Page 20 of Strictly Against Policy

“You’re also going to be the greatest aunt ever,” she chuckled.

“I’m already an aunt!”

“Oh, right! I forgot about your siblings’ kids!”

I shook my head as we shared another snicker. I squeezed her hand, ready to tell her how excited I was for her, when a loud and booming knock came from my front door. The door frame shook ominously as the person on the other side of it started screaming.

“Open the damn door, Lina!” shouted my older brother, Neng.

His voice and actions were filled with such intense rage that I instinctively grabbed Mary’s hand. I pulled her into my room.

“Stay here,” I whispered to her. To protect her, I closed my bedroom door.

She said a few words, but I couldn’t register them. The only things I could hear were the sound of my heartbeat ringing in my ears and Neng pounding furiously on my door. Sweat beaded down my back as I stood in my hallway, facing the front door. It quaked violently again with another menacing pound. My hands shook as I held tightly onto my phone.

“I know you’re here! OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!” he screamed.

The doorknob was jostled with such force I thought he was going to break it. I started panicking as my ribcage ached from the intensity of my rapidly beating heart. Even if I couldn’t protect myself, I needed to protect Mary.

My legs were wobbly as I clung to the facade of being calm and unbothered. I wanted my brother to believe he could cause a scene, scream like a child, embarrass himself, and I still wouldn’t bend to his demands.

“Go home, Neng. Or I’m calling the cops,” I said firmly, like a mother telling her child to stop throwing a temper tantrum.

“Just give me money, and I’ll be gone!” he yelled. His voice echoed through the hall outside again.

With the little courage I had, I walked up to my front door and dialed 911 on speaker. Slowly punching in one number at a time.

“FUCK YOU! I’m leaving!” screamed Neng, pounding on my door before I could press the last 1.

His huffing and heavy footsteps shuffled down the hall, accompanied by curses muttered under his breath. Mary walked to where I stood, saying nothing. She grabbed my hand and I held on tight. We waited a while before speaking to ensure he wasn’t returning, only taking shallow and quiet breaths. One at a time. When it was certain he wasn’t coming back, I breathed a sigh.

“When did he find out you lived here?” asked Mary.

I couldn’t answer her.

“You’ve barely lived here for 3 months. When did Neng find out you moved here?” she asked again.

I couldn’t even look at her. “Two months ago.”

“What?” Her voice sounded choked. She yanked her hand out of my grasp and stumbled a step back away from me. “Why didn’t you say anything to me? Your brother has been stalking and harassing you again for the last two months, and you didn’t think to tell me once? You have options, Lina. You can live with me and Eric!”

I ducked my head low. “I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

“You’re my best friend, Lina. You’ll never be a burden to me.”

Searing emotions bloomed in my chest and rose to my neck in a rapid ascension. It continued its sweeping, intense journey to my cheeks, welling up in my eyes. Heat burned my eyes as tears poured in fiery torrents down my cheeks.

Mary’s arms wrapped around me in a warm bear hug. Her hugs were always the best, too. I cried into her shoulder as she did into mine, whispering bouts of apologies. She patted my back like the sister I never had, quietly affirming it was fine. Her touch was comforting and loving.

I couldn’t recall how many times I’d already cried over this situation. The stalking. The harassment. The grief of losing an older sibling to a stranger I hardly recognized.

This was painful, and I didn’t want anyone else to carry this hurt except for me. I love Mary, but I couldn’t run to her every time Neng came by. If I couldn’t handle him on my own, then no one else should.

The situation was mine to bear and mine to handle. I didn’t need to make it anyone else’s concern.

CHAPTER 11

Jonathan