Adopted – Episode 3

ADOPTED – Episode 3

© Happy William

Anne’s POV

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Damn…I must have been so awed by the beautiful surrounding that I forgot to adjust my hair.

Emilio looked like he wasn’t ready to let me go without an answer.

“I uh…nothing. It’s nothing,” I replied and turned away, pretending to look at the building in front of me.

He cupped my chin in his hand and turned me to face him, so that he could get a clearer view of my cheeks.

“This isn’t nothing, Anne. Tell me what happened.”

OK, I really didn’t like the fuss he was making over the issue. It’s not like I owe him an explanation, neither does he have any business in my life.

I pulled his hand down from my face.

“Excuse me, but what does this have to do with you? It’s not like my life is something you can ask about at will. And beside, because you’re rich doesn’t mean you can barge into somebody’s affair and boss around. I value my privacy, Emilio, and so should you.”

I stormed off, forgetting that we were planning to have lunch.

“Oh, and thanks for the mockery in the form of donuts yesterday. They were sooo delicious.”

Without looking back, I walked away.

A little distance afar, I slowed down. My reaction was harsh, and now that I think of it, pointless.

But I was kind of angry with myself too. Emilio was a popular guy. I might not be crazily crushing or throwing myself at him, but I won’t deny that I found him attractive.

Which was a big no no.

God, what’s wrong with me!?

He was only trying to help.

But I couldn’t accept pity from him, or anyone.

I’ll take care of myself.

From there, I walked home, skipping the rest of the classes for the day.

.

.

Emilio’s POV

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I tucked my hand in my pockets as I watched her go after her pointless tirade.

Anne…

The girl always fascinated me.

And that was something, considering that I didn’t let any girl get under my skin.

Padrè (Father) always said, ‘Women are distractions when taken seriously. But great pleasure when taken lightly. Use your head’.

And I’ve always done so.

My father wasn’t your average father. He wasn’t caring, or loving, although he tried to show me that he loved me in his own way. His major concern was the Mafia, where he was the Don. Always busy. Recording kills. Collecting debts. And it was inevitable; papà made it clear that he expected me to follow in his footsteps. And personally, I looked forward to that day.

My mother, on the other hand was the opposite of loving. All she cared for was money and titles and fashion. And over the years, I merely see her as a presence in the house, and she seems to like it that way. My mother figure was my nanny back at home, Prudence. She was the pure epitome of what a mother should look like.

My early life had been quite difficult, with series of trainings here and there, because, as papà says, the life of a don is unpredictable.

And I loved it like that.

Earlier this year, I’d requested for a one year leave from papà, to live a free life for a short while.

That’s how I found myself here in Dellany High, and seatmate to the most intriguing girl I’ve ever met.

Forget that she always looks for ways make some noise.

I know that there’s something wrong with her somewhere. I’ve noticed that she’s always hungry, or exhausted, or tired or dull. She misses classes, although she’s pretty bright, and she comes to school late.

And now, to my list of Anne’s Mysteries, I add that she always gets touchy on personal subjects.

Which got me wondering.

If there’s anything that’s my priority right now, it’s uncovering her secrets.

I ran my fingers through my hair and looked between the restaurant and the car.

I’ve just lost my appetite. I’ll order Italian when I get home.

I got into the car.

“Festus, straight home,” I said to the driver.

“Sì, signore (Yes, sir),” he replied.

.

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Anne’s POV

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I laid on my uncomfortable bed, staring at the ceiling as I tried not to think about Emilio and what happened today.

Great, just a few minutes of talking to him, and he’s already infiltrated my mind.

I turned on the bed to get more comfortable, clutching the pillow tightly to myself.

It was still unbelievable that I’d actually followed him to lunch. Was I that stupid, or hungry!? I shook my head.

Then I just remembered something.

I scurried out of bed and knelt on the floor, reaching my hand under the bed to pull out a box.

I sat cross legged on the floor and took off the lid.

This box contained every evidence, and things connected to my birth. They weren’t much, but still….I won’t stop hoping.

I slipped on rubber gloves and began to take out the items one by one.

The first was a baby blanket, plain white with blue floral designs. One edge was scorched, either by fire of what, and it smelled kind of dusty and smoky.

The second was a shaker, still good as. new.

The third was one side of a pair of women’s shoes. Size 10. I still couldn’t understand why the shoe had to be incomplete, or there.

And the last was a wristwatch, with the glass face broken.

The more I kept looking at these, the more confused I became.

What happened?

Just as I was about to put the items back into the box, I heard the horn.

I groaned.

My few minutes of peace and quiet were gone. The devils were back. I hastily threw everything into the box and kicked it under the bed. Then I hurried down to open the door.

“Mr and Mrs Matthew welc—” my greeting was cutoff when a slap landed on my still healing cheeks, and a scream escaped my lips, attracting another slap.

That meant ‘shut up’.

Linda pushed me into the house while Joseph made sure the door was locked.

She threw her purse and jacket on the sofa and caught my hair in her tight grip.

“So you’re a harlot now, eh?” she questioned.

“Ma’am please, you’re hurting me—”

I screamed again as this time around, Joseph’s belt slashed across my back and legs.

“Shut up!” he growled, and I choked on the screams.

“So that’s what you’ve been doing, selling your body for money. I always knew you were cheap!” Linda yelled and pushed me to the floor with so much force. I hit my head on the table and applied pressure to ease the pain and prevent swelling.

“Ma’am, Sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m not a whore,” I yelled back.

“Oh yeah?” Joseph taunted, edging closer and swirling his belt. “You think we didn’t see you?”

“You misunderstood!” I yelled again.

“Now you’re big to talk back at us, eh?” another slash from the belt, this time on my face, but I was quick enough to block with my hands.

The whips kept coming, on any part he wished to flog, till I got tired of resisting.

“OK OK Joseph,” Linda said, “That’s enough. I want her to show us the pay she received. Well, where is it?”

I shook my head slowly.

“I told you, I’m not–”

Joseph kicked my side.

“You know, if not for the fact that we’re getting a huge amount of money as allowance for keeping you, we’d have sold you off by now!”

I crawled into a corner, as if I could run and hide from them. I couldn’t. I was stuck here until I turned eighteen. That’s when I’ll choose either to stay with them, or fend for myself.

But that was two years away, two years of torture.

I sniffed.

Linda and Joseph went on ranting about whatever, while I closed my eyes to the stinging pains I felt, and thought of the day I’d find my parents.

Then all became quiet, and I opened my eyes to see that Linda and Joseph stood still, listening to something.

Then as if someone pressed an invisible remote control, they sprang to life and began tidying up the living room, putting things in order.

“Hey Anne, go to your room and don’t come out until we tell you to!” Joseph said.

I sat still, trying to understand what was going on.

“Go on!” Linda hissed.

That’s when I heard the knock on the door, and I went to my room.

***

“Hi, good afternoon Mrs Crosby, Mrs William. Welcome,” Linda said in a sweet voice.

Those were the social workers. I see now.

“What brings you here today? You didn’t tell us you’ll be coming. My husband and I just returned home.”

“We were in the neighborhood,” said Jackie Crosby, with a smile, “and decided to stop by and see how Anne’s doing.”

“Aren’t you going to let us in?” Iness William asked with a less friendly tone and more suspicions.

“Of course,” Joseph said, and Linda laughed nervously as they ushered the women inside.

“Please sit down,” Linda said.

“So, where’s Anne?” Jackie Crosby asked happily.

“Anne….well you see…Anne is—-”

“Not back from school,” Joseph completed.

“Yeah, exactly. You know how studious she is. Always making good grades and all that. We’re proud of her,” Linda said and leaned on Joseph’s shoulder, posing a fake picture of a happy family.

“Okay….,” Iness William drawled, still doubting. “Why’s your sitting room a shamble?”

“I left early, I haven’t gotten around to doing the chores.”

“Yeah, raising a sixteen year old can be tedious.”

“But we still love her.”

***

I was fed up with their pretences, but I knew better than to utter a word.

***

“Alright, we’ll be going now. Say hello to Anne for us.”

“Will do. Bye.”

As soon as the door closed, Linda muttered, “Annoying bitches.”

I quickly sneaked into my room and proceeded to treat my wounds.

I fell asleep on the bathroom floor.

To be continued

ALL EPISODES

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