Back then, little me didn't understand what it meant. Only when older kids at relatives' houses didn't want to play with me would they say viciously, “Lori, your parents don't even want you!”
Later, to get my parents' attention, I acted out wildly. They wondered how a child could be so calculating.
They all said parents favor kids with good grades, so I studied hard.
But not in my family. When Alexia scored 60, she’d be comforted and even get a brand-new pencil case. But when I scored 99, all they’d say was, “What are you showing off about? It’s just 99. Not even 100. What’s there to be proud of? Kids who do well in elementary school never do well when they grow up.”
When relatives praised me, they’d always try to undermine me.
So it was just that they didn’t love me.
But family bonds are so hard to fathom. I clung to them with a sickening persistence, even staying within the province for college.
I kept hoping they’d see how much I cared for them.
After all, I was their biological daughter.
But now it’s all just a mess.
I'm planning to go home again. Even though our last conversation fell apart, I'm determined to get my household registration separated.
Alexia opened the door and eyed me up and down.
“I thought you'd never come back from out there?”
My father knew I was back and looked at me with utter disdain.
He was waiting for me to bow my head and submit—after all, that's how I always acted when I had no power before.
“Getting my household registration separated won't trouble you or waste your precious time. All I need now is your ID card and household register. I'll return them afterward.”
Hearing this, my mother grew agitated, tapping my forehead with her finger. “Are you brain-dead? How can you be so stubborn day in and day out? We've given you an easy way out—what more do you want? Do you expect us to beg you on our knees?”
“Lori, what's your problem?”
I turned to Alexia. “Alexia, can you stop pretending? Shouldn't you be the happiest person here that I'm leaving?”
Mentioning Alexia was like cutting into a suicidal person's main artery—the whole family erupted.
“What nonsense are you spouting!? How dare you slander your elder sister now!”
Alexia's face darkened as Alyssa also stepped forward.
“Lori! Are you out of your mind? Who do you think you are to talk about your elder sister? Get out! You wanted to leave, didn't you? Get out now!”
I kicked Alyssa's designer shoes flying. “Alyssa, every piece of clothing on your body, every shoe on your feet, every phone in your hand—didn't I buy all of them with my summer job money? You're the last one with any right to speak up!”
Alyssa’s rage turned to laughter. “Hahaha, I see it now. You're starting to settle scores with us, aren't you?”
Alexia looked on the verge of tears. “Tell me, Lori. All this time, did you really think I was just a burden in this family? That I stole Mom and Dad away from you!?”
Alexia wasn't as bright as me. I started first grade at six, while she was still in first grade at eight.
We took the college entrance exam the same year. She didn't get into university and went to a vocational college instead, while I got into the best university, University of McKinson.
My parents lied, saying Alyssa had health issues and they needed to take her to a big city for treatment, claiming Alexia was old enough to help look after her.
In reality, they took them to the seaside for Alexia's graduation trip.
One thing I still remembered clearly was when Alexia posted a story in her social media account visible only to me—a collage of nine photos—with the caption: “Thank you, Mom and Dad, for taking me on this graduation trip.”
