Aya II

Prequels: Chapter I

Just another Monday morning for Maria. Or so she thought.

It was already seven o'clock. In the dorm, where she lived, it was impossible for a living creature to remain in bed after seven. Was it the noise or the smell of freshly brewed coffee? She never knew..

She would wake up, finish her morning routine long before Isabella, her room-slash-soul-mate, would even begin to notice it was morning. For Isabella was the total opposite of Maria.

She was a tall, olive skinned, heavy woman. She wasn't beautiful but she was very charming. She was the kind that you have to talk to her to like her, except that when you do talk to her, you end up loving her. A very funny, down to earth pleasant woman. Was never into make up, hair-dos, jewelery, or even fancy shoes. She was into family, friendships, and lots and lots of laughter.

She was the perfect friend and family for Maria, although they were never related. They just met a year ago when they were interviewed for the job at Cartier's. The funny thing is, they both thought they would never meet again. They were very different that it was impossible for one employer to hire both. What they did not notice is how they completed each other, but ofcourse an experienced boss would never miss that.

Their journey began when they started looking for a place to live. If there was one thing in common between them, it was that they didn't have any money. Living in the college dorms was, no doubt, Isabella's idea. After all they were 18, and no one would mistake them for anything but students.

The "students in disguise" theme worked pretty well for Isabella, but it was constant torture for Maria. Not an honesty issue, it was envy.

Yes, she silently envied her peers. She denied but couldn't help it. She tried convincing herself that she is working by choice. She would succeed but just until the next morning when she has to pass through the gates with all the proud ambitious young women. Every passing day, their ambition grows, and her envy does too. But she never mentioned this to sweet Bella. She wouldn't want to drag a happy woman into her degrading self-pity. It was unfair.

It was just another Monday morning. She'll get through it. She always did.

She wore black stockings, dressed up in a knee-length black dress, perfectly fitting around her tiny waist, matching elegant black heels, pulled her hair back into a ponytail and started applying light touches of makeup. Isabella was almost ready, after living with Maria for a year, she learned a thing or two about getting dressed for work..

Maria: No no no, no pants for you sweetheart! One must learn how to flatter their figure. Now you carry most of your weight on your upper body, but you have beautiful slim legs!
Isabella blushed, she only heard the compliment. The glass was always half full.
She quickly changed into a short tight skirt, and now they were both ready to go. They grabbed their coats, their sunglasses, their coffee, and off to work.

It was a monotonous morning, contrary to what Maria expected. It was February 11th, for god's sake, where are all the lovers? No fancy valentine's gifts this year?
But just as she was realigning the limited edition of pink-gold rings they received for the occasion, an overly excited Isabella runs to her and whispers:
A handsome man just stepped into the store, he's out of my league, but he's all yours!
Maria confused -yet hopeful- walks to the main desk and there he was!
She was thinking:
He's not handsome.. I mean he's tall, athletic, perfectly tanned, but not handsome.
He's well dressed, a pair of black jeans, a cream pullover, and a black cache-col asymmetrically wrapped around his neck.
She watched him move closer, she can now appreciate his "not-so-handsome" facial features: The espresso-brown eyes, the seductive wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, the full mouth, the lazily-shaved square jaw. This man is not handsome, he is god damn gorgeous!
She continues silently:
Oh well, this kind of men is never single. Why else would he be here in an expensive jewelery store 3 days away from Val...
Before she could finish that thought, the man asked her in a deep, confident husky voice: Would you go out with me for dinner? Say tonight at 8?

To be continued...