LINA
The plane lands perfectly.I follow Bruno off it,a thousand thoughts running in my mind.
I'm still thinking about what Bruno said right before we landed.
What the hell did he mean? I ask myself.
The warm humidity air hits me as we disembark the plane,distracting me from my thoughts.
Mylari is so much warmer than New York City,a fact which I can't help but be happy about even as I felt like I was baking. I missed it so much.It was only yesterday but it feels like forever since I've been home,I think as Bruno and I walk side by side to an SUV.
By home I mean Mylari.What in the world did Bruno mean?I once again ask myself.
My thoughts are cut off as my phone rings all of a sudden. I stop walking and widen my eyes when I see who it is.
My mother.
It is weird how I can feel so relieved and terrified at the same time.
What is she,psychic?
How did she know that I wanted to talk to her and dad?
"Who is it?"Bruno asks,pausing as well.
"My mother,"I say in terror.
"Are you going to answer it?"he asks with a darkness in his voice.
I gulp noisily and nod.Then I answer the phone,hoping against hope that my mother had not learned what happened.
"Hello,mom,"I greet her nervously.
"Lina,sweetheart.How are you?I called earlier but you didn't answer your phone,"she says with in her usual chirpy tone.
That's a good sign.
"I'm good mom.And I was a little busy when you called me.How are you and papa?"I ask to change the topic.
"Well,I'm great as usual but your dad, however, not so much. He has been so worried lately,"she tells me quickly.
I look at Bruno,who instead of impatiently waiting for me to finish like I thought he was,is looking at me like I've got all the time in the world.
I can't help but feel the tinsiest bit grateful.
"Worried about what?"I ask nervously.
"You.'
I panick.
"M-me,why would he be worried about me?"I say while glancing at the expressionless face of the devil who was only few feet away from me.
"He says that you sounded a bit depressed the last time you spoke,"she says.
I let out a small and nervous laugh.
"Depressed?Me?Mom,I'm fine.In fact,I'm great. Dad is worrying for no reason,"I tell her.
"I thought so too,"she says absently.I let out a small sigh of relief."I even told him the same thing but you know how he is.You're his one and only, daughter,"she says with a small laugh.
My mom loves me and I love her too but she is never been as attuned to my feelings as dad is.He and I have a way stronger bond.
"So mom,I wanted to tell you that I'm coming to visit tomorrow,"I tell her,trying my best to sound casual.
My mom squeals so loudly that I have to pull the phone a bit of a distance from my ear.
"Oh,Lina.I'm so happy that you're finally coming home.It's been so long.You father and I have started to miss you so much,"she says to me in an emotional tone.
Oh Mom.
"I've missed you guys too," I tell her,feeling emotional myself.
"You should come at lunch time.I'll prepare a feast,"she suggests.
"Sure, mom.Lunch works for me too."I say,looking at Bruno for confirmation,who is now leaning against the SUV .
I take his silence as a yes.
"Will Miles be coming with you this time?"she asks,catching me off guard.
Why did she have to mention Miles's name?
"No,he won't, "I tell her honestly. "There is something important that I want to discuss with just you and papa,"I inform her.
She says nothing for moment,"Sounds serious.Is there anything wrong?"she asks,loosing her chirpy tone for the first time.
"No,"I lie."I just want to talk."
"Alright,sure,"she says,sounding just a little bit worried.
"Okay,mom.See you soon.I love you,"I tell her,trying to soothe her worries.
"I love you too,"she tells me with affection.
"Bye,"I tell her and hang up quickly before I start to dig my own grave.
I breathe a sigh of relief after I'm done.Talking to my mom wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.And yet,I can't relax.
I still had to get through tomorrow.
"What did I hear about you being depressed?"Bruno said,breaking me from my reverie.
Shit.Why did he hear that?
"It's nothing,"I tell him so that he doesn't suspect that I had been mourning the loss of him from my life.
He nods in response, an unreadable expression on his face.
"You okay?"Bruno asks from where he stands.
I ignore him because I don't think that his question is worth answering.Also I don't trust myself to speak after that roller-coaster.
"Ignoring me is childish,Lina,"Bruno states as he opens the door for me.I roll my eyes before getting in, brushing past him as if he is nothing.
After closing my door,Bruno does the same thing.
The guy called Chase then gets behind the wheel and closes the door.We look at each other in mutual dislike in the mirror.
I wonder what his problem with me is anyway?I wondered.He was the one who was playing a part in kidnapping me.
"Oh,where are my manners?"Bruno says in a sarcastic voice while scrolling atthrough his phone."Lina,this is my head of security,Chase Simpson and Chase this is Lina,my world,"he says making me widen my eyes.
His world?
There was a time when him calling me that would've made me happy like unlike anything else in the world..Now it feels like he is putting an unwanted burden on me.
"Pleasure to meet you,ma'am, "Chase says with a forced smile.If it can really be called a smile.
"Sorry but unfortunately,I can't tell you the same seeing as you played a part in kidnapping me and putting my cousin in a hospital but thanks anyway,"I tell him with a smile that's just as false as his.
His eyebrows rise but he doesn't say anything beside to start driving from the airport.
Bruno looks up from his phone with an slightly amused yet exasperated expression.
"Now,Lina,Chase was just doing his job and I do wish that you would forget about that,"he tells me.
"Are you serious,right now?"I ask in shock.
"Yes,after all you will be seeing a lot of each other as Chase also happens to be my right hand."
I raise an eyebrow.So this why this guy was always around Bruno.He was the Devil's assistant.
"Bruno,you can force me to be with you,fine,"I tell him,dramatically raising my arms in surrender. "But I ain't going to be friends with your evil henchmen,"I tell him in a firm voice.
Bruno chuckles while while the"evil henchman" remains as silent as the dead.
If I thought Bruno was cold then he is icy.No reaction whatsoever.I guess birds of a feather do flock together.
"You know, Lina,he isn't as bad you think he is once you get to know him,"Bruno says,his eyes returning from his phone.
"Chase" the evil henchmen suddenly gives a small and awkward cough as if surprised by his own boss's words.His expression returns to neutral as he notices me watching him in the rear view mirror.
"Sure he isn't,"I tell him sarcastically.
Then I look outside the window where it is pitch black. However I can see trees all around us.I finally ask the question which has been on my mind for some time now.
"Are you taking me to my house?"I ask even though I feel like I already know the answer.
"No,Lina.You will be staying with me from now on.I have a penthouse apartment in the city,"he informs me in a surprisingly gentle voice.
I can't say that it helps.My world is turning upside down. I'm still trying to take it all in.Everything is also moving pretty fast so I'm having a hard time keeping up.
I have Bruno to thank for all this chaos,I think lookin at him hatefully.
I'm not going to cry anymore,I tell myself.It is what it is and I'll just have to deal with it without getting emotional.
And I'll deal with it alright.
"I will have clothes and the rest of your stuff delivered to our place tomorrow,"he tells me.
I nod.
"Well,that's one problem solved,"I say with a smile that doesn't reach my eyes."What about the sense of security and peace I felt there?Can they also bring me that?"
"Lina..."
"No,Bruno.There is nothing you can say to make any of this better,"I tell him calmly enough.
He gives me with what seems like an empathetic look.I must be seeing things because despite what he said,this man does not feel for anyone.He is a monster like that.
"Things aren't as bad as you think they are,Lina,"he tells me with a serious face.
I think about Cameron who is in the hospital and Miles who is heartbroken and the life that I will never get back.
"Yeah,right."