Tainted Innocence

C H A P T E R 2

"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."
– Soren Kierkegaard

♪

Leilani

Matteo and I spent the whole night chatting and catching up. Apparently, college is even more like school. At first, I couldn't understand why Matteo would want to attend more school until he told me about all the parties he went to and all the new people he met. As he continued the conversation, slowly I found myself being consumed with envy. I wanted to party. I wanted to make new friends. What about me? I thought.

Our conversation slowly finished and Matteo wished me a goodnight by kissing me on my forehead before leaving my room. Shortly after that, I felt myself being consumed by sleepiness. The last thought in my head before going to sleep was, why couldn't I have friends?

♪

I woke up later that day to chatter coming from downstairs. I immediately felt left out. I get up from my bed and walk into my bathroom to brush my teeth. I look into the mirror and undo my ponytail letting my curly hair fall into an afro. I close my bathroom door and head downstairs. Instantly I'm greeted with the smell of breakfast.

I was never a breakfast person.

Mamá knew this, so this had to be for Matteo. I turn the corner to the kitchen and I'm immediately met with mamá cooking and Matteo sitting on the island, even papá is there standing beside mamá with a smile. Both are ignorant to my presence, in their own little world. I sigh before sitting down next to Matteo. Everyone's eyes snapping at me except for papá. "Oh hey Leilani, when'd you wake up?" Matteo asks with a smile.

I knew his question was genuine but I couldn't help but feel bitter.

Did nobody notice me at all?

Brushing it off I returned the smile "I woke up around 9. How did you sleep?". Matteo responds to my question, going on about how sorry he was for waking me up last night. His mouth continued to move and his hands waved around animatedly, but I wasn't listening.

"Today we have to go into town." Papá voice boomed over Matteo's chatter. I nodded my head while taking a sip of my coffee.

Papá was well-known around town. I didn't know exactly why, but a lot of people looked up to him, followed him almost. It was quite weird but I didn't say anything, after all that's how I was raised. "Why?" remarked Matteo before taking a bite of his bacon. Papá looked at him "To celebrate my son coming back, I'm sure everyone would love to see you, Matteo." Papá responded looking at Matteo quizzically. As if daring him to say something else. Matteo just nods and continues to munch on his bacon.

"Am I going into town too, papá?" I asked looking up at him. I really wanted to go I needed some human interaction. Papá must've sensed this because he answered with a curt no. He always tries to crush my plans. I looked at him with a pleading look but he only kept staring at me, not backing down. I lost eye contact and muttered a "fine", before getting up and helping mamá wash the dishes.

"Mamá, you should convince him to let me go," I said to her. "I don't know honey, it's not safe out there." I looked at her with a pointed look. " Ma, I grew up in this town how bad can it be? Plus papá and Matteo will protect me. Please just convince him." I said brushing her shoulder and looking up at her pleadingly. She sighed "Fine ok, but be safe mija."

"Of course,mamá," I said before bending down and giving her a peck on her forehead.

♪

"Leilani get your tail down here so we can go!" yelled my brother.

"Ok, don't rush me, Matteo," I screamed back, adding more mascara to my eyes. I wanted to look pretty in case I met a new friend. I walk out of my bathroom and glanced at myself in my full-body mirror. Happy with my appearance, I grabbed my purse and rushed down the stairs taking two steps at a time.

"I'm ready," I said breathlessly with a smile on my face. "Good, it only took you forever," remarked Matteo. I rolled my eyes, he was always so sassy.

Suddenly, papá comes around to corner, examining Matteo and I's appearance before giving an approving nod. "Let's go," He said, before opening the door.

I walked outside and opened to door to papà's posh car and climbed into the backseat. "Seatbelt!" Matteo mumbled under his breath. I rolled my eyes before tucking my seatbelt in its buckle.

"Leilani," Papá started "when we're in town stay by me and Matteo's side at all times. Do not wander off, figlia compresa?" papá stated shifting his gear stick. I nodded my head before releasing he couldn't see me, "Intesa." I responded verbally.
(understood daughter/understood)

I knew papá was just being protective so I didn't mind his demands. I knew how mean some people could be, I wasn't dumb, plus Matteo told me all about it. I pull out my mp3 player to listen to some music.

I wasn't allowed to have a phone papá believed taint my mind, so I had to settle with an old mp3 player. They don't even make these anymore, I thought. After a short drive, we finally make it into town.

I look out the window observing my surroundings. Wow, I thought. It's been a while since I've been in town and it looked fairly different. I liked it.

Our town wasn't that big it was a small town and everyone knew each other, since papá was the former governor, so everyone especially knew me. Papá pulls into a parking lot before unlocking the car doors, "Don't look at anything or touch anything because of not buying it, understood Leilani." my father scolds.

"Sí" I respond before opening the car doors. I never understood why he didn't fuss at Matteo too, after all Matteo is the troublemaker between us. We exit the car and enter a building. I immediately notice all the people longing around and making conversation, I wonder what kind of establishment this was.

My father walks up to the counter saying something to the lady at the front desk before she scurries off. She comes back her brown ponytail swinging while she walks. "Here you go sir, she'll be down in a second." She stammers out. Papá just nods before taking a seat and scanning the documents with Matteo, they start having a conversation. While I take in the building.

This seems to be an office of some sort, I observed. I look up to my right, where everybody was lounging around, and I read a sign, Starbucks. Interesting, I thought.

I wanted to go over there and make friends. "Papá, can I go over there? To the Starbucks, please." I said with a smile. Papá looked hesitant but eventually nodded his head yes.

"Matteo go with her," Papá ordered. Matteo nodded his head seeming grateful to escape from the papers.

With a smile on my face I headed to the Starbucks.

♪

1211 words

♪