ZiaMy eyes widened in awe as I stared out the window while Mateo's car approached the blinding mansion. The bright warm lights showcased the front of the house, and I could tell Mateo's grandfather, Marcello, was bloody rich... possibly literally.The fountain in front of the mansion had water flowing from it, and in the pool of the concrete structure were lavender flowers swimming in it. It looked magical. How did they get the fountain to light up?Many luxurious cars were packed around it, and I could see as the gentlemen opened the doors for their dates, so gentlemanly of them.I turned to look at Mateo to see if he held the same excitement as I did, but his hands were clenched around the wheel as he gritted his teeth. My smile faltered as I noticed his annoyance. Why does he look so mad? Settling in my seat, I refrained from looking outside excitedly and calmed down. Yes, remain calm. I was going into unfamiliar territory, and there might be people in the same profession as Mate
Mateo“She isn’t fit to be your donna!” Melanie screamed as she clutched onto me. Zia stared at her with a deadly look and sighed as if she didn’t care about what she was saying.Her stance indicated that she had been in many fights before, but I could also tell she regretted her actions. “Let go,” I said to Melanie as I pulled her fingers off me; Zia breathed out, relieved, before she stood tense again.I walked over to her, and she stared at the ground as she bit her lip. She’s recoiling, and I know some people might like that here, but if she’s my wife, she can’t have her head down. Lifting her head with my finger, I looked around her face at all the scratches under her chin and cheek.“What happened?” I asked, and she peered up at me through her lashes. Her eyes found Melanie, and she scowled. Don’t break character. Don’t break character, Mateo! Why was she so cute?“Mateo, I already told you,” Melanie touched my shoulder, her nails digging into my skin. Zia rolled her eyes and
ZiaIt had been almost a week since that damned party, and everything had been okay. I thought Mateo would be furious with me and possibly kick me out for embarrassing him, but instead, he talked to me calmly.That guy never did that with my mom. All he knew was how to scream and whine like a child. I hoped he was drowning in alcohol.I sat outside, staring at the clouds as I waited for the day to be over. I knew I should be enjoying this time that I had just to sit and do nothing since I had been working like a slave when I was back at home, but my goodness; I was bored!Maybe I just don’t have it in me to be lazy.I had already cleaned the house and washed the windows and the bed sheets just to keep myself busy, hoping the chores would help speed up the day, and even though I used my hands believing that would buy me so much more time, I still finished doing everything within less than five hours. By noon I was done with my chores, and here I was, sitting outside watching the birds
Mateo“Hmm,” he cleared his throat, and I looked up from the documents I had been reading. I clicked my pen and folded my arms over the table as I watched my grandfather walk into my office with his head high, sporting a green suit with a golden chain strapped from the breast to the pocket. His cane supported his weight as he pulled out a chair before the desk and sat down with a huff.He slightly nodded as if I was being blessed to have him in my presence; he raised his left hand while his right hand held onto his golden cane. The guards he had come with left my office and closed the door behind them. He took a deep breath in, and his brown eyes stared into mine, silently telling me everything he wanted to scream but wouldn’t.He pursed his lips, leaned back in the chair, and finally opened his mouth.“Mateo,” he greeted, and I nodded, wanting to know the reason for his visit today. “I trust all is going well with business?”“Doesn’t it always?” I asked, hating that he was taking his
ZiaI brought my flask to my lips as I sipped my tea, swinging my legs underneath me from the highchair I sat on. I looked at my classmate, who dropped next to me, gripping her hair as she groaned.“Today’s lecture was torturous,” she groaned as she messed up her perfectly curled red hair. “Should I just drop out?” She asked as she turned to look at me. I raised my eyebrows, surprised by her sudden outburst.Even though I was used to them, she would talk about dropping out on any random day because of the tiniest inconvenience; however, I would always remind her how much she worked to get her scholarship, and that she didn’t have the luxury the other students had.“No, we can’t drop out,” I said as I placed my flask on the table. She frowned as she tilted her head to the side.“Woah, who said anything about us dropping out?” She pointed between us, and I smiled as I tilted my head to the side as well.“Because if you drop out, I will have to drop out as well. I can’t go to school alon
Mateo“What is it, Zia? You’ve been walking past my office for the past hour now,” I asked, and she gasped as if she had been shocked that she was caught.It was almost hilarious seeing her walk up and down the hallways right in front of my office, sometimes pausing but never getting in. I noticed her shadow hovering around my door, and then she would let out a resigned sigh and walk away before coming back ten minutes later.I opened my door with hopes that it would encourage her to come in and talk to me and tell me whatever it was that bothered her, or perhaps she just wanted to be in my company the same way I craved to be in hers, and yet she passed the door as if she didn’t notice it was open.Was I really that unapproachable?I removed my glasses and placed them on the desk, using my hand to beckon her inside. I hope this doesn’t seem rude.“No, I was just going to the kitchen,” she laughed nervously as she scratched her neck and entered my office. I tilted my head slightly and
Zia“What are you smiling about on your own?” Carol asked as she dropped her bag on the table near me. I turned to face her with a huge smile, and she squinted her eyes as she studied me. “Why are you blushing so much?”“None of your business,” I sang, and she gently hit my shoulder.“Come on, tell me!” She begged as she shook me, and I giggled, shaking my head. “Fine, I’ll guess then!”“Be my guest,” I nodded, and she tapped her chin as she looked at me.“It has to do with your husband?” She asked, and I pouted, slowly nodding at her first thought. My cheeks widened as I thought about that day again, and she gasped as she clapped her hands. “He went down on you, didn’t he?”“Huh?” I asked, surprised, and quickly shook my head. “No!” I yelled too loud and shrunk in my seat as I looked around the class. “Why would that be your first guess?”“I mean, you’re smiling like someone that got action, so tell me, how was it?” She leaned in closer, and I blinked as I stared at her.Just what in
Mateo“Have you been avoiding Zia?” Luis asked, and I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, letting go of the person’s collar. He dropped to the ground, groaning in pain.“Why are you asking me that?” I frowned as I wiped the blood from my face in disgust. I hated seeing or feeling blood on me; it was the most disgusting feeling ever. Don’t get me started on the smell, either. Ew.I placed my foot on the person’s leg as he tried to crawl away, and Luis stood up straight, his hair flipping as if he were in some TV commercial.Show off.He held his person by his head as he looked at me and shrugged.“Well, she calls me almost daily to check on you. Why don’t you answer her calls? As a matter of fact, where are you eating dinner? Are you cheating on your wife?” He asked as he pulled the guy’s hair, making him scream out in pain.“I have no reason to cheat,” I grunted as I stepped on his leg harder. “Besides, even if I do, what does that have to do with any of you? Zia and I aren’t in
Trigger Warning. Physical Assault. Proceed With Caution.Zia“Have you started preparing for the exams?” Carol asked, and I sighed as I put the bowl down. I adjusted the phone between my shoulder and ear as I took hold of it and leaned against the kitchen counter.“Is that why you called me? To stress me out?” I asked her, and she groaned. I could hear her flipping the pages, and a small smile grew on my face.I was just as anxious for the exams; however, lately, I had been high on a beautiful drug, and I refused to panic so early.“May we please study together? I don’t know why I feel so nervous, but I’m literally crapping my pants right now.”“Don’t we have like a month until exams?” I asked as I wiped the sink and faucet clean.“Zia, is a month enough for what we’re studying?” She deadpanned, and I giggled as I turned around and walked over to the dining room table, where my books were scattered all over.“No, but I’m just saying stressing early won’t help. You know that very well,
Mateo“Have you been avoiding Zia?” Luis asked, and I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, letting go of the person’s collar. He dropped to the ground, groaning in pain.“Why are you asking me that?” I frowned as I wiped the blood from my face in disgust. I hated seeing or feeling blood on me; it was the most disgusting feeling ever. Don’t get me started on the smell, either. Ew.I placed my foot on the person’s leg as he tried to crawl away, and Luis stood up straight, his hair flipping as if he were in some TV commercial.Show off.He held his person by his head as he looked at me and shrugged.“Well, she calls me almost daily to check on you. Why don’t you answer her calls? As a matter of fact, where are you eating dinner? Are you cheating on your wife?” He asked as he pulled the guy’s hair, making him scream out in pain.“I have no reason to cheat,” I grunted as I stepped on his leg harder. “Besides, even if I do, what does that have to do with any of you? Zia and I aren’t in
Zia“What are you smiling about on your own?” Carol asked as she dropped her bag on the table near me. I turned to face her with a huge smile, and she squinted her eyes as she studied me. “Why are you blushing so much?”“None of your business,” I sang, and she gently hit my shoulder.“Come on, tell me!” She begged as she shook me, and I giggled, shaking my head. “Fine, I’ll guess then!”“Be my guest,” I nodded, and she tapped her chin as she looked at me.“It has to do with your husband?” She asked, and I pouted, slowly nodding at her first thought. My cheeks widened as I thought about that day again, and she gasped as she clapped her hands. “He went down on you, didn’t he?”“Huh?” I asked, surprised, and quickly shook my head. “No!” I yelled too loud and shrunk in my seat as I looked around the class. “Why would that be your first guess?”“I mean, you’re smiling like someone that got action, so tell me, how was it?” She leaned in closer, and I blinked as I stared at her.Just what in
Mateo“What is it, Zia? You’ve been walking past my office for the past hour now,” I asked, and she gasped as if she had been shocked that she was caught.It was almost hilarious seeing her walk up and down the hallways right in front of my office, sometimes pausing but never getting in. I noticed her shadow hovering around my door, and then she would let out a resigned sigh and walk away before coming back ten minutes later.I opened my door with hopes that it would encourage her to come in and talk to me and tell me whatever it was that bothered her, or perhaps she just wanted to be in my company the same way I craved to be in hers, and yet she passed the door as if she didn’t notice it was open.Was I really that unapproachable?I removed my glasses and placed them on the desk, using my hand to beckon her inside. I hope this doesn’t seem rude.“No, I was just going to the kitchen,” she laughed nervously as she scratched her neck and entered my office. I tilted my head slightly and
ZiaI brought my flask to my lips as I sipped my tea, swinging my legs underneath me from the highchair I sat on. I looked at my classmate, who dropped next to me, gripping her hair as she groaned.“Today’s lecture was torturous,” she groaned as she messed up her perfectly curled red hair. “Should I just drop out?” She asked as she turned to look at me. I raised my eyebrows, surprised by her sudden outburst.Even though I was used to them, she would talk about dropping out on any random day because of the tiniest inconvenience; however, I would always remind her how much she worked to get her scholarship, and that she didn’t have the luxury the other students had.“No, we can’t drop out,” I said as I placed my flask on the table. She frowned as she tilted her head to the side.“Woah, who said anything about us dropping out?” She pointed between us, and I smiled as I tilted my head to the side as well.“Because if you drop out, I will have to drop out as well. I can’t go to school alon
Mateo“Hmm,” he cleared his throat, and I looked up from the documents I had been reading. I clicked my pen and folded my arms over the table as I watched my grandfather walk into my office with his head high, sporting a green suit with a golden chain strapped from the breast to the pocket. His cane supported his weight as he pulled out a chair before the desk and sat down with a huff.He slightly nodded as if I was being blessed to have him in my presence; he raised his left hand while his right hand held onto his golden cane. The guards he had come with left my office and closed the door behind them. He took a deep breath in, and his brown eyes stared into mine, silently telling me everything he wanted to scream but wouldn’t.He pursed his lips, leaned back in the chair, and finally opened his mouth.“Mateo,” he greeted, and I nodded, wanting to know the reason for his visit today. “I trust all is going well with business?”“Doesn’t it always?” I asked, hating that he was taking his
ZiaIt had been almost a week since that damned party, and everything had been okay. I thought Mateo would be furious with me and possibly kick me out for embarrassing him, but instead, he talked to me calmly.That guy never did that with my mom. All he knew was how to scream and whine like a child. I hoped he was drowning in alcohol.I sat outside, staring at the clouds as I waited for the day to be over. I knew I should be enjoying this time that I had just to sit and do nothing since I had been working like a slave when I was back at home, but my goodness; I was bored!Maybe I just don’t have it in me to be lazy.I had already cleaned the house and washed the windows and the bed sheets just to keep myself busy, hoping the chores would help speed up the day, and even though I used my hands believing that would buy me so much more time, I still finished doing everything within less than five hours. By noon I was done with my chores, and here I was, sitting outside watching the birds
Mateo“She isn’t fit to be your donna!” Melanie screamed as she clutched onto me. Zia stared at her with a deadly look and sighed as if she didn’t care about what she was saying.Her stance indicated that she had been in many fights before, but I could also tell she regretted her actions. “Let go,” I said to Melanie as I pulled her fingers off me; Zia breathed out, relieved, before she stood tense again.I walked over to her, and she stared at the ground as she bit her lip. She’s recoiling, and I know some people might like that here, but if she’s my wife, she can’t have her head down. Lifting her head with my finger, I looked around her face at all the scratches under her chin and cheek.“What happened?” I asked, and she peered up at me through her lashes. Her eyes found Melanie, and she scowled. Don’t break character. Don’t break character, Mateo! Why was she so cute?“Mateo, I already told you,” Melanie touched my shoulder, her nails digging into my skin. Zia rolled her eyes and
ZiaMy eyes widened in awe as I stared out the window while Mateo's car approached the blinding mansion. The bright warm lights showcased the front of the house, and I could tell Mateo's grandfather, Marcello, was bloody rich... possibly literally.The fountain in front of the mansion had water flowing from it, and in the pool of the concrete structure were lavender flowers swimming in it. It looked magical. How did they get the fountain to light up?Many luxurious cars were packed around it, and I could see as the gentlemen opened the doors for their dates, so gentlemanly of them.I turned to look at Mateo to see if he held the same excitement as I did, but his hands were clenched around the wheel as he gritted his teeth. My smile faltered as I noticed his annoyance. Why does he look so mad? Settling in my seat, I refrained from looking outside excitedly and calmed down. Yes, remain calm. I was going into unfamiliar territory, and there might be people in the same profession as Mate