Chapter 3 | Pleasant Surprise
1376 Words
August 28, Friday, the morning before the crime. . .
ETHANS BLASTING HIS Klipsch Cinema 400 soundbar with his ‘oh-so-boring music’ as Ondrea complained of her brother’s type of rhythm. His rockband metallic songs roared the entire house with his favorite song playlist of Metallica and My Chemical Romance. It’s his outlet of relaxing— the tune of a rock band somehow takes his worries away. Eya’s relationship with her stranger boyfriend can’t keep Ethan away from thinking about how to keep his sister away from him.
After his last surgery, Ethan headed straight home from Washington Medical Center, which would be his last surgical operation for a while. The night before, he contacted his grandfather: Noah’s biological billionaire father, Norberto Fuentebella Echeverria. Ethan didn’t have another choice, and otherwise, her sister might end up murdered like his father.
Norberto immediately arranged their flight the next day. Ethan filed for an indefinite personal leave. He would need to get things ready at home and pack some stuff before they leave. Then he needs to help his stepmother with his youngest sister’s nineteenth birthday celebration.
Enjoying his songs, Eya stormed to Ethan’s room, turning off her brother’s music, then she snapped. “Your music irritates my ears, Ethan!”
“Good morning, dear princess! I’m relaxing here, Ethan said, jabbering,” it’s too early for you to be a grouch, Baby girl.”
“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes,” keep sounds low!”
Then, Ethan heard the doorbell rang a few times.
“Can you get that?” Ethan told Eya, who is comfortably curled up in his bed.
“No! I am sleeping in for a couple more hours. In here! So, you don’t play your songs like you are in a disco. Keep your music to yourself. Why don’t you have earphones? Didn’t I gift you one?”
“I forgot those in the doctor’s quarters.”
“Then go get it!” Eya snapped again.
“Hell no! I won’t be driving an hour to Seattle.”
“Take the subway.”
“No.”
“You should make your room soundproof," Ondrea muttered, pouting her lips.
“If you're sleeping here. Could you not touch my things? Do you understand?”
“Why? What are you keeping here? " Ondrea teased her brother as she giggled in his bed. "Your girlfriends’ nude photos?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend," Ethan replied annoyingly.
“Why don’t you get one? Remember that chick at the emergency room? The pro-bono lawyers. She’s cool! You should make her your wife.”
“Keep your thoughts to yourself. It’s frightening!”
Ethan left Eya in his room to tend to whoever was at the door. When he opened it, no one was there except for the gift box.
“Ondrea!”
“Ugh! You are so annoying!”
“Baby girl, I found this box left at the door for you,” announced Ethan.
“Big brother, is it really for me?”
“Uh-ha. Yours . . .” Ethan read the message scribbled on the box.” To my lovely Ondrea. Happy 19th birthday.”
Eya’s eyes brightened at the words that the gift box was for her. She ecstatically got up from the bed and ran to her brother, snatching the package off his hands.
“Thanks!”
“Ondrea! Who gifted you that package?”
“None of your business, big brother!” Eya responded, rolling her eyes.
Ethan’s dark eyes settled directly on hers, stern and scornful. Then, he questioned Eya in a dangerous voice, “Is it, Aris?”
She twitched her lips, grinned, and shrugged a shoulder at him with a smile on her face. Eya recognized the penmanship—Drake’s exquisite cursive handwriting. Then, she sprinted back to her room, smiling with delight leaving her brother bereft of speech.
Afterward, euphorically she opened the gift. Inside the neatly fancy wrapped square box package were an ivory short v-neck halter dress, a diamond-bangled bracelet, and a birthday greeting card that said, “see you at our rendezvous.”
Elated, she grabbed her phone and texted him.
[You never fail to surprise me.]
Eya decided to wear the halter ivory dress instead of the coral babydoll dress her mother bought. Amazingly, it fits her physique, revealing her stunning perfect curves. Then, she touched her belly and checked her baby bumps.
Drake will be happy to know about their baby. They once talked about having kids, and he said he would name their children, Draedon, a boy, and Adraenna if it’s a girl.
Eya stood in front of the mirror, touching her belly. She watched herself, imagining how she would look with her belly as round as a watermelon.
“My grandma had my mom when she was my age,” Eya whispered to her unborn child.” Like her, I have you. We'll find a way to make your daddy stay, baby. He will choose us. Mommy will do everything to keep him with us, baby.”
“Hey, there, sweetheart.”
“Hi, mum,” Eya greeted her mother affably as she entered the room.
Josie entered her daughter’s bedroom. She was admiring how beautiful Eya on her dress.
“Look at you; you’ve grown up a beautiful woman. If your father is here, I am certain Noah will be immensely proud of you. You are my life, Ondrea.”
Snickering, she replied in her most demure voice. “Mum, it’s my birthday. Don’t be melodramatic like Ethan.”
“I am delighted to see you all grown up. Nineteen years ago, you were so tiny and weak. We didn’t know if you would survive. No one knows. Do you wanna know why we named you ‘Ondrea?’”
“Mmm. Yeah,” Eya nodded,” why?”
“Because you are strong. Brave. You fight until I give birth to you. My doctor told me you would not survive, but here you are, sweetheart.”
“Mum, can babies hear when their mothers talked to them inside the womb?”
“Yes, they do,” Josie smiled at her,” you listened to me. I talked to you every day when I was conceiving you.”
“Mom, I love you,” Eya whispered charmingly.
“I love you more, sweetheart. Are you ready?”
“Yes, in a little bit. How’s my dress?”
“You look good on it. Didn’t you like the one I bought for you?”
“Oh, I do. I do very much love it! But I’m saving that dress for something more special than my birthday.”
“There is no other occasion more special than the day you were born, Ondrea.”
“Mum,” she said inflexibly, sending her mother a notion to stop.
“Okay, you look great on that dress. You keep holding your belly. Are you alright? Anything wrong?”
“No, nothing. Can you hug me?”
Eya has always been sweet. But she hardly yearns for her mother’s affection. Most of the time, they argue. It has always been Ethan who understood her since their father died.
Mystified, Josie embraced her daughter without a second thought.
“No, mommy, from my back, and you hold my belly too.”
“Eya, what is wrong with you today?”
“Mom, just do it, please,” she begged.
“When you become a mother. You will understand why I have to do what I’ve got to do to keep you safe.”
“I know. . . she said, touching her mother's hand, ". . .and thank you for everything.”
“Promise me. You won’t see that man again,” Josie said benevolently.
Eya couldn’t find the right words to respond. Drake prepared a dinner to celebrate with her. After her party, she’ll be off to see him.
Eya knew her mother was referring to Drake. However, it’s not happening because they will see each other tonight. She kept their embrace for a while. Feeling so guilty, Eya knew what she’s been doing was a mistake.
“Mum. . .”
“Is there anything you want to tell me, Eya?”
- Writer
