36. Anthony
CHAPTER 36
anthony
Today was the last full day Aunt Sue, Evelyn, and Kelvin were going to be here, and I was ecstatic. Our time at the lake house was great, but the last two days of it were awkward with Kelvin brooding and avoiding us as if we were the ones who harassed him. I was grateful he wasn’t vindictive toward Shoua. But he still seemed to be victimizing himself with the way he scowled at me.
Regardless of how he was toward us, the lake trip ended mostly on a good note. Sai and Evelyn were now no longer on speaking terms, but they weren’t as awkward with one another the way Kelvin was with Shoua and me. Aside from them three, everyone else seemed happy with their stay at the lake house. This made me want to work harder so I could buy a lake house one day and our family could experience this every year.
Tonight was finally one more day of Kelvin, Evelyn, and Aunt Sue with the barbeque party my parents were throwing.
I took a swig of the IPA I was holding and searched the crowd for Shoua. Now that the party was in full swing, my parents’ backyard filled with friends, family, and our neighbors. Aunt Sue was always popular with the crowd because she was boisterous and outgoing.
I loved her, but her reaction to Kelvin’s harassment of Shoua left me feeling uncomfortable. I couldn’t shake the bitter, hostile look she gave Shoua. Perhaps that was her real nature. In many ways, I was glad she was leaving and taking Evelyn and Kelvin with her. Aunt Sue wasn’t as kind as I had always thought she was; I knew it’d be best if I keep my distance the next time she visits my mom.
In the distance, I saw Shoua walk past Andy and Julie with her mom and older brother. I immediately followed them, a little worried. Why were they walking off to the back gate by themselves, where no one else was around? My brows furrowed in apprehension. I was about to call out to her when she turned to her mom with angry eyes and thin lips.
“Why are you telling everyone Anthony and I are getting married by the end of the year?” Shoua immediately asked.
Her furious question made me stop in my tracks. I was hidden from their view since I was standing behind a wall. But I could see everything. What was going on? Was that what her mom had been saying all night long?
“Lee, tell your sister that she can’t tell me what to do or say,” her mom said, but she only looked at Shoua’s older brother.
“Shoua, just let it go. You know how Mom is,” he said and sighed.
She looked at her brother in disbelief. “You can’t be serious!” she said. “Do you even know what people have been saying to me all night? They’ve been asking when my wedding is. Anthony and I haven’t even dated for three months, and you’re telling me to just let it go?”
What? Her mom had been saying that all night? I blinked, surprised. Now I started to understand why some people had been congratulating me and asking when our wedding was going to happen. I just figured everyone naturally assumed we’d consider a serious relationship after being such good friends for so long.
Lee blinked slowly at Shoua as he crossed his arms. I expected him to be angry with her, but he was the least concerned about what was going on. “Why does it matter? You two are going to get married at some point, aren’t you?” he asked, unconcerned.
Shoua let out a long, wobbly breath full of anger and frustration. “We just started dating, and Mom can’t just go around telling anyone who’ll listen to her baseless gossip,” she said rather calmly. “Anthony and I haven’t even been dating that long. But you’ve been dramatizing my relationship and you can’t just do that?—”
Their mom’s face crumpled immediately. “Oh! I can’t, can I ? Now that you’re finally dating Anthony and will soon be marrying him exactly like I told you to, you’re too good for our family?” her mom said hauntingly. She scoffed as her face twisted into a deep scowl. “If I hadn’t been the one to tell you to date Anthony, then would you? No , you wouldn’t have, and now you think you’re better than me just because you have a rich boyfriend. You ungrateful little bitch . Why are you looking at me like that? Are you going to cry and be the victim now?”
Shoua’s chin trembled a bit as she stared back at her in disbelief. Her lips parted, ready to say something as she turned to Lee. I waited for him to defend her, but he did nothing. He only stood there, staring back at her passively as if he was waiting for it all to boil over. I was surprised to see him behave like this, especially when I had always seen him as Shoua’s reliable older brother.
“Mom, please , you know what you did wrong,” Shoua choked out as she looked her mom in the eyes. Her gaze was glassy as her voice shook slightly. She took a moment to let out another breath before continuing. “You can’t just go around telling people these lies.”
“So, you think you’re better than me because I said those things—” started her mom before I spoke up.
“ Shoua ,” I called out firmly, immediately interrupting them before things could escalate as her brother pretended to be a bystander.
All three of their heads whipped to me. Her mom’s and Lee’s eyes went wide while Shoua frowned. Her pretty brown eyes tore away from mine, embarrassed.
“Anthony,” she said, looking away with bright red face. She looked her mom right in the eyes as I approached them. “I don’t think I’m better than you, Mom. What I’m trying to say is that you shouldn’t go around telling everyone lies. What you’re saying isn’t even true. If it’s any couple that should be getting married, it should probably be Julie and Andy?—”
“Why should Julie get married before you ? You’re older, smarter, and much better than her. You should get married first. Not her,” she spat out bitterly. She pushed herself into Shoua’s face, and that was the last straw.
“It’s true,” my voice boomed over the loud music and chatter far behind us. I pulled Shoua behind me as I stepped up to tower over her mother. A tight smile pulled across my lips. “Shoua is older, better, and so much more beautiful than Julie. But that’s just my opinion. My brother would say otherwise about his girlfriend.”
Shoua’s mom began to stammer, unable to reply.
“We’re done here, Auntie Hua and Lee,” I said firmly. I grabbed my girlfriend’s hand and lightly squeezed it. Her mom gaped at us as her shoulders tensed. “I hope you both understand that I love Shoua, and I refuse to stand idle and tolerate any disrespect anyone throws at her. More than anything, I’d appreciate it if you both were gentler with her.”
Shoua’s mom’s and brother’s cheeks flamed up immediately as they glanced at her. Lee avoided my gaze while their mom’s eyes were wild and practically red with rage. Then they turned their eyes to the ground instead of looking back at either of us. I wasn’t sure if they were ashamed or embarrassed.
I bid them a short bye before I pulled Shoua into the empty garage and immediately embraced her. I couldn’t believe what I just witnessed. If Lee didn’t even stand up for her, then was her dad at least on her side? Or did everyone in her family let her mom berate her? My heart weighed heavily as my arms tightened around her.
Shoua started sniffling into my chest as her ribcage rattled against mine with deep gulps of breaths. I rubbed soothing circles into the small of her back as her shoulders shook. Suddenly, she pushed out of our hug as she gasped harshly for air.
“I can’t breathe,” she announced, wheezing. “ I can’t breathe .”
My heart began pumping violently, but I kept my expression calm and neutral. I reached out to her and grabbed her other hand and continued to keep rubbing warm, comforting circles into the back of her clammy hands.
“Don’t worry. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere,” I said gently. Her eyes misted over with tears as she nodded. She gasped violently for another breath and squeezed my hands tightly. “It’s okay, baby. Just count the things you see in here out loud, okay?”
She nodded shakily. “O-One SUV. . . One bucket,” she answered, heaving with tears budding at the corners of her eyes. “Two p-pairs of running sneakers.”
She hesitated to continue as she frantically looked around for more items to count. “One toolbox. One vacuum . . . Um, um. One . . . two, three, and four utility hooks.”
Although her voice still shook and her hands continued to tremble in mine with each answer she gave me, she wasn’t panting anymore. Her frantic, panicked gasps for air had begun to slow bit by bit. But her bottom lip still trembled as she looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
“I-I want to cry,” she coughed out.
“It’s okay, I’m here,” I choked out as my vision of her became misty. I reached out to wipe her tears away. “I’m right here. You’re safe with me.”
She wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my chest. She started sobbing, her chest heaving with each cry she let out while I comforted her. When her cries dwindled into sniffles, I kissed the top of her head tenderly.
“Hey, why don’t we go on a walk around the neighborhood? There’s a place I want to show you,” I said.
She sniffed as she pulled away from our hug. Despite her misty eyes, her brows lightly furrowed together as she tilted her head. “What are you going to show me?”
I beamed, feeling my cheeks warm a tad. “It’s a secret.”
Shoua blinked, and two huge teardrops streamed down her face.
“I practically grew up in this neighborhood,” she said as I wiped the tears from her cheek. “I know it like the back of my hand, Anthony. What are you going to show me?”
“I told you. It’s a secret . Think of it as my next major project,” I said with a chuckle.
“Your next major project? I thought working on the ski resort was going to be your next significant project.” She raised a brow at me.
“It’s a personal one, Shoua,” I said. “It’s an endeavor I want to take on with you.”
Her second brow raised up immediately. “What does that even mean?”
“Why don’t I show you first?” I pulled her hips flush into my side.
“Fine,” she said with a small smile on her lips. “It better be a good one.”
After making sure she was hydrated and ate a light snack, we headed out. The night air felt cool on our skin as we walked hand in hand. Now that the sun had set, the sky was a soft purple with dark orange rays of the sun hanging in the west. Crickets were chirping quietly as we continued to walk.
“Thank you for standing up for me,” Shoua said. I peered over at her as she glanced at me with a soft expression. “Not many people do that for me.”
“I’ve noticed,” I said and frowned. “I thought Lee would try to defend you at least. Is your dad the same? Or does he try to stop your mom?”
She nodded, stiffly. “He tries since he’s not afraid of her. But the problem isn’t how she is when she’s in front of my dad, it’s when he leaves for work and we’re alone. There’s nothing that will quell her anger.” She sighed. “My mom is a stubborn woman. When she believes the world works a certain way, you can’t change her mind until she’s proven wrong. Usually by someone else that’s not my dad, brothers, or me.”
“But Lee and Sai could at least try, even if she may not stop. Why should you have to deal with her treating you like this all the time?”
“I know they rather not be in the path of that anger, so that’s why. My dad’s the only person who can stop her before she goes overboard. So, thank you . I think she was embarrassed that you saw her like that.”
“Stop making excuses for your brothers. They didn’t want to protect you because it was easier for them that way.” I frowned, squeezing her hand. “Also, you don’t have to thank me. It’s something I should already be doing.”
“Anthony—”
“I’m serious, Shoua. If I’m going to be with you and be your man, protecting you is the bare minimum.” She turned to me with these glimmering, emotional eyes. Her lips parted, but I spoke up before her. I motioned to an empty lot two blocks away from my parents’ house. “We’re here—at my next major project site.”
“What?” Her brows crumpled together, glancing at the bare lot of land I jutted my jaw toward. “ This is the secret place you wanted to show me?”
For as long as we could remember, there was an abandoned home with a rotting roof and peeling white paint in this lot, giving it an eerie presence. Decades ago, we believed it was haunted and always dared Julie to run by it after school. But Andy always did it for her instead like some gallant knight. The home was eventually torn down when we were in high school.
I found out then that an elderly couple had lived there before moving to Florida, leaving it to their children. But the house naturally fell into disrepair after many years of neglect and being empty. Some delinquents set it on fire as a prank a few years ago, leading to its eventual demolition.
Shoua flashed me a look of exasperation as I pointed at the sun-bleached for sale sign that had been up for several years. As I grinned from ear to ear, I felt a hot, searing flush creep up my neck. I looked her straight in the eyes.
“Baby, I want to build a home with you.”