Taming Romeo

by Rachelle Ayala

  I close my eyes as a delicious tingle roils and clenches in belly. My female parts throb to attention, urging me to agree, coo, and explore this fascinating shower with him. But rational, consenting-adult-me, steps back. No, Evie. Have some self-respect.

  “How long will you be in the area?” My amalgamated self says smoothly, like I’m entering into negotiation.

  “Three weeks while we shoot on location, then we’re back to the Philippines for the rest of the scenes. That could take us to the end of summer.”

  “I need to think about this.” I almost say I’ll have my people get back to your people. “I’ve really got to go. My parents are probably worried.”

  Yeah, my people aren’t going to be happy to see me.

  In the light of the morning, everything about his room seems harsh, stark, and strange. A temporary residence, impersonally decorated. No photos and mementos sit on the dresser. A half open suitcase lies on the rack near the closet. A briefcase, laptop, and a stack of folders are spread over the round table near the window.

  Romeo’s weight shifts as he swings his legs off the bed. “I’ll call for breakfast.”

  “Sure, can I use the bathroom? I don’t even have a toothbrush.” Not to mention clean underwear or makeup. Maybe I should have called a cab before falling asleep. The walk of shame is more bearable under cover of darkness.

  “You can borrow mine, or I’ll find an unopened one. I think they left a hospitality package when I arrived. It’s under the sink.” He pulls on a pair of briefs and comes around to my side of the bed. “You were great last night.”

  “Yeah, you weren’t bad yourself.” I clutch the sheet over my naked body and wait for him to give me space to run for the bathroom.

  He stretches that glorious body of his and pads out of the bedroom without looking back.

  As soon as he’s gone, I scramble to gather my clothes. My pants and panties are on the floor, but my top and bra are in the living room. I grab a black t-shirt from Romeo’s open suitcase and dash to the bathroom.

  One look in the mirror disabuses me of any notion that I resemble a sex goddess. Smudges of makeup remain around my eyes and my hair is tangled and stringy. My lips are swollen and the area around my mouth and chin is chapped. Dark purple splotches line the left side of my neck and there’s a crescent shaped bite mark on my shoulder and another cluster of purple around and under my breasts. What is this guy, a vampire? Shit! How am I going to explain wearing a scarf over my waitress uniform?

  I dig under the sink and pull out a basket. Toothpaste, razors, lotion, a toothbrush, a strip of condoms. My breath hitches and my throat tightens as a web of stinging chills encircle my scalp. We used protection the first time, but not the second. Not the time I was in control.

  I drop onto the cool tile, knocking my head against the cabinet. As if my life wasn’t fucked enough, I now have to worry until my period arrives.

  After a quick shower, I pull on my pants, then throw on Romeo’s t-shirt. Opening the bathroom door, I yell out. “Romeo? Can you throw me my top and jacket?”

  There’s no answer. He’s gone? I stumble out of the bathroom, gather my boots from the floor and scan the tiny apartment. The lights are off. There’s a cup of coffee and a bagel on the table. No note. A whiff of cologne trails toward the door.

  Chapter 13

  The taxi drops me off at my parents’ home shortly before eight. Turning up the collar on my motorcycle jacket to hide my hickeys, I tiptoe down the steep driveway. Papa is usually up early for his morning walks, but the newspaper is still lying at the entrance and there is no sign he’s gone out. The curtains are open in my parents’ room, so I sneak around the side gate.

  “Ate, where’ve you been?”

  It’s Brian. Shit. I forgot he waits for the school bus at the entrance to our community.

  “I had a late dinner date,” I answer in a casual voice with an air of big-sister authority. “How’s mom and dad? Where did you guys go for dinner?”

  Our family is so tired of cooking that we always eat out on our day off.

  “They’re really mad at you.” He flips his skateboard and catches it. “Papa said if you’re going to stay under his roof, you need to abide by his rules.”

  “What did they say about, you know, Romeo?”

  “Genie hates you. She says you stole her boyfriend, and Mama had to go to bed early after Tita Elena left.” He shrugs nonchalantly. “Gotta go, sis.”

  “Hey, thanks for the warning.” I wait until he disappears up the road before falling apart.

  Romeo’s mother was here? She always had something disapproving to say about me growing up. I was too sassy, full of backtalk. Anna, that girl of yours is too smart aleck for her own good. Or staying out in the sun and ruining my skin. Anna, she’d be prettier if she’d wear sunscreen. As if she isn’t dark already. And since she once dated my father, she felt free to address him, too. Rey, better watch the studious ones, they say still water runs deep. How do you know she’s at the library all evening?

  The house looks quiet, as if no one is up. Shouldn’t they be getting breakfast ready? Or maybe they all headed to the restaurant already. I slip my key into the laundry room door and push it open.

  Clang, clang, clang! The alarm bells and sirens clamor. Who put it on ‘No Delay’ mode? Dang. Now I have to call off the armed response guards.

  I punch in the code to disarm and grab the landline phone. I’m in the middle of giving our password before I notice the Sánchez posse lined up around me, arms crossed, mouths downturned, eyebrows lowered.

  “Yes, false alarm. My name? Evangeline Sánchez. Yes, I’m all right. No, not under duress.”

  “How was your morning so far?” the operator says. “Answer fabulous if you’re safe or lovely if you’re in need of assistance.”

  “I’m having a fabulous day, bye.” I hang up before the operator can ask more test questions.

  My father steps forward. His face is stony, lips curled with disgust. “Explain. You shamelessly flaunted Romeo in front of Tita Elena. Do you know how much face she lost?”

  “She invited her church friends and business associates to the shoot,” Choco explains. Behind her, Mama looks pale and Genie is glaring at me.

  “I, uh, didn’t know she was going to be at the shoot. Besides, Romeo and I are good friends. He gave me a ride on his bike for old time’s sake. Nothing happened.”

  “He left without greeting his own mother,” my father shouts, shaking his finger. “All because you distracted him. What were you doing flirting with the casting guy?”

  “Look, I’m sorry. The actress was missing and he picked me to fill in. I wasn’t trying to draw attention to myself.”

  “Papa, maybe we should be going to open up.” Choco glances at the wall clock. “Evie’s back. That’s all that’s important.”

  Mama grabs my arms and shakes them. “We would have called the police if it hadn’t been for that twenty-four hour rule. Next time you let us know where you are.”

  I stare at Choco. She signals me to stay quiet. Apparently she didn’t tell them I was with Romeo, which on second thought, was probably a better thing.

  “There isn’t going to be a next time.” Papa puts his fist on the counter. “You’re grounded. If you want to go shopping or to the movies, Choco goes with you. Otherwise, you work at the restaurant until you decide to go back to medical school.”

  “The sooner the better,” Genie huffs in her whiny voice. “Just because Eric dumped you doesn’t mean you should steal my boyfriend.”

  “He’s not your boyfriend,” Choco says. “Romeo doesn’t even know.”

  “Yes, he does,” Genie screams. “He always brings me a rose when he comes by with a cake sample.”

  “There’s not going to be any more cake samples. There might not be a merger,” Mama says. “She’s not even my friend anymore.”

  “What? That’s so unfair.” I turn to Mama. “She’ll get over it. You were friends forever.”
<
br />   Mama bursts into tears. “She’s not speaking to me. Says she’s lost her son to… to… to a…”

  “Now, Anna,” Papa says. “Let’s not go repeating what Tita said in anger. Let’s get ready to open the restaurant.”

  “Well, I’m not going until Evie says she’s sorry.” Genie’s eyes are blazing and her cheeks are splotched with red.

  “Sorry,” I mumble.

  Genie is such a baby. She juts her lower lip and wags her finger at me. “Because of you, I might not have a prom date. I was going to ask Romeo, but now Tita Elena’s not speaking to Mama, so how am I going to ask her to ask him?”

  “Let’s not worry about that right now.” Choco takes control of Genie. “Get in the car. We’re going to be late.”

  While my father comforts my mother, I run to my room and change into my waitress outfit. I’ve behaved badly and caused my family grief. Romeo isn’t worth this rift and I’ll need to make up to Mama and Genie and submit to Papa’s authority. I know it’s stupid to ground me, but hopefully in a few days, things will blow over.

  My heart twinges with pain over Romeo, but my rational mind tells me it’s for the better. We had one night of fantasy and romance, but he showed his true colors when he walked out on me this morning after I wouldn’t give him a quickie in the shower.

  Jerk.

  Chapter 14

  Choco catches me mid-afternoon during the lull between lunch and dinner. “Let’s get something to eat and sit in the patio.”

  “Good idea.” I glance around. “How should I make up to Genie? She acts like she hates me.”

  “She’ll get over it. I don’t think she really likes Romeo. She just likes the idea of Romeo.” Choco scoops a bowl of rice for us and sets it on a tray with mango shrimp salad and tofu with green beans and minced pork.

  “Well, that’s a relief,” I say before remembering I’m supposed to be on a vegan diet. “I can’t eat the shrimp or pork. Don’t we have any vegetables?”

  “Pick them out.” She shrugs. “How about the stuffed eggplant with bagoong? I’ll take the ground beef out.”

  “Yeah, sure, bagoong is okay, I think, and I’ll have some more tofu and kangkong.” I fill a plate with the vegetables.

  “What’s with the vegan diet?” Choco carts the tray while I take bottles of SoBe Green Tea from the drink fridge.

  “It’s healthier. Someone called me chubby. Do you think I’m chubby?”

  Choco rolls her eyes. “Not that again. At least you aren’t the one with the baby face, squinty eyes and pork bun cheeks.”

  “You’re cute. Everyone thinks so.” I set the drinks on a corner table near the lush, tropical garden of multi-colored croton plants, sago palms and kaffir lilies. A small fountain bubbles underneath a ficus tree filled with chattering birds.

  “I’m too old to be cute.” Choco huffs, flattening a napkin over her lap. “So, tell me, what happened last night? Did you and Romeo do it?”

  “Do it? You sound like such an old lady.” I serve myself some of the salad, leaving the shrimp.

  “You were there all night. After I got your text, I called you and you didn’t pick up.”

  “We had a lot to talk about.” I avoid her probing gaze.

  “All night? You did spend the night with him, didn’t you?”

  I hope my cheeks aren’t red, but I take a sip of ice tea and wave my hand. “Time kind of got away from us. We had a lot of catching up to do.”

  She spears a shrimp and stuffs it in her mouth. “Why do you look so guilty?”

  “Me? Guilty? You would be too, if you have the entire family ready to disown you.”

  She spreads her hands on the table. “Look, don’t tell Genie, but I’m on your side. She has no clue what kind of man Romeo is. She thinks he’s this fairytale prince.”

  “Then what’s this about him courting her and the merger between Tita Elena’s bakery and the new restaurant in San Marcos?” I pick the ground pork from the tofu and serve myself an extra helping of kangkong, or water spinach.

  “That’s Mama and Elena. As if it isn’t good enough to be best friends, or heart sisters, they want to be in-laws. Hello! Does anyone here see what a stupid idea that is? But of course, no one listens to Choco.” My sister does her best irritated wise woman imitation. She’s always been the sensible one. It’s uncanny how often she was right, even as a small child.

  “Of course it’s stupid.” I spit out. “Look at them now. Not talking.”

  “Yeah, you kind of ruined their plans.”

  “Obviously no one bothered to tell the grownups I had prior claim to Romeo. I mean, if I were to marry him, not that I would, they’d still get to be in-laws.”

  “Actually, you know how Elena is. She had her heart set on Genie the minute she was born.”

  “I know, the alabaster skin, brown hair and round green eyes. It’s not Genie’s fault she’s pretty.” My stomach clenches. And it’s not my fault I look the most Pinay of the bunch.

  “You’re pretty too,” Choco says. “You know the real reason Tita’s pissed? Romeo didn’t see her because he couldn’t keep his eyes off you. They had to keep retaking the scene because Romeo would look at you before he was supposed to have noticed you.”

  “Not that it matters anymore.” I slap my fork on the table and cover my eyes at the sudden welling of tears.

  Choco pats my arm. “What are you not telling me? Did he hurt you? You slept with him, didn’t you?”

  Her concern and sympathy breaks me and my lower lip wobbles as tears roll down my face. “It was incredible. He told me all these wonderful things. Then he walks out on me this morning.”

  “What? That’s horrid. I didn’t think he was like that. He’s always so sweet and considerate.”

  I dab my eyes with a napkin and take a long, shuddering breath. “I need to stop crying at the drop of a hat. What’s wrong with me?”

  “Nothing, Evie. You need emotional rest and stability. Not more trouble. That was the reason for taking a break from med school.”

  “I know.” I cradle my head on the table. “Everything was going okay until Romeo showed up. Why didn’t you warn me?”

  “I didn’t want to worry you. He dropped by a few days before you returned with a cake and a flyer, asking permission to use the kare-kare room for a private fundraiser. One thousand dollars a plate for orphans or something. He’ll do some of his boy band songs and sing some new material.”

  “You must have known about this matchmaking.”

  “Yes, Mama talked about it earlier, but Romeo was still filming in the Philippines, so I thought it was all hot air. Genie, took it all in. Didn’t you notice her walls are plastered with his photos?”

  Actually, Genie’s room is always locked and I haven’t visited it yet. A wave of sadness flattens my heart.

  “We should warn Genie against Romeo. He’s an actor. He’ll say anything to get what he wants. Genie’s a virgin and so naïve. He’ll take advantage of her.”

  “Shhh…” Choco taps my arm. “Papa just walked by. He gave you a strange look.”

  I let my tears flow into the napkin, alternatively holding my breath and forcibly blowing it out to stop my sobbing.

  “Don’t worry about Genie,” Choco says. “She’s not as innocent as you think and she looks at Romeo as the high score among her clique. Bagging an actor and former boy band sensation. Think of the creds she has in her crowd. I shouldn’t tell you, but Genie’s already done it.”

  “With who? Romeo?” Shock is inadequate to describe the bone-jarring surprise I’m experiencing.

  “No, the varsity quarterback. She’s on the pill.”

  “What do Mama and Papa think?”

  “They don’t know. I took her to the clinic.” Choco wrings her hands. “It’s better than having her end up pregnant.”

  Oh, shit. What would happen if I end up pregnant? Last night had seemed unreal, a fantasy, and in that world, I was Romeo’s beloved, the woman who’d have him forever.


  “What’s wrong?” Choco’s eyes bulge. She slaps the table, her head bobbing in consternation. “You? Are you pregnant?”

  “No, at least not yet. Oh, I was so stupid.”

  “You let him go bare?”

  “First time, he used a rubber. But later, I got careless. What do I do now?”

  “Shit, shit. You might have time.” Choco taps the tabletop, her knee jittering. “I’ll tell the parents you’re sick and you can borrow my car and go to the pharmacy. You can get the morning-after pill over the counter.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I won’t need it. We used a condom the first time. Maybe he didn’t come inside of me.” I stab at the green beans.

  “Oh, be sensible.” Choco shakes the table. “Being pregnant right now would ruin your life.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Romeo puts a hand on my shoulder.

  I startle and choke on a bean. I. Can’t. Breathe. Shit. No air. I’ll be dead in five minutes. I clasp my fists and punch my solar plexus.

  Romeo bear hugs me and pulls me into his torso. He bends me over and jabs his fists into my solar plexus, giving me the Heimlich maneuver. One. Two. Three. Push. One. Two. Three. Push.

  My mind is blanking, dots swirling around my face. I grab my throat, praying and crying inside. My torso is in pain where his fist thrusts in and up. Right before things go dark, I expel the bean. The hands relax and hold me, and I bend over to cough, gasp, and wheeze for air.

  Choco and my mom are wailing, patting and hugging parts of me. Romeo hasn’t relinquished me. He’s rocking me in on his lap like I’m a giant baby.

  Once oxygen returns to my brain and my breathing stabilizes, I struggle out of Romeo’s arms, brush back my hair and hug my mother and sister. “I’m okay. Don’t cry. I’m not dead yet.”

  Papa takes control and reassures the customers. “Everything is okay. My daughter is going to be fine. Thank you for your concern.”

  Our break is long over, so Choco and I clear our uneaten meal. Romeo helps us put the food into takeout containers and place them in the refrigerator. He hasn’t said a word to me and I know he’s biding his time, but I don’t have anything to say to him.