Past Stitches, Present Glitches

It was still eleven a.m when I leaned my head back on the chair at the back of my boutique. The clockwork on the wall ticked softly, providing a soothing rhythm amidst the room's stillness.

My handcrafted dresses hung neatly all around, each exuding an elegance that made me feel proud, but they also reminded me of the heavy responsibility I had to bear.

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to shake off the fatigue that gripped my body after the long interview. But instead of peace, my mind is filled with plans for tomorrow's big catwalk in Hollywood. I know sleeping here is not a wise choice, but my body is too tired to care.

A small chuckle sounded faintly in the distance, followed by a cheerful babble that got closer. I furrowed my brows and opened my eyes slowly but remained silent and listening.

“Look! That's the dress Mama made last week!” Matteo's voice sounded admiring.

“Yes, but I prefer the one with the beads,” Matilda replied cheerfully.

“But this dress has cool lace, Tilly,” Matteo replied, and I could almost hear the smile in his voice.

“Come on, don't touch anything, you guys,” Harry's voice sounded quiet but firm. “We're here to check if your Mama is still at the boutique. And I think she's asleep in that chair.”

I held my breath, trying not to laugh. Of course, they would come looking for me. But before I opened my eyes, footsteps approached from the other direction.

“Ky! Wake up!” Anna's voice broke the silence, followed by a gentle touch on my shoulder.

I blinked, opening my eyes to find her frowning. “Anna...” I mumbled, my voice hoarse. “How long did I sleep?”

“Long enough to skip lunch and almost forget that tomorrow is the big day!” She pulled up a chair next to me, folding her arms. “You have designs to finalize, rehearsals to attend, and bodies to feed. Are you going to faint on stage?”

I smiled tiredly, trying to get up from my chair. “I'm fine. Just need a little rest.”

“You're lying to yourself,” she said sternly, then turned toward the door. “Harry, take the kids to the dining room. I'll take Raquel there.”

I sighed and let Anna help me up. “You're too hard on me, you know?”

“That's why you're still alive,” she retorted.

<<<>>> 

In the small dining room of my boutique, Matteo and Matilda were already sitting at the table, staring enthusiastically at their plates. Harry was busy pouring juice into glasses while Anna ensured everything was ready. The smell of marinara pasta filled the room, making my hungry stomach contract.

“Ma, look at this!” Matteo raised his fork, revealing a large chunk of pasta that almost fell off. “I can eat this in one bite!”

“No, you can’t!” Matilda cut in, glancing at him with narrowed eyes. “You always drop everything down your shirt.”

“I can!” Matteo retorted, opening his mouth wide.

I chuckled, sitting on the chair next to Harry. “Stop, you guys. Eat slowly. I don't want any marinara sauce drama today.”

Anna laughed as she handed me a piece of bread. “You don't have time to do the kids' laundry during tomorrow's schedule.”

I accepted the bread and started eating, feeling the warmth of the food slowly chasing away the fatigue in my body.

“We are like a family out of a comedy movie,” Harry said as he leaned back. “There's always a little drama....”

“But you like that,” Anna retorted with a smirk.

Harry just raised an eyebrow while shrugging his shoulders.

Matilda glared at Matteo, who sat exaggeratedly, his legs wobbling on the chair while his fork was stuck in the pasta in a very inelegant way.

“You're holding the fork wrong,” Matilda said in a high tone, her little face contorted adorably. “If that's how you eat, you'll look like a monkey.”

Matteo rolled his eyes dramatically, poking at the pasta on his plate. “I eat like this because this is how a rockstar eats, Tilly. You know what a rockstar is, right? Or are you too busy being a boring little princess?”

“Little princess is cooler than rockstar,” Matilda retorted, folding her tiny arms across her chest. “At least I don't make disgusting noises every time I eat.”

“What sound? It's a rockstar sound!” Matteo deliberately slurped the pasta hard, making the marinara sauce splash slightly on his cheeks. He grinned proudly. “Look, Tilly! Even my table manners are amazing."

Matilda let out a small squeal, then covered her face with both hands. “Ew! You're dirty! Ma, look at him!” She turned to me with dilated eyes. “This is a capital crime.”

I tried to stifle my laughter, wiping the sauce off Matteo's cheeks with a napkin. “Theo, eat decently. And Tilly, stop looking for trouble with your brother.”

“I'm not looking for trouble!” Matilda exclaimed, raising her chin high. “I'm just telling him how to eat like a normal person.”

“If you're normal, why do you talk to dolls all day?” Matteo demanded. “That's weird, Tilly. Dolls can't talk!”

Matilda hissed, her little face reddening. “They talk to me when you're not around. They tell me you're annoying.”

“Your dolls must be blind and deaf!” Matteo grinned widely, stabbing the other pasta with his fork in a way that made his sister growl. Beside him, Harry just laughed as he ate his pasta.

Matilda clenched her small fist. “At least I have a doll friend. You just have a toy car that you talk to like crazy!”

“That's not talking!” Matteo argued. “I was making sound effects. You don't know anything about racing cars, Tilly!”

Matilda shrugged her shoulders. “I know they're smarter than you.”

Matteo was silent momentarily, frowning as if thinking of the perfect reply. Finally, he hissed softly. “If you were smarter, why did you forget to bring your doll? Now she's alone in the room, Tilly. Don't you feel sorry for her?”

Matilda was stunned, her eyes widening for a moment before she smacked the table with both tiny hands. “You're annoying, Theo! I'm going to get my doll right now!”

“No, you can't leave the table,” I interjected, trying to end the argument. “Both of you, eat neatly and quietly.”

Matteo smiled with satisfaction while Matilda scowled and stared at her plate in annoyance. But only a few seconds passed before Matteo poked Matilda's plate with his fork, taking a small bite of her pasta.

“Hey!” Matilda exclaimed, jumping slightly in her seat. “That's my food!”

“I just wanted to try it,” Matteo said innocently, but his eyes were full of satisfaction. “Hmm, delicious. Better than mine.”

“Because I have the princess touch,” Matilda retorted, crossing her small arms again. “You don't even know how to touch food properly.”

“Rockstar doesn't need the princess touch!” Matteo replied proudly, raising his fork like a microphone. “Rockstar just needs... pasta!”

I pressed the bridge of my nose with my finger.

Anna, meanwhile, had been doing it all along. “You two need to sleep after lunch.”

Suddenly, the dining room door opened, and Becca's steps could be heard approaching quickly. She entered with a face full of shock, her eyes glued to the phone screen in her hand.

“Ky!” she called, her voice full of enthusiasm. “You won't believe this!”

We all turned our heads almost simultaneously. Matteo and Matilda immediately stopped their argument, looking at Becca curiously. Anna put down her juice glass while Harry leaned back in his chair with his eyebrows raised.

“What's going on?” I asked, trying to figure out what made her so hasty.

Becca approached and, without much talk, she thrust her phone at me. “Look at this! That interview has gone viral. Everyone's talking about you!”

I stared at the screen, seeing clips from the interview with Becca replayed on various social media platforms. The comment sections were filled with words like 'inspiring', 'girl power', and 'Raquel Marsh is the new icon'. It's already reached millions of views, which continues to rise rapidly.

“People love you, Ky,” Becca continued excitedly. “Your line about being your own voice? That touched everyone's heart. And guess what? I got word from some major media that they're all coming to the catwalk show tomorrow. All eyes will be on you!”

I swallowed, trying to ignore the sudden tension gripping my chest.

Anna touched my arm, smiling warmly. “That's wonderful news. See, you're not only a great designer but also inspiring people.”

“You've worked hard for this. You deserve the attention.” Harry nodded, adding in a casual tone.

Matteo, who did not fully understand what was happening, looked at me with a face full of admiration. “Mama became a rock star too?” he asked, his voice hopeful.

"Mama’s cooler than a rock star. Mama has prettier dresses than your messy hair, Theo.” Matilda grinned a little, adding in a mocking tone.

We all chuckled, and for a moment, the mood lightened. But, underneath my smile, there was a growing concern.

I stare at Becca's phone screen again, letting the numbers sink in. This excitement was probably something I had dreamed of for years, but a dark thought arose along with it.

What would happen if all this attention attracted people from my past?

Camille's image flashed through my mind. Her face was always full of confidence, and her smile hid her intentions—Alvaro, with his sharp, judgmental gaze. Even my parents ... would they came back, bringing the criticism I'd been trying to bury?

I bit my lower lip, trying to hide the anxiety from my face. Becca was still discussing the big plan for tomorrow while Anna and Harry suggested it. Matteo and Matilda were busy continuing their little argument, but their voices heard far away.

I rubbed my hands on my lap, trying to calm myself down. But the thoughts kept swirling: what would happen if my past came rushing in, bringing a storm that I knew I couldn't stop?