| ALESSANDRO |

C H A P T E R E I G H T E E N

C H A P T E R  E I G H T E E N

The next day I awoke to music blasting from the living room. I rubbed my eyes and put on my fur slides. My head was throbbing as I hadn't had slept all too well. I was thinking about Alessandro. I missed him.

I rumbled into the living room:
"Hey, what the fuck is going on guys?"
The whole gang was scattered around the massive room everyone immersed into their own actions.
The twins and Matteo were playing play station, Caleb was reading something out to Star on the balcony while Rhonda was sleeping, Michael and Sofia were wildly making out on the couch in the corner. His hands went underneath her dress. I for sure wouldn't use this couch again. Brad was on the phone with someone while eyeing shirtless Matteo.
For some people, who could take you out in seconds and were trained to notice small details, they were completely ignorant when I slowly went to my room, put on a light-blue long sleeve summer dress and wedges and opened the front door with the key I found in-between a stash of mangas and porn magazines in the twin's room.

It felt so good when I stepped out onto the porch of the luxurious penthouse. As if I hadn't seen broad daylight for years. I looked around and walked down the street. People were rushing by not noticing me. And I was thankful. I walked down the street and stopped by a window full of mouthwatering baked goods.

Minutes later I was sitting on a mint green plush seat eating cute pastries.

I looked out the window when the little bells on the door ringed.
A man stepped into the shop. With him, we were about four people in the shop. He was tall, had black hair, and a nice beard. He looked desi ( south-Asian) and was really handsome.

I was typing on my phone trying to ignore his presence. I was sitting right next to the door when he passed me and our eyes crossed. His cologne hit my nostrils. I closed my eyes and inhaled. He smiled mysteriously and left.

I came back to my senses. What has just happened? I was confused. After quickly finishing my danish pastry I left the store.

I was feeling like my mind was empty. I needed to feed it with the knowledge to stay sharp and woke. I'm a proud and smart woman of colour and it has to stay that way.

I walked over to a book store close by.
The store had multiple floors.

I stepped into the elevator playing soft background music. The heels of my wedges clacked when I reached the classical literature section. I tried looking over the colorful spines of the books realizing I've read every single one of them.

Quite disappointed I went walking around again. I instantly lit up when I saw the foreign books section. I hastily ran over there. Scanning the covers I picked up a german classic by Goethe. Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers. It reminded me of the time my family moved to Germany for a year due to my dads wotk. Lost in thoughts I turned the pages and soon was sick of the "hoch gestochene" language. I sighed and was reading the back of an Urdu poetry book when I heard someone come up behind me.

"Khoobsurat" (beautiful)

Sure it wasn't the old man behind the counter and smelling a familiar scent I said:

"Ye kitaab? Hamesha." ( The book? Indeed)

Turning around I stared into the eyes of the man of the pastry shop.

"So Yasmine. What have you been up to."

Shocked I stared at him.
Then the memories of my childhood came back.

"Mh. Imran?!"

"The one and only ."

I smiled.
Imran was my childhood friend back primary school in the U.K. until he moved away. I never saw him again.
We were the only desi kids and had our backs when someone attacked us with racist comments, which unfortunately happened all too often.