CHAPTER EIGHT (OLIVIA WILLIAMS)

Olivia is the daughter of a successful business magnate - May Williams. May is a single mother - maybe a feminist who believes in attaining everything a man can get. As long as its something money and hard work can get - she'd never back down. Her single motherhood tends to give her freedom - freedom away from all the troubles that comes with being married. But on Fridays, the boss lady is seen in the parking lot of several hotels. Moaning to the energetic thrusts of some young guys on a cozy Friday night wouldn't be too bad, huh?

Despite her secretly immoral lifestyle. May is still a disciplinarian who tries to impose morals on her daughter, even if she's like a clergyman who's doesn't act in harmony with what they preach.

Olivia never got to meet her father. Neither was her mother willing to say anything about him. When she was a kid, May used to tell her that her father had gone to heaven and was going to return soon. That was ten years ago. Maybe the word 'soon' deserves a new synonym. Years ago, May declared him dead and sometimes, she'd end the conversation on a bitter slate - with no satisfying answer.

Every endeavor Olivia made to get a single strand of information about her father goes down the drain. And it was beginning to take an adverse toll on her emotions. Incessantly, Olivia wakes up with a huge void in her heart. A void that only a father's love could fill. But what'll happen when he's not there? Olivia would grit her teeth in rage and clench her bedspread tightly as she let the tears flow.

May's wealth was everything Olivia needed to live the kid of life an average man will crave for his child. But the depressed kid isn't satisfied with all of that. The only avenue that temporarily takes away the pain is when she's out - drinking and partying.

That dirty lifestyle of binge drinking and partying was the reason for the hangover she's feeling and why there is a scar on her head.

Few days before that fateful night, she had a verbal altercation with her mother. That argument ensued because she asked a question May had always hated and dread - the whereabouts of her father.

The question met May at the wrong edge of the stake and then an outburst transpired. Olivia left the house and went partying and drinking in a quest to get the whole grudge off her chest. May became frightened when she didn't hear from her daughter after a day and she declared her missing.

Olivia was driving home when her car crashed into the sidewalk - almost ending Bryan's life. Bryan saved a girl who's been declared missing and wanted. The CCTV footages at the hotel didn't lie after all.

Olivia knew she was saved that night, but she was too tipsy to recall what her hero looked like, neither was she mentally conscious enough to know all that happened that night. She feels a bit guilty of not thanking the man who saved her, even though from darkest part of her heart, she wished for a more fatal accident. One that'll make it impossible for her to be saved.

****

Olivia swirled to the side of the bed - legs lazily scattered all over her luxurious bed. A sigh escaped her spherical lips. She opened her eyes to see the the glints of sunlight that sped into the room from the window. She hummed at the sharp pain that ran through her head, she ran her hand through her scalp. She let go of her hair - as the touches weren't taming the pain. Olivia swung out of her duvet and sat on the bed - her head burning like she had been laying on fiery coals.

She gasped painfully and her heart constricted when she recalled the mess she's been caught up in, in the last couple of days.

The door creaked, and Olivia narrowed her eyes to the door. At the sight of the white nightie, Olivia knew who it was.

May walked into the room - clutching a cup of coffee. Olivia took her gaze off the door as May walked towards her.

"See who's awake" May said, and her mouth widened with a smile.

"Ugh...." Olivia sighed. "My head hurts so bad"

"That's because of the hangover" May retorted. "This will make you feel better" she stretched the cup of coffee to Olivia.

"Does it still hurt?" May asked, pointing to the bandage on Olivia's head.

"Yes"

Olivia took a sip and a satisfying puff departed from her lips. She placed the cup on a small cabinet close to her bed.

May sat next to May on the bed - the whiff of her fruity cologne speeding into Olivia's nostrils. They both remained mute for a few seconds. Until May broke the silence.

"He's been released" Bryan said - rhetorically.

Olivia squinted her eyes in awe "who?"

"The guy who saved you, from the accident scene" May said, her voice stuck somewhere between rigidity and disappointment.

"Ohhh!" Olivia exclaimed, staring into space.

Her mother's silence was beginning to send cold adrenaline down her spine. She knew she was in for some scolding, but she's unaware of what me measure it'll take.

"That behavior was irresponsible Olivia" May continued, she reamed her eyes towards Olivia. "I didn't raise you be reckless and irresponsible. You ran away from home, over a flimsy excuse. You got drunk and almost killed yourself.... You.."

"I'm sorry mum" Olivia cut in unable to look into May's eyes. She nervously dug her fingers into her palms.

May gave Olivia a blank stare. She tugged a breath and shifted closer to her. She held Olivia's hand and beaconed her to make eye contact. Olivia reluctantly tilted her head up.

"I care so much about you. I don't want anything bad to happen to you" May said, she placed her hands around Olivia's cheeks. "Promise me it'll never repeat itself again" May said softly, as her warm breath hit the fluffy skin on Olivia's nose.

Olivia nodded her head in affirmation. "I promise mum. It won't happen again. I'm deeply sorry" Olivia said, in her most calm voice.

"Come here" May said, pulling her into a warm embrace. "I love you so much" May parted Olivia's back.

May hugged Olivia for as long as she needed to assure the young lady that she cared so much about her.

"I'd leave you to rest" May said, they disengaged from the hug.

Olivia didn't say a word.

May strode towards the exit when Olivia's voice stopped her.

"Are you ever going to tell me about him?" Olivia said.

May halted her steps - even though her hands were already on the knob.

"About who?"

"My father?" Olivia said. She rose up from the bed and walked closer her mum. "Mum, I don't know what transpired between you both. Maybe it was a broken marriage or he's dead. I think I deserve to know about him. For how long will you keep me in the dark...pl...."

"There's nothing to know about him" May said and her face shrunk into a frown. "There's no point talking about him. You don't need him"

Olivia scoffed. "Really?" I don't need him? When all you've done is spoil me and make me wallow in the dark abyss of fatherlessness. How could you be so cruel mum?"

"Watch your tongue Olivia"

"What if I don't?" Olivia sneered sadly. "You know sometimes I regret having you as a mother, because you're just so self and ev...."

A slap docked Olivia's face before she completed the sentence. She gripped her cheek in shock - eye stung with sizzling tears.

"How dare you?" May roared. "How dare you question my motherhood. If only you knew how hard I worked to ensure that you ever lack anything. I gave up everything for you. And you stand here to utter gibberish. You silly piece of shit. You can leave if you want, I'd never beat myself up over you anymore." May shot.

"And as for your father - he rejected you from birth. He never wanted you" May slammed the door.