"Where am I?" Isabella spoke, her eyes still closed.
"The hospital. Your friends called an ambulance after you drowned. Do you remember?"
"Yeah. W-who exactly? Gabriela?"
"Miss. Flores just arrived a few minutes ago and she's in the waiting room. Those who called the ambulance were here all night."
"Who are they? I want to see them please." The nurse left to call Rafael.
"Please do not disturb the patient. She's awake now but she needs to be monitored for a few more hours."
"Got it." Rafael walked to the ward, urgency in his steps.
He entered and was relieved to see Isabella's eyes opened.
"Isabella! Are you alright?" He sat close to her.
"I..I...my phone..."
"Oh, fuck. You scared me back there and the next thing you're talking about is your phone?" Rafael was raising his voice.
"I want to know where my phone is, jackass." He chuckled to control the frustration and worry in his voice.
"You..you must have left it at the party. But I'm sure Dedra has it."
"Where's Dedra? I want to thank her so much for the hospitality."
"Stop asking about those outside for a moment and chill. Everyone's been so worried about you."
"Did you call the ambulance?" Rafael nodded slowly, waiting for her reply.
"Thank you so much for saving me, Rafael." Their eyes got locked for a moment and Isabella read the concern and love for her in his eyes.
Rafael knew she wanted to say something else.
"You haven't slept all night. Why? You should know I'd wake up anyway. Its not the first time I've hit the pool like a stone in a split second."
"I was just scared...I didn't want anything to happen to you, Isabella." He squeezed her hand and her smile made his heart race.
"You're hilarious. It's just water – "
"Its not just water, Isabella Wilson. You could have died. Stop acting like its not a big deal."
"Of course its not."
"I like you and your life is a big deal to me."
"You're not giving up, are you?" She smirked.
He cupped her cheeks.
"Are you free in the evening?" Isabella asked, her voice hinting excitement.
"Yeah."
"I'd like to buy you a drink."
"Buy me a drink?" Rafael mocked.
"You're so arrogant that you think your money can buy it all. Wealth can't make me fall for you."
"I thought girls needed guys who could take care of them without struggles. And I'm that guy, Isabella."
"Rafael, I want to buy you a drink. Will you allow me?"
"If that's what makes you happy, then fine. 6Pm sharp."
"Yes, boss." They both giggled.
"What's going on here?" Dedra walked in and Rafael took his hands off her face.
"Um...She was asking about her phone and I said it was with you."
"Yes."
"How did the rest of the night go, Dedra?"
"I ended the celebration, Isabella. I can't go on smiling happily when you just drowned all because of my sister. I dismissed everyone."
~~~~~~
"When will she be here?" Eric White's eyes were fixed on a magazine as he questioned his son.
"Very soon, Dad. She's not a late person."
"Yeah, right. Because I fancy punctuality. I don't have the entire night."
"Serve the fucking dinner! You're being too slow!" Diana screamed at the maids, who were trembling as they carried out orders.
"Diana. The girl isn't even here yet. Where's your mom?"
"She's almost done." Eleanor White stepped downstairs, her hair tied to a bun and she was wearing her long white night dress.
"Speaking of me, I'm starting to get curious about this girlfriend of yours." She spoke loudly as she made her way to the dining table.
Damien and his dad also walked to the table and they took their seats.
The door bell rang.
"She's here!" Diana squealed and ran excitedly towards the door. She opened it and hugged Michelle.
"Michelle! You're here. Oh my!" She exclaimed.
Michelle was looking gorgeous, her black silky long hair curled to fall down her shoulders. Her lips were painted with thick red. She was wearing a red top that revealed her belly button matched with red pants and red heels.
"You look amazing! Come in! Come in! My parents have been talking about you all day. They want to have dinner with you." Michelle was looking straight as she walked in the magnificent house.
The stairs looked endless.
All the furniture were golden.
The White's Academy was listed as one of the biggest projects of the country owned by a private individual.
Of course, the family would be fucking wealthy.
For a second, she imagined actually getting married to Damien White. When their eyes met, she wanted to scream and fly into his arms.
Eric and Eleanor's eyes on her made her forget how to walk properly.
She had seen Eric White many times visiting the school but, Eleanor – his wife looked like a replica of him.
They've been together for years.
She looked flawless. Her skin was spotless, like there had never been a stain on her. The couple seemed like glass to her.
"Michelle Jackson." Her heart skipped a heavy beat when Eric called her name.
"Y-yes sir." She smiled, hiding her nervousness.
"Please sit my darling, you're welcome to our little place." Eleanor offered her a seat next to Damien.
Little?
She didn't think there was somewhere on the planet bigger than their house.
It was next to paradise.
The aroma of different dishes, none of them were stale like the ones she was brought up with.
She imagined growing up in her father's house. She wouldn't be so surprised to see these exquisite things.
She sat.
"Good evening, Mr and Mrs. White. Sorry, I was ten minutes late. My driver didn't arrive on time. I apologize."
"Apologies accepted, Michelle. We understand. Dig in. Your meal has been served." Michelle nodded and began eating. Damien couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Damien, eat up. She's not leaving you anytime soon." Mrs White teased.
"Let him stare at her for as long as he wants. I also felt the same way when we ate together for the first time." Mr. White told her.
Diana chuckled with her parents. The smile on Michelle's face grew questions in the couple's mind.
"You look nervous, Michelle. Feel free. This is not a student having a meal with her school's owner. This is just – Michelle Jackson and her in-laws."
In-laws?
She loved the sound of that.
Michelle nodded.
"It looks like you've been through a lot. How did you reconcile with your dad?"
"I – "
"Mom. We shouldn't be talking about that right now. Michelle is tired. She needs to eat, rest and leave. You should be having a light chat with her." Damien snapped.
"I wasn't talking to you. Michelle, answer my question."
"Um...Dad just called for us one day and decided to lift all my responsibilities. After his wife died, I moved in with them and started attending The White's High School. Miguel hated me at first but he tried to make up with me later, and we're all on good terms now. Dad wanted me to be a business student but I have the zeal for cooking so much that I'm now working at Lumi's Kitchen....I haven't told him yet though, but I hope he's proud of me."
"You should tell him as soon as possible, Michelle. As a dad, he should support your dreams and aspirations. Not telling you what to do." Mr. White suggested.
~~~~
The night went on smoothly and hours later, it was the couple's bedtime.
"My reminder just popped in. We should go to sleep now." Mr. White spoke.
"Thank you so much, Michelle for honoring our invite. Should Damien drive you home...because...its too late for you all alone at night." Mrs. White asked.
"Its a great idea, ma'am."
"I'll drive her home." Damien replied.
Eleanor walked closer to Michelle. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest. She took Michelle's hands.
"My darling, please be safe." Michelle nodded.
"I will, thank you so much for inviting me. The dinner was delicious."
"Come again, sometime. You both have our blessings. Next year would be a convenient time to start the wedding preparations. You'd have graduated by then."
Wedding.
She was having a wedding.
Michelle's eyes twinkled.
A big smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"I'll be comfortable with Mom."
"Thank you, Mom." Eleanor giggled.
"You're welcome my daughter."
~~~~~
"I'm having a wedding, I'm having a wedding, I'm having a wedding, I'm getting married!!" Michelle said in a cheerful sing-song voice as Damien drove her home.
"Your dad is such a good person. He doesn't deserve to be sleeping with Jennie."
"Damn, Michelle." He laughed.
"You're absolutely right. He's stuck in the web of lust with that bitch professor."
"Have you ever confronted him about it?"
"No, but I will."
"I'm so happy, Damien. Everything's finally falling the way I dreamed of. I'll graduate, focus on my job and then get married to you. Wouldn't it be a delight?"
Damien smiled.
"Your happiness is mine too."
"I love you."
Shortly after, they arrived home and Michelle noticed Damien had followed her into the kitchen.
"What are you up to?"
"A snack before bed. I can't sleep without it."
"And you? You're supposed to drop me off, right?"
"Yeah. Plans changed. I'm sleeping over." Michelle grinned.
"Wow, great news."
They had snacks, chatted and laughed so loud in the living room till the clock struck midnight.
"I'm going to my room. Sleep's knocking."
"After you." Damien rose up.
"No, sit here." Michelle pushed him back to the sofa with one finger.
"I want to have a shower first. Afterwards, I'll notify you."
"Sure."
After Michelle's shower, she grabbed the robe that she found and wore it.
"What kind of a bathrobe doesn't have a belt?" She was confused. The robe couldn't even cover her up properly. She stood before the mirror, trying to find a solution.
Her boyfriend was sleeping over and the last thing she wanted to do was look cringe.
The bathrobe revealed her cleavage and the beauty of her thighs. She wanted to take it off and wear something warmer when the door burst open.
"There's a rat – " He forgot to breathe when he laid his eyes on her. She wasn't drop-dead gorgeous or anything.
She was just natural and peaceful. She bit her lip and shut her eyes.
He smiled a little, taking in her features with his intense stare.
She was naked, and all he wanted was the robe sliding down her arms to the floor.
That would leave her stark, standing in front of him as he drank in her body.
Would he just stay there?
He couldn't even leave the room. If he drove into her as hard as he was at that moment, she'd cry her eyes out.
He would never hurt her. Michelle crying was something he never wanted to see.
"M-Michelle." He called her and she opened her eyes.
"Hm?"
"Get something nice to wear."
"I'm sorry for making you see me like this. It was – " She wasn't interrupted or snapped at. She just stopped talking.
"You're not sorry. I should be. I barged in without knocking."
Michelle was staring at her feet, washed with embarrassment.
"Gosh, you are red." She touched her cheek.
She was burning with tension.
"I'll leave the house now. Goodnight, Michelle." The door closed behind him.
Michelle fell flat on the bed.
Her dreams were indeed coming to a reality.
Damien was so better than the fictional men she read about and watched on TV. Those men would fuck their ladies to death if they had a chance to see them that way.
She wanted that.
She wanted him to touch her.
She wanted to feel what her favorite book characters experienced – the touch of a man and his breath on their skin.
At the same time, she wanted love and not sex.
She wanted him to give her pleasure in a different way. Something that wouldn't just hurt, but make her feel tingled.
The right man came at the right time.
~~~~~
Miguel walked into his room and saw Gabriela working out.
She was wearing a green cleavage revealing tank top that made her look alluring. Her shorts made her hips evident.
He couldn't help but admire her attributes of being so big, full, sexy and round.
"Why are you on my mat?"
"Cool weather, and I thought I'd use your mat to get myself refreshed ready for the day ahead." Gabriela shrugged.
"Humph."
"I have nothing to wear." She pouted.
"Really? What about your outfit from last night?"
"Lana stained it with that slimy stuff when we were at the fair. I can't wear that."
"But you're going home first."
"I can't wear that." She repeated loudly.
"Chill." He headed to his closet.
"This shirt looks a little...feminine. You can wear it then change into something else when you're going to the office." She nodded and took the shirt from him.
She wore the shirt but couldn't use the buttons.
"I'm horrible at buttons. Can you please help me?"She requested with a soft voice.
He walked closer to her until their bodies were close enough.
"Is this your way of..."
"No, no, no,no," She snapped.
"I'm only asking for help. Its your shirt and you know how buttons work. Please."
"You pout so sexily when you have other plans. That's exactly how you did it when you were drunk. I'd like to see you like that again." He smirked.
"Are you comfortable this way? Your tits are right in front of me, Gabriela."
"Your voice is making me uncomfortable, can you stop talking already?"
"Sure." He took the fabric and pulled it closer, his fingers a soft caress to her belly.
He started from the top and pulled the shirt forward, to avoid touching anywhere else. His fingers were on the fabric, buttoning the shirt slowly but away from her skin.
"Did you get boob fillers?"
"Why do you ask?
"I've never seen any girl's boobs looking so carefully curved. You've managed to get under me twice, Gabriela."
"Can you please shut up? And again, hurry."
"I'm done." He grinned.
"Wear this pencil skirt, too. It belongs to Michelle but I hope it suits you really well. I'm heading out."
Miguel had equally gotten under her with his words.
He was so tempting, without even trying.
"That's exactly how you did it when you were drunk." His voice replayed in her head.
"What did I do that night?" She thought.