“I am sorry…” he whispered“Just leave!” I snapped at him “Tori, I am really sorry.” he sighed as he tried to reach out for my hand but I pushed him away “JUST LEAVE!” I yelled at him. He got off the couch but still stood there looking at me as if he was waiting for me to say something. “Go!” I yelled as I started to hit him with the bouquet of flowers that he brought. I heard my father’s door opening and then Alessandro and my father showed up. “What’s going on?” my father asked in confusion“Make him leave,” I responded in a loud volume. “Okay son, you need to leave.” My father said as he slowly walked up to Chris and tried to walk with him to the door. “Victoria, I am really sorry.” Chris tried to say again as my father had managed to get him to the door. Alessandro also stepped in as the brave man he was and took me aside to the kitchen and started to wipe my tears with a cloth he had in his pocket. Chris left the house and my dad walked towards Alessandro and I. I had m
I quickly got dressed into my pyjamas and slowly crawled into my bed. I could not believe the day I had. I first went to some guy’s house and he managed to play along with a lie with me thinking it was all his, only to find out that it was not his house, then my ex-fiance carried himself to my house to kiss only to tell me he is getting married to his mistress and then some forbidden guy kissed me and probably wanted more but the minute I mentioned I was a virgin, he left. All of the guys I kissed that day ended tragically. The worst was I could not tell anyone about any of those. Especially the forbidden guy. So, I just laid in my bed and tried to think about it. I wanted to get out of bed and head into the room that Alessandro was sleeping in but I figured he did not want to see me after that unless I gave him what he wanted. I wanted to call my sister at that hour and have a chat with her but I knew she was not going to pick up. Or if she was going to pick up she would have proba
My father had finished making the pancakes and we both put some on our plates and went ahead to eat them. We left some, hoping that Alessandro was going to come back and have his share.“Something is wrong with Alessandro.” my father sighed.I kept quiet. Apparently, I was the only one in the family who did not seem to know him long enough to determine if someone was wrong with him. My mother in her grave was probably also seeing that something was wrong with him. “Maybe he just has some things to deal with.” I shrugged “Perhaps. But one thing about him, he will be very stressed about something but he will never his a stressed or worried face in public.” my father replied “Maybe it just hit him about Mom or something.” I continued to suggest possible reasons why he was in such a mood. But my father disagreed. I mean, he did have a right to disagree. It was his friend that he had been with for a while, so he would be able to tell if something was wrong with him. “You know the othe
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
“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
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 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
“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 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