Pimentel Princess #wattys2018

Chapter 37 : just the way you are

"Yoyo you told your parents your coming with papa, right?" I ask as stab my fork in the school pasta.

"Yeah I told dad," he shrugs.

"So why did you move here from California?" Hafsa questions, as her mouth is filled with food, barely understandable.

"They broke up, mum and dad. Dad was heartbroken so he said he'd live closer to his "Joelito," I know, what a name?" He scoffs.

"Anyway, Dad was heartbroken and wanted a fresh start, so here I am," he finishes.

So Uncle Yoandri wanted to surprise dad.
Oh, damn. I ruined it. I mentally shrug and return to my pasta.

After schools finished, we walk Little Yoyo to the car, me and Hafsa deliberately point at the wrong one, watching him as he walks up to the beaten up old car, without even checking before opening the rear door and taking a seat.

We laugh hysterically when the old man comes out shouting at Yoyo, I feel kind of bad.

It was my way of saying, 'welcome back Little Yoyo, Miss us did you?'.

"Hey, Uncle Joel," Yoan says to Papa calmly, as he takes the passenger seat. I stand beside him, one brow raised.

"Out my seat?" I say throwing a thumb over my shoulder.

"Nuh-Uh. I'm the guest. Tell her Uncle Joel," he pleads.

But what Papa says next takes me by surprise.
"Little Yoyo, you aren't like your father. Don't harass my children, siéntate aquí January," he commanded.

"Thank you Papa," I kiss him on the cheek as I glance over to Yoan.

"Bullies," he scoffs.

When we get home, I throw my bags at the door, and jump onto sofa.

"No Hafsa, let me watch something!" I cry and I reach out for her hand, which is keeping the control captive.

"January and Hafsa. Take your things to your room, must I tell you everyday," Mama sighs fed up.

"Sorry Mama," Hafsa jumps, taking her belongings and the control with her.

"Go on, January. Take your things," she says cynically.

I groan and grab my things before swinging them on my bed.

I lay on my bed, my hard bag digging into my shoulder blade as I stare at the mirror on the ceiling.

He broke up with me. We hadn't been going out officially for more than a week but before that, we were bestfriends. I hadn't lost my boyfriend, I'd lost a bestfriend.

I thought the way he'd always take me to Creme Creme Chocolate and buy me the chocolate roses, after-schools.

The way he'd sit and play with my hair, and platt it before PE. The Romeo and Juliet part we role played for English though we didn't date at the time, I knew I was smitten.

My legs swing and kick my bad off my bed, a loud thud makes the floor vibrate for a second or two. I wrap myself in my duvet, not want to stare at my reflection even more.

I don't know why I'm so angry, I hadn't done anything wrong. Urgh breakups are the worse.

A knock at the door becomes evident when the door starts to become ajar, with a confused Hafsa standing in the way.

"I wanted to take a nap, but with you in your bed," she doesn't wait for me to answer and just climbs in. We both dose off.

I am awoken by a hysterical laugh coming from Yoan. I shake Hafsa awake but when she doesn't wake up I flick her forehead, and her eyes shoot open.

I notice she has a drawn-on-by-felt tip moustache, connecting with a thin drawn beard.

She laughs when she sees my face, then suddenly touches her face, rubbing her cheeks harshly checking for residue on her fingers.

We both get out of bed and run to the mirror, my reflection now has drawn on red circles on my cheeks.

"Aw, Little yoyo didn't like the prank we pulled earlier?" I turn to Yoan.

"Wait, if he's here then..." Hafsa trails off before her eyes shoot almost out of her sockets.
"Uncle Yoyo!" We shout in unison racing downstairs to hug him.

He hugs us both tightly, his eyes are rimmed with unshed tears, as he smiles brightly at us. "My girls all grown up ey?" He says as he wipes away falling tears.

"And looking at your faces I'm guessing you met Yoan already," he chuckles.

"Bro, what brought you here anyway?" Papa asks as we sit around the coffee table playing cards.

"Ah, she left me, she said I wasn't good enough for her so she just divorced me. So I came back to my Joelito ofcourse." He smiles.

Half way through Yoandri singing 'Just the way you are,' on karaoke, Papa pulls out the tv plug.

"Well I wanted Yoyo to sing it without the music, whilst I played piano," he shrugs. We walk over and Papa clears his throat and plays the song softly on the keyboard.

"Because your amazing, just the way you, are," he hold the last note, prolonging it elegantly. We all clap. Then papa fears his throat.

"I'd like to make a confession, I think you should've won La Banda. Your voice, it gives me goosebumps bro. And your voice is so authentic." And we all cheer again.

We hear the metal key connecting with the lock, all confused as to who interrupts our time, and all sigh with relief with as see Mama.

"YOYO!" She says dropping the bags of shopping at the door and running to drape her arms around his neck.

"Who's up for takeaway?" Mama asks.
"Me," we all shout except papa who shouts "if your paying,"

____________________________

Authors note: don't get too comfy😉