Bella ran to hide behind the house, not having the courage to enter.
It's dead. There's no way she's going in now knowing her parents must be waiting for her sitting in the living room with eyes filled with anger.
They will certainly ask her where she is from and why she slept outside. She could answer it honestly, but that would also condemn Leïla if by chance she was able to come back before their return.
Bella started biting her nails.
It's not possible, she has no way out. What can she do? What if she walked through the kitchen door? No, it must be closed, and knocking would attract the parents' attention.
She took a look at the floor where the room she lives in with Leïla is. It's too high, she'll never be able to climb it.
Moreover, she is sure that the parents have already verified that she is not there. It would be stupid to meet there to make them believe that she slept at home.
She paced, not knowing what to do. Besides, she wants to sleep. Her body is in pain and she desperately wants to calm her nerves after her chaotic morning.
Bella crouched down with tears in her eyes as she called herself ungrateful.
Her parents were so kind to take her in when her biological parents died in a car crash.
Indeed, Bella was adopted after the death of her parents. Those with whom she now lives and her biological parents were friends, they lived in the same neighborhood and when she was three years old, the family had a serious accident.
Bella remained the sole survivor of this tragedy and with no one to pick her up, the Santos family took her in. They've been so good to her, loving and pampering her like their own daughter.
Bella never felt like an outsider. Whether it's her parents or Leïla, everyone treats her like a natural member of the family.
But to thank them, not only does she drag Leïla into her whims, and put her in an unknown and worrying situation since she doesn't know how she has been after this concert. But she lost the phone that her papa gave her, lost her virginity and the values instilled by her mamá, but worse, she doesn't dare to go back home.
She doesn't deserve their generosity.
If only she hadn't told Leïla that she wanted to see Paolo, all this wouldn't have happened.
It's all her fault.
She cried for a long time before she heard whistles upstairs. Intrigued, she looked up to find Leïla, her face half-reassured, half-panicked, waving to her.
Bella's eyes widened in delight as she stood up to greet her sister.
"Herminia, are you fine…" She spoke emotionally, forgetting the position she was in before seeing Leïla motioning her to lower her voice.
"Shhh, the parents are downstairs. I'm going to open the back door for you", Leïla murmured, trying as much as possible to control her voice to be able to say what she wants to her sister but also to prevent the parents from hearing them.
Bella nodded as she kicked off her shoes before heading for the back door. She didn't wait long when Leïla came to open the door doing her best to stifle the creaking noise.
"Hurry in," Leila spoke hastily as Bella quickly entered first, not waiting for their parents to hear them.
The two girls ran down the hallway, up the stairs before locking themselves in the bedroom.
They are out of breath even though the effort was not great, but it must be believed that the accumulated psychological fatigue is stronger.
Bella took a deep breath before feeling her body pulled into a tight embrace.
"Forgive me, Herminia, I was irresponsible. I should have understood that you cannot take alcohol but I forced you. Forgive this big sister, please" Leïla cried in Bella's arms while the latter joined her in a concert of tears.
"It's my apology, you must have worried so much" Bella answered and finally Leïla broke up with her.
"What happened yesterday? I don't understand. We were together, after you drank two or three glasses of cocktails, you told me that you were going to get the toilet because you had an urge. I let you go because you seemed sober, there was no clue that you were drunk. But after almost ten minutes, you didn't come back. I started looking for you everywhere but you were nowhere. The concert started and I thought you were somewhere else enjoying the concert." Leïla slid to the floor as Bella did the same before the first continuing.
"The concert was over and we had to leave the club. I waited for you for a long time in front of the club and I thought that you had already gone home. Not finding you here was a real shock, I haven't even slept a wink all night. Papa and mamá arrived barely thirty minutes ago. They called but I pretended we were still sleeping" Leïla sighed, it seemed that a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders "I was so afraid that mamá would insist and come and check our room. But fortunately, Papá asked her to let us enjoy our youth. It's normal to be lazy in bed at our age"
Leila finished speaking as Bella lowered her head. Her sister must have had a horrible night because of her. But she can't just tell her what happened the night before. She would be too ashamed.
"Bella, I'm so sorry. I didn't measure up yet it was me who forced you out. Tell me, mi Princesa, where did you sleep? Where are you from? And what happened last night?" Leila asked, almost desperate, her tears like a stab in Bella's heart as she just bowed her head.
She never lied to her sister, and considering how guilty she feels now, telling her the truth would make her miserable for life. So she flashed a bright, comforting smile before responding cheerfully.
"Stop worrying Herminia, I'm fine. It's true I was a little scared when I woke up in the club toilets this morning, but other than that, nothing serious. I'm fine, I'm getting in shape".
She smiled reassuringly, telling herself there was no point in making a fuss about it. This night was certainly a shameful experience of her life but it will remain just a bad memory buried deep in her heart.