FFMSD – 37

YOLANDA This has been the best day of my life. I shall mark this day as the beginning of great things. I have been through a lot this past year, but this year should be everything filled with joy, love, peace, and kindness. I am really happy today, and I would hate it if anyone ruins for me. I am in my father’s car as he is driving me home. I still cannot believe that I own a car and an apartment. I should start packing my stuff and leave, and nothing would make me happier like leaving my stepfather’s place. At least I won’t have to see him ever again “Honey, do not be a stranger, alright? Always come and visit your home and check on your daddy,” My father says after halting the car in the driveway. I feel like running into the house to pack my thing and leave with him again. With him, I feel like I belong. “Thank you, dad, for today and everything,” “I am your father, and I would do anything for you. You will always be my baby girl, no matter how old you become,” He holds my hand and pecks the back of it. “I know; goodbye.” I walk into the quiet house, and just as I make my way upstairs, my name gets called, frightening me. I did not expect him to be home. “Daddy,” I say. “Why are you back so soon? Shouldn’t you be celebrating your victory with your friends?” He asks, holding a glass of red sparkling wine, which was my mother’s favourite. “No, I will pass. I had the best day with my father. He bought me a brand-new Audi A1, can you believe it? Also, he bought me an apartment too,” “Audi A1? He could have done better,” He comments, making a silly remark about my dad. “It is the thought that counts, and for your information, I love that car so much. I just need to get my driver’s license first before I could go wherever I want with the car,” “That is not a problem. We can get it done tomorrow,” He turns around, going to the kitchen, so I follow him. “What do you mean?” I ask. “I mean I already taught you and Thando how to drive, so there won’t be a need to do the driving test to get your license. I am going to get someone to process it as soon as possible,” He grabs another glass of wine and half-fills it with what he is drinking. Breaking the law? That is scary, but that is fine by me! He pushes the glass towards me on the kitchen counter and beckons that I take it. Without hesitation, I take it and lift it up closer to my mouth. “Wait, we need to toast,” He says. “Toast to what?” I ask. “To you for passing your grades really well. I am proud of you, and I am sure mom is too, so cheers to that,” I smile before we clink our glasses and take a sip. This is really sweet. But I am not so surprised because my mother had a sweet tooth. “And let’s toast to Richard for making you smile today. The least he could do was not get drunk and have you calling me,” “Now you are pushing it, Daniel. You are ruining this moment. Why do you have to talk about my father like that?” “Because he is an i***t? I am sorry, but it is true,” He says, nonchalantly. “He is still my father, and you need to respect him,” I warn him. He raises his hand in surrender. “Where is Thando and Anele?” I place the glass on the counter and turn to the fridge to look for something to eat. I find a ready-to-eat meal wrapped in foil before I take it out and microwave it after putting it on a plate. Daniel sits on the barstool and drinks his wine before he answers me. I grab a spoon for so long. “Just like you disappeared earlier when we celebrated your achievements, Thando followed soon after, and Anele went to a sleepover at a friend’s place since you and Thando ditched her,” I frown, feeling bad for my Squishy. Thando and I were too excited about our results. We both did very well, and she passed with only two distinctions. I must say that I doubted her, but she surprised me. I am happy for her. The microwave times out, so I take out my food and place it on the counter before I join my stepdad and sit opposite him. I quietly eat comfortably not minding him. He does not seem to scare me anymore, instead, I am drawn to him. Ever since the night of Thanksgiving, I have had this huge, strange feeling for him, and I cannot seem to stop it. I feel relaxed when I am with him, and I kind of miss him whenever he isn’t around. I know this is wrong, but I have been in denial for too long. It is hard for me as I preach how much I am in love with Kyle, yet I am developing feelings for my stepfather. I am even having a drink with him right now, and whenever I am with Kyle, I fantasise about having a moment with him. I called him a paedophile, but victims do not fall for their suspects, right? Or maybe I am having Stockholm syndrome as I believe that getting closer to him would make him stop harassing me. Oh, God; what am I thinking? Thando would kill me, but I can imagine how funny it would be if I became Thando’s stepmother. “What are you thinking about, baby girl?” Daniel asks, startling me. Was I sleeping in my thoughts? “Oh, uhm… I will be moving out soon,” I blurt out. “To your apartment?” He asks. “Yes,” “I see. When and where is it? Is it safe, is it comfortable? Are the bedrooms big, and does enough sunlight enter the apartment?” Oh, Daniel. “It is comfortable and lovely. I cannot even wait to move in,” I retort, and he nods. “I guess that is okay then,” I do not think that he likes the idea, but just as I said about me getting closer to him has gotten him softer, so he won’t throw a fit. Time went by, and Daniel and I are still in the kitchen, talking about his childhood. He is a humorous man, and I needed to laugh the way I did right now. I am even sitting on top of the counter, drinking my fourth glass of wine as I listen to him talk. “So, if you were not a chiro doctor today; what would you have wanted to be?” I ask. “Well, maybe a cop or I would be in the army,” He shrugs. We are both tipsy, but we just keep drinking unbothered. “Mm, I think you would have become a hot, sexy, panty-dropper soldier,” He chortles and stares at me. “Do you think I am a panty-dropper?” He asks, huskily. Eew, this sounds wrong. I shouldn’t talk about my stepfather like that. “Uhm, I mean… argh, I should go to sleep. I feel drunk,” I set the glass aside and attempt to jump off the counter, but the floor looks too far as I drank more than my body could take in. “Let me help you,” Daniel offers, so I let him. He sets his drink aside before he carries me off the table. “Are you good?” He asks. “I think so,” I respond. Just as I take my first step, my legs wobble and I almost fall, but Daniel is quick enough to catch me. “Careful, Yolanda,” He says. I look up at him and laugh. “It is your fault that I am like this. Was it your plan to get me drunk?” “Did it work?” He asks, provocatively. I gasp, but he laughs before picking me up and placing me back on the counter. “I am kidding, but I enjoyed drinking with you,” He is standing in between my legs with his black big hands placed on my exposed thighs as I am wearing denim shorts. I meet his gaze and quickly drop my eyes. I cannot keep up with his eyes; I feel intimidated. “Why are you dropping your eyes?” He asks. “You are making me nervous,” “But why?” He places his hand under my chin and lifts my face. “Look at me,” He says, softly. Our eyes lock and I notice how his eyes have gotten softer and relaxed. His hands cup my face, and he moves his face closer. My eyes immediately shut, and my heart pulsates as the nerves kick in. Why am I not resisting what is about to happen? Oh, I am feeling flustered. What should I do? It is too late to do anything when I start feeling the warmth of his lips come in contact with mine, and the scent of the wine in his breath fans against my mouth. I open my eyes to see what is actually going on, only to find him looking at me. “I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time, baby girl. Are you going to push me if I kissed you right now?” He asks, softly. I am speechless and scared. But either way, I do want him to kiss me; I am just too embarrassed to ask. “D-daddy?” “Yes, baby girl?” Why am I even calling him? He slowly starts kissing me, and this time, I close my eyes and respond to the kiss – OUR first kiss. My arms involuntarily wrap around his neck while his hands slide around my small waist before he pulls me close to him, leaving no space between us. My breathing escalates, and at this moment, I just don’t want to think about how wrong this is but how right it feels. It feels so nice.