Chapter 01

"If i could roll my eyes to the back of my skull I'd do it. He just screams at the top of his lungs all day. I know I'm horrible and all but jeez." 

"Darling you shouldn't talk about your father that day. He loves you. He just has a tough way of showing it..." said my mum shrugging. 

"Yh sure". I sighed heavily and headed off to my study. As I stepped into the room I felt a wave of apathy hit me. It was so depressing being me, despite the fact that I had an entire wall of my study dedicated to reminding me that I am THE Valeria Torres. 

The shiny trophies and awards on the wall that once held so much sentiment for me not long ago didn't even strike a chord of joy in my heart. I felt like tearing them all to the ground but my mum would literally bawl her eyes out till she hits an early grave and I'm not ready for that drama. Thank you. 

My phone rang and it happened to be my bestie, Emilie. Finally some joy in my life. Emilie is bubbly, she's as sweet as a tres leches cake on the morning of your birthday. She is fun and open. Always up to date and eager to attend every party in town and unfortunately I was the victim she often dragged along with her. 

I texted her that I'll be right down in a minute, then I exit my study to my room. In a hurry I fixed my hair and my dress. Picked up my phone and my purse containing my essentials and left my room in a hurry

I got downstairs and saw Emilie conversing with my grandma in the kitchen. Sometimes I wonder if she is more of her grandchild than I am. Because those two are literally inseparable. 

"She's like no fun. All she does is mope around all day and infect everybody and everything with her melancholy." I heard Emilie say. 

"Oh don't say that dear" Grandma said chuckling. 

"Valeria has it very hard you know. I really can't blame the girl sometimes. It's good she has you."

"Yh she's lucky to have me" she said smirking cockily

I choose to walk into the kitchen at that point staring both of them straight in the eyeballs. I ignored them both and the guilty look on their faces as I took a can of soda from the fridge. 

"You guys done gossiping about me?". I asked cooly and went back to sipping my soda. 

After waiting for a minute and getting mo response, I kept staring them down until my mother walked into the kitchen. "Oh nana," she said tiredly "what have you guys done now." after noticing the obviously chilly atmosphere. 

My grandma laughed nervously as my mum gave her the stink eye while Emilie used that as an opportunity to drag me out of the kitchen and out the front door like she was being chased. 

Outside was her car with her heavily armed buff personal bodyguard standing watch and her driver already holding the door open for her. 

Emilie was a spoilt brat. Her parents and older brothers spoilt her silly. I, on the other hand, was an only child with a father who hated my guts especially for daring to be a girl instead of the boy he has always dreamed of. Unfortunately, no matter how hard my parents tried they couldn't have another child. And then my father made me an object to pour his frustration and anger on every once in a while. 

***

I have been talking about the party we were to attend tonight and I was getting no response from Valeria. I looked over at her and realised she had zoned out. 

Sighing I snapped my hand in front of her face 

"Earth to Valeria ." I said rolling my eyes as she gave me the deepest scowl I've ever seen. Ignoring her I continued yapping about the party we were to attend. 

Valeria has always been one to keep to herself. She barely spoke, was basically unreadable most of the time, but she was my best friend. At least I'd like to think so. 

She hasn't always been like this though. She used to be full of life,cheerful, and very bubbly; probably bubblier than me. 

******

I always knew my parents knew a lot of people. A lot of dangerous people. Even in my five-year-old mind, there was always that uneasy feeling whenever daddy said he had guests. Especially the big party he held around the middle of every year. 

But among all the scary faces of the dangerous looking women and men that graced these meeting. There was one person I was always drawn to. I looked forward to seeing her every year. Just the sight of her brought a smile to my face every time. It was my mom's best friend, Elena. 

Elena was beautiful and reserved from what I noticed. That year I ran towards her in excitement as her face beamed. But before I could leap into her arms, someone leaped out from behind her making me stop in shock almost falling flat on the ground. 

I looked up to sparkly greyish-blue eyes. She let her hand out to help me up and helped me brush off my clothes. When I stood up I noticed she had long silky jet black hair. We were about the same height and looked very much alike. The only difference being my brown hair and hazel eyes. 

We smiled at each other as our mother's exchanged pleasantries, having not seen each other for so long. 

"Do you wanna see my toys," I told her excitedly. She nodded slowly and carefully. I noticed she looked around warily before I pulled her along with me. Slipping through the crowds, through the kitchen, and upstairs into my room by the back staircase. 

I lost track of time and it wasn't long before I saw my mom peek her head through my door curiously. "oh there you are." She said. "Emilie what did we say about bringing people upstairs," she chided looking at me with playful warning in her eyes. 

"I'm sorry mum," she said looking down "I just wanted to show her my toys." She sighed heavily as I looked up. "You're lucky you didn't get caught by your father. You know the rules corazon. Now come on, let's get Valeria out of here shall we ?"

From that time on her visits became a lot more frequent. And she seemed to be coming out of her shell. And here we are, more than a decade later and she's still my best friend.