Double Take

01

California Boy

A year passed since I haven't seen the limousine entering our wide gate in the mansion. The vehicle was apparent in my eyes here in my room as I looked outside the window. Guards were crouching to honor Papa who was inside it. I knew he will be back in summer but I wasn't ready to see his face and be in sheltered of his authority.

The limousine stopped beside the huge fountain who has sculpted angels at the center that kept producing electricity and water. Papa came out first with his dashing white suit, beige baggy pants, his beret and a briefcase. The old man fashioned the retro law student Espanya. And he was back to obstruct all the things I desire in life.

My eyes went immediately to who came out next from the car with his flamboyant brown cardigan blazer and white long sleeves underneath. His pants were exactly on his size and was wearing a brown leather shoes.

Sebastian Aldigheiri Valentino.

"Dior..." I saw his wrist watch with one of my favorite brand. He was wearing the new capsule of Dior.

He looked exactly the same from the Greek Gods or shall I say he was the living son of Aphrodite. With that tall height, sharp jaw, well-proportioned body, broad shoulders, fit and provocative like a model. His face was in golden ratio, he looked like he really came out being unparalleled. People would think his face was very much to look at, very much to admire. His beauty was out of the world.

But for me he's not that attractive, my boyfriend was.

"Señorita, your Papa has arrived already together with your husband" the house helper who was in her neat dark blue and white uniform said behind me.

My eyes were glued outside looking to my husband who seemed like a lost child and just newly gotten into this place. I closed the curtain when Sebastian caught me looking at him as he looked up to my room with a serious looking face and a bit of amusement in his eyes.

Facing Leonda with her head crouched, I crossed my arm over my chest and walked towards her. "What's the plan of Papa? why is he here?" anger in my tone exploded as I passed by her.

"I apologize, Senyorita. I don't know" she said apologetically.

"I hate this life, Leonda!" walking towards the opened door my Mama entered my room.

She was ecstatically panting from excitement and I knew what she wanted to tell me, it was the arrival of Papa and my husband. This life! I hate this life and I hated my mother for shifting a party line, she used to like my boyfriend and everything changed the day Sebastian was introduced to me.

Exclaiming happily she said. "Eris Amalia, your papa is here together with your husband" she held my wrist with her cold hands and her fingers with gold and silver jewelries.

I rolled my eyes over her hysterics. "And what about it, Mama?"

"I will go now, Señora and Señorita" Leonda noticed that the atmosphere was starting to get heavier, she excused herself and emptied the room just for us.

"Oh come on, Eris. It's been a year since you haven't met your husband, you must be missing him so much, right?"

I groaned, pulling my hands away from her and walked near to my huge walk in closet. "I am not happy about it, Mama. They will just ruin my life. Too bad they didn't meet an accident on the way-"

"Eris!" she shouted, I didn't know if it can be heard outside but her voice was very loud that it could be possibly heard downstairs. She followed me from behind and probably was preparing to yell me over and over again.

"How dare you say that to your Papa and your husband? what's wrong with you? I am not raising someone who will curse someone's life here!"

Looking at her when I turned, she was acting up again, holding her chest and obviously she was back again on her theatrical piece. "I cannot forgive you for telling that, Eris Amalia. You are unbelievable"

"That's what you get when you watch too much dramas" I grimaced, passing her so I can get myself out from my room, then she followed me, forcefully grabbing my wrist.

"Ouch, Mama!"

Her face was pretty enraged, very dangerous but that won't destroy the facade I was building for myself. "All these years you are acting like this, do you think I like it, Eris?"

"Do you think I like it, Mama? being married to a man I don't like? why can't I just marry Yuno? I love Yuno, he is the man that I love all these years not Sehun!"

"That Yuno is an addict! He lived in Connecticut for four years and drugging himself. What a shame, he really came from a family of corrupt and problematic."

"Who said that? His father is a prime minister"

"Can't you hear? It comes from my mouth"

"No, he's different from his parents. Why do you keep on insisting that he is? You like Yuno first before Sebastian came into our life"

Chuckling sarcastically she said. "Grow up, Eris. Sebastian is far beyond reach"

"You really just want me to be with Sebastian because you owe a lot from his parents, you are selling me to that family. I am not marrying for convenience"

"You are now married to him, you can't do anything" she looked down to my hands.

"I will do everything to be separated from that man!" yelling I said and walked out from the room to go downstairs.

Eris!" hearing her enraged voice calling me just gave me frustration. This day was exasperating!

"Eris, you are not wearing your wedding ring. Don't let Sebastian and your Papa see that"

Still, I continued stepping down the huge spiral staircase. The mansion has over a hundred of rooms, the interiors of the mansion really came out from Spanish modern and classic designs with much antiques whether you look left and right or upside down. Everything inside came from our ancient ancestors and this was an ancestral mansion and was renovated as Mama's taste changed through decades.

"Eris, stupid girl" Mama pulled my hair, stopping me. That hurts. We were already in the second floor to where the Stephen Dinette Chandelier In Vintage Bronze was placed. I felt the pain on my scalp but I just remain steadfast acting like she's not a pain in the ass.

"Mama" yelling I said.

"Wear your wedding ring, you stupid girl" she forcefully pulled my other arm trying to insert the ring on my finger.

"Don't let your husband see this"

"I hate this, Mama" screeching I said, pulling away my arm, causing the ring to be thrown in the floor.

When we looked where at it, our eyes widened when we saw Papa and Sebastian looking at us, scrutinizing what we have done. The chaos was really in a bad form, we didn't know they were looking. They were standing downstairs calmly bombing us an inquisitive stares.

"Alejandro" my mom in her guilt face greeted my Papa who's brows ragged with much curiosity. "This is so embarrassing, Eris" she said in a low tone and went back chuckling while facing Papa.

Sebastian looked down and he bent his other knee to pick the ring up. Oh goodness. He looked up directing his eyes to me as I was still in a bad shape, I looked away with no time intervening. I didn't want to have an eye contact with him, never.

"Amora, what's wrong with the both of you?" Papa started. "Are you fighting?"

"Of course not, Alejandro" she took her steps towards them, laughing her ass off. Mama didn't study theater for nothing, she was always that very versed and enhanced in acting. Her drama was out of the world.

Still I was looking at the other way to where the dining area was, the helpers were busy going back and forth to the kitchen to get the foods, placing it to the table.

"Your daughter missed her husband so much. Good thing you come home here together, Sebastian" she was already there beside them when she looked up to where I was.

I rolled my eyes to that. Why would I miss someone I am not affectionate with?

"It's already summer, Mama. I decided to stay here for vacation since I just finished my degree in California"

"Oh that's good to hear, hijo" she formed a small smile, looking adorably to Sebastian.

Sebastian was always gentle, his voice was sweet and calm and he behaved so well, acting his age and knowing his place. I didn't know much about him because what for? I don't like him and I will never like him. Many said he was too perfect that women will really beg him for a marriage and a kid but like I said the day I first met him, I was different from others and that's because I didn't feel anything for him. Not even a friendship, he was just a complete stranger to me.

"Eris, aren't you going to greet your husband?" it was Papa.

I knew they saw how angry my face was, facing them without even speaking what I felt. I couldn't make an eye contact to Sebastian who was looking at me in his serious face but was still kind-looking.

"Eris" Papa called me again in his stern voice but still weighing it in a calm manner.

"Eris, come down"

I felt my feet glued in stairs, it was hard to step down and be close to them. That was hell but I didn't have choice. They might question and punish me if I will make an exit rudely and I didn't want my bank account to be at risk.

Sebastian looked at my Mama and Papa who darted their killing stares to me. Maybe he noticed I was uncomfortable seeing him, he already knew that I don't love him.

"Eris must be tired for doing anything, Mama" then he looked at me with curiosity. "She needs to rest"

"No, hijo. She's not doing anything. All she does is to shop in different luxurious stores, she went from Gucci yesterday for a new capsule" my mom already rolled her eyes to me out from frustration and still my dad was in awe of how I acted upon the situation.

Sebastian nodded. "Ah... I see, she must be tired checking out different stores"

I couldn't believe he said that. That was funny to hear. I got into my sense and started walking towards them maintaining my bold composure.

I was rehearsed in modelling since I was a kid but this s**t hit differently, walking down while being watched with these people was uncomfortable like I float in the clouds. I got closer to them and Sebastian who looked down after he noticed I was uncomfortable being watched.

"Are you sick, hija?" Papa asked when I arrived in front of them.

Shaking my head once, I said No. Well to be honest, I was sick of this. This drama was hell.

When I got closer to Sebastian, he grew taller that he was already towering me. He looked very clean and gorgeous like a fine wine. He smelled very good with an allure Chanel perfume. That was the scent I smelled when I first met him, seemed like it's his favorite perfume.

"Welcome back, Papa"

"Thank you, hija" he reached a kiss to my cheek.

"Your husband, hija" mom signaled me.

"I guess we need to eat, they must be hungry already and I'm already hungry too" I thought changing the subject was a nice thing to do.

Sebastian looked down as my eyes stayed for a second on him. "Sebastian must be hungry, right?"

His lips rose up, nodding in agreement. "Ah... kind of"

I heard he was in the library after the lunch, I didn't care about him so he can do everything without me minding him. Leonda said he was fond of going inside the library, studying and reading books because it was his safe haven.

"Amalia, you didn't tell me your husband got home" Olivia, my best friend said when she got into my car in shotgun's seat. She put on the seatbelt and placed her mint purse on her lap.

"It's not like he's special for me to announce he's home"

Now she tied her hair into ponytail, biting the sunflower scrunchy. I started maneuvering the steering wheel to the right direction. "Just tell me you are locking him up so women will not fancy him"

"I hope he gets back in California right away, I hate seeing someone in my house, even my Papa" started driving on the way to a coffee shop.

"Oh? Don Alejandro is home as well?" her mouth formed an O. Olivia knew that my papa was problematic and authoritarian, my friends stopped visiting our mansion if Papa was home because they will end up being humiliated. My papa wanted everyone to be like him.

"Yes and he literally brought Sebastian home!"

"It's fine if Sebastian is home, I just don't like Don Alejandro being home because your Papa is a jerk" she laughed.

"I like your maxi cherry dress" surverying to her fits, I commented. She looked good in everything, Olivia was mixed Chinese and Spanish. She's got a cute eyes, kissable red lips and pointed nose. Her hair was blonde and wavy ending on her waist.

"Oh come on, coming from the fashion model" shrugging she said.

We went to the coffee shop and took out a coffee alongside with the ginger bread before hitting on different luxury stores. I heard Bvlgari released new collection so we went there first and bought capsules.

The evening came, I let the helpers separate the paper bags and jewelries into boxes as I soothed my skin in the bath tub.

"Señorita, phone" I heard Leonda coming inside the bathroom bringing my phone. She handed me over the towel to wet my hands from a full bloomed of bubbly water.

"Yuno?"

"How's Granada?" Leonda was still there standing in front looking at me intently. "Are you going to eavesdrop?" my cold authoritative voice.

"Señorita, the Señorito Sebastian is having wine in the veranda-"

"Just go and leave me alone, Leonda. I'm talking to Yuno, why are you bringing your Señorito here?"

"I apologize, Señorita" she crouched and walked way out, I rolled my eyes to that.

I let go a deep sigh. "Hello, Yuno"

"Eris, how long will you keep it a secret? you have no plans to tell me that Sebastian got home? that your so called husband got home?" I was welcomed by a heated tone of voice.

"Oh I forgot, he's at home this morning and I don't want to bother you there in Granada-"

"You don't want to bother me or you just don't want to tell me you are hitting on that scumbag?"

"That's impossible, Yuno Mateo!"

"I'm already here outside your mansion, Eris. Just come out and let's talk. I don't want you to be close to that man"

I was left dumbfounded. "What? what if papa will saw us?"

"You really care about your Papa, huh. I really ride the train to come home immediately, if it's not because of Abellardo, I won't know"

I was thinking who was Abellardo but it was nonsense at all to spend my time scrutinizing nonsensical things.

"Okay, I will come out..."

Changing into a white maxi dress quickly was really a thing. Yuno waited outside the small gate and that's much better so Papa will not eye us. I ran outside stepping the bermuda grasses and passing the full bloomed red roses. I was sneaky since I felt I was monitored by my father but he was out of nowhere in the mansion.

"Yuno" I hugged Yuno the time I opened the gate, he didn't put his hands on my back, he just stood straight like a statue. "I miss you"

"You don't really love me, Eris" he pointed out. My smile run-down of how he taunted me. Of all the words to pronounce, I received an insult.

I let go of him. "Yuno, please... Don't start a fight"

"I don't want you to be close to that California boy, Eris. Though he is your husband but I am the first one who came into your life." he was downbeat and steady, looking so gorgeous on his green polo buttoned down.

"I don't even want Sebastian to be here. I hate seeing his face"

Small beam plastered on his serious face. He then held my both hands with his warm big hands. "The woman you are tonight, Eris" she went closer to me, reaching my forehead for a kiss.

It made me happy whenever I was with him. We were together for 5 years and with that 5 years we already made a lot of happy memories not until I got engaged into Sebastian and got married to him. I couldn't wait to be free from him. Yuno accepted everything even it was nerve-racking to be on this situation, he felt I was taken away from him and I won't let that happen just because of Sebastian.

No one can stop Yuno and I. Not mama, not even papa and definitely not Sebastian.

"I will do everything to marry you, Eris" he whispered to my ears. "Remember I will end my life if you'll fall for Sebastian"

I reached him for a kiss, exactly we were bewildered of the brightness on how the cabriolet lighted us. Moving backwards, I tried to cover my face when I got the feeling that it was Papa. Yuno walked towards me, covering me through his hug. As I took an immediate look who was inside the cabriolet car, my eyes widened when I saw Sebastian driving the car and holdind the steering wheel in one hand. I was sure he saw us but it looked like he didn't mind us or did he really saw us?

I thought he was in the veranda? he went out? the car speedily drove on the way to the main gate. Good thing it was Sehun, if it was Papa? then I didn't know anymore.

"Who was that, Eris?"

"Sebastian..."

"Good thing Sebastian saw us in this shape so he will know that we are truly loving each other"

I nodded in agreement. Yuno left right after that and waited in train station to go back in Granada, I went back inside and planned to find Sebastian immediately. He might tell Mama and Papa about it, that Sebastian was not trustworthy.

"Matilda, where is your Señorito?" I saw Matilda in the grand staircase with a feather dust, cleaning. I was loosing no time, very eager to see Sebastian.

"He passed here minutes ago, Señorita" Matilda was hiding the feather dust on his back. "Maybe in his room"

Was hastening to the third floor and when I looked at the end of the balcony, it made me feel like he was there. With no time intervening I ran to reach the on that place. I saw him the other side of the balcony who was already looking at me, it seemed like he anticipated me to come out there, he seemed like he expected my arrival.

"Sebastian!" anger exploded. He gave me a blank expression. I walked towards him with my enraged disposition.

"You saw us, right?"

He has a wine placed on his side as he leaned his body to the balcony's fence.

"Hmmm..." he said in response.

"So you are going to tell Mama and papa about it?"

His austere face was my kind of pain in the ass but I always see kindness the way he remained into that. He was always in that sang-froid poise, as I was scrutinizing his actions.

"Even if you tell me to tell your mama and papa, I will not do it" his voice was calm.

"Make it sure you'll keep quiet. If you go berserk I will really kill you"

He took something out from his pocket, walking towards me after. I took one step as I didn't know what was his plan. Why was this man wearing expensive things? he looked very expensive wearing a black and red stripes of Vincenzo Valentino loongsleeve paired with a beige Dunlop golf men pants. He was in a converse shoes but he didn't wear it fully, he let his heel breathed. Some strands of his black comma hair fell on his forehead and it consummately fit his 1:1 ratio of face. His fashion was out of the world to be exact.

He softly grabbed my other hand that it caused me to widen my eyes. I didn't allow him to touch me but I couldn't say a word. Not even a 'Hey'. I saw the wedding ring whom he picked up the time it was thrown. He slowly inserted it to my finger.

"What do you think you are doing? I don't allow you to hold my hand"

He let go a not so deep sigh. "It's yours, right?" he asked. "I have mine too" he showed it to me.