CHIARA
I was about to open my door and he swatted my hand away, frowning. "We need to have a serious conversation about this tesoro." He said as he opened it for me. I watched him round the car with a hardened face. What was wrong with him? He sat in and turned fully to face me, my eyebrows drew together.
"You are beautiful. Do you know that?" he said.
"Yes."
"And you are my woman,"
"Okay."
"So tell me, what man would make their beautiful woman get their doors?"
"Huh?"
"Only fools, sweetie. And I happened not to be one. So, you will not get the door, ever. And this is the last time I'll be telling this to you. Stop embarrassing me before my ancestors, please." He growled. But all I could grasp from his serious face was how cute he looked while angry. What was wrong with me?
I pursed my lips. "Don't smile, I'm serious." He warned. "Yes, sir." I gave him a salute. He cupped my face, "You little stubbornness. You just don't know how long I waited to treat a woman right. You are my first. The first woman I wanted to be a good man for. So please let me, hm?" he uttered. The intense emotions in his eyes warmed my heart.
"I guess I'm a lucky one." I shrugged. "Bullshit. Have you seen yourself? You deserve nothing but the best of everything. And I'm more than willing to be the one to remind you whenever you think otherwise." He said and kissed my forehead. How do I recover from this man? I am indeed lucky. I rested my head on his chest, exhaling. His hand wrapped around me, pulling me close. My mind, heart and body felt so relaxed. This place here was where I wished to be for the rest of my life.
It wasn't lunch, it was a feast. At least it wasn't on a long dramatic table like the one their son thought I'd love. We all settled down. "Let's say a prayer," said their mother. They held each other's hands, and I was left gazing. On my right was little Celia and on my left Carmelo.
"It's a custom," Celia whispered to my ear and took my hand. I turned to her brother and found his hand waiting. I placed mine and they shut their eyes. I watched as they prayed. These things I'd only seen in movies. Never thought in this modern age people were still doing it.
"Junior, when are you going to be in a serious relationship?" Francesca asked after a while. "Mama, please. Let the food pass down my throat in peace," Junior frowned, reaching for a bowl of soup. His hands were all covered with tattoos. And about two silver rings of different cuts, occupied his fingers on each of his hands. A silver chain around his neck too. "You know that you are not getting any younger. You can't just go around fucking everything with titts out there." She uttered, bluntly.
"Mama, language!" Carmelo said, hinting at his sister. Celia rolled her eyes, "Chile big bro. I'm sixteen not six. I know what fucking or titts means." I lowered my head, stifling my laughter.
"Celia," now it was Junior who called with a warning on his face. She shrugged, "What? They teach us at school." Junior frowned. "So now they teach those things at school? I need to see your headmaster." He shook his head. Thank God their father couldn't join us because of some golf club meeting with his old friends. This conversation was insane.
"So tell me, have the two of you banged already? What are your family plans?" I choked on my food and coughed. Actually, I think this woman is insane. "Oh dear, are you alright." She uttered, as though she was innocent.
"No, we haven't, Mama. And this is not a lunch topic for God's sake." Carmelo gave me a glass of water, rubbing my back. "Is your mother always this blatant?" I whispered when I stopped whizzing. He smiled, "Only when papa is not around. She says whatever she feels like before us. You should get used to her. It gets worse." He whispered back, pressing my hand on the table.
"Seriously? How do the two of you survive then?" She pressed, swirling her wine before taking a sip. As if her son's words went unheard. And I just happened to adapt to my surroundings too fast. I cleared my throat, "I don't know about your son, but I masturbate." Now they all stared at me.
"What? Don't everybody?" I shrugged. "I like her. I really do." Francesca said, grinning and pointing at me. "I'm dead." Celia covered her mouth, cackling. "Bro, these two cannot stay together. Keep them as far as possible from each other." Junior said pointing at me and his mother.
"What did I do?" I asked. "Nothing my dear, don't mind them. I see no wrong in what you said. Honestly, I masturbate when their father is not around." She blurted. "Mama!" The three of them chorused. And I cringed. What the fuck is wrong with this woman? I liked her so much already.
"What? The three of you are being overdramatic right now," she waved them off, refilling her wine. "We could've done just fine without hearing that, Mama, period." Celia said, getting up and picking up her phone with her. Her Chihuahua in pink tutu followed her upstairs. I'd only noticed the little cranky thing recently. And it better stay meters away from me. I couldn't promise not to kick it to the wall if it ever got bonkers on me like it did with one of the maids earlier.
"Yup, this lunch is over. Get up, tesoro. Let's leave before our mother traumatizes us with her sex life any more." He held my hand and strode with me to the door.
"Honey, till next time." Francesca called out. I turned and waved at her.
"Junior," I heard her say, "I'm not getting married anytime soon, Mama. At least let me find the woman first." Junior deadpanned as we exited the mansion.