THIRTY-NINE

Kamilla Lopez

I see her car headlight approaching, she stops abruptly and Bianca gets out of the vehicle coming towards me, with a worried look she asks:

— What about you?

— Just take me home.

She helps me by taking my small bag, and we get into the vehicle, Bianca was nervous, after all I'm almost soaked by the little rain. The vehicle makes a U— turn and pulls into traffic, as she drives I feel her eyes on me, I know she's curious to know what really happened, I'll tell her, but not now. I leaned my head against the glass, watching the raindrops fall. I realize how emotional I was to get involved with a man so quickly, I got involved in the passion and I didn't realize I was losing my mind. Nick Ross is a dangerous man, an obsessive lunatic, having a relationship with such a man could cost me my life, and I value it very much.

— Did he hurt you?

— What?

— I'm scared Kamilla, you call me at this time crying and when I come to pick you up you're alone in the street.

— Calm down.

— Don't ask me to calm down!

The car parks in front of Dona Carolina's house, Bianca gets out of the car with my suitcase, and we go up the stairs, when I open the door I see Dona Carolina already in front of the door with a scared expression, I look at Bianca, she says that while he was going to pick me up the called Dona Carolina.

— What happened to you?

— I've been asking since the call.

I walk to the refrigerator taking a bottle of water from there, I was shaking too much, the two approach me anxiously, waiting for me to start my explanation.

— I broke up with Nick.

— What?

— Like this?

— A day ago you told me you were dating him, is it over?

— Did he hurt you?

— He didn't hurt me.

— You leave at this time, tell us straight.

— Explain to us what happened, we are worried about you.

— Nothing happened.

— How not?— Her eyes are scarred, revealing that she had been crying.

I couldn't control the crying, Bianca quickly hugged me tight, the sobs escape and I try to control them.

— There's no need to tell now, let's leave that for tomorrow, you need to rest.

Bianca breaks the hug and says:

— I'll come back tomorrow to see how you are, all right?

— Yes, thank you.

They smile tenderly, and I walk to the bedroom, with my belongings already beside the bed I close the door and walk to the bathroom, I take the wet clothes off my body, at that moment I realize that I was wearing his dress shirt, his perfume still remains in it, I approached my nose and inhaled, then threw it in the clothes' basket starting my shower.

(...)

The next morning I woke up with huge and deep dark circles under my eyes, I couldn't sleep well, I spent most of the morning crying, feeling deceived. I was horrible with the boy, I confess to having exaggerated, he did not know what was happening and said he would not return to his house, in fact I will not return, but as I know that the boy considers me his mother and I already consider him as a son, I will try to make arrangements with Nick for the boy to stay with me on weekends.

When I got up from the bed I felt a slight vertigo, I unbalanced myself and I sat on the bed again, a few seconds later I got up and went towards the bathroom. Having showered and only wearing my pajamas I leave the room, I come across Dona Carolina together with Bianca in front of a door holding a huge stuffed cake, Zeus was on the sofa playing with his little red ball.

— Good morning, Girl!

— How are you, baby boo?

— It's my birthday?

— We bought you a cake.

— Thanks. — Thank you with the best smile on your lips.

We walked to the kitchen, I passed the counter and walked to the fridge, from there I took out a juice box. The two put the cake on the counter and sat on the benches watching my movements.

— I know you're curious. — I speak while separating plates and forks.

— What happened yesterday? — Bianca is the first to ask.

I knew I couldn't tell them about what Nick Ross really is, he's a dangerous man and I won't put their lives in danger, so I chose to hide only that specific and very important point.

— Nick and I had an argument yesterday.

— And why did they argue?

— We have many differences, tastes and different personalities, so we ended up fighting, and I broke up with him.

— How sad, you made such a beautiful couple....

— And I thought it would be Grandma.

— And the boy, doesn't he consider you his mother?

— Yes, he was crying when he saw me leaving.

— Did you say anything to the child?

— Just that he wouldn't come back, he thought it was his fault.

— Poor thing, he didn't deserve this.

— I know....

— But, do you plan to get back together with Nick?

— No! I don't want to know about him, he can appear here and now in front of me and I won't go back with him.

After finishing my words, we heard a knock on the door, we quickly fell silent.

— Oh my God! — Bianca whispers with euphoria. — It will be?

— I don't think so, it could be a postman.

— Mailman?

— Sure, it can be, can't it?

— Postmen don't come here. — whisper.

Dona Carolina gets up from the bench and turns her body towards the door, before she left I grabbed her arm.

— If it's him, don't let him in.

— Rest assured, if he dares to enter this house I'll hit my staff.

— Where's the bat?

She looks at her hand and sees it empty.

— Bianca, fetch my staff.

With euphoria Bianca does what she asked, with the stick in hand she approaches and hands it to Dona Carolina. As she approaches the door I run to my room, Bianca returned to the bench eating the slice of cake that had been cut for her, she had a look on her face.

— Good morning, Mr. Ross, how can I help you?

My heart misses a beat, I look at Bianca, she was white as paper, something told me she was going to pass out.

— Good morning, Mrs. Carolina, I want to speak with Kamilla.

I hear his thick male voice echo near the main room, my breath hitched as I remember his voice whispering in my ear.

— Unfortunately she is not, she went to the market.

— My security has been at her door since the moment she left my residence, he assures me that she hasn't left.

— But....

— Let me see her, please.

— She doesn't want to see you.

— I know she's behind her bedroom door, listening to us talking, sighing, and.

I quickly appear in the main room, I didn't want him to speak malicious words to a lady. Dona Carolina turns her body and looks at me, she opens a smile of happiness for deciding to appear.

— Little doll....

— What do you want? — I ask haughtily, pretending that his nickname did not affect me.

— We need to talk.

— Is it okay for you? — Miss Carolina asks.

— All.

She confirms and calls for Bianca, we were looking at each other attentively, I admire her serious look and her unusual beauty.

— Come, Bianca, let's sunbathe. — again, Dona Carolina calls for her.

— It's hot out there. — she says, eating her piece of cake.

Dona Carolina impatiently approaches the door, she makes an expression of surprise and says:

— What a handsome bouncer, my God!

— Where??

Bianca jumps out of her chair and goes through the door, as soon as she passed, Dona Carolina closed the door and left us alone in the main room.