II
"How was the interview?"
I smiled at Jason as I separated the beef and chicken pieces on the tiny grill on the table. "Good. Mr. Karem Masson didn't ask me any strange questions. He was very kind and focused on the point." I said.
"You're too extraordinary, that's why. I'm sure he'll accept you."
I shrugged. "Let's just pray." I smiled widely at him.
The handsome Italian man in front of me smiled back at me broadly, like happiness wasn't just mine but his, too.
He was Jason Bernardi, my boyfriend of three years. We met when I was doing my postgraduate studies in Standford, and he became my senior. We met more often since we were involved in the same project with the same professor. He added attention and care to me in those moments, which made me like him. And when he confessed his feelings and asked me to be his girlfriend, I immediately accepted, without a second thought, because he was my type. Very much my type. Probably also the type for many women.
He was kind and considerate, never bossed me around, never used his masculine side to bully my feminine side, never scolded me when I did something wrong to him, maybe just a little annoyed, but I also respected him, and I would quickly correct my mistakes. He was never rude and not possessive. He was funny and a good listener to me. Of all the men who have approached me, he's the best.
And one thing that made me admire him was that he was a believer in no sex before marriage, and he never touched me deeply. The only touching we did was intimate kissing and holding hands. I was okay with that. Because I never thought about sex or any kind of physical intimacy, but I liked discussing the future more than just the physical.
He was a gentleman to me, but unfortunately, he was hindered by my family. We have a solid opposition to Italians, even though they're lovely. That's because of something that happened to me five years ago.
The time when the Italian mafia guy took my virginity and trapped me in a horrible maze. Yeah, even though I've been taught a valuable life lesson, I still chose another Italian guy to be my partner. I mean.. come on.. among the many Italians, there's no way they're all mafia or bad guys, right? It would be ridiculous for me to think that way.
And my family is ridiculous, but I understand them. It's just because they've always been protective of me, they afraid that there's always the possibility that some bad guy will finish me off. That's probably because five years ago, and I was fine with all that protectiveness. At least they never crossed the line with me.
"But I still want you to come into my company," he said with a slight frown.
I tilted my head, pondered momentarily, and shook my head slowly. "All my brothers would be in hysterics if I went to New York." I chuckled softly.
"How can your family be so protective?"
It was a question that I could never find an answer to. It wasn't because there wasn't one. It was because I was trying to cover up the truth that might come out. I didn't want to show anything about my family's identity. It had to be hidden tightly until I was ready to discuss it.
"Because I'm the only daughter." I swallowed, eating one piece of my cooked chicken.
He frowned, "You've said it several times. But I think it's overrated."
Oh, oh. What if I told him that I was the son of Colombia's number one mobster whose life was almost snuffed out in Mexico five years ago because of an Italian guy? And they forbade me from going to New York because it's was a hotbed of Cosa Nostra? I'm sure he'll run.
I laughed dryly at his words. "New York was too hard for me. I'm the only daughter in my family, and none of our family is in that city. So, no one watches over me there. They're all afraid of something happening to me."
"But there's me to look after you." Jason smiled softly.
"They don't even know I have a boyfriend," I chuckled softly as his smile faded. "They probably wouldn't let me out of the house if they knew I had a boyfriend." It was another lie I told, but it didn't take away from the fact that my family might take me back to Madelin if they knew my boyfriend was Italian. Fortunately, my grouchy brother Damien had a good side for his sister, and he unwillingly helped me cover Jason from them, even though he called Jason a 'bald man' several times.
"Though you'll be fine there. So we don't have to have a long-distance relationship anymore." Jason said listlessly.
"Even though I want to, but I can't. I'm sorry." Yeah, I really want to. To see the wider world, who wouldn't want to? But then again... my family would instead take me back to Madelin if I dared to ask to go to New York.
Jason owns his IT services company, which he built after graduating from undergraduate school and grew even more when he completed his postgraduate education. It's all because he has business blood running through his veins, not just because of his tech savvy. He was born into an Italian family with rampant business. His father owned a very wealthy oil company in Italy, whose ownership has now passed to his eldest brother, Zane Bernardi.
I don't know any of his family because he hasn't introduced them to me, plus I can't look them up on the internet. His family comes from the old money deeply rooted in the Italian economy. They are not an ordinary family. That's why they are never highlighted in any media. Jason says that everyone in his family likes privacy. Stringent privacy, so their faces will never be in any media.
I asked to see a picture of his family, but he only gave me a picture of him and his parents. There was no picture of his oldest brother, Zane Bernardi, and his sister, Illiza Bernardi, even though I was so curious about them. Jason said that he wanted it to be a surprise for me.
So far, the rumors heard among the upper-class families were only about how handsome Zane Bernardi was, surpassing Jason, and about how beautiful Princess Bernardi, the only daughter in their family, was that many upper-class families wanted to make an arranged marriage with one of them. I'm so curious how beautiful they are that they can be hailed so loudly?
But I'll hold back. Jason said it would be a surprise, and hopefully, the surprise would really surprise me and not disappoint me if it turned out that who they hailed was not as beautiful as they said.
"But you won't miss this one." He said after chewing the cooked beef.
I looked at him with interest.
"There's a small party, my parents' wedding anniversary, in Los Angeles this weekend. I've already said that I'll introduce you to them. So.. yeah, it'll happen if you want to come."
I stammered at the invitation. "What...? Do your parents know that..."
"I've told them about you, and they're excited to welcome you to their event."
My heart made a small leap. I blinked rapidly as my nervousness attacked me brutally. "I..." I sighed, trying to calm myself down. "Of course I want to."
His smile brightened. "Excellent."
I returned it with a big smile of my own. Who wouldn't be happy when their lover introduces them in front of their family?
It's a man's act to prove that he's serious about his girlfriend. That meant Jason was serious about me, and I didn't have to doubt his love for me.
But tension crept into my mind at night.
What if he asked me to introduce him to my family?
That would be a big mess.
Butterflies played in my stomach as Danzel approached, kissing my lips deeply and briefly before whispering, "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met."
His smile was so beautiful, so gorgeous. Beautiful. Handsome.
I was already touching his face, caressing it, but everything turned into an ugly darkness.
In an instant, it was like I had jumped through time and space. I found myself sitting on the floor of my flat.
"Don't mess with Garcia," Carlos Garcia's voice whispered with creepy calmness in my ear. I winced as he tugged on my hair, making my head snap up to look at him. "All of you Colombians .... are snakes that should have been destroyed long ago," he continued.
I sobbed, and my head hurt when he let go of my head so roughly, making my forehead hit the wooden floor.
"Daniella-"
The sound of a gun going off rang out. I was still lying face down with blood flowing smoothly down my thighs and stomach. Pain nipped at all my nerves.
I looked up as the sound of falling rang out in front of me. I dragged myself up, my breath coming out raggedly as I tried to get closer to to Magnan who was grimacing. Her teeth chattered, her body trembled violently, and her eyes widened at me. The pain and agony was there.
I cried silently, my hands trying to reach out to her, touching her skin. Giving her whatever comfort I could while waiting for help to come. "Magnan," I whispered.
They had already left after shooting Magnan, the door to our small flat still open, and I tried to summon my strength. Whatever I could to sit up, to stand up, to call for help... any help.
"Danny," she said, breathing hard, tears in her eyes. Her hands reached for me. I grabbed her immediately, flinching when I felt her skin so cold as ice. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She continued.
I shook my head, "Which part is injured? Which part did they shoot you in?" I asked, I tried to get up, but I couldn't. My body was heavy, and I couldn't move. I was completely paralyzed.
"My stomach." She replied.
"Hold on," I growled strongly as I tried to raise my upper body. It took a lot of effort, and it hurt. "Hang on, Magnan. Please. You must be strong." I sobbed, pressing the blood on her stomach with one hand while my other hand grasped her arm.
Her eyes were red while I bit my tongue hard, enduring the excruciating pain in my stomach and thighs.
I couldn't hold on. But she must. She must survive.
She must live.
“Magnan,” I whispered.
“You're the best friend I've ever had, Danny. You're the only person who doesn't undervalue me.” She chuckled through her pain. “Joanna is the same way. Both of you.” Her voice was soft, halting. Her chest rose and fell deeply. “I can't give you anything back.”
“And I want you to repay me with staying. Endure the pain, and you will heal, and we will leave this city. Me, you and Joanna.” I shook my head at her pain and mine. But I couldn't hold myself back any longer, I lay down again, lying on my side, and we faced each other.
“I'm cold,” she sobbed.
“I can't hug you, Magnan. I'm sorry.” I couldn't even bring myself to move anymore. My sobs were getting stronger. I pressed her stomach. “You'll be fine. Help is coming.”
She sobbed. Her lips were turning blue.
“Where else did he shoot you?” I asked again. I looked hard at her body to see if there were any blood stains or anything else. There was. I saw a speck of blood on her black t-shirt on her chest, midway down her breasts. I opened my mouth. My breath caught. “Oh God, Magnan.” I released our grip, pressing against her chest.
She shook her head. “It's okay. It's okay. It's gonna be okay.” She smiled. "You're gonna be okay, Daniella."
“No...” I shook my head. Crying harder. “Magnan. Please.”
The sound of a car and many steps approached. Hell, Abraham takes so much time. We were almost out of time.
“Danny...” Abraham's voice was loud, calling out.
I felt him approach and grab me. I shook my head, looking at Magnan's pale face. “Help her first. Please. Help her.” I cried loudly, but Magnan's eyes were already empty. A single tear escaped her, and her mouth opened. Abraham pulled me gently into his arms. “Damien... help her. Please!!"
Damien was about to carry Magnan's body, but he stopped. His hands were around Magnan's neck, his eyes widened to stare at Magnan, and then they drifted to me painedly.
I shook my head, rebelling against Abraham's hold on my body. I shouted. “Take her with you. Take her!”
“Princesa.” Damien shook his head, looking at me in defeat.
I looked at Magnan and screamed. Ignoring the pain in my legs and stomach.
I screamed. Keep screaming. I struggled in my first brother's arms as he carried me out of our cheap apartment, and my other brother carried Magnan's lifeless body out.
I keep screaming until my throat was dry.
And I realized my life would never be the same again.
Light greeted my closed eyes. I opened my eyes, my breath coming in gasps. I glared up at the ceiling of my room and then plopped down on my bed.
“Danny...” Joanna sat on the edge of the bed.
I inhaled greedily. So much to fill my lungs.
“You're screaming again. The nightmares are bothering you again.” It wasn't a question. It was a statement from her. “This is already the third time this month. “ She pondered, tilting her head.
“Shouldn't you be asking if I'm okay?”
“You're not okay, Perra.” She sighed. “I already know.” She picked up the glass on my tray and handed it to me. “Drink it.”
I took it and drank it down. She stood up and turned off the light, leaving a slight buttery glow from the nightlight I had stuck on the wall because I couldn't sleep with the lights on. There was only that small light so it wouldn't be too dark since I didn't turn on the balcony lights.
“Was my scream so loud this time?” I asked.
“Not really. I heard you because I was still watching tv earlier, and you didn't close your door tightly.”
I sighed and closed my eyes. Lie down again.
“Can you sleep again? Are you sure?” she asked as she started to leave my room.
“What time is it?”
“Two o'clock at night.” she replied.
“I can't sleep,” I muttered irritably.
“Pizza? Or ramen? Or just go out for a walk?”
I looked at Joanna, who was looking at me casually, but there was a faint sadness behind it. She always worried about me, cared for me, and was always by my side when I was on my own dark side. I also did the same. It was a worthy reciprocity. I would always be by her side too. From her annoying nature, which often annoyed me, many other things always made me comfortable being friends with her. She always understood my nightmares. She never asked what they were about, even though I always mentioned our other best friend's name throughout my bad sleep. She never forced me to talk about the incident. She always waited until I was ready to tell her.
I picked myself up, got off the bed, and stood up. “Pizza?”
“Pizza.” Joanna nodded.