“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
“What are you doing in here?!” I asked loudly “SHH!” he attempted to shush me, but I was more than shocked. “What are you doing in here!” I asked again, but a little softer“Close the damn door and come inside!” he replied. I slowly pushed my bedroom door shut, locked it and then stood and folded my arms. “What the heck are you doing in here? This is my bedroom.” I asked one more time“I wanted to come and talk to you.” he replied “I did not want to make it look suspicious with you walking right behind me, so I went ahead, and you only came in minutes later, but then you did not come to your bedroom, so I wondered if they had caught you and were grilling you,” he responded, still in a hushed tone.“Yeah, I went to Roni’s bedroom. I went to go and check on her.” “Yeah, I eventually heard you guys talking and laughing,” he said.Did he really hear what we were talking about? “You heard us?” I asked worriedly“Yes, but no. Well, yea, I heard you guys, but no, I didn’t,” he answered
“I am confused. Is your phone on?!” my father asked“Uhmm… yes,” I answered quickly, still lying “Well, please turn it off. It keeps ringing every time I try to call Alessandro,” he said “Okay,” I responded.I turned to look at Alessandro and hoped he would turn off his phone, but instead, he was in more panic about my father standing on the other side of the door. So, my father tried to call Alessandro again and his phone rang loudly once again. “Tori!” my father called out angrily. I wondered how my father had not figured out that Alessandro’s phone was inside the room. He automatically assumed it was mine. “I told you to switch off your phone.” my father said “I am sorry. I am turning off my phone now.” I replied slowly while looking at Alessandro, hoping he would get the hint. He eventually did and slowly pulled out his phone and turned off the volume, and then pushed it back into his pocket. I heard my father on the other end pressing a few buttons, and then the phone rang
I woke up much later than usual the next morning, the weight of sleep still clinging to my body as I slowly sat up. The room was quiet, the faint scent of lavender lingering in the air—a familiar trace of Roni. Glancing over, I realized she was already gone. The neatly folded pyjamas on the small chair in the corner confirmed it; she had woken up early, tidied up after herself, and probably gone about her morning without disturbing me.Of course, she had already showered too. That was just like Roni—always efficient, always put together. She had always been that kid—the one who wanted to impress the parents by being the perfect daughter. She’d wake up at the crack of dawn, get out of bed on time without anyone needing to call her and move through the house like a well-rehearsed routine. By the time the rest of us stumbled out of bed, she had already prepared breakfast, set the table, and even started cleaning, as if proving her worth with every chore she completed.And after she got
“What in God’s name is happening out here?” my father questioned, clearly baffled and annoyed. His voice was sharp, the irritation in his tone unmistakable as he looked from Russo to me and back again.It was the worst way to be caught. My hands were still on Russo’s bare chest, and he was only in his towel while I stood there in my skimpy pyjamas. The dimly lit corridor felt suffocating as I tried to pull my hands away, but it was too late. My father’s glare felt like it could burn right through us. I could barely breathe, knowing I was standing there like this with no explanation to offer. My heart pounded in my chest, and every nerve in my body screamed for me to run and hide, but I was frozen in place, unsure of how to make this nightmare stop.“Uhmm…” I started, my mind racing for something, anything, to say. But nothing came.“Victoria, what the hell is going on out here?” my father asked again, his voice rising, now laced with frustration and confusion. His eyes flicked between
“Actually, you wanted to talk. What was it that you wanted to say to me?” I asked, trying to bring us back to the moment before everything got tangled up.“Uhmm…” he stammered, clearly not focused, his mind still reeling from the tension in the air.He turned away, facing the wall as he shoved his hand in his pants, clearly trying to adjust the situation. After a few moments, he turned back to face me, the bulge now less visible, though his flushed face told the story of how much he was trying to regain composure.“I forgot,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.“Really?” I raised an eyebrow, not sure if I believed him.“Yeah, I’m sorry. I lost focus once I saw you like that.” He sighed again, his gaze drifting.“It’s okay,” I nodded, trying to brush it off.“Tori!” I heard Roni’s voice calling from outside her bedroom, interrupting the moment.I slowly walked away from Russo, the weight of the moment still hanging in the air. As I left the room, I found Roni sta
"Roni!" my father called out, his voice firm yet laced with urgency.But she didn’t respond. It was as if she hadn’t heard him at all—or maybe she was choosing not to."Roni!" he called again, louder this time, his tone edged with frustration and concern.Reluctantly, Roni turned and walked away, heading toward my father, leaving me alone to stare at Russo. I hesitated, unsure whether I wanted to talk to him and risk hearing what Roni might say later—or simply ignore him altogether.“Tori, could we talk for a moment?” Russo asked again, his tone firm yet uncertain.“Uh… let me get dressed first, and then we’ll see,” I replied quickly, not waiting for his response before turning and walking away.I hurried to my bedroom, grabbing the nearest outfit and slipping into it in a rush. Just as I finished, the door creaked open, and Roni stepped inside, closing it firmly behind her.“So, looks like we’re roommates for the night,” Roni whispered.I frowned. “What do you mean?”“Russo is stayin
My father’s voice rang with shock. “Russo?”“Eli…” Russo mumbled, his words slurred.I stiffened. Was he drunk?“Are you drunk?” my father questioned, his tone laced with concern.Russo slid off the couch and stumbled around the living room.“Roni, you’re also here,” he said, his words a bit unsteady.“And now I am going,” she replied bitterly, turning to walk away.I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, still in shock, wondering what on earth was going on with him.“What happened, Alessandro?” my father asked, his voice filled with concern.“Me and Maya got into an argument again,” Russo finally responded.Maya?It felt like every day I was learning something new.I glanced at my dad, who slowly turned to face me, as if embarrassed on behalf of Russo.“Are you drunk?” my father asked again, a bit more firmly.“No, just tipsy and annoyed,” Russo muttered, sounding almost apologetic.Russo finally made eye contact with me, and instantly, I got goosebumps, but at the same time, a wave o
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