Risk Taker

s t a r t

II  z  e  r  o  II

The air pressure inside her ears was piercing but as she opened the window, she saw the reflections of the light on skyscrapers and concrete building windows. She breathed deeply. She's here. 

California. She remembered throwing a dart on the United States map and it pierced a hole between the bridge of the letter r and n.

"Oh hell," she breathed while carrying her two luggages behind her. She dragged it near a cab where its driver was standing, waiting for potential customers. When he saw her, he smiled, "Hello! Did you have a nice flight?" He pried her luggage away from her and placed them in the rear compartment. She just smiled back in reply. She was still inclined by the constant memory of no talking to strangers, she then opened the door and stepped inside. He walked around the car and went inside as well, while buckling his belt, he asked, "Where to?"

It took her a moment to realize that she didn't know where she was going. 

"Do you know a place I could crash for the night?" She exhaled a nervous laugh at the middle-aged driver staring at her through the mirror, all her previous thoughts of stranger danger went out of the window. He looked back at her and grinned, "My wife would love to meet you , kid. Let's head home."

She smiled brightly, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

He slowly drove away from the airport, "No problem. You'll be meeting the love of my life just in time for dinner. We're just gonna follow the yellow brick road."

Home. How foreign. She thought.

She must've been so exhausted from the flight that she didn't realize that they've arrived.

"Mija, wake up. We are here."

She stifled a yawn and stared at the opened window. Her vision was a little blurry but she saw a nice scenery, nonetheless. Away from the bustling city. She got out of the cab and directly went to the rear, noticing that it was empty, she turned her head to find the cab driver with her baggage in his clutch.

"Excuse me, Mister..." realizing she forgot to ask the name of the man who offered her a house to stay in, "I am so sorry! I forgot to ask your name," her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

The man laughed and gestured her to follow him to the gate, "That's fine, you had a tiring flight after all. My name is Oscar."

He abruptly stopped and looked at her, "And this mija, is my home."

She stared, slack jawed at his house. His villa to be exact.