Loveless♣

Chapter 17

  Nina and Emiko were all wide smiles and hushed whispers as they exited the restaurant.They walked side by side,their hands brushing at intervals as they talked.It was in that moment,under the glowing street lamp,with their fingertips touching and their faces lit with smiles,that their picture was taken by a figure in a dark green car across the street.Nina said something to Emiko and he bent over,laughing loudly.Another shot was taken.Nina tapped Emiko in annoyance showing that she hadn't meant what she said as something to be laughed over,but Emiko obviously found it extremely funny because he didn't stop laughing.He then saw her frown and tried to hug her.She dodged,but he caught her waist and pulled her to himself. He kissed her cheek and the laughter she'd been suppressing escaped her lips.Another shot was taken.
The figure in the car lowered the camera and viewed the pictures,nodding in satisfaction. The engine was revved to life and the car zoomed off with the two of them oblivious to the fact that they'd just been watched.

~•~•~•~•~~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Nina entered the apartment, and was sure she looked like a clown because she couldn't wipe the mile wide smile on her face.
She giggled.
Stop giggling,dummy,she told herself.But she couldn't help it.She laughed out loud,and rested her head on the back of the door.
"Oh,Emiko,"she sighed.
"¿Que?"
She stood upright abruptly when she heard Bella's voice.The smile disappeared, but it was too late,Bella had sighted her already.She came into the living room,wearing only a bra and the high waisted jeans she'd been wearing since morning.She had Miguel in her arms.The dog barked at Nina in greeting.
Nina's smile returned."Woof to you,too,Miguel."
"I thought I heard you say something,Nina,"Bella said,narrowing her eyes at her.
"What? Nothing."She heaved herself off the door and removed her stilettos,frowning as she did.She had opted for flats,but Bella had strongly insisted that she wear stilettos.Fashion over pain, had been her exact words.Her feet were killing her from walking so much.She had taken an extremely long walk with Emiko.They'd spent hours talking and laughing.
She smiled again.Emiko.He made her so happy.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Bella asked,frowning in confusion.
Nina quickly wiped the smile off her face.She didn't want Bella to find out her source of happiness was Emiko.She would go completely apeshit.
"Uhh..nothing,"she replied,averting her eyes.
Bella cocked her head to the side,then looked at Miguel."She's lying,isn't she?"
The dog barked once.Nina scowled at them.It was weird and annoying how the dog always seemed to take Bella's side whenever there was an argument between she and Bella.Weird,being that animals weren't supposed to understand English.Annoying,being that half the time she was actually right.
"I'm just happy,Isabella.Is that wrong?"she asked,and began to walk past them.
"Pause."
Her voice made Nina stop in her tracks.She turned to face her.
"Come on,B,I'm really tired.I gotta go to bed.Que pasa?"
Bella smiled at the use of her language.
"Dónde has estado,Nina?Llevo màs de media esperando."
"I was out,B.Geez,can't I go out by myself anymore?Did you miss me that much?"she teased,but her friend wasn't moved.
Bella's face was stern."Qué hora es?"
Nina looked at the glow in the dark clock on the wall.
"Uhh..it's past ten.I'm not home that late,Bella."She scoffed.
Bella cocked an eyebrow at her,then relaxed a little.
"Cómo el encuentro con los chicos ir?" she asked,sitting on the arm of the couch.
Nina sighed."The meeting went well.I told the boys about our company.They were pretty impressed,then Joshua mouthed off about us valuing money over education.Other than that,the meeting went well.Very well,"she added,a smile creeping onto her face.
"Nina!Estás ocultando algo de mi?!"Bella looked flabbergasted.
"What?No,I'm not hiding anything from you!I would never!"Nina yelled,and began to walk away hastily.
Bella gasped audibly,dropped Miguel and rushed to her.She blocked the doorway and put both arms on her hips.
"Come on!Spill it!"
"No!"Nina said and tried to go around her.Bella stood firm.
"No you won't spill it?Aha!So there is something to spill!You'd better tell me right now,Nina Jackson!"
"You're nuts!There is NOTHING to spill!"
"Then why are you smiling like a Cheshire cat?!"
"I'm not!"Nina threw her shoes in the air,exasperated.
Bella relaxed her stance a little.
"I got you a package,"she said suddenly.
Nina was stunned."What?"
"You know."Bella shrugged."The usual."
   A mischievous glint was in her eyes.She knew how much Nina loved the rare packages she got her at random occasions.They were filled with fancy luxurious items that Bella got from her admirers or from when she travelled which she set aside just for Nina.
"Uhh,"Nina stuttered.She was so not expecting the package so soon.She knew this was wrong timing.Bella was going to use the package to manipulate her into talking.
"I'm not sure I wanna give you the package,though,"Bella said,slinking away like a cat."You are hiding something from me."She walked to the kitchen counter and sat on one of the benches.
Nina groaned."You are a witch."
Bella beamed."Thank you so much."
Nina narrowed her eyes at her.She was torn between walking away in a huff,pretending not to care about the package or just telling Bella that she'd been with Emiko.She sighed.
"Fiiiiine,I'll tell you where I was,"she drawled.She adored the package too much to let it go.
Bella smiled in satisfaction."Come here,baby.Sit down and tell mama what you've been up to."
Nina walked towards her,shoulders down in defeat and sat opposite her.
"Okay,I was with Emiko.Can I have my package now?"
Bella frowned."Pfft.Of course you were with Emiko, y'all had a meeting.Unless..."She widened her eyes and gasped loudly."You slept with Emiko?"
Nina drew back,an offended look on her face."No!What the hell,Bella?I'm not a slut."
"You would be if you slept with him!"
"I did not!Now,please hand me the package?"
Bella paused and studied her."If you didn't sleep with him,then what'd y'all do?"
"Nothing,nothing....We just talked a little."
"Nina,"Bella said,gritting her teeth."I can tell when you're lying,mami,so spill it.Ahora."
"Fine,we kissed..but that's all."
Nina saw Bella's expression change as soon as the words were out.She could tell that she was pissed.
"It was just a little kiss,B.I'm sorry.I got carried away."
Bella glared at her in silence.
"Come on,Bella,it's not like I'm gonna date him or anything.I know what you're gonna say..."her voice trailed off.
"What did we say about these boys,Nina?"Bella asked in a cool voice,but Nina could hear the anger in them.
"I know,B,but Emiko is so nice and-"
"What did we say?"Bella said sharply,cutting her off.
Nina's face fell."That they'd only be our tutors,nothing more."
"And?"
"Bella,that was in the past.Emiko seems-"
"And?"Bella asked again,getting angrier by the second.
Nina inhaled deeply."And we'd teach them a lesson cos of the way they break girls' hearts all over campus."
"They don't just break girls' hearts,Nina,"Bella said brusquely."They tear these girls apart.Didn't I tell you about Penelope?"
"Yes,you did,"Nina said softly.
"I'm not sure you remember.I had to fucking pick this girl off the ground where Joshua had left her weeping.Weeping,Nina.She was weeping at his feet,begging him not to break up with her and he just walked away,in front of everyone!What kind of human does that?Do you know the amount of pain that girl has been through because of him?Do you know wat it takes for a girl to cry at a guy's feet?"
"I know,I know.But Emi-"
Bella scoffed."Emiko.You think he's so nice,right?All chocolate skinned and smooth talking...just how you like 'em.I thought you'd have learnt your lesson about men after Martin messed you up,duped you and dumped your ass for me to clean up."
Nina stiffened."That was harsh,Bella."
"It's the truth,mi amigo.It's the bitter truth.This Emiko guy,he's worse than Joshua.Haven't you ever wondered why Claire Van Holt dropped out of school?I'll tell you why,dear Nina.She was pregnant.And,she had an abortion.It nearly took her life.Now,you and I know that Claire was a good Christian girl.Hell,I had to avoid her a thousand times just so I wouldn't get invited to her fellowships.Now,the only boy she was ever involved it was Emiko,and that was because he chased her to the ends of the earth just so he could get into her drawers.He even went to her church.Then he got her pregnant,and made her get an abortion.I got to know this through her madre,Nina."
Bella stood up,and took a large square-shaped gift box from underneath the counter and placed it in front of Nina.
"Here's your package.I hope you like it.If I hurt you it's only because I care,okay?Buenas noches."
As she left,she heard Nina's sad voice say behind her,"Lo siento, Isabella."

*****************************
Bella laid on the bed,unable to sleep.She felt a chill inside her,even though she was under a large duvet.She felt alone,even though Nina was right beside her,sleeping soundly.Nina,Bella thought and reached out to stroke her cheek affectionately.She loved this girl more than she was supposed to.She had this fierce need to take care of her,protect her.Like she was unable to with Marabella.
   When she'd found Nina,she'd been shaken by how much she resembled Mara in nature.She was so gentle,so insecure,so sad.Bella knew,right then,that she'd found another sister.Someone she'd take care of and protect.And,she did.She spent more time on Nina than she did on herself.She helped her build herself,took her away from her hateful family and started a business with her.        
    Having Nina filled a void in her heart.But that didn't ease the pain she'd carried all her life,like a heavy luggage in her soul.Though she tried to mask it by being expressively bold and aggressively defiant,she could not stop the demons that plagued her every night.
Demons of the past.

Spanish Dictionary:
Dónde has estado,Nina?Llevo màs de media esperando :Where have you been,Nina?I've been waiting for you for over an hour.

Que pasa :What's the matter?

Qué hora es? :What time is it?

Cómo el encuentro con los chicos ir? :How did the meeting with the boys go?

Estás ocultando algo de mi :Are you hiding something from me?

Ahora :Now

mi amigo :my friend

madre :mother

Lo siento :I'm sorry