𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐓 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 | 𝟏𝟖+

Chapter 22

MILA

"You're perfect, and I know that you're worth it"

***

My eyes opened to the sun glaring through the small opening between my curtains. A knock sounded through my bedroom door, and my parents walked through singing happy birthday to me.

"Feliz Cumpleaños, mi amor." My mama finished, placing a kiss on my forehead. "Buon Compleanno, principessa," my papa added. I saw they were both holding a small white box, wrapped with a bright pink bow.

My idiot brother walked into my bedroom as well. "Happy birthday, sis." He smiled, "we're finally twenty-one."

"Happy birthday to you, too, Matty."

"Go on, open your gift." My mother said, looking at my papa in excitement. "I already opened mine, limited edition shoes," Mateo chimed in.

I slowly unraveled the bow, then lifted the box. The diamond earrings sparkled like crazy. I recognized them from my mother. "Dios mío, thank you, they're beautiful."

"My mother gave them to me, and hers gave them to her. You're twenty-one now, so they belong to you." I hugged her so tight she had to tell me to let go.

"We're taking you to breakfast, get dressed. You too, Mateo." That earned a groan from Matty. "Seriously, mom? I have a breakfast date." He pleaded. "Cancel it," my father said sternly, eying him. "Your mother said get ready, and you will do so." Mateo left the my room, almost stomping like a child.

"Okay, mi amor, be ready in thirty minutes. We're only going to the little breakfast place a few minutes away."

To wear until tonight, I put on a long-sleeve, cropped black shirt, along with low rise jeans. I put my hair back into a bun, then brushed my teeth. My freckles were more apparent today, and my brother made sure to let me know.

"I'm so excited for tonight, to see my friends, to see abuelita," I said, stuffing my mouth with an omelet. "She's on a plane right now, all she was talking about on the phone was you and Mateo." My mother revealed.

"Will she be staying with us?" Mateo asked. "No," my papa quickly answered, "she'll be staying at the Ritz."

Abuelita and my papa aren't the best of friends. When my mom and him met, my grandma wasn't the biggest fan. He was much older than her, and reckless. But, my mama couldn't resist his charms. They started dating behind my abuelita's back, but she eventually accepted their relationship, right after Mateo and I were born.

"Alright, you still need to get your nails done and I need to do your hair, amor. We have to go." My mama grabbed her purse. "And Donny, go to the venue and start setting up their presents." She kissed him.

After leaving the nail salon, my nails were decorated in long, acrylic french tips, but the tips were pink instead of white. My mom got regular white, as always.

My phone rang, and I picked up.

"Happy birthday, bitch!" Cami and Odessa both said in unison. "We're out picking up your present. Can't wait to see you tonight, muah."

"I love you, thank you." I hung up, then went home to dress.

"My beautiful niña. You're getting so old." My mother said as she curled my hair. "Ma, please. Don't make me think about it," I joked, scrolling down my timeline.