My Father's Point-Based Game

I rushed forward, gripping his wrist tight. The eraser tumbled to the floor, clattering.

"Why?"

The taste of blood filled my mouth.

"I saved enough... I saved enough, didn't I?!"

Dad shook off my grip and straightened his collar.

"Patrick is really unhappy, you can see that too. As the elder sister, you should give way to your younger brother." He pointed at Patrick still writhing on the floor.

"If you make him happy, the family will be harmonious, and everything will be fine."

I trembled as I held up the crumpled flyer for the Olympiad math class.

"But they're my points! I earned them by washing thousands of dishes and getting first place! What about my wish?"

Dad frowned, looking irritated.

"You're siblings. Your points are your brother's points too! I'm your father, so I have the right to adjust the points."

What a convenient "adjustment."

Esther stopped crying.

She pulled Patrick up, wiped his tears, and said with a smile, "Oh dear, Myra is such a kind elder sister. She really knows how to care for her younger brother. Patrick, hurry up and thank your sister for giving you the points to buy the shoes."

As soon as Patrick heard that, he immediately stopped wailing.

He stuck his tongue out at me and said, "Thanks, points-printing machine!"

I laughed at my own stupidity.

I actually believed that there was fairness in this family.

I thought that as long as I was obedient and worked hard, I could earn a little bit of love.

I slammed that flyer on the table like a madwoman.

"I won't accept this! You have to use the money for my registration fee! Those are the rules! The rules you set!"

Dad was stunned at first, then flew into a rage.

He grabbed the flyer.

"How dare you! How dare you slam the table!"

Riiiip.

The sound was crisp and piercing.

The flyer was torn in half, then into quarters, then into eighths...

Finally, it became a pile of scraps, which he threw in my face.

"In this house, I'm the law! You must have become stupid from studying too much! You're selfish and unwilling to show any family love! Keep this up, and I'll deduct a thousand points! You'll never be in the positive again!"

The paper scraps floated to the floor.

My world went silent.

Dad's shouting, Patrick's cheers, Esther's hypocritical attempts to mediate – they all faded into the distance.

My points, gone.

Fatherly love, gone.

My future, gone.

I stared at my father.

He was still going on and on, talking about "being mature" and "seeing the bigger picture."

I suddenly found him really pathetic.

And disgusting.

"You don't have to deduct the points," I said softly.

Dad didn't hear me clearly. "What did you say?" he asked.

"I said, you don't have to deduct the points."

I turned around and walked to the balcony.

"Where are you going? Come back here and reflect on what you've done! No dinner for you tonight!" Dad yelled behind me.

I wasn't going to have dinner anyway.

I didn't have to wash dishes anymore either.

I didn't have to mop the floor while I'm suffering from period cramps, put up with Patrick's footprints, or listen to Esther's snide remarks anymore.

I didn't have to stare at that accursed whiteboard, calculating how many more points I needed to earn to live like a human being anymore.

The wind on the balcony dried the tears on my face.

It was the 18th floor.

What a beautiful view.

I climbed onto the railing.

Behind me, I heard Patrick scream, "Dad, she's climbing the railing! She's trying to scare us into giving her points!"

Dad snorted. "Ignore her! If she dares, let her jump! Spoiled brat!"

Yeah.

I'm spoiled.

Spoiled by your cold-bloodedness and cruelty.

I didn't need points anymore.

I just wanted to see if a world without points was really free.

I let go.

My body leaned forward.

The wind howled in my ears.

In my next life, I don't want to be anyone's daughter anymore.

And I'm never studying math again, either.

It's too tiring.

BAM!