The next day.
Selena woke up on the unfamiliar bed.
As she sat up, the memory from last night flashed. The reason why her clothes were on the floor.
Last night.
After taking a shower in her room, Selena put on her pajamas. She hesitated for a moment whether to use a long pajama or a nightdress but, in the end, she decided to cover her body.
Seeing her reflection through the whole body mirror in the bathroom, her face crinkled. She looked like a grandma who couldn't take care of herself.
Her rich orange Panama was printed with flowers design, it was loose, almost like a blanket.
She sighed. She doesn't remember having this pajama so her uncle must have sneaked this in her luggage. Aside from her grandma-like pajama, the rest of her nightgown was small and thin. At that moment, she realized that it was Daniella's doing.
She sighed and dried her hair, after applying a small drop of cream on her face, Selena left the bathroom.
In a slow pace, she walked towards Alejandro.
She suddenly regretted acting like that in front of him, Alejandro must be thinking that she did it on purpose.
With that in mind, her feet frost. She gulped, hands traveled to her hair and slightly pulled it.
(I am so stupid!) She walked backward until her back bumped into the wall, and slowly her body lowered to the ground, like a withered flower.
She stayed squatting on the hallway, hands on her hair as she thought her situation.
(Why did I do that?) She asked in her mind. She bumped her forehead on her knees, repeatedly until it numbed.
The quiet hallway was disturbed by heavy footsteps, Selena lifted her sight and found Alejandro on the stairs, he had a glass of water on one hand while the other was on the stair rails.
"Does your ankle hurt?" Alejandro asked, he rushed towards her in a huff and sat on the floor next to her.
With no other excuse than her ankle, Selena's hand traveled to her feet while her lips twitched as she faked the pain.
"I was walking when I ahm, well it's fine now," she stuttered as she let out a faint laugh, eyes avoiding his.
"Do you want me to carry you?" Alejandro asked, he put the glass down onto the floor and gestured to carry her when Selena got up and took a step back.
"It's fine. I am – I can walk, see," saying that Selena lifted her past injured leg in the air and moved it – showing that it's not painful anymore.
Satisfied with what he was seeing, Alejandro nodded and took the glass.
"I went to the kitchen and I think they have prepared soup for us. Do you want to eat?"
"Sure, what kind of soup is that?"
"I think it's mushroom soup. But the mushrooms had a weird color, they are purple," Selena could see the confusion on Alejandro's face.
"Oh! Don't worry, it's not poisonous, my family usually prepares that when they wanted to get someone high-" her eyes swelled before she could finish her sentence.
She swallowed hard, and faked a smile, she could see the suspicion in Alejandro's eyes.
"Have you tried a frozen pizza?" Selena asked, dragging him downstairs with her hands.
"Sure," he replied.
"Good, because that soup is not good for your stomach."
And with that, they both went downstairs.
--
They walked at a slow pace, every step they make was in a rhythm. Selena walked next to Alejandro; her eyes roamed around the place. As soon as they reached the last step, her lips parted a little in surprise.
The living room was filled with robots pacing around. She gulped hard, living on an island has surely made her forget how crazy her family is.
Robots in different shapes were around, some are sucking the dust on the floor, shelves and some are wiping the walls.
She bit on her lips, she suddenly wondered how did Alejandro take everything he saw here.
"These are all Daniella's doing. You see, this island is secluded so they don't hire a maid or anyone that can clean it and also ahm -" Selena finds it hard to explain her situation without blurting the secret of her family.
"Saina had some allergies so this whole mansion must be dust-free," she blew in a relieved sigh. Heart started to calm down.
"Ok," Alejandro replied.
She rose an eyebrow when she brought Anders here, the man had a million questions but, Alejandro just said Ok and acted as if it's normal.
"Shall we?" she pointed at the dinning's direction as she said that.
"Sure," he smiled a bit while his hand lay over her shoulder, pulling her closer to him.
His sudden movement has startled Selena, she gulped hard and walked together with him with her body hard as a statue.
When they reached the dining, the table was fixed, the long rectangular table was covered with a white sheet while two plates are on the table next to the cutlery which was perfectly aligned.
The light was off but, the room was filled with candle lights in vanilla scent.
The dinning and the kitchen were separated by a wall, while the kitchen walls were built with bricks the dining has a glass wall. And through it, they had a view of the lake outside, and since the sun had set the night butterfly and sounds of night insects have made the night peaceful.
Her eyelashes flickered. She bit on her lips and proceeded to get one of the wines on the shelves by the wall.
She picked up one of the red wines, as she took it, an envelope flew in the air.
She caught it and slowly put the wine bottle on the table, head filled with questions.
Her name was written on the back of the envelope, she looked at Alejandro who was busy starting the oven.
As the finger unfolded the paper, the familiar handwriting has made her eyes wet with tears.
It was her mom's handwriting; it was so beautiful like the one seen in the calligraphy.
Before the tears fall from her eyes, she folded the paper without reading it and shoved it inside her bra.
The only reason why she didn't come back in this place was her mom, this place was filled with her memories. The place where she and her mom spend time to catch up.
"Pizza is ready," Selena blinked after hearing Alejandro's voice.
She turned at him, her tears had dried. She faintly smiled, wondering if those painful memories can be replaced now that she's with someone she adores.