"Isabella" I groaned then buried my head into the pillow, lifting my comforter to keep the beaming sun out as papá opens the curtains "Issa wake up or we'll miss our flight" this just makes me groan louder and sink deeper into my bed "Isabella Mia Antonia Rodriguez! get off this bed and take a shower now!" great now he's mad, and I hate that Mia name.
Papá hardly gets mad he's always so calm and collected mainly because he has to deal with rich snobs at the restaurant.
"Papá?" I said in the sweetest voice I could muster, resting my head on his chest. This makes him smile down at me —when I say 'smile down at me' I really mean smile down at me. My father's a 6'4 and I am barely 5'3.
"Go take a shower Issa, we're leaving today remember, I have to drive for 20 minutes to get to the airport and I don't want us to miss our flight." Flight? oh, yeah, how could I forget am finally leaving Mexico!
Don't get me wrong I love Mexico and I love this love. Cabo San Lucas is the most beautiful place I have ever seen —granted I haven't seen the world yet but so far it's my favorite— this resort city on the southern tip of Mexico, Baja California Peninsula, mostly known for it's nightlife, water-based activities and beaches had been my home and paradise for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I'd just go to the beach at night to stare at the waves, it's my own special place.
After a long shower I stood at the doorway of my room and started to reminisce.
I'll miss you room.
Having spent my life, so far, mostly in this room it hurts that I'd be leaving. Small as it was, this room and house had been my shelter since the day I was born and not once have I ever felt uncomfortable. Papá does his best to keep me happy and comfortable and as a single parent he's doing one hell of a good job. He's always been there me, even though he's fit, has charm, THE height not once did I ever see him show interest in any woman and I doubt it he ever will.
You know at times I guilty and can't help but blame my existence for his single state. If he wasn't busy taking care of me he'd probably have a loving family and maybe that's one of the reasons why I applied for the scholarship at ABU.
My thoughts are disturbed when I feel a hand on my shoulder "Issa stop staring at your room and get dressed, abuela made breakfast. I know you'll miss it here but it's for the best. You're all grown up and leaving for University now huh?" he sniffles and I can feel my eyes starting to get glossy "I still can't believe mi princesa will be living in another country, far from me. I'll leave the emotional goodbyes to Mamá, I still have a month with you. Get dressed and come down for breakfast si?" I give him a small nod and he leaves for the kitchen.
You know this is the first time am actually thinking about it since I received my letter. I'll be leaving in some apartment with a complete stranger, no abuela, no Papá, just a Mexican girl in business school thriving for success.
Heaving a sigh I wiped my now half soaked body then pulled on a normal size sweatpants pairing it with a T-shirt 2 sizes larger than my average size with 'I'm a mouse' written on it. Jeans, tight tank tops, crop tops, tight skirts and short dresses were just not for me. Especially tight tank tops, I've got a busty thing going on for me and the last thing I need are tight tops.
Knowing abuela and Papá were in the kitchen I grabbed my suitcases and matched towards them.
"Buenos dias abuela, Buenos dias Papá." after giving each a kiss on the cheek I took a seat on one of the stools by the counter.
"Morning mija, have some chilaquiles and empanadas, I packed some more for you to eat on the plane. She hands me a plate and I give her a huge hug. I'll miss my abuela so much. She chuckles when I pull away to smile at her. She knows how much I love food. "I'll miss you so much mija, eat as much as you want because you won't eat anything that tastes this good in Atlanta."
Abuela states , matter-of-factly, Papá and abuela are really good chefs that's why Los Cabo —the most famous, elegant, expensive, hotel in Cabo San Lucas— has been trying to buy our restaurant. They figured not many people in town could afford their 'Oh so perfect elegant paradise' so they want to buy our small restaurant and give it their name —since even some of their guests have been dining at our restaurant rather than the hotel's own— or just hire Papá and abuela to work for them and abandon this restaurant. Got to admit, either is a good business strategy but abuela always gives them a big No. You see Bella's, was given to abuela by her mamá and her mamá by her abuelitta, it's a family business and out main source of income, Los Cabo should just take a hint and buzz off.
"I know abuela, don't remind me." I whine whilst she laughs again.
"So.....who was that young man you were talking to, you know, the white boy." And it's finally here. Topic of the year.
"That would be Justin, Emilio's roommate." a total perv. I wanted to add.
"Hmm mm, he seems like a nice young man."
"Hm mm." I ignored her even though she was now burning a hole through my head.
"So.....is he, you know, boyfriend material?." Now there is the question I've been waiting for. Not being able to hold it in anymore I threw my head back and laughed, Papá —knowing the routine and that abuela's plan to set me up did not work— joins me, but a sharp glare from abuela causes him to quickly grab his plate and leaves the room.
"That perv? Pffft, abuela, I'm not sure what 'boyfriend material' means to you but if what you are asking is if I am interested in him then my answer is no! No, no and no! He's a total pervert and womanizer and the only thing he says is 'you're beautiful, you're stunning', after his baseless argument with Camilla they just disappeared and I'm pretty sure they hooked up. And besides just listening to him made me want to migrate to Yakutsk permanently." she stares at and after a few seconds shakes her head then threw her hands up in exasperated.
"Okay. Fine, but I was just asking, what I really want to know is what you think about Emilia's grandson. He was with you the whole night so you have nothing to complain about, now tell me if he is boyfriend material." not even a been passed before I gave her my answer.
"He's not my type."
"How would you know if he's your type or not if you don't give him a chance! Infact you've never dated before." uh-oh now she's mad.
"Boys are boring abuela." I childishly whine "they're like kids; whenever they see a new toy the old one when is forgotten overtime, and that's exactly how most of them treat girls. I have more important things to think about and soon I'll have responsibilities."
"So you'll never get married?."
"Maybe in 20 years or so." I said with a shrug.
"I give up mija, he was my best choice. I just hope you find what you are looking for in University."
"I will abuela," her bright hazel eyes lit up with hope at my statement and I feel bad for crushing it with my next words "A Degree." her smile dropped but instead of responding she shook her head and continued eating. A few minutes of silence passes between us before I decided to tell her what I've been meaning to for a while now.
"Abuela?" she makes a 'hm' sound to assure me that she was listening, "Abuela please take care of Papá for me, I want him to be happy. I'm going to business school partly because I want to fulfil the dreams he has for me. He's such a loving man and I know he would've found a woman to take care of him if he wasn't stuck raising me, and no abuela I know what you're going to say, you'll say that he loves me and wouldn't change a thing, but that does not change anything. And the fact is, I'm holding him down, holding him from being truly happy —to fall in love again. I can't help but feel it's all my fault he's not happily married. It's all because of me, because she had me that Papá life was ruine-" she covers my mouth with her hand, stopping me from continuing.
"Mija, you ARE the best thing that has ever happened to him, to us, and yes, we would never want anything to change. And as for his love life, your Papá had always been this way, even as a teenager he was never interested in relationships, now that I think about it, you just take after him. Do you know why your father gave you her name?" I shook my head 'no' and she continues "it's because even with what she did to the both of you he still loves her and hopes she might return one day. I despise her mija, I really do, but I am grateful to her because she gave you to us, you, my beautiful Isabella is his true happiness and no woman, not even Mia can change that. Remember mija, and never forget it." Sobbing as a child I threw my hands around her, as she wiled my tear stained cheeks and kisses my forehead. "Me and your Papá love you mija, and even though you're leaving we can always talk on that thing, what's it called?"she taps her chin, pretending to think while I laugh at her attempt to lighten the mood. "oh yeah, Skype. We'll talk on Skype every night okay? Now finish your food." She kisses my forehead again then wiped the fresh tears that had fallen before retaking her seat. See why I'll miss her so much?
*****
"Yes abuela, I'll miss you too." this feels like the fiftieth hug in the last 20 minutes.
"I'll miss you more mija-" she pauses, looks me over, then frowns "Isabella why did you not wear one of those jeans I bought you last year. Or maybe a shirt that's actually your size!" Two seconds after seeing my outfit and my emotional abuela turns into 'fashionable' abuela. I knew this was coming. Actually I was surprised when she did not talk about it the moment I entered the kitchen, guess she was distracted because of our 'moment'. Well you see, abuela hates the way I dress, she always says 'Isabella you have been naturally blessed with a beautiful body that most people have to work hard to get, why do you keep hiding it under cloths that are 3 times larger than your actual size' Let me answer that; Big clothes are comfortable and I don't appreciate anything that clings to body. I have no one to impress and I certainly do not have time for dating. "Isabella I have told you so many times you have been blessed with a beautiful-" to stop her from continuing I covered her mouth with my hand. I've been hearing this speech for 4 years now and the last thing I need is to hear it before I leave.
"Abuela I know, but this" I gesture with my hands to my body "is me. I don't like wearing tight clothes or even cloths my size because they're annoying." she scowls and I can't help but chuckle. I'll miss her so much. "But since you are persistent about buying them....I packed some" she perks up at this now information and her expression changes to a happy one "and you're right, this is University not High School, it's time for a change and when I get there maybe I'll change my 'dress code'." she hugs me again —at this rate I'll never leave. I didn't really mean what I said, there is no way I am trading my comfy goodness for so called 'sexiness' but if it gives her peace of mind I will say whatever I need to.
"Mamá, that's enough Issa and I have to go." says Papá.
"Goodbye mija, take care of yourself and call me if you want to talk, but most importantly call me when you find 'him'." Yes this is exactly what it looks like, she has this belief that I'll find 'the one' in Uni. I don't care for boys and I don't even like them —at least the ones I know here— well except from Lucas and it's been 3 years so there's a big MAYBE on him.
"Okay abuela. Bye now, te amo."
And with one last hug —finally, I moved to the car. Took one last look at the house and restaurant I had known all my life and stepped in.
I'm really leaving Mexico.