CHAPTER 2: Drop dead, gorgeous.
1778 Words
BIANCA
I could always tell when something is wrong. My family calls it intuition because it is like my special 6th sense but it feels like a blessing and a curse.
Today in particular, I feel it to core that something is very wrong.
The sky is as blue as it can be and the breeze is soft and accommodating to my hair. No clear signs are rising but the confirmation comes after school as I pack up after my class.
Abuelo Rio: Family meeting, a car will be sent.
Lucille (Ocean Villa): Pack for 3days.
Usually, my grandfather texting would alarm me but my 6th sense had already prepared me. Even has the driver spends the hours’ ride to our family villa in dead silence do I cower.
I am not active so if they are calling me then it means it is very important because usually everything is sent via newsletter that needs to be decoded.
The alarm bells go off more when I enter to find the usually lit up and open Oceanside villa, heavily guarded and closed as the staff creeps in the shadows like the halls are filled with land mines.
“Bumble bee!” Maria-Gloria jumps on me the moment I turn into the hall leading to the kitchen.
“Ayi Mija.” I shower her face with kisses because it has been months since we had been in the same room.
I put her down and notice that Maria-Gloria has truly grown into her curvy ‘slim thick’ figure. Due to our father’s genes we are both on the slimmer side of our family but her big brown eyes are complimented by ombre curly hair that looks almost blonde.
The light hair compliments her all white assemble which is odd because she is usually head to toe drenched in colour.
Nonetheless I kiss her little button nose because my baby sister is ending her year abroad and finally starting University. This means we have a lot to prepare for before that happens.
“Did you hear the news?” She takes my small bag and gives it to Lucille, our head of housekeeping who passes it to a girl I don’t know.
“Is it good news?” I let her help me out of my handbag. “I thought this was a family meeting.”
“It is good because the Russians are here!!” Maria-Gloria squeals like she used to when we were teenagers but I stop smiling.
In our world, they can only be one Russians she is talking about—the Dominakas.
I do not even feel my body trembling till my sister’s cold hands wrap over mine as she gives me another excited hug like she just shared the greatest news.
But it is not even close.
I am nearly 22 now. I have a boyfriend now, a blended family and I just started my dream job, my life is nothing like it used to be.
So why do I feel 16 again?
Why is my body heating up like I am under a harsh light?
Why is my chest becoming heavy?
Why are my hands turning clammy at the thought of seeing him again?
“el cariño, what’s wrong?” Maria Gloria’s eyes change when I storm out for air. “Bumble-bee?” She follows me down the hall until we are outside.
“The Russians?” I ask in English and I swear I feel my throat tighten like I just ate something I am allergic to.
Theoretically, they are our in-laws but I gave them America. I gave them 8years of space and found a charming little life on my own.
“Maria?” A deep voice echoes to the outside, “is everything okay?” I don’t need to turn around to figure out who is behind me.
Felix f*****g Dominaka.
Our eyes meet through the glass sliding wall and I hate the way I shrivel up when I see his baby blues.
It is then that my eyes move lower because Odessa may have the crystal balls that are special in their own right but he is the twin that has the perfect puckers called lips.
“el diablo.” I hiss because I see him walk into the side patio in slow motion.
In a black denim on denim outfit, Felix still has piercing blue eyes with a light green tint. An intense hooded gaze, an obvious Grecian slim nose under natural frown dark eyebrows with perfect and symmetrical cherry lips that look ready to kiss.
He is not smiling but the single dimple on his left cheek is clear due to his strong and sharp jawline. His strides are confident and draw attention to the curly strands of his ink black hair that is cut into a fade to show his helix sliver hoop.
Still tall and lean muscular, his olive complexion shines like he is a story book vampire as our eyes lock. Just like that, years of separation flashes before my eyes and I am 11years old again.
It’s our first meeting, the one that wrecked me and turned me inside out. Only this time, we are not kids, we are 22 soon and grown—well I am.
“The Dominakas are going on lockdown!” Maria-Gloria announcement pulls me out of my thoughts. “Felix will be joining us until further notice.”
“Is that so?” I tuck at my collar to improve oxygen intake.
Its suddenly getting hot in here and though we are outside, I am feeling locked in.
“Yes but guess what?” My innocent and impressionable sister beams.
“What?” I try to mimic her enthusiasm but fail because my bad feeling is suddenly making a lot of sense.
“Come on.” Maria-Gloria tugs at Felix’s arm before wrapping them together. “You tell her.”
“Tell me?” I can’t keep my eyes off their contact despite it being simple. “Tell me what?”
“I am here looking for a Hidalgo bride,” the vibrating base of Felix’s deep voice is sans Russian accent despite his Eurasian potent looks.
Whoa.
When did Felix Dominaka become a man?
“That is not all.” Maria-Gloria leaves him to hold my shoulders. “Guess who are the front runners?”
Lord, I beg of you please don’t do this to me.
“Wait.” I tug at the collar of my blouse again because I am starting to sweat. “Runners as in plural?”
“Yes!” Maria-Gloria actually burst with excitement. “I took a sneak at Abuelo Rio’s list and its Ana, Isabella.” Okay, our cousins. That is not that bad. “Me” oh no. “And—”
Universe, lord even freaking mother nature, I don’t care just please do not do this to me. Do not return the devil back into—
“You.” Felix is the one to finish.
I don’t know what happens but my eyes roll to the back of my head before dropping close. I literally see black before my body goes backwards and my lower gives out.
Nothing in my senses could have prepared me for this s**t show so I guess this is the curse part of the gift. Is this the part where we say,
“Welcome to the Dominican Republic, the coin collector?”
FELIX
I have heard of drop dead gorgeous but I never thought once it meant literally dropping but then again Bianca de Faría Hidalgo was never one to do things by the book.
Not her fist kiss, losing her virginity or even reuniting with an old family friend.
“I am here looking for a Hidalgo bride.” Bianca might as well know.
“That is not all,” if only it was that easy. “Guess who are the front runners?”
The colour starts leaving Bianca’s tan skin while Maria’s voice bubbles with excitement and celebration. Seeing them side by side exposes how different they are for sisters.
Even in clothes, Maria is taller but Bianca looks smaller and less dim than I expected because I saw colorful clothes on her first.
“Wait.” Bianca is actually choking out “runners as in plural?”
“Yes!” I do not know how Maria does not see it. “I took a sneak at Abuelo Rio’s list and its Ana, Isabella, me.” I spot a trail of sweat on Bianca’s forehead. “And—”
“You.” I add when Maria looks back at me like she wants me to join in.
But it is like I have a gun in my hand because my feet move on their own and my hands catch her just in time before Bianca falls back like a bullet just went through her chest.
“Bee?” Maria rightfully starts to panic. “Lucille?” She runs out probably to get help while I carry her sister to one of the outside sofas.
It has been 8years and I thought seeing little Maria all grown up was going to be the biggest shock I received once I landed in the D.R but Odessa nearly killed Kai and Bianca is somehow prettier than I remember.
I fought the smile that wanted to spilt my face as I watched from the balcony the moment she arrived into the villa.
Polite and poised as ever, Bianca greeted the several staff and bodyguards on her way in. Even calling some by name before her sister infiltrated with enthusiasm of a child.
I inhaled sharply as I came into view with her upturned eyes that still have a deep forest green tint and brown specs. They uphold her sharp diamond face proudly due to the naturally straight outline of her brows.
The defined curls of Bianca’s long, layered and highlighted chestnut hair is held back in a messy ponytail that expose the dainty pearl drops earrings dangling from her naked ears.
Without the glass door being barrier I fought a scowl because I finally saw the clothes that made her older than she was. A high neck navy button blouse with long sleeves and dark pants that did nothing for her natural shape.
She was 21 going on 40, she doesn’t even have lipstick on so her little mole is visible through her glossy full lips.
“I forgot how dramatic you are.” I can’t help but smile down at her because Bianca got the gorgeous part on lock too well.
- Writer
