Her Perfect Half

Chapter twelve

Today is the day I've dreaded the most. We are going back to Italy. I have to say goodbye to Maximo, and then it'll all go back to the same silence treatment, cold stares, skipping meals, training sessions that last for hours on end, studying, and hatred.

I want to stay in Spain. I don't want to live with my family. I want freedom, and I can't have that in Italy. My dad will continue to control me. At least now, I'll have somebody to talk to. Maximo.

My joy. Even though we had only known each other for two weeks, I can picture us having a family together. It'll be perfect, no stress, training, or favoritism towards kids. It will all be behind me.

My past will stay buried down. No one will bring it up. But it'll still haunt me until the day I die. 'Kira, come on! We'll be late for the flight, and you know Dad, he is going to be pissed off if we're even a minute late.'

That's my cue to run. I run through the corridors, laughing, not caring about the weird stares that I get. I already said goodbye to Maximo yesterday. He took me out for dinner as a 'going away' party. We laughed, and it was magical.

'Did you pack all your stuff?' I nodded my head, and we were off to the airport. As expected, I fell asleep on the way home. Nico woke me up the moment we were in front of our house.

'I carried you to the car. You slept the whole flight and on the way home. Did you even sleep last night?' No, I was actually talking to Maximo the whole time. I didn't sleep at all.

That's why I was late to the lobby. 'Yes, I slept like a baby, but it was clearly not enough.' He looked at me skeptically. Please don't say anything, don't ask me about stuff I don't know the answer to. I can't keep lying to you, Nico!

We got out of the car, Nico took out the house key from his pocket. It had a keychain with a little picture of him and Siena in a locket. And on the other side is a little origami star I made for him.

I just now saw it. Nico kept it. And he put it on his keys. Aww. He unlocked the door, and the first thing we see is an angry Siena. 'Nico, I'm so mad at you. Why did you take Kiarra to Spain and not me? Do you love her more than me?'

'Siena, you've been pampered so much to the point where you have brainwashed yourself. Dad told you it was dangerous. Did you listen to even a word he said? No. Now let me tell you. I. Love. Both. Of. You. Equally. Have I made myself clear to you?'

I was stunned. Nico stuck up for me. Siena was in tears, and the rest of the family in the living room with us was in shock. Their jaw hit the floor. Siena nodded her head before bursting out crying.

'Nicholas! Why would you speak to your sister that way?' My dad asks, yelling at him. 'I don't know. Why would you treat your daughter like shit and ignore her for her entire life? Huh?!' Nicholas screams. For the first time, I saw my father showing another emotion rather than anger.

Sadness, is he guilty about the things he didn't do? 'You know why I treated Kiarra this way!' My father continues to yell at Nico. 'But did you have to make us, her brothers, act the same way as you? At this point, it's a screaming match between Nico and Dad.

'She would have been weak if you treated her like Siena.' He comes near Nicholas. I could feel hands grabbing me by the shoulders and pulling me away. It was Mom.

'Both of you go to your rooms. I don't want you to see this.' She says, shoving us out of the living room. Even though my room is on the second floor, I can hear them yell. Walls get thinner when someone is arguing, I guess.

My mom comes into my room. 'Kira, I'm so sorry. I never wanted you to feel that way. I love you. I've always loved you.' She was crying. My mother was sobbing the same woman who had killed millions of people. 

I hugged her. 'I understand. You didn't want to do it, but you didn't have a choice. I forgive you, mama.' I hug her tightly. And we cry into each other's embrace.