Me and Galina (2nd Edition)

I

The windows steamed with the majestic rays of the sunset as the afternoon faltered. The lovers walked towards the house, excited to roll up the news: they are engaged. It was Silica’s dream to get married to her boyfriend of five years. In other terms, Nikolas was already floating with unexplained joy that he’d never felt. Like winning a lottery.

The proposal was a success at his friend’s house party. Surrounded by his friends, he could feel their support and joy, but from his family, he expected that they’ll accept her into the family Kent’s. As he opened the door and stepped back to let Silica in, four pairs of crystal eyes darted off to them, and Julia, a lady in her ‘50s, stood up. “Nikolas, my son, who’s this?”

Silica Rose, the daughter of London’s finest CEO.

Sounds cliche right?

Nikolas grabbed her by his hand over her shoulder. With pride, Silica showed off her 12-carat diamond ring. “We’re engaged, mum!” The father’s gaze shifted to his son’s fiancée and back to him. Where did he get this woman?

He stood up, trying to control the anger in his eyes. His son stole the debit card just for the £349,597.79 or the 12-carat ring. Before, Nikolas wasted his money for the house party, broke his brand-new Toyota vehicle in a drag race, and even vandalized the church building in Ilford. “Congratulations on your engagement.” Roger fakery smiled at his son and the future wife. “Well the dinner is ready, let’s hop to the dining room.” He turned around and eyed Freya, his older daughter. Freya nodded and understood her dad’s facial expression.

The couple walked towards the kitchen where the dining table sat. Silica was wearing a fitted black dress with pumps and her blonde hair curled into elegant waves. Whilst Nikolas was pulling a chair for her, she looked at Freya with some disgust in her eyes and rolled them off. Freya shook her head and sighed. “Who wants fish and chips?” Julia’s voice was bombarded in the kitchen.

“I go for chips, but not the fish.” Silica responded, then the three Kents stared at her. Nikolas spoke up, feeling uneasy by his family’s gaze at his fiancée. “She doesn’t want fishes, mum.” He already knew that his family hates fussiness over what they lay on the table. But to him, for better or worst parts of her, he still loves her.

“Oh, okay…” Julia gave one more glance at Silica before turning off the stove. The aroma of fresh green beans hovered in the atmosphere as she places them on the platter. Silica crunched her eyebrows as she smelled it and shook off her head. Veggies were bad for her. As everyone ate, a familiar ringtone rang. Silica took her phone and turned off the call. Nickolas glanced at the caller i.d. the name wasn’t clear to read but it started with the letter T.

“Who’s that?” he asked. The phone beeps again and she hastily hangs off the call. “It’s my friend, don’t worry about it.” Her voice clearly shown off that she’s hiding something. Nikolas went back to eat his meal. Roger places both of his elbows on his table. He looks at his son, then at his fiancée, and spoke. “When will you have your wedding?”

“Probably next year?” Niko’s hazel eyes locked with his dad’s gaze. “At Paris?”

Paris… The city of love?

Freya groaned at her brother’s spoiled plan out. “French romantic, right?”

Silica chirped, “I love to see the Eiffel tower when the bell rings!” She clasped her hands and smiled.

“A Disney princess-themed wedding? How about at Disneyland?” Julia retorted as if she was scoffing at her plans.

“Mom, this isn’t a joke. This is what she wants-”

“WHAT’S IN YOUR MIND, SON?” Roger slammed his fists on the table. Anger heated his emotions. Everyone jolted at his rage. “DO YOU WANT MY MONEY AGAIN?” Since the first month of dating Silica, Roger’s funds were slowly running out on the bank.

Nikolas furrowed his eyebrows, looking angrily at his dad. He licked his lips. “I’ll get a job for it, dad.”

Freya chuckled sarcastically while clapping her hands. “My brother will now get a job.”

Silica rolled her eyes at Freya. “He will get a job at Rancovers’ Holdings LLC, sir Roger.”

“Don’t dare to call me like that! YOU’RE SO RUDE!”

Offended, Nikolas stood up. “Is that how you treat your son’s fiancée? Dad?” He smashed the plate on the floor. Blood dripped slowly as the fresh wound appears. “YOU ARE ALL AGAINST ME!”

Silica tagged his sleeve and plead. “Let’s go out of this place, babe!” He placed his hand on hers and walked off to the door.

“Hey!” Roger walked after them. “I never appreciate your fiancée, Nikolas.”

“Who cares… I love her, dad!” Niko snapped, frustrated at his parents’ disapproval.

Roger shook his head and sighed. His only son was now blind to love with this fussy and ambitious gold-digger. Silica cried with tears flowing from her eyes. “We will never invite you all to the wedding, Roger.”

Wow! Girl, you need 365 days to think about the wedding.

“We will never bless your wedding, cockroach!” Freya yelled.

Nikolas glanced at them before closing the door. The lovers strode towards the car and went in. Silica fixed her makeup as her sweetheart turning on the engine to life. “Your family is damned. I’m fed up with them!”

“We don’t care about them, my love. As long as we’re against all odds, Silica.” His hazel eyes sparkled under the shimmering lights on the streets. Niko mouthed. “I love you.” Then he drove onto the roads.

While he was driving, his mind was buzzing with thoughts of drinking alcohol and s*x. He licked his lips when a picture of a woman’s body came across his head. It wasn’t his fiancée’s sexy tanned body that laces with a red silk dress.

“Niko, did you listen to me?” Silica’s words whipped his thoughts out of his mind.

“I didn’t because I’m driving.” He lied. Niko didn’t want to lie to his beloved. But he always lies! His soon-to-be wife didn’t know his secret life behind the disco bar. Women… Alcohol… And Money…

“I said, I want to go home.” She crossed her arms over her chest, grumbling silently. Niko sighed and parked his car in front of her house.

Silica unbuckled the seatbelt, opened the door, and slammed it before he could finish saying, “Bye, I love you.” He huffed and rubbed his forehead. His fiancée’s attitude made him stressed out.

Nikolas met Silica at Jason’s sleepover party. She was with her best friend Georgina, the extreme narcissist who keeps bringing mirrors to check her face every minute. Then he drove away as few showers of drizzle fell. Little he did know when he turned his head to check the road, something caught his eyesight into darkness. He didn’t know what was happening.

The asphalt became wet when showers became rains. He hardly sees the road before letting the wiper brushes the windscreen. Drops formed a blurry illusion of a woman standing on the corner of the crossroad. With a piece of luggage beside her. She was already wet, making Nikolas feel pity to see her doused under the rain.

He parked his car illegally, a few meters from the woman, and went out of the vehicle. Nikolas places his hands on the side of his lips, then called. “Hey! Do you want a ride?!” She noticed someone called her and whipped her head to find him. “Oh! … Yeah?”

She had no idea who this guy is.

She had the attempt to drag her luggage, yet Nikolas ran to her. He helped her like Prince Charming has saved the day!

Niko isn’t a gentleman from the way to start. He used to bully girls who wore fancy Mary Jane shoes with round eyeglasses and two pigtails. He used to seduce some women and dumped them behind. Heartless kind of man. Yet currently with this woman, he feels different.

He opened the boot of the car and placed her luggage faster. Replacing an umbrella and puffed it open after he closed the boot. Nikolas went back to her, extending her the umbrella even she’s already wet.

What a gentleman, Nikolas! He thought. When they went inside the car. He switched on the car and turning the air-con into the heater. The stranger took hardly to pull out the seatbelt. “Excuse me, may I help?”

She raised her hands and looked into his hazel eyes. His heart skipped a beat. This made him breathless. Nikolas stared back at her charcoal black ones.

He exhaled and turned his head to focus on pulling the seatbelt. After bucking it up, he nodded at her, giving her a small glimpse of his dimples when he smiled.

“Thank you, sir?” she blushed shyly, tucking her black hair behind her ear. She’s somewhere Asian, more in Southeast Asia like Malaysian?

This woman has almond eyes, pinkish thin lips, and a small aquiline nose. Her skin is also dark yet beautiful that makes women envy and jealous of her.

As Niko drove the car, he took a glance at her and chuckled. “No worries, I’m Nikolas, by the way.” He bit his lip and licked it. Nikolas was trying to break the icy atmosphere between them. It wasn’t malicious as with the other women before.

“I’m Galina.” She responded while staring at the tattoos on his biceps. “Nice to meet you, Nikolas.” Her accent was not really British or American, yet it was bold and clearer. Galina drifted her gaze back on his toned biceps.

I think he’s part of somehow a fraternity or gang or what… Mafia? She thought. The tattoo was a rose with a British Union Jack flag with a sword. Proud British, huh?

Then she looked at his face. His hair was dripping some droplets. Galina has never seen a man who acts like a gentleman. Is he a gentleman?

“So you’re probably an Asian right?” He asked, his hands stirred the wheel.

Galina swallowed hard. Yes, racism is common nowadays. Between Asians and Europeans, racism is still present until now. “Yes, why-y?” she stammered, went back facing the road in front of her. Then she whipped her head to see Nikolas.

Nikolas pressed his lips, then spoke. “Because you’re… uh… beautiful?” Wait, why does this young man who always lies to women feel uncomfortable with Galina? Dear Nikolas, was this girl overwhelm you? Why are your legs shaking hard? This is not normal… he silently talked to himself.

“Me?” she was surprised. In her country, white skin is beautiful. Her eyes widened. “No, I’m not… are you that blind?”

He chuckled. “The face does not need something to make it beautiful, Galina.” Hello, Nikolas… Are you going to be the next William Shakespeare?

Galina shook her head. “That is flattery, Nikolas.” Niko rubbed his temple. “No, it isn’t.”

She pressed her back on her seat and bit her lower lip. The car started to bumper. Nikolas himself couldn’t stop his shaking legs.

But she didn’t care about the bumper.

She huffed, and her lips twitched into a smile. “Alright, thanks,” Galina said it straight. No one ever told her she’s beautiful. She tried to buy whitening products to be like her friends. But she’s tired of being pressured, so Galina declined on taking these products.

“By the way, where are you going?” Nikolas asked. Feeling uneasy when Galina looks at him straight. Her lips moved to open and say something. But she paused for a while and beamed. “I forgot the address!”

Galina took her phone from her sling bag and checked out the message from her friend. After clicking, she showed the address to him. Nikolas nodded.

London was covered with the grey atmosphere of the pouring rain. People are bringing umbrellas to protect themselves from the harsh rain.

“Is it your first time here in London?”

“Yes.” Galina replied, “Are you living here?”

“Yeah, just a mile from the City Centre.” His mind races back to the wreck from his family a while ago.

“Are you part of something?” Galina then bit her lower lip. Her hands clutched together on her lap and waited for his answer.

“What do you mean?” He furrowed his eyebrows.

She replied. “Like gang or fraternity?” Galina sounded like a curious little girl. “I’m sorry if I ask you about it—”

“No. Just a small circle of friends. How that idea comes up in your mind?” He glanced at her while driving. Galina was wearing a beige coat with knee-length boots and black leggings.

“Because of that tattoo? I mean, I used to watch movies about—”

“Gangsters?” He interrupted. Yes, gangster.

“No! Mostly documentary films.” She continued. “Like drug addicts and stuff.”

“Now we’re here!” He declared softly. He’s never been soft to everyone but… They are now in front of the building from the address she gave him.

Two of them unbuckled the seatbelts. Good thanks, the rain has gone away. Both of them went out of the car and strode towards the boot. When he gave her the luggage, she dragged it towards the house.

She turned around and saw him as he was about to go inside the vehicle. She cupped her hands around her lips and shouted. “Thanks for the ride, Nikolas!”

Nikolas heard her and paused. He smiled and waved her goodbye. He realized Galina was only 4’9 in height. She waved at him like a child on her first day of school.

As Nikolas rode, he shook his head. He’s late for the meeting with his friends. It’s already seven in thirty minutes. As he drove faster to get there.

It’s night. London is now glimmering with city lights. His car parked at the most famous club in the city. Women wore sexy glittering dresses and men came there just to get drunk and be merry. A guy with a bottle of gin staggered towards Nikolas’ car and knocked on the window. Nikolas pushed the button to swipe the window down. “Hey man, what’s up?”

Nikolas leaned to his side, allowing the gas to smother the air. The man stepped back, flapping his hand in front of his face. His face formed a frown. The smell was odd as it comes to his nostrils. Is it a scent of Skunk’s spray or the Victoria’s Secret Perfume?

“You fart, bruh!”

“Can you please excuse me, Skyler? I’m going to get out of this car.”

Skyler grunt, walking back as Nikolas got out of the car. “I thought you came with Silica Rose.”

“Why, I’m not bringing her in this Frat House. Even for five years.”

“But she’s here, she’s with someone.”

Nikolas widened his eyes. He dropped her off just an hour ago. “Are you kidding me?”

“I’m not.” Skyler sniffed and held his waist like a superman over the beer bottles. “It’s a guy, man.” He patted Nikolas’ shoulder and scratched his head. “Bye, Nikolas.”