Twilight Requiem

I Need to Leave That Family

After chatting with my friends, I remembered that I would need to leave to meet Celestino.

“Uhm, I need to go. I have to meet with Celestino, my mom’s friend. I will see you later after that.”

Nyx said.

“Does it have to be now?” Bello whined, and she smiled at them, nodding.

“We’ll be in my place.”

Eugenie nodded, and I waved at them.

“I’ll see you later.”

She told them, and then she jogged away from her friends before they could even say another thing. Bello and Eugenie just huffed as they watched their friend hail a cab.

Nyx went to a posh café where Celestino told her he would meet her. When she stepped out of the cab, the first thing Nyx saw was the two huge men wearing black suits by the café’s entrance. She recognized them as Celestino’s bodyguards.

“Ms. Schade, Mr. Rijeka is inside waiting for you.”

One of the bodyguards said, opening the door for Nyx.

“Thank you,” she mumbled and went inside the café.

Once inside, no need for Nyx to scan the place for Celestino, as she easily spotted him at the very back of the café with his two other bodyguards standing behind him.

Celestino smiled the moment his eyes found Nyx. He stood up, and Nyx smiled as she walked towards him. Celestino was a handsome middle-aged man with an incredible physique, and his presence commanded respect.

He opened his arms as Nyx came close, and she accepted his hug as soon as she got to him.

“I am so happy you called me, анђео,” Celestino said, pulling away. Nyx smiled at him. Hearing him call her angel in his native tongue made her feel at home.

“How are you, Celestino?” she asked.

“Very well. Please, come sit with me,” Celestino responded, pulling out a chair for Nyx.

“Thank you.”

Nyx sat down, and Celestino went back to his seat. He poured tea into the cup in front of Nyx and offered her biscuits.

“How was your trip? Did you enjoy it?” he asked, and I smiled at him.

“It was very eventful. I really enjoyed the trip, thank you.”

Nyx responded, and Celestino smiled warmly at her.

“I’m really glad you enjoyed it. Your mother and I planned everything for you.”

Then Celestino clapped his hands.

“Now, what should we discuss?” Celestino asked, and Nyx took a deep breath before she looked at Celestino intently.

“I won't beat around the bush, Celestino,” she started, and Celestino nodded, urging her to continue.

“Something has been weighing on my mind for a while now.”

She mumbled, and then she looked at him.

“I want to leave that family. No, I need to leave that family.”

Celestino let out a tight smile after hearing what Nyx said.

“Are you sure about that?” he asked.

Nyx looked at the steaming tea in front of her.

“I think I am. I am tired of living like a servant in my own home. I wasn’t treated fairly, and if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have anything on my back.” Nyx paused and looked at the man sitting in front of him.

He leaned back, crossing his legs.

“Nicola, I am willing to help you in any way possible, but I need to make sure that you are a hundred percent sure about your decision. You are moving out of the house that your mother left for you, and the family you grew up with.”

Celestino spoke, and Nyx frowned.

“They never treated me as family,” she responded.

Celestino looked at her intently.

“Nicola, your mother loved you so much. I wonder if she has foreseen what could happen if she were to die early,” he said, and Nyx looked at him, as if she were realizing that Celestino knows more about her mother.

“You know a lot about my mother, and I feel like it's beyond being colleagues. Also, looking at you right now, you are not just a lawyer,”

Nyx said, glancing at the bodyguards standing behind him, and it made Celestino smile proudly at her.

“As expected of Niana’s daughter. You see a lot and are very observant,” he said.

Then Celestino heaved a deep breath and spoke.

“Yes, you are right.” He said, nodding his head.

“There is more to it, but this is not the right time for you to know about those things. For now, let us focus on what you want.”

Nyx nodded in understanding.

“If you want to move out, do you have a plan? Where would you go? Are you going to college? And most importantly, when will you move out?”

Celestino asked the questions, and Nyx looked down at the teacup in front of her.

“I… I am not really sure,” she blurted.

“I don’t really have a concrete plan right now; all I want is to get away from here as soon as possible before they take everything that I have and all of me.”

Celestino looked at her and sighed.

“Alright. This is what I need you to do,” he started, and Nyx looked at him.

“Start packing little things, important things. Don’t make any movements that will raise their suspicions. Let them think that everything is okay, that all is going according to what they want. You prepare, so anytime you need to go, you can go,” he continued.

Nyx nodded.

“Got it.”

“For now, we prepare and don’t make it obvious,” Celestino added.

“Okay, but how about the house? It's my mother’s; I can’t let them have what my mom left me,”

Nyx said, and then Celestino snorted.

“That tiny little house? Please, you can give it away or sell it; your mother won’t mind,” he said, and Nyx was confused.

“What? What do you mean? She left it for me; I cannot just let them have it,” she asked.

“Let’s just say, your mom is smart enough to make sure you will be taken care of. That little house is just a fraction of what she left for you,” he told me, and I looked at him, confused.

“Anyway, I will make some preparations while you do yours. I will stay for a couple of days since I have some business to take care of. Call me if you need anything.”

Celestino paused and then looked her in the eye.

“And I mean anything- whatever tough spot you are in, and if you are in need of help, tell me, call me. I will take care of it.”

He spoke, and Nyx nodded.

***********************************.

After Nyx left the café, she went towards Eugenie’s place to meet with them. When she got there, she was immediately bombarded with questions.

“That was a quick catch-up,” Bello said as soon as Nyx sat down on the couch.

“Yeah, it was. I just told him some things that I have been thinking,” Nyx paused and looked at her friends.

“I will tell you, guys, soon,” she said.

They looked at her, understanding she isn’t ready to share just yet. They nodded their heads and sat on the couch as well.

“Did you even snap a photo of the guy?” Eugenie asked.

Nyx smiled and shook her head.

Both Eugenie and Bello pouted in disappointment.

“You didn’t get a photo, and you even left him to wake up alone. That’s bloody painful,” Eugenie said, and Bello nodded, crossing his arms over his chest.

“You just pulled a disappearing female lead act on the poor guy,” Bello added, and Nyx gave them a deadpan look.

“Well, I need to leave that morning. I have a flight to catch,” Nyx reasoned.

“Yeah, but you could have left your name and contact details instead of the cold, nonchalant note saying, thank you… You had fun. Like, who does that?”

Eugenie stressed.

“Exactly. The guy must have been hurt by that. He was so into you, and you left him. He could be some hotshot CEO, pretending to be a simple teacher who was destined to sweep you off your feet and save you from your current life,” Bello said.

Nyx sighed and responded.

“If we are destined to meet again, we will meet again. And when that happens, I will apologize for leaving. As for him… if he is someone who will take me out of misery, also known as my current living arrangement, thank you, but I don’t need him to do it for me. I will do it myself.”

Both Eugenie and Bello looked at her and clapped their hands.

“There’s my strong, independent girl,” he said.

“Uh-huh.”

Eugenie mumbled, and then she remembered something.

“Oh, by the way. Are you really not going to Edward’s party?” she asked.

Bello looked at Eugenie and then at Nyx.

“You are invited to the party?” he asked, and then Eugenie leaned closer to him and spoke.

“He personally invited her.”

Bello’s mouth gaped, and then he looked at Nyx.

“What? You should go. We should go,” he told her.

Nyx huffed.

“I don’t want to,” she said.

“Boohoo. We’re going,”

Bello said, with finality in his voice.