Nena are you screaming at me?

THIRTEEN

"I'm so sorry it was a mistake. I didn't know that.. "

"Just save it." Karen held her hands in the air and Marissa quieted. "You've got just one job, just do it right."

She nodded silently and continued.

No one was more relieved than Marissa when it was all over. She excused herself to call Rachael.

"Is your sister always this difficult?" she asked after giving a narration about everything that happened in the kitchen. Rachael chuckled.

"She's the most difficult being on the planet. Nothing or no one is enough for her asides her son, dear."

"Being around her makes you feel like you're losing your mind by the minute. I really tried my best."

"That's okay darling," Rachael's voice sounded gentle."It's not easy to put up with her. Her presence alone is suffocating and I know how difficult that can be but that's Justin's favorite human."

Marissa heaved a deep sigh. Then she heard footsteps behind her. "I'll call you later, I got to go"

She spun around to see Ivy standing with a champagne flute.

"We're about to eat. Won't you come join us?"

"Yeah I was just on a call with Rachael"

"Aren't you tired?"Ivy was asking with a stare.

"Of what?"

"The grown ass man in a baby form that you're dating?Don't you think you deserve better than that?"

"Ivy..." Marissa called, displeased. "Justin is your brother"

"That doesn't make me blind from the truth.Besides, you'll still end up leaving him just like the others. He is a good for nothing after all" she took a sip of her drink.

"I know you do not like Justin but you do not have to call him names."

"What do you think Marissa? That if he is to choose between you and Mom, do you think he'll choose you?"

"I won't put him in that position," Marissa folded her arms getting irritated.

"You would surely get to that point.You can't escape it. So you better leave him before he ruins you."

"I know you've not still gotten over your breakup, but you do not have to be so bitter. It won't take you anywhere"

Ivy's face twisted in a scowl. "Just what do you know about my relationship?"

"You do not know anything about mine too, so please back off." Marissa replied in a curt tone. She knew Justin could be a handful but wouldn't tolerate anybody talking down at him. Not even his family. She would always stand up for him, anytime and anywhere.

She walked into the dining room and found Justin asking Karen if she wanted a back rub. She watched Karen cut his food on his plate and he started behaving immature as they chatted and laughed away.

Marissa sighed. He was back to being a baby around her.

******""""

"What do you mean I didn't do it right?"asked Marissa a bit puzzled by Justin's irritation.

"This is the reason I told you to leave the laundry for Mom. She does it better than anybody else" was Justin's reply with lines creasing his forehead showing his displeasure.

"What are you on about?" Marissa placed her left hand on her hip.

"Those T-shirts you washed together with the others is just wrong on so many levels. The texture, color, everything needs to be sorted. And you did it wrong again." He responded going through the clothes laid out on the bed.

"Are you serious right now?"

"I'm not joking Nena, seriously."

"The other day you complained about a particular food and today its about the laundry? Why does your mom need to be the center of everything?" she asked getting irritated and hurt at the same time.

"No offence but Mom just does it best.I'm sorry I've been so used to her all my life and--"

"Just hold it right there," she interrupted harshly. "Why don't you grow up for goodness sakes! Its always your mom for every darn thing. Do you know how ridiculous you sound every time?"

Justin was taken aback for a moment.

"Nena are you screaming at me?"

"Yes!" She yelled."Why can't you see that you do not need your Mom for every single thing? I mean I'm close to my Dad but you don't see me running to him for everything do you? Why do you need to be an immature child all the time huh?"

"Nena, would you calm down?"