TRINITY
Who says there is no such thing as perfect? It’s been six years of a perfect life, and what can I possibly ask for more?
It feels like yesterday when I marry my hot and gorgeous husband, and now I have three beautiful kids who enjoy playing at the park.
“Baby!”
I turn my head to see Bash making his way towards my direction with our twins on both hands. He just comes from the airport, and he’s still wearing his dark blue suit perfectly tailored for him.
“Hey, you’re early.” I rise from my seat and walk to meet him halfway.
He pulls me into a big hug. My kids’ arms are wrap around his legs.
“I miss you terribly, Trinity,” he whispers in my ear.
I giggle. “It’s been only eight hours, silly.” I break the hug.
“But I was miles away from you. You didn’t miss me, did you?”
He went to Boston to visit his branch since he’s been the President and the CEO of the Hughes Industries for four years.
I, on the other hand, is a full-time mother since Baby Fifth was born. Bash didn’t allow me to go back to work. I agreed because I want to spend my time with my son and my husband.
“Oh, stop being a whipped. I always miss you, and we talked over the phone. It’s not like we haven’t done this before.” I playfully slap his arm.
He chuckles. “I wanted to kiss you so badly here, and when I say kiss I mean to kiss you from head to toe,” Bash says.
Our two and a half years old identical twins run away after Bash kissing them both on their cheeks and start playing again with their stuff toys.
“I know, silly.”
“Shit!” Bash exclaims. I look where Bash’s eyes fixed on.
I notice Fifth in front of a little girl around his age with dark brown hair wearing a pink dress. My son is licking ice cream on his hand while the little girl is crying.
“Did Fifth take that ice cream from that girl?” Bash asks.
“Irene, don’t go,” Bash tells Fifth’s babysitter. Irene stays, sitting on the bench near us.
“It’s just ice cream, and my dad can buy you a house full of ice cream!” Fifth yells at the girl.
“But that’s mine.” The girl sobs, pointing at the ice cream on Fifth’s grasp
“This is not even yummy,” Fifth retorts.
“Bash.”
“I know what you’re thinking, Trinity.” I can feel the smile in his voice. My eyes still pin to Fifth and that poor little girl.
“What am I thinking?”
“You know it, Trinity.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, husband.” My eyes widen when Fifth throws the remaining ice cream to the grass, then he walks away, leaving the girl alone crying.
“See that, baby? Another bully in the family,” Bash says, laughing.
“That’s not even funny!” I hit him on his thigh.
He laughs out loud. “It runs in the family, I guess.”
I look at him sternly. His brow cocks.
He leans closer. “I love my son and my two girls, no matter how they become. I love you too, Trinity. Larger than my life.” He kisses my lips.
“Dad, Mom, stop kissing in the park.” Fifth’s voice pulls us apart.
“Stop making girl’s cry, Fifth,” Bash says to his son, pulls him closer, and kisses the top of Fifth’s head.
Fifth just grins sheepishly. “She’s pretty.”
Bash and I exchange a look.
“Let’s head home,” Bash announces. My two girls come running towards us.
“Did you two enjoy your playtime?” Bash asks Rain and Shine.
They jump. “Yes! Yes!”
I look at Bash who’s happily watching our twin babble to Fifth about how they enjoyed playing with the other kids.
“Really, Dad?” They ask in unison with full of excitement.
“What did I miss?” I ask Bash.
“It’s a surprise!” our kids yell.
***
FIFTH
I roll my eyes when Mrs. Carlos announces for another class activity. I know she just wanted to excuse herself from teaching today because she’s lazy as her fatass, though she has a good reputation with the school admin.
A new transferee drags an empty chair slumping her ass down dramatically to the chair.
“Fifth Hughes, how unfortunate for you to be my partner?”
Her remarks widen my eyes, but by the tone of her voice, she’s amused. No one approaches me that way.
I look at her hand, tapping the pen on her armchair.
She has her own fashion sense. Her wrist is full of bracelets made of beads and leathers. What catches my attention are the neon wristbands arranged in a rainbow.
She’s wearing blue loose jeans with holes on both knees. I’m sure she did those holes on her own. Her plaid shirt is too big for her slim frame with a few buttons open, showing off her white shirt with SpongeBob winking printed in front.
“Are you scrutinizing my fashion sense, Fifth?”
My eyes snap at her face. Her voice is so smooth and sweet. “Why aren’t you wearing a proper uniform?”
“Venice.”
“Huh?”
“My name is Venice Lewis.” She smiles, showing off her dimples. She’s cute.
“Oh.”
Venice is wearing thick black-rimmed glasses. Her chocolate brown hair is braided into two. She has a straight nose, and her lips are pink and no hint of lipstick or lip gloss.
I take back what I said earlier. She’s beautiful.
“Are you just gonna check me out?” she asks with a playful tone.
I narrow my eyes on her, but before I can say my remarks, she clears her throat.
“Let’s start, shall we?” She flips her book pages open.
Venice talks most of the time, and her voice is soulful like music to my ears, and she smells good too. I can’t even process what she said.
The next thing I know is the ringing of a bell.
“We’ll continue this tomorrow.” She rises from the chair, tossing her book and pen into her backpack, then walks away without giving me a second look.
Well, that’s a first.
***
“Why won’t you just ask her out?” My driver, Reiss asks.
“I don’t ask girls out.”
“Then what are we doing here, stalking a girl?”
“Hush. You answer it already,” I say when I notice Venice hop out from the passenger’s door, but I can’t see the driver.
She walks right straight to the small supermarket. She’s the complete opposite of Venice in our class today. Why does she have to hide from those baggy clothes?
She wears a white sleeveless crop top, black short shorts, and ankle boots. No more glasses and no more braids. She has a pair of long toned-leg.
“Wait here,” I tell Reiss, but I know he won’t listen.
Dad won’t allow me to go alone by myself. It’s annoying though.
I stride inside the supermarket and I find her immediately through a few customers.
She’s pushing a cart while I’m following her discreetly. She picks some dairy products, beverages,m before she moves to the snack section.
She saunters to the toiletries section and picks up hair products.
“That’s creepy, you know,” she says, laughing at me.
I feel a heat crept on my cheeks. This is so embarrassing, and she just notices me following her.
“You might need this one too.” I pick a tampon.
She barks into a laugh, picks the pack of pads I offer, and tosses it to the cart.
Shit! Did I really offer her that?
“What are you doing here, Fifth?” She stops and looks at me intensely.
Holy Mary mother of Christ! She’s unbelievably gorgeous, and her big blue eyes are almost purple surrounded with thick long lashes.
My heart pounds harder in my chest when our gazes meet. It feels so different without the glasses.
I feel like I just open my soul to her. Her eyes are compelling and spellbinding me closer to her.
“Why, Venice?”
***
The end