A Love Mismatch... Episode 1

The wintry breeze softly whispered to the night as the Christmas lights flickered like dancing fire through the busy streets of New York. Three women walked hand in hand as they looked through the shops, their laughter drifting in the wind as they made their way in one of the famous boutiques in New York. 

“Mama, this outfit of ours will definitely win the Most Awful Wardrobe.” The curly-haired girl exclaimed as she looked herself up on the mirror. “No one would know who we are!” she continued, beaming at her mother and sister. 

“Will you shut up? If you won’t stop commenting about it, we’ll surely be exposed.” Her sister, Devon Zerryne Montebello, reprimanded.

 Devon Yvette Montebello just rolled her eyes at her sister and went back to look at the clothes in the rack. “We won’t be exposed. We are known as the best dressers in town or have you forgotten? They’d rather die than believe that we would wear such ridiculous clothes. We’ve posed for hundreds of Fashion magazines and been acknowledged as an icon in the Fashion Industry.” She said as she looked up the red dress with appreciation. 

“Oh, really? Don’t be too sure, Yvon. We may be known for that but never underestimate the cunning paparazzi around us. They’ll look for any fault in us.” Devs retorted. 

“Will you please relax and just enjoy this moment?” Yvon said, turning to face her twin sister. “We only have this much freedom, we might as well enjoy it while it’s still in our hands.” She said, taking a yellow, mini dress and tried it on her sister. Devs pushed the dress away as if scorched by it. 

“Stop making me wear such clothes. You know how I hate them.” She whispered fiercely, trying hard not to let their mother hear her. “I may wear them on some occasions but you damn well know why.” She said and gave her sister a warning look. Despite the serious warning, Yvon just laughed it off and hugged her sister. 

“I know, I know. I’m just hoping you might have changed your mind about clothes.” Yvon said on a teasing note. “I’m not saying that the clothes you prefer are ugly. It’s just that it doesn’t compliment those sensuous curves of yours every time you wear those baggy clothes.” She teased. “I’d like you to show those assets of yours.” She said and winked.

Devs was left speechless that she only shook her head. She chuckled and hugged her sister from behind.

“You are enough to let the world know that the Montebello’s are sexy. If I add to it, they might not be able to take the heat.”

Yvon laughed, turned to her twin and hugged her back.

“You’re one incorrigible vixen!” Yvon said, loving her twin even more.

“I know.” Devs confirmed, jokingly.

 

They were laughing and joking around, trying every clothes there are. They didn’t notice the woman watching them with love and pride, their mother, Evelyn Montebello - The most successful and most influential Fashion Guru. Looking at her twins, memories of yesterday came rushing through her mind. Guilt and anxiety flooded her mind and heart. It’s been seven months since she announced that she had two daughters.
For 16 years, she had kept this secret to the world. With her career just starting to get better, she can’t risk to have her dreams dashed of becoming an icon in the Fashion World. She worked hard starting with modeling clothes from known designers, posing in Fashion magazines and doing commercials. And now that she’s on top, she has nothing to lose. She built an empire in the Fashion Industry, gathering all famous, talented, sought-after designers around the world. She established herself as one of the finest editor-in-chief in one of the well-acknowledged magazine that had sold millions of copies around the globe.
Declaring her dark past doesn’t scare her anymore. Evelyn looked at her daughters with pride and fascination at how well they managed to take everything in despite the raving paparazzi surrounding them like hungry vultures when their identity had been exposed. They pounced on them everyday, following their every move. When they were officially announced to the public, many more endorsements came their way and many more offered them to pose in famous magazines.
She knew that her daughters are having difficulties but if they did, they didn’t show it in front of her. Devz and Yvon took the world in stride of having their actions scrutinize inside hundreds of lenses with a calmness their mother didn’t expect.

How they’ve matured so easily at a young age, she didn’t know. The guilt she felt was somehow pacified at seeing her daughters having grown up with morals and principles. But she knew that it’s not only because of her constant care and guidance that they’ve grown to such fine women, but also because of the great influence of the four women who have helped her through the bleak days of her life. She owes them her life. She smiled at seeing Zerryne and Yvette having fun trying out different clothes, making fun with each other.

“Have you chosen, dears?” Evelyn asked, coming towards them.

“Hhmmm… I like this one, mama.” Yvon said, holding a fitting, yellow dress.

“What about you, Devz?” Her mother asked.

“I don’t see anything that I like.” She answered, playing with the wig on a mannequin head.

“Alright, let’s just go to another shop, maybe you’ll find something you’ll like.” Evelyn suggested, turned and said to the saleslady standing nearby to wrap the items Yvon had chosen.

After paying, they went out of the shop and were hoarded by dozens of paparazzi, throwing them with questions and comments. The three were disoriented by the flashes directed at them that it took them a while to think on what to do.

Devz held her mother’s and sister’s arm and pulled them back inside the shop.

“Damn, they caught us. How the hell did they find out?” Devz ranted.

“Calm down. Let’s call Uncle Tish to take us out of here.” Yvon suggested, dialing a number on her cell.

“I’m so sorry for all this. I shouldn’t have… I – This is all my fault.” Evelyn said, panicking and worrying for her daughters.

“Mama, it’s alright. It’s no one’s fault. And it’s not totally our fault that we are just so irresistible and popular.” Devz consoled her mother, trying to add humor on their situation.

Her mother smiled.

“Uncle Tish is coming. Let’s just wait for him.” Yvon said looking outside.

“Are our mommies coming over, too? Devz asked her sister.

“Yes, they are coming, too. You very well know how they get whenever we are in a situation like this.”

“This is nuts! Can’t they leave us in peace for once?!” Devz exclaimed, looking at the paparazzi being stopped by the guards of the shop.

They heard a screeching sound down the road and saw a limo parked itself near the shop rather smoothly, despite the size of it.

A man in his late twenties came out of the car, looking ominously at the crowd of flashing lights. With his tall and lean features, he’s definitely a hottie. But something about him exudes danger and brutality that people can’t help but be intimidated. He has a brusque statuesque that could frighten and excite you at the same time. He mastered all the martial arts in the world. With his gun fighting technique, he’s an enemy who is hard to beat. He’s so evasive and secretive about his personal life that nobody really knew the real him. Working on a secret organization that even his boss doesn’t know him, it’s so secret that no one knew the location or the people working in that particular association.
Every mission is a change of place and identity. Fate brought him to the Montebello family. He was hired as a bodyguard to the Montebello twins for a reason no one knew except Evelyn and him. For six years he’s been working with the twins that he’s grown to love and his protective nature really unleashed its force when it comes to them. Every time he leaves those twins for a dangerous assignment, he would always get worried and immediately wants to finish the mission.

And now as he watched the gossip-hungry paparazzi, hot bursting flames erupted from within him. He strode towards the shop and stopped at the front, eyeing the faces with disdain.

“Uncle Tish!” The twins exclaimed as they saw him came in. As he saw them running towards him, he broke into a smile and the effect was devastating. His features softened amiably, giving him a boyish look.

“Are you two alright?” He asked in his deep voice.

“Yes, we are fine. Let’s just get out of here, please.” Devs said.

“Yeah, sure. Your  four mommies are waiting in the car.” He said and turned to his employer, “Are you alright, Madame Montebello?”

“Yes, I’m alright. Take the girls out of here, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Tish took hold of the twins and ushered them towards the back door of the shop. Trying hard not to be seen, they walked silently towards the car. Taking a peek at their mother talking to the press, the twins immediately went inside the car and were greeted with tight hugs.

“Are you girls, alright?”

“Those pesky paparazzi… I ought to… oh, I’m so worried… are you fine now, my dears?”

“Oh come here… let me give you a hug… good thing nothing bad happened to the both of you.”

“You should go out now with more body guards. I knew that this would happen.”

Trying hard to get out from the grasps of their mommies, the twins twisted and turn from their seats.

“Mommy Cha, Mommy Lav, please calm down. We’re fine.” Devs said, trying hard to get out from their embrace.

“Mommy Diane Mommy Mari, we’re fine. We expected that to happen. Please stop worrying too much.” Yvon said, trying to calm them. 

The four mommies of their lives. Rosalindiane, Maricha Mercedes, Thalialav, and Marimarimar. They are one of the renowned models and designers in the Fashion Industry. Building an empire of fabulous designs of shoes, bags, and accessories, these four ladies captured the hearts of many. Fate has brought them to the lives of the Montebello’s. On that same fateful night, they saw Evelyn crying outside a studio photo shoot in Manhattan. They’ve learned the situation Evelyn was in and with their sympathetic hearts they took her under their wing. As fellow models, they empathized with the situation she was in. Being pregnant at 20 was something very crucial, especially to a model that is just starting to create a name in the industry. They helped her and when the twins were born, they fell in love with them instantly. They are just like angels sent from heaven.

The car door opened and Evelyn came in, heaving a big sigh. And the flashes of lights from outside the car windows blinded them.

“Tish , let’s go.” Evelyn said.

The car drove on the streets of New York with great speed, leaving a heavy smoke on the faces of the paparazzi.

“Lyn, are you alright?” Diane asked.

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry girls. We shouldn’t have gone out tonight.”

“Mama, you shouldn’t blame yourself.” Devz said.

“You, Guys, shouldn’t have gone out. You very well know what would happen if you parade yourselves on the streets. You don’t have normal lives like you used to. You even dragged you mother in this mess.” Lav reprimanded the twins.

“I’m pretty sure your faces will be the front page of the tabloids tomorrow.” Mari commented, drinking wine to cool some nerves.

“Ladies, give these girls a break. They’re still adjusting to the new life they’re in.” Cha said, giving the twins a sympathetic smile.

“Let’s just hope they won’t focus tomorrow’s issue on the papers about the clothes you’re wearing.” Diane said, eyeing the clothes with disdain. “Those are really hideous, I must admit.”

The car was filled with silence.

The twin’s shoulders were shaking then laughter erupted within the corners of the car.

“You, girls, shouldn’t be laughing! It’s an insult to us that people would say you have awful tastes when it comes to clothes. And to think you’re the daughters of an icon in the Fashion World.” Mari exclaimed indignantly.

“Really. Where did you get those clothes?” Cha asked.

The twins burst out laughing again and faced their mother who was now trying hard not to laugh.

“No way!” the four ladies exclaimed.

“You made those clothes?” Diane asked appalled.

“Actually, I asked Monique to make these clothes for me. He designed these too.” Lyn explained, wiping her eyes. “At first, he didn’t agree, but I made him do it.” Evelyn continued, trying hard to control her mirth.

The four women were speechless while the twins just kept on laughing.

As the car wound its way through the throngs of cars in the streets of New York, their laughter filled the corners of the car.

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As the moon positioned itself above the clear dark sky, two girls were sitting by the window, wishing silently in their hearts for something wonderful.

“Devs, do you think our father is out there watching us from above?”

“Hhmm... I don’t know.” Devs answered, looking at twinkling stars like gems in the night sky. “Maybe… I really hope he’s out there, watching us from the heavens.”

“Yes, me too, I really hope he’s up there somewhere… watching over us.” Yvon said, and clasped her sister’s hand and looked up at the moon.

Their thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. They looked at each other, curious as to who is still up at this hour. Yvon stood up and went to open the door.

“Mama? What are you doing here? Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I could ask you that myself.” Her mother said in a teasing note and went inside their room.

Devs and Yvon sat down by the edge of the bed, looking curiously at their mother.

“I’m sorry, darlings.” Their mother said.

The twins looked at each other rather confused.

“For what?” Devs asked.

“For dragging you into this life you’re in now. I’m sorry for exposing you just like that. I’m sorry that you have a mother like me, living a life of unconventionality. I shouldn’t have brought riot to your life.” Their mother apologized with teary-eyes.

“Mama, don’t be like that. You don’t have to be sorry. It’s not your fault.” Devs said and stood up, hugging her mother.

“Besides Mama, a lie is an affront to the soul, as well as an insult to the intelligence of the person to whom one lies." Yvon said.

Lyn and Devs stared at Yvon skeptically.

“Man… where did you get that mind of yours?” Devs commented incredulously.

“I can’t believe you’re my daughter.” Lyn said in awe.

“Oh please, it’s just a quotation from the book of McNaught. Everyone knows that.”

“Yeah… right.” Devs said sarcastically.

“You know, it’s very helpful if you read lots of books sometimes. Three books a day, perhaps… or five!” Yvon suggested.

“Okay! Okay! We get it. Now quit philosophizing things.” Devs intervened, palms up.

“I’m just saying… I can’t help it.”

“Okay, enough girls. You better go to bed. And I’m glad to have intelligent daughters.” Their mother said with a smile.

The twins went to their designated beds and said their goodnights to their mother.

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The cold wind of December gently tapped the glass windows. Evelyn went down to the kitchen to fetch some water when the phone suddenly rang. She jumped upon hearing it and was confused who the caller might be at this time of hour.

She picked up the phone and the voice she heard from the other line turned her blood cold.