"You're finally home."
As soon as I set foot in the mansion, my mom pounced on me, enveloping me in a tight embrace. Her familiar scent instantly made me feel like I was home.
"Mom," I managed to squeeze out, trying to catch my breath as I gently pushed her away. "How have you been?"
She released her grip on me and gave me a warm smile. "I've been doing well. You look so different from the last time I saw you. When was that again?"
I bit my lip, avoiding her gaze. It had been a long time since I had visited. "Last Christmas?"
"Has it been that long?!" Mom exclaimed, her eyes widening. "You haven't been to New York since last Christmas? No wonder you've changed so much. I didn't realize how much time had passed."
"Yeah, I didn't either. I've been consumed with work and everything."
Just then, my dad emerged from the kitchen wearing a blue apron, which he had on backwards. I struggled to keep a straight face. "Amari, you've finally found your way back home," he said, placing his hands on his hips and tilting his head at me.
"I'm sorry. I've been so busy with the company. I don't even have time for myself," I confessed honestly.
"I can see that," Dad remarked, eyeing me up and down with a disapproving look. "You've gained weight, but don't worry, I still love you."
I stared at him in disbelief, while Angelica snickered behind me. I had forgotten she was there with me. Before I could say anything, I heard footsteps approaching from the living room.
"That's why she rarely visits New York," Milan's voice echoed through the foyer as he walked toward me. "You're all roasting her."
"Roasting?" Mom asked, looking confused as she stared at Milan. "We're not cooking her."
Angelica burst into laughter. "Oh my god, this is hilarious," she snorted, trying to muffle her laughter like a seal.
Milan patted Mom's back and kissed her forehead. "What I meant by 'roasting' was mocking, Mom."
He then looked up at me, flashing his signature dazzling smile that I had seen on TV whenever he scored a goal. "Hey, lil sis."
"Hey, Millie Billie. Where's Yas?" I walked over to Milan and hugged him. His bare torso pressed against me, and I couldn't help but notice his abs-the ones girls from all around the world drooled over.
"She went out to get groceries. She'll be back soon," he told me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Wow, you look so different since the last time I saw you."
"Shut up." I playfully slapped his chest. I couldn't say the same about him since he was everywhere-on social media, in sport stores, and magazines. He was the football star, the king.
When I went to buy sports shoes at Nike, I saw his picture inside the store. I must have stared at it for a while before the store manager, a friend of mine, approached and asked if I knew the soccer player in the picture. I couldn't help but proudly answer, "That's my brother."
"It's true, right, Dad?" Milan snapped me out of my thoughts, his eyes fixed on Dad, who still couldn't believe I was standing in front of him. "You look more mature," Milan said, turning his attention back to me.
"You're still my little girl," Dad said, ruffling my hair, a small smile playing on his lips. "Have you thought about what I told you last Christmas?"
"Dad!" I groaned, embarrassed, looking at Milan for help. Instead, he just shrugged his shoulders and mouthed, "I do not interfere."
"I'm just saying," Dad raised his hands in surrender. "I still think being a nun has its advantages," he added. "You know how much I love you, and I don't want you to ever get hurt-"
If you only knew.
"Dad, no, I-" I was interrupted by a sudden smell. I looked behind Dad and Milan and saw smoke billowing out of the kitchen. "Oh my god! Mom, your kitchen is on fire!"
Dad immediately turned around and his eyes widened. "Pudding, the chicken!"
-
"No, that dress is so..." I began to say.
"Perfect!" Angelica exclaimed as she emerged from the closet with a red sparkly dress in her hands. "It's perfect for the ball."
"I would say revealing, provocative, and not at all classy," I replied, sitting on my bed and gazing at the pile of dresses before me. "I still don't want to go."
"Oh, come on!" Angelica tossed the dress at me, and I caught it just in time to avoid it hitting my face. "Go try it on! This is the only dress that might give you a chance to have some fun tonight."
"I don't want to have sex tonight!" I whispered-yelled at her. "Haven't you heard what my dad said? He still wants me to become a nun. And since I have practically zero experience with sex and relationships, I might even consider it."
Angelica's mouth fell open in disbelief as she stared at me. "I don't have anything against nuns, but I don't want my best friend to become one! I want us to share our amazing sexual experiences with each other."
"The only sexual experience you have is with Alex."
"Yes, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it," she replied matter-of-factly. "You'll understand when you find the right man."
"Yeah, right. As if he exists," I muttered, gazing down at the beautiful dress in my hands. It was still too revealing, but undeniably beautiful.
"He does exist, okay?" Angelica threw her hands up in exasperation. "You just have to go out and find him. He's not going to break into your house."
Letting out a sigh, I stripped out of my clothes and prepared to try on the red dress Angelica had suggested. Just as I was about to slip it on, Angelica made a long disapproving sound. I looked at her wearily, wondering what could possibly be wrong now.
"Oh no, no! You are not wearing granny pants to the ball." she said as she pointed at my underwear. Blue and white with a bow in the front. I wouldn't call this granny pants, they were rather cute.
"No one is going to see it!" I protested as I looked down at my underwear. "Besides it's cute."
"It does not matter. With the dress you are going to slip on, there's a seventy percent chance that you will get some dick tonight. And no one wants cute, they want fierce, fire, and naughty."
"I'm not going to lose my virginity at some stupid masquerade ball!" I hissed as I opened my pink luggage and pull out the red panty I bought from our last shopping spree. "But fine, I will change if that's what will make you stop looking like a volcano that is about to explode."
"Thank you for finally listening to me! The expert!"
I rolled my eyes at her, but couldn't stop myself to smile a little. Despite how much Angelica annoys me, I still love her endlessly. After slipping on the dress and panties, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. I looked so different compared to when I'm in my business attire. The dress hugged my body perfectly, accentuating all the right curves-something my business clothes never did.
"Wow, you look smoking hot!" Angelica squealed from behind me, spinning me around to face her. "Just look at you, wow."
"The dress is still too revealing," I mumbled, glancing down at the amount of cleavage on display. And let's not even talk about the fact that my back was entirely bare.
But despite that, as Angelica said, the dress was perfect.
"It's perfect! You're going to take everyone's breath away at the ball," Angelica said, giving me an approving smile. "Okay, now let's do your hair and makeup."
After an hour of tugging, brushing, and styling my hair, Angelica set the curling iron down. "Voilà, look at those gorgeous curls."
I stared at myself in the mirror, unable to ignore the fact that Angelica had done an amazing job. Long spiral curls cascaded over my shoulders, with a single side braid adorning the left side of my head.
"It's so beautiful," I gushed, turning my head from side to side to admire myself from different angles.
"Thank you. Now for the final touch..." Angelica opened the bottom drawer of the vanity table and retrieved a ruby red sequined mask adorned with feathers and embroidery. "It wouldn't be a masquerade ball without a mask."
WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER OF 'CHASE ME' made by Marvel_Immortality
**RECOMMEND/SHARE THIS STORY TO YOUR FRIENDS OR ANYONE WHO MIGHT LIKE IT !
Don't forget to Vote & Comment !