The Only Reason || Harry Styles ||

“Where’re you going?”my older brother asked from the couch; eyebrows furrowed and lips formed in a thin line.

“It’s the first day of school, Cliff.” I said while putting on my converse.

“Do you want a lift?”

“That’s very kind, Cliff…” I replied sarcastically to his offer. “… but no thanks. I’ll take the bus.”

I stood up after I tied my shoes and peeked at my wrist watch to see I still have many minutes left to go to school.

“I insist.” he said standing up from the couch.

“No, really I-“

“Accept your brother’s offer, Max.” a voice interrupted from my behind from the kitchen.

I turned my head to the side to see my dad tapping at his phone and the other grasping a mug of coffee. He walked pass me to the couch and sat beside my brother, grabbing the newspaper from the mini table in between him and the television.

“Why are you here?” I asked my dad.

He looked startled from my question as he turned his head to look at me.

“This is my house, isn’t it?” he answered.

“I mean- I- you’ve been away for like two weeks. I’m just surprise you’re here.”

“I just sorted things out.”

I was about to open my mouth to speak but my father spoke first.

“You wouldn’t want to know those things, right?”

I bowed my head and stood silently; creepy memories filling up my mind: the first time my dad laid a hand on me. He slapped my face. Hard. I was 15. I remember forcing my dad to tell me why wasn’t he always home. I got angry… and so was he. But as much as I hate him, as much as I want to strangle him and not embrace the fact that he was my dad, I still feared him. I still fear him laying a hand on me… cause it hurt; physically and emotionally.

“Cliff, give your sister a lift. Now.” he ordered then put his attention back to the newspaper.

~*~

The rain was pelting outside. I watched droplets collide with the roofs of every house we passed by through the window. I wasn’t worried about the time consumed earlier, I wouldn’t get late anyway.

I was too excited about this day; woke up early to get ready. Ready to meet new friends; girls mostly. It’s not that I didn’t ever saw a woman before or meet one; it’s just that I hadn’t got the chance to get to know them better. Maybe this was my chance. All my life, men was around. My brother, my dad, my brother’s friend – which was all boys, my dad’s ‘coworkers’ and you wouldn’t believe it, it was all boys too. They would, sometime, gather in our house; sat around the long big table discussing God know what it is while I kept myself in my room acting like I didn’t exist.

My dad wasn’t a father figure. He never was. When I was little I questioned him where my mother was and all he did was remind me he was doing work, he was busy, he didn’t had a single time for me. And it makes me think what kind of job he was doing to not make time for her only daughter.

My brother is… quite the same, I guess. But he was not that ‘bad’ as our dad. He sometimes talks to me like ‘hey, Max, did you see my beanie?’ or ‘I’m going out. Keep the doors locked.’ And I was always left alone in the house. I don’t feel he’s my brother. Brothers supposed to protect their little sister but he didn’t. All he does is to keep our presence at a distance. Like he doesn’t want to get close to me.

Am I adopted? What is wrong with my family? Shit I hate men. I wish I still had my mum. I think she’ll like me. But why did she left us when I was days old? God it’s so messed up.

“So where to?” Cliff asked from beside me.

“Here.” I gave him a map where the school was.

Cliff continued driving; looking every minute at the map. As he peeked again at the paper, his eyebrows knitted.

“Gabriela for Girls?” he questions, eyes on the road.

“Yep.”I answered briefly.

“Does dad know?”

“Yeah I told him.”

“He got mad, didn’t he?”

“Nope. He was asleep and I wake him and told him and he agreed then went back to sleep.” I explained.

“Glad he didn’t scold you or got angry or something.”

My brows wrinkled.

“Why’s the sudden concern?”

“You’re still my sister, Max.”

I scoffed; mumbling “Yeah, right.” and looked away. After about 7 minutes, the rain had already stopped falling and the sun became present.

“We’re here.” Cliff informed.

I stared at the large building ahead of me and smiled like an idiot. I can almost hear girl’s laughing, squealing of excitement, and chattering. Once the car had stopped, I quickly opened the door and hopped out.

I beam at the sight in front of me. Girls were everywhere. I can spot a cheerleader-type of girls formed in a circle conversing, the nerds sitting on the ground reading books, I also spotted a group of lesbians next to the cheerleaders checking them out. Good choice of school, sisters. There were also… nuns? Are they the one who’ll teach us? This really is a world of girls cause the educators are girls too.

“I guess I should go.” Cliff spoke from the car making me jump in shock; I almost forgot he was there. I turn around and faced him.

“You should.”

“Call me if you need me.”

I scoffed loudly. “What’ve you eaten?”

“What?”

“If you’re acting you’re concern for me, you’re a great actor.” I spat.

He sighed. “How many times do I have to tell you you’re still my baby sister?”

I scoffed once again and mumbled “Baby sister yourself.”

“I’ll go. Text me if it’s dismissal, I’ll give you a ride, okay?”

“Bye, Cliff.” I said closing the car door.

“Bye!” he shouted then took off.

That’s odd. He seemed concern but I think he wasn’t. Just mocking, I guess.

Anyway, I walked past the gate then let my eyes wander around the place; scanning every part of the big building happily. But my eyes widened when I saw a man in his twenties walking down the hall with papers on his hands and a bag on his other hand, tall and head filled with …curly hair. How cute. I thought this place was only for girls, even the facilitators were girls but I think that’s just what my mind says. Whatever. I need to get to my first period right now if I don’t want to get late.

Oh well, maybe this is gonna be a start for something, right?

Notes

Hi! Thanks for reading. I promise my writing will get better :)

Leave a comment for me. xx