Living in the Shadow of My Cousin

I got into college too, but my mom didn't say a word. I was the only one in the whole dorm without a computer. So later, I worked part-time and saved up to buy my very first computer myself.

"Victor is 22 years old and just finished college! His future looks bright. I’m going to give him $3,000 as a reward!"

By my senior year, I had already secured an internship. My mom said since I was earning now, she wouldn't give me any more living expenses.

After that, Victor got married to Jeane.

My mom still posted on social media.

"Victor is 25 years old now. Finally, the lovers are together! They are really a perfect match!"

But when I married Clara, my mom said she wasn't feeling well and didn't show up.

Looking back, it felt like Victor was really her son and I meant nothing to her.

The more I thought about it, the sadder I got. Tears started to fall.

The kitchen went quiet; they finally realized no one was cooking.

My mom rushed into the bedroom looking for me and saw me trying to calm my daughter.

"Hurry up and start cooking! Do you realize what time it is? Do you want Victor and the others to be hungry?"

I whispered, "Shh," since I had just gotten my daughter to sleep and didn't want her to wake up.

"Shh? What's that supposed to mean? She's not some precious princess, I can't even talk?"

My mom intentionally raised her voice.

Startled by the sudden loud voice, my daughter woke up crying again.

I couldn't hold my frustration any longer.

"Mom, this is your house. If I'm busy, go cook for yourself!"

Her eyes widened and she slapped me.

"You've really turned against me! How dare you boss your own mother around?"

"Everyone knows you're the best cook, we're all relying on you!"

"Put the child down quickly and go start cooking!"

I kept trying to calm my daughter, but she wouldn't stop crying. My mom wanted to hold her, but my daughter clung tightly to my neck and refused to let go.

Honestly, my mom isn't gentle with her. Whenever she just puts her down on the floor and when my daughter gets bumps or scrapes, my mom doesn't seem to care.

There was no other option, so Clara came in.

"Honey, give me the baby. You should hurry up and start cooking. Victor just said he's hungry."

My mom got worried as soon as she heard that and felt really sorry for him.

"That won't work. He's so fragile. If he stays hungry any longer, it'll be bad for him."

"Let's give him some snacks to hold him over. I'll go get some now."

I handed my daughter to Clara. Even though she didn't want to let go, there was nothing I could do.

When I stepped into the kitchen, the cooking smell made me feel uneasy and I started coughing.

It's been less than two months since my lung surgery. The doctor told me to stay away from the kitchen and avoid dust exposure so I could heal properly. But today, resting was simply not an option.

When my mom saw me covering my mouth and staying still, she got annoyed and tapped my head.

"What's wrong with you? Are you doing this on purpose?"

"You barely come home all year and now you're acting like doing some chores is too difficult?"

I covered my mouth, feeling bad and quietly explained,

"My lungs aren't healed yet. I'm still feeling weak."

My mom's eyes widened.

"So what? When I was sick, didn't I keep working anyway?"

I couldn't hold back and replied,

"So, just because you suffered, I'm expected to suffer too?"

"If you hadn't married a rich man, don't expect me to have an easy life."

"When you were sick, grandma didn't help you then. So now you want me to go through the same hardships you did, just to satisfy yourself?"

My mom flew into a rage and slapped me repeatedly. I ended up falling to the ground.