THE MAFIA’S HEIR

BIANCA’S POV

“How?” That was the only word I could manage to say. I doubted she was gonna say anything to me, but to my surprise, she did. Even though she had started in a very confusing manner, I was glad she still did.

“I thought it was going to be a thing of a few days, but somehow, she stayed at the hospital longer than I had imagined. The first week, the second week, and third week, and I had not seen my mother. I finally mustered the courage to ask Mr Fernando about mom, and all he said was that she was gonna remain in the hospital for a long time, with the look of things.” She paused, looking far off as she reminisced the past. I could see those tears clouding her eyes again, but I knew better than to say a word. If I did, those tears would come pouring out, and I really wanted to avoid that. I looked around the executive lounge where I had been successfully able to take her, so we could have our discussion in a somewhat calm and private manner. “Knowing Mr Fernando was already footing mom’s bills, I couldn’t ask for more. I had already made peace with the fact that I was going to drop out of school. Visiting my Aunt’s place was completely out of the question because I first hand knew what living under her roof felt like.” I guess I was slowly understanding where she was headed.

“You have an Aunt?” I couldn’t help but ask. I needed to under the situation of things better.

“Yes. My mom’s younger sister. Her only sibling actually.” She sighed. “I had stayed with her a certain time, when my mom had traveled out on a contract job. That was the period we were still living well off. Mom hadn’t lost her job yet, and we were able to afford basic neccesities. I had to stay with my aunt until mom returned from her trip. It was a horrible experience. I know she never hit me because she’d definitely have to give explanations to my mom when she returned from her trip. I used to be an outspoken child, so there was no doubt that I would report everything my aunt had done to me, when mom returned.”

I couldn’t help but think on about the fact that she said she had always been an outspoken child. I wonder the hardships she had gone through, that dampened her spirits this way. Nonetheless, I asked no questions and let her continue narrating her story. I knew lunchtime would be over soon, but I figured I could make do with some extra minutes.

“Auntie Michelle wasn’t really so nice to me, so I decided going to stay with her was a bad idea. When I stayed with her, mom was still healthy and well. Imagine how life would be for me, if I dared staying with her in my mother’s present condition.”

“But you said your mom had a good paying job. Something that could even secure her access to other countries for work. What happened? How did she start working for Mr Fernando, and how did you end up in his home?” I asked, seeming quite confused.

“Immediately after mom returned from that trip that required me staying with Aunt Michelle for a year, her health slowly started deteriorating. It became worse as the day went by, and I guess it worsened that much because mom failed to go get herself checked at the hospital. She only relied on self medications. Apparently, she had fainted while at work on a certain day, and had been rushed to the company’s clinic. A few tests were run and it was discovered that mom might have gotten exposed to harsh chemicals, that lead to some sort of skin cancer. The work she had recently travelled out of the country for, was to supervise a new chemical processing company. She had fallen victim of cancer as a result of harsh work hazard. For the first few months, the company supported her medically, until she was stable enough. But then, after she was discharged from the hospital, they laid her off with a few months salary advance pay off.”

“I guess mom had so much faith that she was going to land another decent job, but her efforts at getting a job proved abortive. Mind you, she had quick forgotten the fact that she was only a high school graduate that was lucky enough to get a job with a start up company, that grew through the years. Getting a good job seemed hard because she only had her high school certificate. After months of trying to land a job, she finally did. But she had only gotten hired as the housekeeper to the Fernandos.” She paused and sighed. Now it was beginning to make sense. “When she had broken the news to me, that was when I realized deep down, that we were literally fucked. I had already imagined that life wasn’t going to be all rosy anymore.” She adjusted her position on the sofa, and continued talking. “So mom would go to work at the Fernandos everyday. Some days when we were lucky, they gave her tips after a day’s work, other days, she brought left over foods from the mansion back home. When the school holidays had begun, I had to follow mom to work everyday. There I meet with Madame Beatriz; Mr Fernando’s wife. They were extremely rich, but she was very kind to me. I guess she liked me because I was a bubbly kid, added to the fact that she had 4 sons, but no daughter. She’d always come to the kitchen to keep mom and I company, even though it was beneath her to do so. Mr Fernando related with my mom and I, more on a professional level than casual level, which was fine still. But the biggest problem turned out to be their last son; Ricardo.” Finally! The story was adding up now. “Ricardo had been mostly mean to me, but I really didn’t care as he wasn’t a face I saw regularly. It didn’t matter until mom took ill again. Somehow, the skin cancer we thought had been treated, made a nasty comeback.”

“Oh no!” I gasped.

“Yes. And that is how it comes to the part where Mr Fernando tells me mom is likely going to remain at the hospital for a long time.”

“So what did you do?” I enquired.

“What could I do? I was just 13 years, and was literally alone in the world. Like I said, Aunt Michelle’s place was a total ‘no-no’, so I didn’t bother seeking her out. I simply started staying at the home, knowing I wouldn’t be able to afford my school bills. That was when I the innocence within me disappeared. I was slowly becoming introduced to the harsh world, where I had to fend for myself. Soon, the little supplies we had at home had run out, and I was beginning to starve. On one of those days that severe hunger struck, I found myself at the gates of the Fernando’s residence. Recognizing me as the housekeeper’s daughter, the security personnel let me in. I had asked to see Madame Beatriz. The moment she heard I was around, she had rushed out to see me. She asked how I was faring, and if my father was taking good care of me.”

That’s true. Laura hadn’t made mention of her father yet. Probably seeing the curiosity in my eyes, she supplied me with the answers I seeked.

“My father left my mom while I was still very young. So I never knew what having a father felt like.” Goodness! Laura had really been through a whole lot. “That was the exact same thing I had told Madame Beatriz, and she became interested in my welfare. I narrated everything to her, and she had found it quite difficult to believe that I had stayed at home all by myself for the few weeks my mom had been at the hospital, with no one else to cater for me. Finally understanding that I had rushed down to their residence because I was hungry, she made sure I was properly fed, and asked me to spend the night at their place.”

“The next day, she came to me and hadn’t wasted any time, begging her to let me fill in the former position of my mother in their house. She had been quite skeptical because I definitely couldn’t manage to carry out some of the difficult chores, but I had been quite insistent. I told her that I had to continue schooling, and I needed the littlest paying job to make that possible. She told me I was still a minor, and she would have to discuss with her husband first. I remained at their house and a day after, Mr Fernando asked to see me. He rebuffed me for not saying anything earlier when he had informed me about my mom’s health, and promised to help in anyway he could. He accepted that I worked for them, in exchange that they trained me through school. To my utmost suprise, a week later, I was enrolled in the same prestigious school as his last son, Ricardo.”

“Now, he was always around you.” I muttered in understanding, and she nodded.

“I didn’t know what I was thinking, hoping he’d actually look out for me at school. His attitude towards me was no different from his attitude at home. He didn’t just let the other rich kids look down on me, he joined them. It was more difficult for me because the bullying didn’t end at school, but at home as well. And he had this way of acting the opposite in the presence of his parents.”

“That’s the way people like that are. Deceptive.” I breathed out in annoyance.

“Things became worse when Mr and Mrs Fernando started pursuing their political career. They were barely at home, which left me to the mercy of Ricardo. I had never met his older brothers because they all studied outside the country, and were never around. The only other people in the house with us were mostly the domestic staff, who literally had no say in anything. So it was really just Ricardo and I.”

Ahhh! This was really so sad. But then….

“But you are clearly done with school. Why do you still remain with the Fernandos?”

“It’s not like I do not want to leave, Bianca. I really want to leave. Moreover, I have saved up more than enough money through the years I stayed with them. Unlike Mr Fernando and I had agreed when he took me in, he paid for my tuition fees, always gave me pocket money for school, and still paid me little wages every month for working in his home.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.” She nodded in agreement. “I had always thought the man was more of a professional person, but after my mom took ill, I guess the fatherly side of him showed up. He is a very good man. To be honest, Madame Beatriz hasn’t been in support of me still working as a maid in their house, but I insisted.”

“Why?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” She muttered sincerely, looking away into an empty space. “I really don’t know.” She repeated. The look on her face only showed one thing. Longing. I guess I was finally coming to understand the situation of things now.

“I know.” I whispered.

“You know?” She asked inquisitively.

“Yes, I know.” I gave a small smile. “You are subconsciously tied to this people Laura. If we are being quite honest, from your story and from the little glimpse I caught between you and….” I paused, realizing I wasn’t even sure the person I had seen with Laura that day, was whom I thought she was.

“What is it?” She asked, not knowing why I suddenly paused.

“The lady whom you had knelt down to buckle her shoes….”

“Yes?”

“That lady…. who is she?”

“That is Madame Beatriz.” She said, confirming my thoughts.

“Just like I thought.” I nodded. “Even from afar, I could see she had a really soft spot for you.”

“Ahh, yes!” Laura smiled for the first time since we got talking. “I adore her as well. She has really been a mother figure eversince my mom left.”

“Yes. I guess that is why you are finding it difficult to leave now, even if you had what it takes to. Mr Fernando is a father figure, likewise his wife. This people have become your family for….?”

“9 years.” She supplied. “I have stayed with them for 9 years.”

“Wait. Your mom has been in the hospital for 9 years?” I asked in disbelief.

“No, not exactly.” She chuckled, but her eyes held only sadness. “I just always use that word ‘left’ when I refer to her. She actually died a few months after I got enrolled in Ricardo’s high school. It was a rather painful memory for me, so I do not like to relive it.”

“Oh myyy…” I sympathized, feeling really sorry for Laura. And here I was, thinking that the worst thing that could happen to anyone was being made jest of, for the colour of their hair. Other people have seen far worse than that. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m slowly making peace with the fact that I will never see her again. And to be honest, the loneliness hits harder when I’m alone. So I rather….”

“So you rather remain with the only people who feel the closest to being family.” I cut her short, completing her statement. All she did was nod in agreement.

“But Ricardo makes your life a living hell.” I sighed. “Don’t you want to be away from him?”

“I want that. I really do. But then, what difference does it make? I would still have to face him at work.”

“Exactly! That is why you have to stand your ground from now on. What happened to that bubbly extroverted and outspoken little girl?”

“She died long ago. Alongside her mother.” She muttered, looking away. My heart broke all the more, when I noticed the tears in her eyes.

“Would her mother be proud to see her this way? Her mother would have been happier, knowing her little girl can atleast, protect herself. You don’t have to let Ricardo ride all over you. You can put him in his place.”

“I can?” She muttered, looking at me doubtfully.

“Yes, you can.” I grinned. “I once did so to a rich boy who always bullied me at school.”

“You were bullied??”

“Yes, I was. For years, I was.”

“But why? You’re definitely not poor, and you don’t look to me like someone that can be stepped on.”

“Well, I used to look like someone who could be stepped on, until I decided to stand up for myself. And can you guess why I was even being bullied?” I chuckled in disbelief. It all suddenly seemed so foolish to me. I was even more foolish for believing that my hair colour made me less of a person, or a ‘freak’ as Kyle used to say. I guess my short discussion with Laura had really opened my eyes to a lot of things.

“Why?” She asked curiously.

“Because of my hair colour. They said I had an ugly hair color that made me look like a freak. Anyways, I really do not care anymo…” I was still talking when she gasped.

“Oh my God!” She put her hand over her mouth. What happened now?

“What is it?” I asked, a bit worried.

“Bianca they lied to you! They lied to you!!” She suddenly burst into laughter. “You have the most beautiful hair I have seen in a long while, trust me.” I didn’t know if I was being a bit harsh, but I felt taking Laura’s perspective to heart was a bit extreme. She was clearly not someone with eyes for fashion. I looked at the oversize shirt she had worn, with its sleeves almost poking its way into her mouth, in the position she was. She had buttoned the shirt even at the collar, making it almost look like she was choking. It made me wonder why Laura even dressed like that. I guess seeing her looking semi choked, was enough for me to laugh.

“What is it?”

“Nothing love.” I assured, a small, yet genuine smile on my face. I guess I had really found a friend. Someone I loved and understood, regardless of how she appeared.