𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐓 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 | 𝟏𝟖+

Chapter 21

MILA

"I'm finding ways to articulate the feeling I'm going through"

***

In the passing days, college work and birthday party planning has taken up most of my time. Having a twin of the opposite sex is hard enough, but when you both don't have the same interests, it makes it hard to find some common ground.

My parents were out this morning with Mateo getting his clothes fitted, and buying presents for the both of us.

I dedicated a corner of my bedroom to gifts I've yet to open from Theo. There had to be at least thirty-five gifts he'd sent in the span of four days. I do appreciate his persistence, but can the man take a hint?

His voicemails filled my inbox, unopened of course. I can only imagine the amount of begging and pleading he's done to win me back.

I honestly don't know what he could say or do to make up for how he made me feel. I told my mother about our dispute and she told me that guys make mistakes sometimes, but it's up to me whether to give him that second chance or not.

Odessa and my mother are team Theodore, but Jasper and Camille are not. I'm stuck between forgiving him and putting this entire mess behind us and avoiding him forever.

But, I can't deny that I do miss him. His hugs, his kisses, his presence. He makes me feel safe, and I don't know if I could ever give that up over something so minuscule.

What if giving him a second chance makes him think he can fuck over me whenever he wants?

I shook my head from these thoughts, and buried my nose back inside of my school books, until my parents and Mateo came back home.

My family returned home with takeout, which was rare because my mama has been promoting a 'Green's Greener' diet on her social media profiles.

There has been tension between my papa and I, due to our unpleasant interaction the night paparazzi took photos of me and plastered them on every possible magazine.

That day, I got countless phone calls and even emails from Theo. He's even come to my home to talk to me in person. Gladly my house was empty, but the security guard who watches over our neighborhood said he'd stood outside of my house for six hours waiting for me.

I felt awful, but he made me feel worse. To steer clear from him, Cami invited Dess and I over to her house for wine and a sleepover.

I was a bit embarrassed about the whole paparazzi thing, but I also kind of liked the attention as well. It also gave great exposure to one of my favorite underrated designers, which I was happy about.

"You guys are back, finally!" I ran downstairs to grab some of the Chinese food they had brought back. "Your idiotic brother won't comply with the color scheme of the party." My mother said, scowling at Mateo.

"You little shit!" I pounced on him, and twisted his ear. He responded with a screech. "How could you not like ballet slipper pink and baby blue? They're classics!" I let go of him.

"They're not manly colors," Mateo took out the box of fried rice.

"I don't care. I've been dreaming about my— our twenty-first birthday since I was fourteen. You will show up and pretend you like the colors or I will show you hell. Got it?" I said, aggressively.

"Mila," My papa said, shaking his head. "I'm serious. He's trying to ruin what could be the best night of our lives. I'm not just doing this for me, I'm doing it for us. They'll be plenty of women there for you to...flatter. Please, Matty." I batted my eyelashes. "Whatever." He rolled his eyes.