LINA
Within thirty minutes, I'm getting dressed.
I showered in record time,feeling pressured as I had a time limit and I wanted to talk to Bruno before we left.
In just my my bra and panties, I lay a couple of clothing on the bed.Yeah,they'll do,I think before reaching for them.
I put on one of my many jeans followed by a white sweater,a long pink coat and some black boots.No makeup,because,like a woman in mourning,I had no reason to wear it.I wore my hair long and lonlose before putting a black hat on it. And like that,I was ready to face Bruno and the cold weather outside.
Nodding to myself in the mirror,I make my way downstairs, grabbing my suitcase on the way.
As I'm walking down,I start to smell coffee mixed with other enticing food scents.My stomach growls involuntarily and I lick my lips hungrily.
When I look up from the stairs,I find Bruno watching me with an amused expression.I feel my cheeks colouring and bit my lips in embarrasment.
"Someone's hungry,"he states while sitting down.
I opt to ignore him and just proceed to place my suitcase near the scouch.My gaze then turns hungrily at the tray of food on the table.It has a bacon,eggs,toast,some fruits and of course coffee.It all looks so good.
If I didn't know any better I'd say Bruno was a mind reader.How else would he know that I was in a mood for such a delicious but filling breakfast?
Wordlessly,I take a seat opposite him and find myself locking eyes with him.
"Well,what are you waiting for?Dig in,"he says.
"Why aren't you eating?"I ask out of curiosity.
He gives a smile that makes my my silly heart do a little skip."I appreciate the concern precious but I'm good,"he tells me.
I raise an eyebrow,"Concern?You're definitely out of your mind."
"If you say so,"he says with a shrug."Come on now ,start eating your food. Our ride is waiting outside for us."
Not needing to be told twice,I grab my fork.But I find myself hesitating to touch the food as I realise that Bruno will be watching me as I eat.It feels a little intimate.
I look up to find Bruno find Bruno watching my fork which is in mid-air with a raised eyebrow.Before he can ask me about it,I start attacking the scrambled eggs and he seems to swallow any questions that he wanted to ask,thank God. Terrible liar that I am, I might have blurted out the truth,I think in horror.
Anyway, when I take my first bite of the eggs,I forget about anything else.They are so good.I close my eyes and moan,relishing them.
A chuckle brings me back from heaven.
My eyes snap open and I find Bruno laughing softly at me. As I swallow ,I feel my cheeks start to redden.
Food just made me lose control.
"Its that good,huh?"Bruno asks with an expression that I was sure was now a thing of the past.
A relaxed one.
"Shut up," I tell him as soon as I finish swallowing.When the man just keeps on laughing, I tuck a wisp of her behind my ear a bit shyly.
"You're being so cute,you know,"he tells me.
I roll my eyes in annoyance and just start attacking the food,pretending that it's Bruno's face.He is enjoying my mortification. Damn him.
I do not like to be laughed at.
Felling self conscious,I leave the contents of the tray in favour of my hot cup of coffee.Luckily,its not cold yet.
I pause after taking a few slips, suddenly realising something-this coffee is exactly how I like my coffee,white and no sugars.
What the hell?
My eyes instinctively look towards Bruno.
"What is it?"he asks me,leaning on the couch.
"You remembered how I like my coffee,"I say, after a bit of hesitation.
"Of course, I remember that. Along with everything else about you,"he adds softly."Is that so surprising?"
I break eye contact and instead choose to fix my gaze on the coffee I'm holding."Well,it's been years.Also, you did loose your memory,so I figured that you wouldn't remember everything,"I explain clutching my cup tightly without realising.
Bruno leans foward in his seat,his expression becoming deadly serious again.I immediately start regretting bringing up the past.I don't want to go there.
"Trust me,when I say I remember everything now,"he states firmly.I gasp in surprises at what he says next.
"What about you,Lina?Before I went to your house that night,had you erased me from your mind?"
I look back at him,not being able to help myself.
"I'm not having this conversation,"I tell,Bruno.This is a dangerous topic and it will only complicate things further.
While still looking at me,Bruno laughs without humour."Why not?Its a simple question, "he says.
I set my coffee on the table without spilling the contents on myself,somehow.My hands are shaking like crazy.
"Like I said before Bruno.I'm not discussing this."
"Why!Because you don't want to admit the fact that you never got over us,"he suggests.
And he is right. But saying it will only make things worse for me.
"Because,"I say throught gritted teeth," there is no use talking about the past.Especially when there are other important things we can discuss,"I say,trying to change the subject.
Bruno huffs before saying, " Well Adelina,to me,nothing is more important than this but you know what?I'll go along with this and allow you to change the topic.What important things do you think we should rather be talking about?" He asks, amgrily putting his hands on his pocket.
"M-my p-parents,"I manage to say,for his face to become dark once more.
"Your parents? Okay,what about them?"he asks,sighing softly.
"They must be getting worried about me.You have to get my phone from my cousin's villa and let me talk to them,"I say.
"No," he says without thinking.
"Damn it ,Bruno,"I cut him off."Why.."
"Because they helped keep you away from me.And please don't deny it,I know how much your father loathed me. So now l,I want them to know exactly what it feels like to lose you too."He says angrily.
I look at him in both anger and surprise due to his words."You can't be seriously wanting to do that to my parents ,Bruno,"I say in disbelief.
"Especially since they had absolutely nothing to do with happened,"I add.
"You're right when they said that they hated you but they would never have interfered in my happiness. Unfortunately the same can't be said about your parents who actively kept me from seeing you in je hospital.But I'm willing to bet that you're not planning on making them suffer,are you Bruno?"I ask folding my arms.
His jaw tics but he doesn't reply.
"That's what I thought.So don't stand there and talk about causing pain to my parents when they did not do anything to you,"I tell him sternly.
I can't believe that the psycho wants to hurt my parents.My happy family.For something his family did.
The nerve.
"Fine,"he finally speaks."I won't keep you away from contacting your parents.In fact,I'll be an angel and even let you meet them"he says.
My spirits rise almost immediately.
"Seriously?"I ask.
Maybe the psycho can be reasoned with.
"On two conditions,"he adds,sending those spirits plummeting down.
Ugh.
Spoke to soon.
BRUNO
Lina licks her lips nervously.That's when I know I have her exactly where I want her.
Her arms still crossed,she warily asks ,"What conditions, Bruno?"
She is right not trust me.I'm not going to allow her to see her disapproving parents just like that.
The thing is, if I'm not going to keep her parents away from her,I have to come up with a plan to make sure that they don't try to interfere with my relationship with Lina.Now,I could threaten to harm them but I have a better plan in mind.One that will even get me my revenge against Lina's parents.
They may not have been responsible for my and Lina's separation but they did try to turn Lina against me all those years ago.
I've never forgiven them for that.
"I want you to convince them that it is your choice to be with me. They won't worry about you then."
"And then they won't stop you, "Lina says bitterly ,figuring it out right away.
"Exactly,"I tell her.
She looks down on the floor a few seconds,lost in thought,before reluctantly giving a slow nod.I think she already expected that one and was even going to use it convince me to let her talk to them.
Such a smart cookie.
But she can't possibly guess the second condition.
"And your second condition?"she asks slowly,as if dreading the answer.
"I have to be with you when you meet them,"I tell her,not able to resist smirking.
Her eyes widen in surprise.
"You want to go with me?No way,that will only make things worse.They aren't your biggest fans you know,"she says matter of factly.
"So what?That doesn't matter when I'm their daughter's choice. I have to be there.It'll look weird if I don't,right?"
"But..."
'And,I also need to make sure that you keep your promise because, frankly ,I don't trust you right now,precious,"I say honestly,letting her know that Im no lovesick fool.Even though I want her back,I don't trust her blindly.
Lina goes silent, clearly not being able to argue against that.
"So,I take it that we have a deal,"I say, reaching out of my pocket and extending my hand.
She looks at it like it belongs to the devil but she puts her long,elegant fingers on it.
"Deal,"she says.
"Then what the hell are we still waiting for,precious?The sooner we leave the sooner we can visit your parents."