We made the most of our dinner with everything we were entitled to. At the end of the meal, the owners, a nice couple, sat down at our table and started chatting, speaking Italian, and hearing Italian spoken through laughter seemed to do Paolo and Francesco good; they seemed to be in their natural habitat, and I made a mental note to come here for dinner every week to ease their homesickness.
“Which food do you prefer, Italian or Portuguese?” Francesco asks, looking at me and my brothers.
“I can’t choose!” my brothers just nodded in agreement. “Have you ever eaten Portuguese food?” I asked, imagining the answer and seeing them both deny it.
Aurora looks at them, a little shocked. “You definitely don’t know what you’re missing; we’re going to have to take you to a Portuguese restaurant; it’s ridiculous that they live with us and don’t know what Portuguese food is.”
I nod, laughing at the indignant expression on Aurora’s face. After we got home, everyone went to their own room. I go into the room without turning on the light; it’s lit by the night lights of the city that come in through the window and the little stars that decorate the ceiling. I lie down on the bed, on the blankets, and look up at the ceiling, trying to find an answer to a question I don’t have. I get up and put on my pajamas, close the blinds and turn on the light, pick up the first book I find on the shelf, and sit on the bed with my legs covered, diving into the reading.
Chapter 9
In the blink of an eye, a week has passed, my brothers have returned to Portugal, and today, I start my studies at Central Saint Martins University of the Arts in London. I get out of bed and feel my stomach turn with nervousness, which is to be expected after a bad night’s sleep. I go into the bathroom, take a hot shower, put on the outfit I bought for the start of classes, and do some simple make-up; still, in my bedroom slippers, I go into the kitchen to have breakfast. I find Leticia and Aurora at the table, both eating a yogurt with granola and drinking coffee. Leticia points to the bowl next to her, and I smile at her in thanks, seeing it full of yogurt and granola.
Aurora acknowledges me. “How nervous are you?”
“I couldn’t sleep all night, and I feel like I might throw up!” I say, forcing the spoon to my mouth.
“You don’t have to be so nervous; it’s going to be fine!” reassures Leticia.
“I’m afraid I won’t fit in, that they won’t like me!” I pour it out honestly, making them both stare at me.
Aurora looks at me with a fierce expression. “If they don’t like you, fuck them, you’ve got us! Besides, if anyone’s too nasty, I’m sure Paolo and Francesco will make them regret it!”
Her words make me widen my eyes and let out a groan of frustration. I didn’t remember that little detail; Luca must have given orders in case someone is unpleasant with me.
“That’s even worse!” I sigh in annoyance, seeing Aurora look at me with a playful smile on her lips.
“If you ask me, that makes everything more fun!” she says,making me nod my head in clear disapproval, and I see her shrug her shoulders.
“By the way, a box arrived for you a little while ago. I think it’s from your grandmother. Paolo has already checked to make sure it’s not a bomb,” she says, rolling her eyes.
I get up and walk to the box; it has a black parcel with a big white bow on it. I open it and see Jimmy Choo engraved on the box, a small envelope lies on top of it.
“They say good shoes take their owners to good places; these are pretty, too, so I hope they take you to lots of pretty places. Good luck on your first day of school; I know you’ll be fantastic.
Love, Grannie”
I look at the message with a big smile that takes my whole face. Grandma always knows how to calm me down. I take the paper that protects the shoes off and see beautiful black shoes, the ones that tight around ankle, with a big bow at the back of the heel. I sit down on the sofa and put them on, smiling and taking a photo to send to Grandma.
“Thank you, Grannie, they’re beautiful.
Big kiss, Chiara.”
I click send and head to my room, picking up my Hermès Kelly and placing my iPad, notepad, pens, wallet, and AirPods inside. I walk over to the mirror, check my outfit and, paint my lips with a vibrant red lipstick, and whisper to my reflection, “You can do it.”
I go to the living room to find the girls, also ready to leave, and the two body guards in casual clothes, making me smile at the look of disgust on their faces.
“All set?”
Leticia smiles and nods. “Yes, I can’t believe we’re college students!”
“I can’t believe we won’t be in a classroom together!” Aurora says in regret. I nod in agreement, and we say goodbye with ahug, leaving the house all together and parting at the door, each heading for their new adventure.
It’s strange to think that we’ve all followed different paths. When I was younger, I imagined that we’d all study together, and now we’re each at a different university, me studying fashion design, Leticia law, and Aurora administration.
I get out of the car, feeling a little insecure and quite nervous. My legs are shaking, and my hands are sweating; I look around, a little lost, feeling two eyes on me. I stand still, without having the courage to take a step, and I consider running away; I feel my stomach turn, and I think about how weak I am, a little bit of nerves and I’m already thinking about running away, what will be of me when the real problems show up?
My thoughts are interrupted by a forced cough next to me; I look in the direction of the sound and see Paolo and Francesco staring at me. “Are you ready?” Francesco asks, indicating the path I should follow with an outstretched hand. I nod, take a step forward, and freeze again, staring at them. They both don’t seem to understand what’s happening.
