La Rosa Del Sur (The Rose of the south)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15
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"¿Hola?" I said apprehensively into the phone. "Escucha, before you say anything--"

"Roseina Maria Santiago," It was my mother's voice. I was surprised. I had wholly expected my father to be on the other end, but it was my mother.

"¿Mamá? I asked.

"Yes, I know, you were expecting to hear it from your father," My mother mused. "But you'll get it from me instead."

I bit my lip sheepishly. "¿Estás enojada?" I asked, tentatively.

"A little bit, yes," She said in a clipped voice. "I mean, do you expect me to be happy that you went off with a total stranger and got yourself caught up in this mess?" I winced. "And then, your brother has the audacity to call and ask us for help. Dios mío, Roseina." I heard a loud breath escape her lips.

"But we need the help, Mamá," I said.

"And your father and I will give it to you," She said, matter of factly. "Because Zoella and Diego are bystanders in this whole thing. You two dragged them into this, and we, as a family, have a responsibility to their families to get them home safe. So yes, we will help you." I cringed as the pool of guilt in my stomach began to expand, snaking through each and every part of my body.

"I'm sorry, Mamá," I began.

"You're not as sorry as you're going to be," She interrupted. "You may be nineteen, Roseina, pero todavía no eres un adulto. When everyone is safe and rescued, we're all headed back to Nueva York." My stomach dropped out of my body when she said that.

"Mamá--"

"No, Roseina. When you have your own children one day, you'll understand the decisions a mother has to make, and what it feels like when you have no idea where they are," My mother said with finality. "I will not let another person in this family die." I could hear her breathing quite heavily now. "Hand the phone back to your brother."

I took the phone off of my ear and handed it back to Rafael. I crossed my arms and watched my feet scuff over the floor. My mother was right of course. I had gone off with a stranger and now my best friends were in danger. I heard Rafael snap the phone shut and I looked up. He looked as guilty as I felt. He let out a long sigh.

"They're not happy," He stated.

I scoffed. "Understatement of the year, hermano." We stood in silence for a moment.

"I told them where to meet us tomorrow, and I said to be there around eight in the morning," Rafael shifted his feet. "I thought the sooner we get Zoella and Diego out, the better."

"We should tell them," I said, nodding my head to the living room door. Rafael nodded as well. We turned and headed through the door.

All four of the people still crouched around the paper on the floor, looked up simultaneously as the door swung shut behind us. Luca smiled at me and I forced a smile in return. I didn't want to leave. There was so much more I wanted to do in Italy. I wanted to maybe hike Mount Etna, explore the ruins of the ancient city of Segesta, and walk along a gorgeous beach and watch the sunset. And maybe, just maybe, I'd have the chance to hang out with Luca.

"Well?" Luca asked, watching my face. "What did they say?"

"They said they'd help us," I forced as much enthusiasm into my voice as possible.

Malik gave a small punch to the air. "Perfect."

"I also told them to meet us there at eight in the morning," Rafael added. "I figured, the sooner we got our friends out of there, the better."