A Moment of Belonging

The morning sunlight gleamed through as my eyes jolted awake, welcoming the new day. Reminded of last night, I sighed. The contract and Adrian's words lingered in my mind.

"California?" I whispered to myself.

"You are awake?" A voice caught my attention as my eyes landed on Malisa standing at the doorstep. I had no idea how long she had been there. I watched her gently approach, her ever-wavering smile painted on her face.

"Oh, morning, Aunt Malisa," I said, managing to sit up on the bed.

Her eyebrows arched, eyes widening. "Aunt?" She uttered.

"Yeah... is it okay if I call you Aunt?" I blurted, but didn't hope to take back my words. Arriving here, her smile and kindness somehow sparked a different mood around me. It was a comforting side that always reminded me of my mother and her love. She was one who looked at me with so much care even though knowing me for just a day.

"I surely don't mind, dear. You can call me whatever you want, and I shall accept it wholeheartedly," she said with those kind words of hers, leaving my eyes swollen as a tiny drop of tears soothe to drop. I laid a hug, my hands wrapping around her as I took in those warm hugs, hoping to take ease in them. Hoping they could ease down the pain I had to endure for many years. If it was just for this second, just this moment, I wanted to feel it and forget everything in those warm hugs.

"It's alright, dear," I heard her whisper. She didn't restrain herself from me; instead, I felt her hand lay a soft pat at my back, hoping to comfort me more. "So, I was asked to get you ready." She said as I released my wrapped hands, retreating a bit with our eyes meeting.

"Get me ready?" I asked.

"Yes. I was here to get your size. I need to get you some new dresses today, and some makeup artists will be arriving soon," she said.

"Makeup artists?" I asked.

"Yes, dear. We got to get you all dazzled up," she replied.

Really, were we traveling or what? All this felt off... get me dressed up, makeup, every single bit of it.

"Alright, Aunt Malisa. But can I ask you a question?" I uttered as I watched her give a nod.

"Of course, dear. Ask," she said.

"Why are we going to California? What is there? And why all this? I mean, makeup and all?" I questioned, hoping to get answers from her. I needed to know why and what really awaited me in California.

I watched her silent gaze as her eyes scanned the area as though she was checking for any passersby, anybody who might be listening. As those eyes finally landed on me, she approached closely, tightening the gap between us.

"All I know is that the boss's uncle lives in California, dear, and my guess is that's where he would surely be heading," she said.

"The boss's uncle?" I never knew he had an uncle. Recalling it all, I only knew his brother and him. I knew not the other De Santos families. I cared less to bother finding out, as rumors only carried the names of the two brothers around town, none about their uncle.

"Yes, Marcellus De Santos. I had only gotten a sight of him twice. He is the elder brother of the boss's father, and he is the most respected in the family. That's all I stand to know," Aunt Malisa uttered.

As I took in her words, digesting it. So we were going to his uncle's place in California. "But why the makeup and dress stuff though, Aunt Malisa?" I questioned.

 "Well, it's all normal, dear. I see no question in that. I am sure the boss just wants you to look your best." She said.

I guess she was right. Maybe I just sought to question every single thing that went on. It was all new to me, every single bit of it, but I had to get used to it. I was no longer the girl I once was. I was now the prestigious wife of Adrian De Santos and among the De Santos family. Though it all would be a fake pretense, a fading truth that will eventually be wiped off after one year. But to everyone else, I was one of them. Even though I didn't intend to be part of their bloodstained family, imagining how many innocent lives the family had wiped out as they moved on their terror legacies, which their children were taking on.

"Alright, I understand, Aunt Malisa, but are you coming as well?" I questioned.

"What?"

"Will you be coming with us to California?"

"I would love to, dear, but I have to manage things in the mansion while the boss is gone. So, I won't be able to come, and if I wish to, I would have to seek permission from the boss first, which I doubt I would be receiving," she said. As simple as her words may come out, they felt like shards of glass shattering the little hope that I had clutched. Her presence was the only thing that seemed to soothe down all my pains, letting me forget the scars behind, and now knowing she won't be coming along was something I wasn't ready to accept. Knowing her for just one day, I wanted her to be close by me every other day.

I wanted somebody I could talk to, tell everything to. Somebody I could joke with. She was the only caring one I saw that dream possible with.

"What if I ask Adrian, would you come with us then?" I blurted out, watching Aunt Malisa's pale expression deepen.

"Oh no, you don't have to do that, dear, I am sure—" she began.

But Adrian's abrupt entrance cut her off. "What's going on here? Why aren't you getting her prepared, Malisa?" he demanded, his voice stern.

I turned to see him standing at the doorstep, his eyes flashing with impatience. "You know pretty well that there's little time to waste, and yet you're delaying," he said.

But really, how dare he just talk to her like that? For all I know, she was old enough to be his mother, and yet he spoke to her with such a harsh tone, like she was nothing before his eyes.

I watched as Aunt Malisa's warm smile faltered, her eyes clouding for an instant. Her hands, once gentle, clenched into fists, and her voice trembled slightly.

"The preparations are underway, sir," she said, her tone measured.

But even so, I couldn't deny the fear scent that radiated from Aunt Malisa as Adrian entered. Her calming scent gave way to a hint of nervousness.