The 3 of us all hesitated to walk towards my mother, afraid. It was as if she was going to bite. She just looked different from the person we had been crying at for a while. We could not believe our eyes. “Well, come on over here, I don’t bite.” she smiled.My father, in all his shock and confusion and all possible emotions combined, slowly walked over to my mother with his eyes all puffy and red, ready to burst into a puddle of tears. “Mary…” he wailed as he dived on the hospital bed to hug my mother. She held him back tightly, leaving Roni and me completely confused and in shock. She was lifeless and practically dead the past few days, and then suddenly, she had all this energy. I eventually took a few steps towards her bed, initially hesitant, wondering if she was actually okay or if it was an act. “I hope you have been behaving, Tori,” she said as I hugged her tightly. “You know, your father isn’t as tough as me. He is fragile.”“HEY!” my father exclaimed after hearing my mot
A week had gone by since my mother’s death, and we were all in the house getting ready for the funeral. Russo had been very supportive and was always in the house, helping my father get over the grief. I was in my bedroom, fixing the top buttons of my dress and then slid on my black gloves on my small hands. “You look very beautiful.” a male voice said from my bedroom door. I slowly turned around and saw Russo standing by my door. His hands are in the pockets of his trousers. With him looking very smart and elegant in his all black suit. He unhurriedly walked in further into my bedroom with his hands still in his pocket. He closed the door and continued to walk up to me as I panicked, wondering what he was going to do to me. “Are you nervous?” he asked “Nervous about what?” I questioned back“Nervous about everything. Nervous about today. I mean, your mother was loved by everyone. Everyone will be there.” he replied “Well, I am going there to impress people and care about their
“Tori! Roni! Let’s go!” my father yelled as he banged on our bedroom doors. “And where the hell is Alessandro?!” Alessandro blinked at me as if he was thinking about what he was going to do and what he was going to say when or if he saw my father in the hallway. It was as if he did not expect my father to be looking for him. “I think you should leave,” I whispered, hoping no one else who may have been on the other end of the door would hear us.“No, I can’t,” he replied in a hushed tone“Why not?” I asked back, feeling all panicked and sweaty. It was not as if we had done anything, but we felt guilty. I mean, it did look wrong that my father’s good friend was in my bedroom when the door was closed.“It will look even more weird for me to come out of the room right now when he sounds very angry. Let us first wait for him to cool down or hide away then, we can go out,” he whispered. “TORI!” my father yelled again. I heard Roni’s door being opened and the sound of her shoes clicking
The tension was so awkward in the car. Roni was not helping by giggling and making comments under her breath after my father asked that awkward question. “Alessandro, why was the door closed?” he asked againHe did not even bother asking me because he knew I would find a way to change the story and make my father look like the bad person. “I guess the door just closed.” Russo finally shrugged. My father laughed, and Roni giggled in the backseat as if that was very amusing to her, while I was the only one sweating. I mean, I had not done anything fishy with Russo, but it just felt weird for my father to be pressing, my sister to be giggling, and Russo to be panicking. At least we reached the destination, and the second Russo opened the door, I hopped out. I needed air. Roni and my father walked ahead with everyone else as if we were the royal family or something while I was still at the car with Russo. “Are you okay?” he asked in a low voice.“I think you should go ahead, or I sho
I continued to kiss him until everything rushed back to my head and hit me like a tonne of bricks. What was I doing? I immediately separated from him and just blinked at him. He looked as confused as me. I suddenly realised what I was doing. And I knew it was all wrong. “I am so sorry. I- I- I did not- not realise what- I was- what I had done.” I stammered as I tried to step away from him“No- no,” Russo said as he tried to grab me back.I quickly stepped back and tried to head to the rest of the cars to hide myself. But he followed me. It scared me even more that he followed me. “Russo, I am sorry. It should not have happened. I am taking advantage of you. I am not in the right state of mind right now, and what I did to you was wrong.” I said as I began to tear up“No, you did not take advantage of me. Relax,” he said.He was trying to assure me, but clearly, it was not working because all I could feel was guilt. “Russo, my father was already very upset that you were in my bedro
“Do you think she will tell your father?” Russo asked in a low voice, hoping that Roni was gone by then“I don’t know. We better hope she does not.” I shrugged I was about to walk away when he grabbed my hand again. “Russo… I can’t. Roni just caught us, and I have to go look for my father and find out why he needs me.” I sighed “Well, you need to fix your makeup. Anyone who sees you there will know for sure what you were doing,” he informed me. “But now I don’t have a mirror. How am I supposed to fix it?” I asked as I panicked, wondering how did I look “Here, you can use my phone,” he said as he took his phone out of his pocket. It just hit me that I could have used my own, but I remembered Roni had my bag because it had the makeup, meaning she also had my phone. I opened the camera and saw how my face looked. It was not too bad, but for sure, anyone who saw it would know that I was probably kissing someone. I pushed my hair back, wiped my face a bit, and then handed him the pho
Roni did not give any more information after saying something like that. Instead, she walked away as if she did not leave me confused and wanting to know more. I had just to tag along until we were close enough to my father and the other random people he kept taking us around to meet. But once all of that was done, I pulled her aside, desperate to know more. “What do you mean by you have been there before?” I asked in a hushed tone“Tori, that’s all I am telling you, and that’s it. You will have to find out the rest on your own. Now, we have to go back home and prepare for the prayers.” she replied. ***The drive home was the most awkward thing. I was still in between Russo and my sister in the backseat, wondering why Roni could not sit in the middle or why my father could not sit in the backseat instead. I wondered why Russo was even driving around with us like he was my father’s brother or even my mother’s brother when my own blood relatives were seated at the back and entering t
I remained outside for a while, completely and absolutely shocked, while different people continued to gather at our house. Eventually, I found the courage to put one foot in front of the other and walk towards the house where everyone was in the living room and dining room, talking, sipping on tea and juice and others pretending to be crying as they stared at the family photos. But there was no Russo in sight. I knew he did not go home because I was outside all that time, and I had not seen him pass by. I headed straight for Roni’s room, I gently knocked on the door and then twisted the handle and opened the door. She was seated on the bed, flipping through a photo album as she gently brushed and touched my mother’s face as if she could feel her. “Where is your husband?” I asked the second I sat on her bed, right next to her.“He is somewhere there in the living room. I told him I needed to get away from all those people for some time. I just feel- I don’t know… I just feel like a
My eyes widened when Joey finished speaking and then continued to speak. Bash and Roni came back into the kitchen, holding a few more dishes that were used during the dinner. I now could not take my eyes off them after hearing what Joey had just said. I tried to imagine them dating each other or at least having anything else more than a friendship. “Joey, that’s enough,” Bash said sounding irritated when he found her still adding a few more drops of vodka in her cup. “Could I have another sip, please,” Roni said as she reached out for the cup. I watched in surprise as Roni drank some of the weird combination in Joey’s cup and did not even cringe. It was as if she regularly did this. “Are you sure you don’t want even a sip?” Joey offered me the cup as she handed it to me. I shrugged and slowly walked closer to her and took the cup. I took a sip and surprisingly it did not taste weird. “So, how does it taste?” Bash asked before I could even swallow it. “It tastes good,” I answer
“Uhm…” I froze. “Oh please don’t act shocked or anything.” she laughed. She pulled out more dishwashing liquid and handed it to me. “No, I am genuinely confused.” I sighed“Why though? Weren’t the two of you sticking your tongues down each other’s throats or something?” she asked as she laughed a bit.“When?” I questioned“When you went to the bathroom,” she replied “Oh no! We did not. He only escorted me and then we returned to the dining room.” I responded. “Really? So, he was not lying?” she asked “Yeah, we did not kiss or anything like that,” I answered “Dammit! Now your sister owes me like fifty bucks or probably even more.” she groaned. “Anyway, let’s go back to the kitchen. We will continue this conversation later.” We walked back to the kitchen with me feeling so confused. So that is what the two of them were probably betting on. We walked back to the kitchen to find Roni and Bash giggling about something. “Are we interrupting something?” Jo asked as she started lau
We all froze. Roni and I slowly turned to look at our father wondering how he was going to answer that question. He looked at Roni and then at me and then gave a slight nod as if we were supposed to know what it meant. “Uhm… my better half.” he started to speak with his voice shaking a bit. It definitely still pained him. I knew it did. We were all hurt by her sudden death but I felt like everything was rushed over and we did not get enough time to feel the pain or the grief. “My better half passed away not too long ago.” my father finally replied as I saw one tear drop escape his eye and trickle down his cheek. He casually wiped it away and then smiled weakly after that. “I am so sorry. I apologize for asking.” Joey gasped. “I am sorry for your loss,” Bash said. “I am sorry.” Katie also finally spoke. She also looked genuinely shocked about what she had just heard. So, I wondered how close Katie and my father were if my father could not even break the news to her about losin
He had long reached the dining room while I was still stood by the bathroom door trying to understand what he meant by that. I eventually found my way back to the dining room with everyone’s eyes on me - including Bash. “Are you okay?” Katie asked “Yep, I am good.” I replied and quickly grabbed a plate to serve myself. Katie and my father were still flirting with each other and making all these weird noises while I continued to stare at Bash trying to read his face. “Give me my fifty.” Jo whispered to Roni who sighed. “Fifty for what?” I questioned “None of your business.” Roni answered quickly. “I will give it to you later.” She answered as she turned her head to Joey. I served myself some food and then worriedly and slowly walked to my seat next to Bash. He pulled out the chair for me and patted it gently signalling me to sit down. “Thank you.” I whispered“Yep, you owe me like another fifty.” Jo laughed while looking at Roni. “Most probably.” Roni replied.“What’s going o
“Bash, did you call Joey?” Katie questioned“Yeah!” he replied. “Okay, well, come to the table.” she replied. He reached out his hand and helped pull up Roni from the couch. “Thank you.” she smiled. He then turned to me and reached out his hands to help me stand up. I hesitatedly reached out and touched his warm and soft hands before being lunged out of the couch as well. So, was he kind? Then, why did he look at me like that when I simply asked about his career? Meanwhile, I do not think Roni liked the sudden bond and connection I had with her friend Bash, which made me really wonder if they were just friends. But I told myself that Katie’s other son was going to come down the stairs and I will bond with him -even if he was a 10 year old spoilt kid who only dreams of video games. We all hurried for seats at the dining table and Bash hurried around the table and pulled out a chair. “For you, my lady.” he said while looking at Roni. “Thank you.” she said with a smile as she sat
“I have missed you!” she screamed. “Tori, come and take this.” my father said as he handed me the ice cream. Of course, I was the one stuck to looking like the servant because everyone else was having a little family and friendship reunion while I did not know anyone.“Hey hey!” Katie walked out of the house wearing an apron. I really wondered if all that chunky huge building was actually their house or was she renting it out or did they only stay in a portion of it. “Come right this way,” she said with a smile spread widely on her face. “We brought this.” I said with zero expressions as I handed the ice cream container to her before entering the house. “Oh, sweetie! You did not have to.” she smiled but still accepted it. I walked into the house, unsure if I should take off my sandals or leave them by the door. So, I did my famous strategy of pretending to fidget with them by the door until someone sees my struggle and then tells me what to do. “Oh no, you can keep them on,” B
For some odd reason, I knew that there would be drama. I knew my father would not just accept a random dinner that was offered that same night. Unless the people came marching into the house with the food. He was too much of a person that wanted to keep to himself. “What drama?” I asked as I closed her bedroom door. “We really should get ready for this thing or your father will snap our heads off.” she laughed after she noticed my excitement. “Just tell me quickly and then I will go and get dressed.” I pressed. “No, got get changed first and then we will talk. I am home for a few more nights so we will still get to chat,” she said. I had no choice other than to going off to my room to get ready. I looked through my closet, hunting for what to wear, realising that I had not done my laundry in a while, so there was either a bunch of clothes that smelt like sweat or had stains on them. But eventually, I was able to find a pair of black jeans and a plain white T-shirt. I quickly hu
“I guess we could come around. Do you still live in the same place?” my father questioned“Yep, down the Avery street,” she answered“Okay, we will be there around 6 or 7,” he said. She walked away, excitedly while I was wondering what my father agreed to. “Let’s go and get my watch and then we can go and get some desserts,” he said. “Wait, we can’t seriously be going for an impromptu dinner,” I asked as I widened my eyes. “Of course we are. Someone has offered to host us. You think I will say no to grilled chicken?” We walked back to the jewellery shop, and Tim handed my father the watch while he pulled out his wallet and paid him. “Hope to see you again, Eli,” Tim said“Likewise.” my father responded “And the same for you too, Tori,” he added on. We headed to the supermarket and I wanted to blend myself into one of those random aisles while my father was finishing off the shopping and wondering if he should get a simple chocolate cake or ice cream and custard or if he should
After washing up the dishes, I went to the bathroom to get showered and dressed. My father did the same as well and then he came out of his room, smelling fresh and looking good. “You ready?” he asked me“Let me just spray myself one more time.” I said as I hurried back to my room to practically drown myself in my perfume. I walked out of my room to find my father fidgeting with his watch and squinting at it. “Ugh!” he groaned “What’s wrong?” I asked“I think the time on this thing is wrong and I can’t even see it. It’s so tiny.” he complained “Let me have a look at it.” I said as he pulled off the straps and handed it to me. I took a few minutes to look at his watch and then I handed it back to him. “I think it’s dead. It’s frozen. I think it got stuck on a time from like last night or yesterday.” I replied “Really?” he asked in disbelief“Yea.” I shrugged “It has been working for a long time and this is when it decides to die?” he practically wailed “Yea Dad, these things