EMMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL

"Aren’t you weighed down by the burdens of the guilt of the things that you have done so far? Are you not exhausted by all these? Aren’t you planning on stopping any minute soon?” Hellen pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.

"Exhausted? Tired? How can I be if I am just getting started? The burdens? You think I haven't had enough burdens?" Ejay's voice rose, his frustration boiling over. "You took away my right to know my family and my history. That was too much for me to carry for years, don’t you think? What I am doing right now is the result of the burdens that you laid on me when I was just a young and innocent soul."

The weight of betrayal and lost opportunities had no signs of crashing upon him. There were no tinges or even slight fires of resentment forming within Ejay.

Hellen looked at her son. Her tears were so filled with tears that the image of Ejay was vague as he spoke. "You will never forgive me at all, Ejay! All the years, you always made me feel that you did not appreciate what I managed to offer. You always made me feel like I was doing nothing at all.”

“Were you doing anything at all, mother?” He discharged a bitter, sarcastic smirk as he mocked his mother. “You were useless. And stupid enough to let all the money that that man sent for all these years just lay in the bank and let us wallow in poverty and misery all because of your stupid dignity! I---”

“Don’t you dare insult me, Ejay! I am still your mother! I toiled day and night just to provide you with what I used to bring to the table. I cannot count the times that I went to bed on an empty stomach just so yours could be full! I deserve some respect because God knows that I really tried. I gave you my best.” She howled, the fear for her son fading away for a moment.

“And God knows that your best was not enough! If that was your best, then I don’t justify Mr. Azzua, but I see why, even with the heir to his fortune in your belly, you could not win him over! I mean, who wants a lazy freeloader like you for a wife, huh? I am so ashamed of being called your son. Now I see why he had to choose his girlfriend even without knowing whether she would ever bear him a child or not." Ejay shot back, crashing his mother’s heart into a thousand pieces. What Azzua had done to her had hurt, but not as much as what her son just said to her face.

“You are being so unfair, Ejay! At least show some respect.” Hellem hiccuped, trying to scour away the tears from her eyes.

“Ooh, no, Hellen! I am being pretty fair here by stating facts. It is not my fault that you are a victim of the phrase the truth hurts.” Ejay added more salt to the injury.

“The only truth that you want to cling to, Ejay,. Because you want to paint me black and prove yourself right. You wouldn’t be here if it were not for me!” Hellen fired back.

“Yeah, really? Don’t make a mockery of yourself, Hellen! I would probably be dead by now if I chose to stick with you in this misery. This den. This disgusting place and life. But I went out of my way and made my own life. I have acquired more than you can ever imagine. I can buy the entire city if I damn please, while all that you have earned in your entire pathetic life can even buy you a decent meal."

Ejay’s words cut through Hellen’s hurt like a double-edged dagger against the delicate walls of her hurt. She had made efforts—so many efforts—but they seemed unappreciated. Like she did nothing at all. Her son was questioning every single thing she was deemed to have done right.

“Still, I tried, and at least I did not have to get my hands soiled with people’s blood just to ascend the ladder to wealth.” Hellen spoke.

“The difference is that life is still fucking with you mercilessly while I am enjoying it all.” The man seemed like he had really come prepared for his mother.

Hellen shook her head in defeat. “You have been consumed by anger. And since I think you will not forgive me, I think it is better that you leave. You have done enough mockery of me.”

A deafening laughter reverberated throughout the whole house, with Ejay laughing like a maniac. The echoes banged in Hellen’s ears with mockery, torturing her. “Is this something to ask someone to get out of, seriously? Ooh, mother! You are so funny. Anyway,” He stopped laughing, assuming his signature deadly expression. “Believe me, I stooped so low by coming here. It took me days to decide whether I could bear setting my feet here. I even had to come at night and buy myself a new car that I am disposing of the moment I get out of this stinking hell. Would you like me to perhaps give it to you instead of throwing it away? It costs a fortune that you can make a life out of.” He mocked, relishing seeing the desperate situation his mother was in.

“I gave you my best, yet you can only return the favor by giving me things that you want to dispose of? No, thank you. I don’t need it. I am fine.” Hellen shot.

“Your loss. Suit yourself. Anyway, do you still want my forgiveness or not?” Ejay asked.

Hellen snapped. “It looks like you came here to rub to my face how I have been a failure and you have had your time. You don’t have a heart; how can you forgive me?” She wondered.

"Fine, I think I can call this enough for today. I can actually forgive. I want to." Ejay said, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper that confused his mother.

“You want to forgive me? Just like that? Why am I that cliche?” Hellen asked, paying attention to her mischievous, heartless son.

"Nothing comes easy to this wife. You either have to work your ass off or rob others for you to get what you want. If you want my forgiveness, if you want me to even consider reconciling with you after all these years of lies, we'll make a deal."

Hellen's eyes widened, a mixture of dread and hope flickering across her face. "I don’t understand. What deal?"

"You'll help me get what's rightfully mine," Ejay declared, his gaze unwavering. "You'll guide me through the process and ensure I receive my inheritance. In return, I'll consider forgiving you."

The room hung suspended in tension, the unspoken implications of Ejay's proposal lingering like a thunderstorm on the horizon. Hellen's breath caught in her throat, torn between guilt, fear, and the flicker of a desperate hope for reconciliation.

The air crackled with the weight of their unspoken agreement, the words hanging between them, pregnant with both possibility and an unspoken threat.