Santiago runs his finger over my bottom lip and my red lipstick slightly smudges.
"Santi," I hiss. He leans down and nicks my bottom lip in return.
"It's Mr. Alvaro to you, secretary," he rumbles. He ran his hand that was resting on my hips down to...
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"Honey, are you sure you have everything packed?" my Mom asks.
I playfully roll my eyes. "It's a bit late to be asking that question, Makuahine, isn't it? We're already at the airport." |Hawaiian- Mother}
"Don't get smart with me, Kaikamahine liʻiliʻi. I'm sending you halfway across the world," she retorts. She pulls me into a hug and breathes deeply. "I'm going to miss you, my girl." |Hawaiian- Little girl|
I turn to my brother. "And you. You're 17. Almost a man. Now that I'm not here to keep your ass in check, you have to behave. Don't send Māmā into an early grave." |Hawaiian- Mom|
He rolls his eyes. "I'm an angel, Nani. Just make sure you don't go and tear up D.C." I laugh and pull him into a hug. "You're right, baby brother. They're definitely not ready for me."
"We are now boarding passengers for flight 1913 to Washington DC."
I smile at my Mom and brother. "That's my ride."
Mom pulls all of us into one last hug. "Aolani will be waiting for you at the airport. ʻOi aku ʻoe e kipa e like me kou hiki." |Hawaiian- You better visit as much as you can.}
"Ke hoohiki nei au. I love you guys. So damn much." I finally manage to pry myself out of my Mother's grasp. I grab my carry-on suitcase and head to the gate. I look back at my family one more time and wave goodbye. |Hawaiian- I promise.|
I hand the person my ticket and passport and they clear me to board. This is it. I'm really doing it.
My family has been planted in Hawaii for a little over 100 years when a great-grandmother came for vacation and fell in love with a local. No one has ever left our little island until me.
Hawaii is great and it's my home. I love my culture to bits. But...it's not big enough to contain me. I've explored every part and tasted everything it had to offer. It didn't satisfy me. So, after I graduated college, I decided I wanted to move to Washington.
Instead of doing it right after I graduated like a heartless bitch, I waited a year and spent it with my family.
My best friend, Aolani, however, decided to leave the day we graduated. But all of her family are assholes, so she had no remorse.
I finally found my seat and put my carry-on suitcase in the overhead bin. I sit down in the middle chair.
"Babe, come on. I found our seats. Hurry up, you're holding up the line," I hear a voice screech over the spotted chatter.
I look up and see a beautiful blonde girl with chocolate brown eyes walking towards me. Once she gets over to me, her eyes run over me and they slightly slant in annoyance.
