My brother's words brought me back to reality.
He put all the meat in his bowl, leaving me with only a little soup.
I had been eating this kind of soup for eighteen years.
At that time, my parents said that my brother, being a boy, needed more nutrition than me.
I pushed aside the leftovers and smiled at the three of them. "Actually, I have been laid off, and several thousand dollars the company gave me is compensation. I can't afford the mortgage anymore. So, I need you to vacate the room and give me a new key."
My mother frowned, "Since you've lost your job, go find a new one. Isn't it easy for you to pay the mortgage with years of savings? Do you regret it because Reid is about to come of age?"
They always emphasized that there was no need for a girl to live in such a big house. They forced me to sign over the large flat to Reid and buy a small house for myself.
According to my mom, the monthly mortgage of five figures must be paid by me.
Money was hard-earned.
I didn't have the heart to say that at Reid's age, I was already working part-time to earn tuition fees.
As a young man, why did he always need me to give him money?
My parents never thought things through and ended up doing something stupid. I just made a perfunctory reply. I told them Reid didn't come of age yet, so I couldn't sign over the flat. But he was allowed to occasionally stay here if he wanted.
But they only listened to the first half of what I said.
Reid slammed his knife and fork down on the table and started shouting.
"Hazel Thomas, it's generous enough for Mom and Dad to let you into the house! Which is more important, my SAT or your sleep? Get out as soon as you finish eating!"
My dad chimed in, "You've just been laid off, and it must be because you're terrible at your job. Hurry up and find a new job. If it were me, I wouldn't even have the guts to come home!"
I laughed angrily.
"Dad, you also know that this is my home. Is it a crime for me to come home? You ask me for money every day. How much have you given me?"
"Mom, you are also a woman. When Grandma and Grandpa asked you to support your younger brother, your voice was even louder than mine!"
"And you, Reid Thomas, when I was about to take the SAT, you were playing games and making a lot of noise. I couldn't sleep well all night. Was my SAT not important?"
That was a sore point with my parents.
They opened the door tacitly.