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There's no one but you
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Chapter 1: New Shoes
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'' To buy or not to buy? That's the question…'' I said that to myself while contemplating my reflection in the store's mirror.
I have been standing here for about half an hour, pondering in my head whatever if spending more than two months of rent on this really beautiful pair of designer heels was really worthy or if it was just another of my frivolous craves.
'' Gosh, they look amazing on you!'' the kind but really determined to make me buy employee kept complimenting me nonstop ''they make you look really sophisticated ''
''Hihihi, thanks!'' and because I'm such a sucker for compliments, I was falling right into her net like a stupid giggling tuna.
''That model is a classic. You are very lucky to have found them at this price; they tend to sell out pretty quickly, even when they are not on a discount.''
''Y- Yeah I know, they are to kill for…'' Literally, my mother will kill me when she finds out.
''No, no, no! I can't do this! I can't take them. Even marking 40% off, they are still too expensive for me, and I don't want to live off eating only Ramyun for a whole month again…'' I was having an inner turmoil at this moment. But even so, I knew what the right thing to do was. '' Aff I would just look at them one more time before saying goodbye''
However, my resolution was taken away as soon as I looked back at those two gorgeous pieces of black leather, shining under the warm yellow light of the store, which made them to contrasts dramatically with the crimson red sole… seducing me.
Then, as if I didn't look crazy enough already, I began rotating and flexing my feet and legs in every humanly possible angle, maybe with the hope of finding some kind of imperfection on them, a scratch or something, in a last attempt to convince myself they were just not worthy of having my mother disowning me for the second time this year…or maybe to bargain another discount because of that, who knows?
''Excuse miss, is something wrong?'' I was brought back to reality by the concerned voice of the store's employee.
''Eh?'' a sudden shiver made me realize that I was almost sweating at this point. The pressure was just too much, and the blood thirsty look on the employee's eyes wasn't helping me either.
'' Well, Ramyun is really delicious anyway'' I unintentionally said out loud.
'' W- what did you said?''
'' Nothing! I will take them please!''
''Nice choice''
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'' Mom… Mom! Please stop yelling at me'' I whimpered into my phone while sprawled upside down my apartment's couch.
'' No Mika! I just send you money last week! How is possible you have already used up everything?''
'' Mommy, I told you I had to spend it on school supplies… books and stuff'' at this point I was dreamily staring at my precious new shoes. Gosh, I really wanted to feel bad about lying to my mother but their beautifulness made it so hard.
'' I can't believe that Mika! How can school supplies cost that much? I'm sure you just spent it all shopping and partying again!'' Alright, now I was feeling a little bit offended, not by the fact my mother thought so badly of me, but by the fact she thought I spent my own money partying! Please mom, that's what guys are for.
''Mika, do I have to remind you the deal you made with your father and I, so we would agree you moving to study in New York? ''
''Yeah, I remember the deal Mommy but…''
''Don't mommy me young lady! Our deal was that your father and I were going to finance your studies and you were going to find a par-time job to finance your personal expenses! We are not made of money!''
'' I know mom, but NYC is such an expensive city! You wouldn't believe it! Just taking the subway every day to go to school costs me…''
''Oh cut it off young lady! I already know your 'NY is such an expensive city' speech! I bet you don't complain about how expensive the subway is when you go out partying with your friends on the weekends''
I face palmed myself this time. Great! I post a couple of photos of me and my friends going out at night on my twistagram, and my mother thinks I'm the new Lindsay Lohan…
'' Mom, please! I don't even go out that much! But if what you want is for me to stay all day long locked inside my apartment like a hermit, then FINE! I will just don't have any friends! I will just go straight to home after school every day. Maybe I should just buy a cat! Then I will not look that crazy when I start talking with the toaster!'' I was just rambling nonsense at this point.
'' Tsk! You are such a drama queen''
'' Mom, I want you to remember that I'm already doing everything you and my dad wished for me to do. I'm studying what you wanted me to study, and I always get good grades miraculously; plus I don't use drugs and I'm not promiscuous. The only thing I did ask for was to come to study in New York and I even got an bad paid part-time job in a stinky pizza parlor just to make you happy… don't you think I deserve just a little bit of compassion?…'' I pleaded using my best puppy voice; I said voice because she couldn't actually see me making my puppy face.
''…''
''Mommy…?'' I asked even though I knew what that silence meant.
My mother let out a resigned sigh and I internally squealed of happiness because of it '' Alright… I will talk with your dad to see how much we can send you this time, but I'm warning you Mika! This will be the last time! Okay?''
''Yes! Thank you mommy! I luve yo so much!''
'' Ujum… be careful Mika, you are already an adult, and you have to learn how to take care of yourself… Your father and I wouldn't last you forever, maybe one day of another one of us will not be here anymore, or maybe both of us, and then who will take care of you?''
I rolled my eyes at this ''Yeah, I know I promise you this will be the last time'' at least for this month.
She sighed again, ''How I wish your sister could be there with you, she would surely know how to knock some sense into your head!''
'' Yeah I'm sure she would… and then both of us would go out partying and shopping every day, so you and dad would have to send money for both of us''
My mother let out a chocked laugh ''Remember to lit a candle for you sister tonight, okay?'' I knew she was trying to speak normally but the sorrow was really noticeable in her voice.
'' Yeah mommy, I will''
'' I love you Mika, please take care of yourself''
'' I will, I love you too and tell daddy I love him too please''
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'' Are you sure you want that to be on your pizza sir? Excuse me for my rudeness, but it sounds kind of gross'' I giggled.
I was already doing my night shift at Tony's pizza, and because we were short on people Tony had assigned me the special task of taking the delivery orders. I said especial because he never let anyone else but him to take the orders.
Tony's it's a small pizzeria just a couple of blocks away from my apartment. So, even when I go out smelling like pizza every day and don't get paid well enough, its closeness as well as its flexible work schedule make it a really convenient place for me to work at. Also, as a person living on an instant noodle diet, I really appreciate the occasional free pizza.
'' Of course babe, it tastes amazing! You should not judge it until you have tried some''
I chuckled again; this guy was so funny.
Believe me, I never speak with costumers this way, but this guy sounded so laid back and friendly that I couldn't help myself and act a little bit unprofessional. Okay…really unprofessional.
''Mhmp… I don't know sir, I appreciate my health a lot'' I tried to sound more collected this time… tried.
But then he just snorted at my sudden 'seriousness' '' Please girl, you should see me then! I'm the definition of health and I eat one of those almost every day''
''Oh really? You must be really ripped then'' Omg! Did I say that last part out loud? Was I actually flirting with a costumer over the phone? I'm going crazy or something? Or is that I had become that sexually frustrated that even 'nice sounding' guys turn me on? Either way, I smacked my forehead against the counter after realizing my lameness.
'' Pfff, girl you should see my arms! I bet you could not grip them all even using both hands''
That last comment made me lift my head from the counter and almost choked to dead ''R- Really… Wow…'' was the deep answer I came up with.
'' Are you new there? I don't recall ever talking with you before and I believe I would remember such a cute sounding babe''
Okay, now I was giggling like a high school girl while twirling the end of my ponytail ''No, I have been working here for about six months, but judging by the really dangerous glare my boss is giving me right now I don't think I would be here much longer…'' I made that last part sound like a joke, but seriously my boss was just standing a couple of feet behind me, burning the back of my head with his intense glare. Maybe that rumor about Tony being an ex-mafia boss wasn't so inaccurate after all because if looks could kill…
This time he let out a good laugh and I actually felt my cheeks reddening even more ''Damn girl, that would be such a shame! I will not let that happen! I'm a VIP customer over there you know? I have my privileges and I'm almost sure one of them is being able to talk with the pretty receptionist as much as I want…''
Damn… Could he be more charming? '' Thanks ehmm…''
''Michelangelo! But you can call me Mikey baby cakes''
Yes he could! '' Thank you Mikey, but you don't even know if I'm pretty, I can be an old woman or even a dude for all you know'' I couldn't help but teasing him a little, even though it was the truth for me too, he could be a 40 years old fatty living with his mother or a serial killer.
'' I know because I'm seeing you right now…''
'' Eh?''
''MIKEY! HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE TO ORDER THE FUCK*NG PIZZA, I'M STARVING HERE DAMN IT!''
My conversation was suddenly cut off by a really loud and irate scream.
'' Back off Raph! I'm having a conversation here, if you are that hungry just eat one of Don's pop tarts or something '' he snapped, suddenly changing his friendly voice for a more serious and menacing one.
''No you cannot'' another voice suddenly spoke.
''That's disgusting! Give me the phone NOW! I will make the order! I can't believe you are that USELESS!''
It seemed that hunger had literally driven this other guy wild, because there was something really feral sounding in his voice. But I'm no one to judge, I also become crazy when I'm hungry.
That aside, I started to wonder why has Mikey said that about being able to see me… was he here? Or was he talking figuratively? I don't know why but I had the sudden bad feeling it was neither of those.
''No! I'm the one talking with the pretty lady here. If you want the phone you will have to catch me first muscles for brain!''
I was thinking that all this argument was turning to be a little bit funny, until I heard the other guy roaring like an enrage beast and a startled gasp coming from Mikey.
'' Hello?'' I asked, but instantly removed the phone from my ear when I started hearing screams and several objects breaking on the background.
I was about to hang up the phone when I heard a really loud PAM! As if they had literally broken through a wall or something, and then the sound of two persons really… getting on it.
''Aww… mmhh…aww… That's it!'' a really aroused feminine voice moaned loudly.
'' Dude! Way to go Leo'' Mikey cheered.
'' Awww grosss!'' The enrage voice exclaimed.
'' Raphael! Michelangelo! What the hell? What's wrong with you two! You broke the door!'' Really dude? That's what you are really worried about?
'' Awww… please don't stop!'' begged the moaning girl, apparently totally oblivious of the new audience.
''You two get out of my room, you will have your turn later!'' the third voice commanded.
'' Don't be such a bad brother Leo… share something with your baby brother''
'' No Mikey, Its Donnie's turn next, he specifically asked to go before you, given the mess you made of the last one... and you know how much he likes redheads''
My face turned as blue as my uniform t-shirt after hearing that… Did they forget I was still on the phone? What kind of sick person would ask his brother to share a girl? No! The worst part of it was the way they talked about it as if it was the most common thing in the world… And why haven't I hung up the phone?
''Pfff, Don's such a pervert! '' the one called Raphael snorted.
'' Maybe that's why he likes licking strawberry pop tarts so much!'' Mikey insisted.
'' Too bad this one's drapes don't match the carpet''
I need to add that while all this conversation was taking place, I could still hear the moaning girl on the background and the one called 'Leo' still going at it.
''Oh! I think she's coming!''
After that I definitely hung up the phone.
I gingerly turned around to see the face of my boss, which let me more confused than before, because it was a strange mix between anger and worry.
Nevertheless, I walked right to him and forcing my voice to sound as normal as possible I asked him: ''Can I go back to work in the kitchen sir?''
He just patted my shoulder and nodded.
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The next few weeks I became so busy with school work that I almost couldn't take any shifts on the pizza parlor.
As strange as it was, Tony acted super comprehensive about it and even allowed me to skip as much as I needed.
It's not that he wasn't a nice person, but I knew he wasn't that nice of a person. That's why I couldn't help but notice that, after that bizarre call accident, he had started behaving differently towards me.
His strange change of attitude made me start thinking that maybe he knew something that I didn't about those strange costumers. Was it something bad? That Mikey guy told me they were VIP costumers so I'm sure Tony must at least know them in person. Were they bad people? What if they were part of Tony's ex-mafia group or something? There were just too many possibilities.
Even so, a strange feeling in my gut told me that the best thing I could do was to stay away from that matter. Reason why I decided to push my curiosity aside and never ask or mention to Tony or anyone else anything related to those bizarre brothers.
However, my resolution didn't stop me from dreaming about them, taking turns to have sex with that unknown girl while eating the pickled and peanut butter pizza Mikey had intended to order that night.
The spookiest thing about it was that all of them just looked like dark shadowed people, except for the girl, who was a beautiful moaning redhead; and of course, the pizza.
Despite the erotic mood of the dream, I was far from feeling aroused. On the contrary, I was feeling actually quite disturbed.
Anyhow, I was just grateful with my subconscious for not being as sick as to place me in that unknown girl place.