim's eyes flitted toward Maya. She had been quiet all this while, patiently waiting to hear what Maya would say.
"She's his favorite," Maya continued as she tilted her head slightly.
And that was the first sentence that didn't sit right with them. Kim looked away, and her mother stopped wringing her hands.
Maya nodded her head on noticing their act. It seemed like they knew what they were doing; they just wanted to see her say something about the situation.
A soft knock interrupted the silence. The door opened, and a nurse stepped in with a clipboard.
Maya believed she had felt a bit of tension in the room.
Turning to Kim, she said, "We need to run more tests." Kim nodded weakly, and her mother immediately moved close to the bed to offer support at the moment.
Everyone in the room was occupied. Maya felt like an extra in a scene that did not require her presence or help.
Folding the test report gently on the side table, she quietly turned and walked out.
Everyone was now familiar with her 'no dramatic exit.' The hospital corridor felt cooler than the room; at least the air out here felt peaceful. Her heels clicked lightly against the tiles; she hoped this was her last time being in this kind of drama.
She exhaled, trying to push back the thought of why her mother did not visit their family doctor other than coming down to the local hospital.
Maybe to avoid her husband, who made sure that nothing passed under his nostrils. She stepped outside the hospital building and reached for her phone instinctively.
No new message, which was now becoming normal, her thumb hovered over Daniel's name. Maya hesitated; her message was yet to be replied to.
He had been distant lately, maybe busier. Sometimes missed calls were returned hours later with a tired apology.
Maya had always believed that becoming a doctor wasn't easy.
He was probably exhausted; maybe she had been overthinking the distance. Her fingers bounced lightly against her keyboard as she typed him a message.
"Final year pressure," he'd said often, complaining about hospital rotations and research, and she understood.
Maybe she believed she had been overthinking the distance. Her finger bounced lightly against her keyboard, and she typed a message:
"Call me when you are free."
Then paused, her thumb hovered over the send button before she slowly deleted the message. If he was stressed, she would rather not add to it.