< Nina >
When I was thirteen, I experienced an indescribable fear in the form of a human being.
Gray eyes filled with fury and rage as I see my own reflection, quivering beneath him.
I tried to turn a heel and leave, hoping that he wasn’t a madman as I thought and chased after me. But as soon as I passed by, he seized my arm and pulled me closer as he forced me to see him eye-to-eye.
I felt so small and so weak before him and a cold sweat fell on my nape when his figure loomed closer to me, right next to my ear.
“Are you here to pimp yourself just like your mother?” Icy words whispered that felt like needles prickling in my own skin. The thought gave a frightful shudder.
I slowly and foolishly turned to face him. Our proximity was so close that I almost lost my consciousness.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” He asked, coldly. “Aren’t you glad that I got your attention, brat? Your mother took away my father and now you’re aiming for his son?”
“N-No…” It was a miracle that I could speak, given that I was trapped with his hands holding my shoulders in place.
“Then tell me, why are you here alone in my room?”
I shouldn’t cry. I mustn’t show it to him that I was under his mercy.
“I—,” I pause before gulping, I tried to be very careful with my words, or else he could do something worse. “I got lost. I was trying to find a place to get some fresh a-air b-b-but I—”
After releasing those words, I quickly realized that it sounded like a lame excuse. I mentally berated myself, asking myself for the millionth time why was I stupid enough to leave the dining room? Listening to grown-ups chatter away felt like a lullaby now compared to my situation here.
“And you think anyone would buy that crap?” He hissed, cutting my trail of thought.
I felt myself shaking really badly.
“You’re the daughter of that fucking bitch. Whatever magic she had done to my father and let alone my mother is beyond my rationality,” he said while he laughed, darkly. “Aren’t you ashamed to step into the legal wife’s house after your mother took away my father?”
“I…” Think, think! Was there any logical explanation that I, too, was against this affair in the first place?
No, actually, I couldn’t say anything. I’ve never seen my mom so happy.
“My parents might have accepted you, welcoming you to soil your wretched presence here but I am different. You and your mother coming here just puts me in a sour mood.”
I couldn’t defend myself. Because…Because I knew my place, after all.
I was told that Luca de Milano was a good man and someone I had to get along with. But before me stood a man with wealth and authority. His affluence could potentially throw me to the sharks if he wanted to.
A man whose parents were in the process of their divorce due to his father’s mistress.
My mother.
“If you think that I am just like my father, think again. I am not foolish enough to be swayed by a brat like you.”
And afterward, he released me from his clutches.
The next moment, I dropped down to my knees after feeling relieved from the release. Yet, I wheezed, clutching my chest where my heart is as it beat faster.
As I dared to look up, our eyes met once again and that look haunted me to this day.
Luca de Milano, son of the affluent family of Elina de Milano and Rodrigo Gomez, looked down on me as if I was dirt.
And I, Nina Caulfield, couldn’t blame him for it. I have no right to demean his fury, knowing that I am the daughter of the one breaking off their family.
“Get out.”
Without a moment of hesitation, I ran off, away from the room, away from him. Who knew if I would be dead the next thing he caught me with those long arms.
And once I reached back to a familiar corridor, I thanked all the heavens that I was back in the dining room where my mom and the “legal” wife were.
Both were giggling like teenagers as if the situation wasn’t odd enough.
“Oh, Nina dear!”
Who called me?
“Did you meet my son along the way?” Ah, right. The legal wife was the one talking to me.
I needed to answer her, to avoid any suspicions that I “feared” her own son.
“N-No.”
“Well, don’t hesitate to dig in as much as you want! We are proud of our Italian cuisine.”
I didn’t say anything as my two feet made their way to the table. My mind was drifting back to reality.
I didn’t know why but at that moment, I felt like he would kill me. At that moment…fear had engulfed my entire being.
I swore to myself that I don’t want to see this man anymore.
I was thirteen at that time and he was twenty-one. We met in his family estate in Italy during his mother’s birthday.
It felt unreal that the legal wife welcomed us with open arms and she got along with my mom at the get-go.
But meeting with Luca was a reminder that yes, our parents were strange. And I wasn’t the only one thinking that it felt surreal to befriend the current wife of your boyfriend.
So, I could never forget the excitement I felt then when we had to leave the country the very next day, my mom and her newfound friend parted with smiles on their faces as we headed to the airport and back to the US.
I was thirteen at that time and he was twenty-one. That first meeting was in his home in Italy during his mother’s 54th birthday.
And I swore that I would never step foot in Italy as long as he was there.
As years passed by, I have almost forgotten about that incident as it was all in the past. Since my mom never talked about the de Milano family anymore and we were on different continents, I thought that was just history.
However, as I reached my final year of high school, little did I know that our first meeting in Italy wouldn’t be the last time.
Power, wealth and charisma. These three are the perfect formula for success. If anything, I was blessed to have these the moment I was born in the de Milano family. Having been blessed with good looks, intellect and a family reputable for greatness, all business tycoons come to me for business deals.I feel liberated at the present, knowing that I put my mother off from her worries the moment when I took over her position as the CEO of Minalo Inc. Having been a CEO straight out of university graduation, many thought I couldn’t do it. Yet, I can proudly say that I achieved my goals by putting my family name to the top chart as the number one multibillion-dollar corporation. Even former rival companies agreed for acquisition so it won’t be a problem to retire early. But I love my work, I love what I do and I love the feeling that everything is in the right place. Perhaps I should thank my family for making me exposed to the family trade secret of success at such a young age.
Utter shock is visibly shown in my face and I unconsciously stand up. My older brother on the other hand sits there, astonished. Then the next thing he does is to give our father a welcoming hug.“Congratulations, pops!” Crispin grins and pats on his father’s shoulder. “It took you too long to propose to her, huh?”“Well, I’m trying not to marry while I was still under the spotlight,” our “father” says while giving a chortling laugh.“You are always in the spotlight wherever you go,” Elina chimes in, cheerfully. And I just gaped at her. “When you proposed to me, the paparazzi took a shot at that right moment and we were in the tabloids for months.”As they continue with their chatter on with the facade of a happy family, all I can think is that, yes, I am definitely the normal one in this family. Either that or I left my sanity back in the US. “Seriously?” After coming back to my senses, I look at the three as they stop and stare in my direction. “Are you fucking mad, m
You can say I’m not really that lucky. True, I may be lucky to have a kind-hearted mom who worked three or four jobs to support me and a great supportive best friend. But I’m far from being fortunate, really.Earlier at school, I was easily caught by my bullies and locked me up in the janitor’s closet room. I kept banging the door, calling for help so loud to interrupt nearby classrooms. Fed up with the noise, one of the teachers told the janitor to unlock the room and I was finally free!It wasn’t being called brave or smart or anything. Nope, it was far from it.I’m just really claustrophobic, that’s all.Then when I came back to class, I had already missed four periods. Apparently, the teachers took this opportunity to give surprised pop quizzes during my confinement. They didn’t believe my excuses and just threw four consecutive Fs in my face.Well, not that it matters. I mean, I would still get an F even if I showed up. And in the afternoon, there was a dodgeball game
My birthday doesn’t have to be a big occasion. My mom feasted us with my favorites and she even put party hats for the three of us. I feel flustered at her grand gesture since we rarely had this opportunity to celebrate my birthday given how heavy her workload is. It felt normal at first, she keeps chatting on and on about her work and occasionally teases me with Gene since she sometimes calls us “love birds” to my embarrassment. I love my mom but sometimes she’s jumping to conclusions with my relationship with Gene. We’re friends, that’s all. And when she reveals the news during our meals, my jaw drops, no longer interested in defending myself from her teasing. “Y-You’re getting married in Spain, mom? T-To Rodrigo Gomez?” Of course it has to be him. Rodrigo Gomez, her long-time boyfriend of eight years has finally decided to kneel on his one knee before proposing to her. I thought their whirlwheel romance is just a phase, since she hasn’t mentioned him a lot recentl
There is a sound of a spoon drop on the table as Gene looks at my mom, completely stunned.Surprisingly though, Gene has been handling it so well that he didn’t speak his own thoughts like he normally does.“I was opposed to it at first of course because I don’t want to bother Luca.” Has my mother ever thought that this is actually the LEAST of the problem? Sometimes I’m envious of my mom’s ditzy nature.“Does he mind at all?”“Of course not, Elina said he would like to see you again soon.”I sure doubt Elina even knows her own son.“Besides, you will be staying there until the wedding. We tried inviting Luca but for some strange reason, he doesn't have time to attend."Oh for the love of God. My mom can be oblivious to situations like this. My stepbrother (can I call him that?) is probably being forced to do his mom's bidding. Otherwise, he could flatly say no and we can all just live alone in peace, thank you very much.“Also, Nina, honey, you will be staying with him in
“You want me to stay over?” Gene blinks, unsure of what he heard.“It’s getting late, Gene,” I answer, with a sheepish smile.Besides, I don’t want you to stay outside for the whole evening while your family locks the door. I thought.He only nods as he mutters to me a thank you.I think I must be crazy to ask him to stay. But after the events that happened earlier, I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t stop thinking that I will be moving away.“Well, I have nothing against Gene staying here since I trust him. But as your mother, it’s my responsibility to say that he has to sleep on the floor,” my mom says after I told her about the plan.She was busy washing the dishes when I told her about my plan. It’s been a while since Gene had any sleepover. The last time he did come over to sleep was… when we were eight.“Sure thing, mom.”“Also,” she quickly adds after she turns off the tap water. “Make sure to be extra careful unless you want to give me a grandchild,” she says with a wink.“M
It’s strange really. At first, I was worried about my future predicament and Gene’s as well. But here we are chatting about the most ridiculous gossip we’ve heard from school. “I didn’t know that Mr. Roacher writes poems.” “Apparently, he has a huge crush on the cafeteria lady and he thought women like poems.” “We’re in the 21st century, you know?” Gene arches a brow. “Well, old-fashioned romance isn’t that bad. If Mr. Roacher finally marries, he won’t be so cruel to you anymore.” “Nah, he’s probably worse, knowing the cafeteria lady’s temper. Besides, I’d rather if he gives me the toughest equations because I’m starting to question his ability to teach.” I turn to his direction with a frown. “Sometimes, you’re harsh, Gene.” In return, Gene just looks at me with a deadpan expression. “He started it.” We keep talking about random stories we’ve heard from school, more like Gene just listens and asks questions as I talk about the most random things. Occasionally we gigg
It was a spur of the moment and regrettably, I almost made her trip when I pushed her inside the bus. A part of me thinks that I shouldn’t let her go. In any case, she just moves on and finds better friends in Dawn City.Another part of me, my selfish side that I had secretly been hiding from her, handed over my cross so she will keep it as a keepsake.A reminder of me, even if it’s just a bit.But I should have known Nina, she is too unselfish and prioritizes her loved ones over her own sake.You will be safer there than here.This line has been in my mind for these past three days like a replay button is being pressed repeatedly.I shouldn’t involve Nina with my problems anymore. She has suffered enough already and every time I looked at her bruised eye, I knew that I couldn’t protect her all the time.Yet, regardless of what I thought, I still handed over my cross.Have I regretted giving up my brother’s cross? Nah, I entrusted it to her no matter what.“Move aside, kid,”