Kamila Houston sat on the balcony, lost. It had been quite a day; one she wanted to move so fast. She breathed in, inhaling the cranky smell of burnt brownies. "Alissa!" She groaned. She rose to her feet and made back inside, seeing the last person she wanted to see.
"Mom!"
"Kamila, we need to talk…"
"I don't want to hear anything," Kamila halted her.
"What have I done to you, dear child?"
The young woman ignored her.
"Kamila!" Her mother called. The young woman exited the room and slammed the door behind her.
"Some nerves she has coming here!" Kamila gritted, walking down the stairs. The choking smell came again, this time stronger. It was coming from the kitchen, and Kamila rushed to see what her sister had in store.
"Alissa!" She coughed as she called. "You little brat! Do you want to burn down the house?" She coughed so hard, grabbing the extinguisher.
"So much for wanting to make brownies," the teenage girl laughed. The fire was put out and the brownies were all set on the kitchen stand. There was nothing left, not even a brownie to share.
"Now you've done it," Kamila frowned.
"Don't look at me," Alissa stuck out her tongue.
Kamila took a pack of milk out of the refrigerator, moved out of the kitchen, and to the dining table, where she pulled out a chair and helped herself to a glass of milk. "Who invited Mom?" She started, displeased by her Mom's appearance. Their Mom had left them when she was nine, running off with some man that wasn't her father.
"I don't know," Alissa shrugged.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Kamila sipped her milk.
The clicking of shoes alerted them, making Kamila stand. She didn't want to be there by the time her mother got to the foot of the stairs. She dropped the glass and left the dining room—out the back, where she wouldn't have to face her mother.
A wholesome thirteen years, she thought. Thirteen good years, she reminisced once more…
"Mother… mother, please!"
"Let go of me, you stupid child! I'm leaving you and your father today—"
"Mother…"
Kamila remembered how she had cried that night, being shoved off by her mother. She ran into her father's arms. The poor man's heart was heavy, she could tell. Although young, assumed not to know anything, she could tell the love in her mother's eyes had disappeared.
"Mom…!!!"
"What's a beautiful lady like you doing out here?" Kamila got called out by a soft voice.
She turned around to see who it was. It was a fine, young man.
"I didn't mean to startle you," the handsome gentleman chuckled.
"Do I know you?"
"Sorry," he chuckled again. "My name's Huang—"
***PRESENT DAY ¶¶¶
"Who did you say he's back?" the commissioner asked, not knowing what the Vice President was saying.
"Jon," Kamila answered.
The commissioner suspended all he was doing, getting up from the shield chair. "You mean Jon is back?"
Kamila placed one hand on her waist and looked to where Kendra was. "I'll call you back," she said. A slight rethink made her cut the call. She moved to Kendra's side and placed her hand on her. Her body was warm. "Think she'll be awake soon?" she asked, looking at Lucille. "It's taking long, don't you think?" She expressed her anxiety, looking down at her daughter again. "You need to fight this, Kendra. Fight this!" She said with a drop of tears, lowering her chin on Kendra's knuckles.
Lucille gulped as she stared at her. If only she could let out what lingered in her mind.
"Your daughter will be fine, Vice President," Lucille assured her all over. She moved to her side and placed her hand on her shoulder. Such a drama queen, she thought with a huff, not like she was already dead.
Kamila wiped her tears and looked at Lucille. She had to leave for work. "Think you'll be okay?"
Her worry's eating me up, Lucille shrugged. "Yes," she responded, faking a smile.
Kamila left the private ward, with two of her bodyguards following behind. Lucille scoffed the moment she was out the door and brought out her phone, dialing a certain number.
"Oh, pick up!" The door of the ward pushed open, alerting Lucille.
"Oh, dear God, not the file," Kamila rushed in. She asked Lucille if she had seen any file lying around but she denied seeing it.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay being here…?"
Lucille faked a smile and reassured her.
The Vice President was out in a flash, and Lucille restricted herself from making the call.
'''
Huang Zhen Lu Zhang moved to the states at 29. Having lived in China, wanting to be far away, he started anew and strived to build an empire with the wealth he had acquired from his father, and the one he had gained from the little years he left home, taking up the name 'Huang Jon.'
Huang had happened to go sightseeing, the day he spotted 'her'. She had captured his heart that day; the way she smiled remained imprinted in his heart. Their eyes had met, sending a shocking wave through his spine. She was glorious, her ebony skin one you'd want to write about. The way her eyes rolled, the moment she had thrown him a fiery look, and how she had relaxed, giving him a warm smile, all remained imprinted in his heart. He vowed to have the young woman to himself, though not knowing anything about her. Huang asked her for her name.
"Kamila," she replied.
Huang thought to himself with a broad smile. "What a beautiful name," he didn't know when he said out loud.
"Thank you," replied the young lady. She forgot all about home, getting interested in this one man. There was something about him that she couldn't figure out. What was it? She let the thought of him being a stranger slide past her, as she got caught in his web.