My Mother's Boyfriend

My New Room

Maya

When I awake, I am in a well-furnished bedroom, but I cannot tell if it is daylight or night because the lights are off, and the curtains are possibly blackout. Who in the heavens paints their walls navy blue? A wicker chair stood in one corner with a tiny table and on the opposite corner had a huge black wardrobe from ceiling to floor. Clean sophistication- almost cold but not quite.

The wall that made up an entire bookshelf, just like the cupboard, floor to ceiling, is what made the room seem warm. Had I been under different circumstances here, I would have been searching for the books already. And I also only read for entertainment purposes- reading for the moment and forgetting about it afterward. I am not one of those who read and can tell what their favourite quote is or even read out the Shakespeare lines.

Something tells me that none of those books contained any sort of romance genre in them, though. Nevertheless, I admired books and shelves; the smell of the pages- the feel of the cover, heck, I even liked it when someone read the books before me and left little notes on them. It gives the book...personality.

While folding a page is appreciated by me, I dislike ‘dog-eared pages’ and wish people just made use of bookmarks.

Feeling chilly, I draped the scarlet-coloured soft sheet over my shoulders, scanning where I sat up. The massive headboard of the bed I occupied is a charcoal grey that matches well with the navy-blue walls. I note.

Very masculine. Oh God, this is not a guest bedroom...it has to be...his. A guest room would be more in lighter shades, I thought. Possibly white walls and such. This weird dark shade of bedroom has to be a personal preference. Never mind the beauty, I am in a house full of snakes- how do I get out of this?

Noticing the remote on the night stand, I instantly switched off the air conditioning, yawning in the process. My head still has a dull throbbing at the back, but my nausea is gone.

How do I get out of here? Should I run? Back at my home, I felt as if I had no other option but to do, as my elders seemed fit, but now...I pondered, my chest pounding. Even if I manage to run, I have nowhere to go. No job, no money...how do I pay for school?

Suddenly conscious of my missing dress, I glance down at myself, throwing the sheet aside. Nothing but my sky-blue sportswear and oversized t-shirt on. Did he touch me? I feel dirty and my hand is in a fist around the t-shirt's collar, but I am not aware of it until Gabriella comes into the room.

“That’s a weird way to wear my clothes,” she greets me, and I take in her words. Hers. She is wearing black gym gear with pink trainers, her hair is in a high- bun, and her face is void of make-up but is a beautiful sight. Girly-girl, hmm.

“Who changed me?” My cheeks are hot, but it’s a mixture of embarrassment, coupled with disgust and anger that that killer might have touched me with the same hands he used on my mother.

“Good morning, btw. And yeah, I did.” She said btw, not the actual words.

My hand drops onto the mattress that I am still sitting on. I am grateful for that and my lips thinned, because I cannot find it in me to smile with this leech.

“Yeah, I figured, my brother hadn’t received the goodies yet, which is why he wants to marry you, right? He even called me to assist you when you threw up over our dinner. Disgusting, btw.”

What a sick family.

“It’s the only thing that makes sense to me. I mean, no offence, but you aren’t very pretty. I don’t mean you're not pretty, just that you are not all that, you know?” she spouted as if it was the most casual thing to say. And I know her next sentence was supposed to make me uncomfortable. Winner.

“I mean, your mum was old, but she was gorg.” she smiled widely and then folded her arms across her huge rack. "How do you like your new room?"

Maybe, I can somehow convince my father to go to the bank and get the funds to repay this family what we owe them.

Futile, but I’m sure that there is one percent there.

“My other brother, Angelo’s girlfriend, Tami, when she threw up when she was pregnant, my brother carried her. Lol, it was such a sight. She was just like you- threw up on the table the same way. Now the entire brood- especially Auntie, thinks you’re pregnant as well. Mum already thinks it." She backs up her hand with a stern expression, "Not me. I know you aren’t.”

Pregnant? As if I would let that monster touch me.

“I would ask you if you wanted to come down to do a session with me, but meh, I feel you should stay in bed. Franny is coming up in a bit with breakfast.”

What a btich.

“No, I should leave. Thank you for the clothes, by the way,” I mutter, standing up now and my bare feet touching the most luxurious carpet. An off-white.

“And go where?” came the swift reply and my back straightened.

Back to ...where? The apartment Alejandro had taken me to? In the ten seconds, both of us had a stare-down, I weighed the lesser of the evil out. If I somehow stayed here, it would be better with all these people around in this mansion of a house. Fewer chances to run into the beast. But also, I figured that if he had not told them the accuracy of the situation that led to me being here, then there was a good reason behind it. Or is that for his benefit? Should I inform them of the actual reason behind this marriage?

Would that work to my benefit? Would that somehow profit me, and the wedding would be cancelled? I doubted it since his family seemed to be against him right now, and he is being the one to force it. They would not go against, against themselves.

So, do I want them to know? And what would happen if they eventually found out about the money given to my family? They are mafia- would they harm us? Or just me? Or my father alone. What would happen to my brother? Would they make him an orphan or take his life as well?

My stomach quivers.

Back in the apartment, it would just mean he and I were alone there. It would be safer for me to keep the truth from his family, thus ensuring my safety.

Gabriella twisted her head a bit to the side. “You do know that Alejandro lives here, right?”

Seeing my shocked eyes, she laughed. “Well fcuk me. Do you mean he has had you in that squatters' dump? Hah, mama said as much, but we didn’t believe it. I mean, why would he have allowed her to bring him dates-” Her facial expression altered then to one of surprise then realisation. “Ah, that’s why he always got angry. Sneaky brother.”

It dawned on me then that she had been under the impression that we were really dating, and I was only brought over to meet them and the reason why her brother became 'upset' when his mother set him up on dates was because he had me in his life already. Or something similar. Now she thinks we were living together in his apartment.

Both are wrong, yet somehow not entirely so.

“Well, I guess I was wrong. Hmm. But something is off about you two.” She furrows her forehead, pointing her index finger in my direction. “Were you underage?” Then her mouth circles. “No way, your mother was involved? Did she give her consent to you- ew Alejandro,” she finishes.

At least she has her head on about the whole age gap thing.

A series of whatever is going through her head flashes on her face, as if the pieces of a puzzle made sense. “It was you all along?”

She thinks my mother gave her, very much older than me brother, permission to date me when I was under the age of eighteen, and I do not declare it untrue.

Just then, a soft knock is on the door and Gabriella grins, telling whomever to enter. “Wait till I tell Mama.”

Horrified, I don’t even get to stop her when she vanishes behind the ‘Franny’ person who came in with a food tray.

The next hour passed with me burdened about what would Alejandro do about what I did not say but said to his sister, who was out there telling his mother. Talk about shoving my foot into my mouth. Then while I stared at my half-eaten food, I heard him outside the room from the wide corridor. My cuticles were worn out by then and my heart almost popped out of my chest.

Scared is an understatement!

“Maya, can you come outside for a minute please?”

Oh God, I pray, end me now. Oh God, I take that back- he's mafia, he could actually do me away!