CHAPTER 12

HEAVEN

Prom ended with a bang, it was fun, and curfew arrived. Everyone went to bed feeling a bit tipsy. Caramella avoided Christiano who got a bit pissed off as she smirked, ‘Serves him right for always stealing kisses from me’ as escaped and got out of her gown. Leaving on the stair, like she was like Alice In Wonderland when she had shrunk and then Caramella disappeared from the ballroom.

‘Yunoku probably still baking by now,’ she thought and secretly went into the kitchen; she saw Chef Yunoku back while he was concentrating on the batter he poured in the baking pan. ‘Maybe I should scare him’ and quietly hid in the bottom cupboard waiting to surprise him. Suddenly, she overheard Christiano.

‘Have you seen Caramella, Yunoku?’ He asked with concern.

Yunoku had saw her climb into the bottom cupboard through the pan which reflected her image and he thought, ‘What is she doing? Trying to frighten me? Or maybe she’s hiding him.’

‘No, Christiano, maybe she went to bed,’ Yunoku lied.

‘Could be so, she drank a lot of wine; I’ll check on her later,’ Christiano said.

‘Okay, good,’ Yunoku nodded with a smile and watched he left.

He grabbed a bucket of ice cream, two spoons and before walking to the bottom cupcake and opens it.

‘Boo!’ Caramella smiled and realised he was reaction plain as day. ‘You knew didn’t you?’

‘Yeah, I saw when you came in,’ Yunoku replied and crawled into the cupboard. ‘Why are you hiding away from your babysitter?’ He joked.

She hit his arm as he winced, ‘Sorry, but don’t be so rough,’ rubbing it.

Caramella shook her head and leaned, ‘I want some time to daydream and forget about everything.’

‘Why?’ Yunoku asked taking a spoon full of cherry ice cream.

Caramella thought about her youngest sister’s, Maria’s death and frowned, ‘Because I can’t lose sight on my main propose in life.’

‘What’s that?’ Yunoku replied eating still.

‘It’s complicated. Let’s just say I made a promise and I intend to keep it to the every end, Yunoku’ and she ate the ice cream.

Yunoku stuck the spoon the ice cream and cupped her cheeks in his hands, ‘Caramella, are you in trouble?’

‘Chef, do I like I’m in trouble?’ Caramella asked about to take another scoop of ice cream when he stopped her.

‘Well you are now,’ Yunoku answered forcing a kiss on her creamy lips.

Caramella tried to push him away but she couldn’t and ended up slapping a full of ice cream on his cheek as he pulled back in shock as she laughed, ‘It’s cold, isn’t it?’

‘A lot, wait until it cools your heat,’ Yunoku smirked placing ice cream her chest.

‘Yunoku…eat this!’ Caramella said threw another hand full of ice cream over his uniform staining with cherry colour as she laughed and before she knew he pulled her onto him as blows her hair away from blushing face since they were really close from kissing again.

‘Your eyes are something different,’ Yunoku flirted.

‘Your breathe smells like cherry ice cream,’ Caramella quipped.

He chuckled, ‘So do yours, cabbage-patch kid’ and pulled her again close the gap between them; chest to chest; as he captured her lips and deepen their kiss.

Caramella was lost in the moment a picture of Christiano flashed through her eyes as she pulled away, ‘We can’t like each other, Yunoku.’

‘Cause you like someone else? Christiano? Aren’t I right?’ Yunoku frowned.

‘I don’t know for sure but I need to think about it,’ Caramella said sadly looking at him.

Yunoku nodded before focusing a smile on, ‘I know you’re still hang up over Ray; but if I can’t win your heart at least give Christiano a chance. He won’t hurt you like Ray did to you, Caramella. And I’ll always keep an eye out for you too.’

‘Thank you, Yunoku,’ Caramella smiled hugging him tightly as she cried and patted her back lightly as sighed.

‘At least I’m in the friend zone it’s better than being no one to her,’ Yunoku thought and helped out of the cupboard before she went to her bedroom. Caramella fell on her bed and thought, ‘Life, love is so complicated as shit, man’ and she closed her eyes before falling asleep.

Christiano saw his smart-watch Caramella was in the kitchen with Yunoku and that annoyed him. He realised they were both covered in cherry ice cream he thought aloud, ‘Did they have an ice cream fight?’ walking down to the hall; before found Caramella heading to her room yawning and stretching her arms. After fifteen minutes, he sent Dustin to watch over her and then two minutes later he entered her room and found her asleep peacefully on her bed.

Earlier on when Dustin had arrived in her bedroom; he was looking at her sleep and overheard her cute snoring which made him laughed. Hearing the knob flicked he head over to the balcony windowpane pretending to look at the moon in the night sky.

‘Dustin you’re relieved from duty. I’ll take it from here,’ Christiano said walking into the room.

Dustin answered quietly, ‘Alright Santos’ glancing at Caramella before he left in thought, ‘I wish I could keep watching her. She’s like a sleeping beauty and Christiano is King Arthur while I’m a dwarf in her eyes and her second chance’ shaking his hand he went to his room.

Christiano closed the door behind him and watched her sleep.

Caramella started sleep talking, more like yelling and sobbed, ‘Ray stop please! You can’t do this to me! You’re such a liar you never loved me! Why are they dead?’ She dreamt that Ray was trying to rape her. While Stephen and Pique dead bodies were up on the ceiling in chain dripping blood showers.

She watched Ray unbuckled his pants looking at cuffed the bed head and smirked, ‘Because they deceive me and you’ll be back there once I’m done.’

‘No!’ Caramella screamed loudly; kicking him in his chest.

Christiano worried called out her name, ‘Caramella! Caramella! Wake up it’s just a nightmare!’ and hugged her as she saw him in her dream and hit Ray with a metal chair in the head killing him as she woke up crying.

‘Christiano!’ She said softly as she held onto him and she started to sing.

‘I’m here, Caramella, I’m here,’ Christiano answered and held her tight in his arms caressing her hair gently.

He overheard her sighed with relief as she sang some hymns: To God Be The Glory & Face to Face softly and then she prayed silently in her thoughts: God don’t let it happen.’

‘Do you want me to get you a glass of water?’ Christiano asked.

‘No, stay with me please,’ Caramella begged.

‘Okay,’ Christiano replied softly as she fell asleep in his arms.

Morning came, it’s Annabelle’s birthday. Sandra left earlier accompanied her friends: the girls’ football team and their mothers to the palace for her birthday celebration. Caramella was in her balcony having a cup of tea with Amelia she told her about the nightmare with the exception of her former colleagues.

‘Caramella, it’s just a dream, darling. It won’t happen,’ Amelia assured.

Caramella was shaken up really badly she shook her head still disbelieving her and answered seriously, ‘Dreams do come true, Amelia. This one felt real and meant it something. I have a sick feeling it will make my life much more complicated than it is, right now.’

‘What do you mean, Caramella? Is Ray secretly threatening you?’ Amelia asked alarmed.

Caramella shook her head, ‘No, I haven’t heard from Ray since the day Christiano arrive with the bodyguards. Amelia, I wish I could tell you what’s really going on with me. But I can’t because if I tell you, your life, Sandra’s, the girls, my family, Christiano, the bodyguards will be in jeopardy. I can’t risk losing you all.’

Amelia understood and sighed, ‘No matter what happens Caramella remember that we all love and support you. Just don’t get your killed cause if you died it will like we lost the rock that was keeping us together.’

Caramella smiled, ‘One day you’ll know, Amelia. Promise me, you won’t tell anyone about this please.’

‘I swear to God and I promise you I won’t, Caramella,’ Amelia replied and leaned over to hug her tightly.

Caramella felt overwhelmed by the tears burst out with guilt, relief, sadness, joy as she snuffled embracing her best friend.

‘Thank you, Amelia,’ Caramella pulled back and smiled at her.

‘Sandra is going to arrive any minute with Annabelle’s and Sam’s friends with their mothers. Put on a smile and let’s our little Belle’s birthday,’ Amelia smiled.

‘Yeah,’ Caramella answered taking a deep breath and smiled widely.

‘There you go, let’s go,’ Amelia replied plating the tea cup on the table before exiting the balcony alongside Caramella who was in deep thought.

‘She always knew the right words to say,’ she thought walking down the hall beside Amelia gusted about her small crush on Lucas.

‘Is it wrong to like Lucas, Caramella? I don’t even know if he has a girlfriend or if he’s gay, oh there’s the joy killer,’ Amelia pouted.

Caramella didn’t see anything wrong with it, ‘Calm down Amelia, you shouldn’t make it sound like a big deal. I don’t know if he has one and I think he seems straight. I could ask Christiano about his status for you.’

‘That would be great. It should be a big deal, Caramella, I like him but I’m scare of his results,’ Amelia whined.

Caramella laughed, ‘Amelia, don’t worry about it. I’m sure he probably likes you.’

‘A widowed football mother like me? I doubt it; I don’t even think he sees me, Caramella,’ Amelia frowned.

Caramella patted her back, ‘Hey! Don’t get all depress. Just wait and see what the Lord will do for you, Amelia.’

‘Those words are hopeful, oh God I need a miracle with Lucas,’ Amelia called on God and Caramella smiled. ‘Maybe it’s only best to have a crush and not confess it.’

Caramella shrugged, ‘Just wait and see, Amelia,’ walking down the staircase side by side with her.

They saw Dustin and Lucas were escorting Annabelle’s, Sam’s and her friends, which were eighteen girls on the girls’ football team.

‘Come this way, ladies,’ Dustin smiled and the little girls blushed.

‘Yes,’ they answered while giggling.

‘Do you have a girlfriend? If not, can I be yours?’ the red head teased.

‘No and you’re too young for my little missy,’ Dustin replied.

‘Prison doesn’t sound when you date a minor,’ Lucas added and the girls awed.

‘Do you love cake? Do you have a favourite?’ another asked smiling.

‘I do and I happen to love lemon cream cake,’ Dustin replied.

‘Our Chef Yunoku makes the best lemon cream cake,’ Lucas responded.

‘We want to taste it,’ the same girl replied.

‘I’ll put in a good word for you,’ Dustin smirked, and she and the girls blushed but felt excited about the cake.

‘I love your eyes will you marry, lemon cream,’ the other quipped and the girls laughed at the guys’ expressions.

‘Maybe in the next life, cupcake,’ Dustin laughed.

‘Lemon cream? Nice nickname, Dustin,’ Lucas quipped chuckling.

‘Thanks, Lu,’ Dustin smirked as he frowned at his nickname; his ex-girlfriend Camilla used to call him that and it brought back some painful memories which piss off. He didn’t replied and exhaled putting on a grin hoping to get him back for this; mood spoiler. While the girls were brought inside to the soundproof theater room with a pool it was transformed into a girly tea party doll playhouse.

‘Wow! This is like Barbie’s mansion,’ one of the girls spoke.

‘Barbie so is outdated; it’s more like the miniature Buckingham Palace’s,’ another spoke and some agreed; while others disagreed.

Dustin tried to escape from babysitting the girls but Lucas beat him to it, running down the hall down stairs heading out the back door onto the football field the women was. Meanwhile; the mothers were seated on the benches watching the men (bodyguards) were about to played a football match. The white team: Saber verses the red team: Phoenix. Christiano was on the Phoenix as a forward and Caramella was among the Saber as a striker. Team’s captains were front; Lucas the referrer flipped the coin in the air.

‘Okay, heads or tails?’ Lucas asked curiously.

‘Heads,’ Caramella answered smirking.

‘Tails,’ Christiano smirked winking at her in mischief.

The coin landed on heads, Caramella wiggled her eyebrows at Christiano who frowned before chuckles a little.

‘Head it is, shake on it, Saber on the right, Phoenix on the left,’ Lucas instructed.

‘May the best team win, princess,’ Christiano smirked cockily.

‘Yes, may the losing team run two laps around the field nude while they sing and dance to Luis Fonsi ft Daddy Yankee: Despactio,’ Caramella smiled.

‘Is that a challenge, princess?’ Christiano smiled widely. ‘I doubt we’ll be the one nude. I can just imagine it’ scanning her body from head to toe.

‘Keep dreaming cause I’m confident you words will eat you up, buddy,’ Caramella smirked walking away to meet her team.

‘Hope you’re right about that, Caramella?’ Christiano quipped strolling over to his team.

Everyone was in position; as soon as the whistled blew, the football sent up by Lucas as he backed away from it as teammates charged in to get the ball. Saber has the upper hand; passing the ball until Phoenix steals it heading straight for their goalie; with not much defense, panic through their blood as they went down their net to defend before you knew it. Phoenix member, Christiano kicks the ball to right as the goalie went the left which earned them their first goal. Huddles and cuddles from Phoenix pissed off Saber especially Caramella.

‘Come on guys! We can do better this!’ Caramella hollered encouraging and she prayed in her thoughts, ‘God please help us, please me score more than two goals.’ She looked the guys who got their game faces on and the game resumed. Saber steals the ball from Phoenix kicking it down in their net area; their goalie reacted quickly, watching their passes until Caramella got the ball; five Phoenix stood in front as defense. She pass it another running closer to the net searching for an opening until she spots one; placed in the right; her teammates send the ball towards her as she caught brushing off one of Phoenix guys swiftly striking the ball into the net as their goalie couldn’t reach the ball and prevent it from entering their net as Saber hugging her.

‘Nice work, princess, we’re tied one to one,’ Christiano smiled. ‘But I’m going to break it,’ he simpered.

‘As if you can, I suggest you watch your back,’ Caramella challenged with a laugh.

‘I’ll watch your butt instead it’s the cutest thing on the field right now,’ Christiano flirted wiggling his eyebrows.

‘You’ll always be a pervert, Christiano,’ Caramella rolled her eyes.

Before he could speak, Lucas blew the whistle again. One of Phoenix members were playing roughly; pushing a Saber member to the ground earning a yellow card.

‘I got my eyes on, Phoenix,’ Lucas yelled pointing at him. ‘Remember fair play earns you points.’

‘What is the Premier League? or FIFA Worldcup?’ one of Saber members yelled.

‘Consider it both, shall we,’ Lucas answered and blew the whistle.

At the corner of the field behind the line of Saber members kicked east; one of the members got it and pass it another heading north before Phoenix stole the ball kicking with a massive force south before Saber’s member head butt it back as one of their members got a hold of the ball. Passing it to Caramella; Christiano was closed by gaining on her tail as she ran heading directly to their net and then sent to another member who shot it before their goalie stopped it.

Caramella cursed, ‘Shit! It was so close’ and the others member felt the same way.

‘Ha, ha, ha, problem in paradise, sweetheart,’ Christiano teased.

‘Oh shut up, will you,’ Caramella frowned watching walked away.

Back again, the ball launched into the air back and forth by both teams. Since was Caramella was the closest to Phoenix’s net; one of the members who was being chased the kicked to her and ran with it; being chased by Christiano and the others. Facing another six guys in defense line; adrenaline rush going through her veins she spots an opening, controlling the ball with her feet smoothly slides through the guys using misconception on the goalie; who dove right as she aimed the ball kicking it left as piercing the net with power. Her team and the mothers cheered, they hugged Caramella again and Christiano was quite impressed.

‘Two-one, I won’t celebrate just yet,’ Christiano warned going over to his team for a short strategy plan conversation before the whistle cried.

Caramella watched him firmly and then Phoenix went on full attack mode quickly steal the ball charging their net that was guarded by seven guys. Christiano got the ball; doing fancy foot work, dodging through her members like, the wind, kicking through ones’ member legs scoring a goal effortlessly. Christiano gazed over at Caramella whose mouth was dropped open fascination and smirked.

‘Top that, if you can, Caramella, cause we’re tied,’ Christiano waved as his teams embraced him cheering.

‘The final goals determine your future, Christiano,’ Caramella smirked turning her back. ‘God strike that ball in the net for me; I need to show him to not underestimate people,’ she glanced at him; smiled as her heart race as she blushes shaking her head. ‘This for my team; one goal and two laps for the losers, let’s make it happen, God.’

Then Lucas blew whistle; the Phoenix threw the ball from the left corner in her area; she chest it before gaining control over the ball and ran kicking to their area; Christiano tried to steal the a ball from her; as she dodged every move; stumbling a little about to lose it she passed it another member who ran to their net avoiding all obstacles and stroking the ball to the net scoring their third goal.

‘Yeah!’ Caramella yelled cheerfully; about to leave and join her members in the huddle when he felt a hand held her back. She realised it was Christiano who scratched behind his neck awkwardly with a frown. He looked adorable in her eyes and she smirked. ‘And what were you about to say about us being the losing team, Christiano?’

‘Okay I admit you guys are good, fine now,’ Christiano rolled his eyes sliding his fingers through his hair.

‘Phoenix; you know the deal the losing team runs two laps around the field naked while singing and dancing to Despactio!’ Lucas smirked laughing as the women squealed in amazement as they chant.

‘Strip it off! Strip it off! Strip it off!’ the mothers cheered excitedly looking at the losing team.

‘Go on ahead your audience awaits your majesty,’ Caramella quipped giggling.

Christiano puts on a cocky attitude and confidence, ‘It’s nothing I can’t handle, Caramella, as long as you can the sight-seeing of my forest.’

‘Oh my gosh; I’m closing my eyes I don’t want to see your peanuts roast in the heat,’ Caramella answered and ran away quickly; obviously, she was a bit slow while she pants as Christiano pass her winking.

‘It will be roasting in honey, slow poke!’ He teased as she blushed trying to be upset but she couldn’t help it but smiling shaking her head.

Caramella joined Sandra and Amelia who sat the mothers still cheering. Watching every inch of the players in Phoenix; shoved off everything feeling cold in the wintery breeze even though it was a sunny day. With jaws dropped, whistling mating calls, the guys posed as Lucas informed surveillance room operators to switch on the outdoor speakers which Despacito; as they began the first lap while sang along to the reggaeton song. The women stood up from their seats giving an outstanding ovation and applause. Phone cameras won’t stop snapping as other video tape everything.

Caramella covered her eyes slightly peeking through innocently as she blushed, ‘My virgin eyes are gone after this.’

‘Don’t be a baby, Clara; enjoy the winner-dog crew!’ Sandra joked laughing.

‘No, I’m going back to the mansion before I faint,’ Caramella blushed averting her eyes to a direction.

‘You’re missing out, Caramella, you’ll regret it,’ Amelia teased chuckling.

‘I’m not missing anything I don’t want to see,’ Caramella answered and left to her friends to enjoy Magic Mike Football Edition Show; walking back to the house. Christiano looked back at the women and found her going back to the house.

He left the guys and sneaked behind and caught her, ‘And where you think you’re going too, princess?’ He stood behind her before covering her eyes.

‘Christiano? What do you think you’re doing?’ Caramella stiffened and felt him hardened against her behind and also turned on.

‘I’m back hugging you. Is that such a bad thing for my champion?’ Christiano teased pressing himself onto her back feeling her butt against his sex.

‘Yes...yes, oh my gosh get off me, you’re naked, idiot,’ Caramella yelled trying to break free.

Christiano smiled at her struggling movement and quickly span her around to her to face him as she instinctively looks down. Her mouth opens in admiration before she screams.

‘Get your hands off me, you pervert! Before I cut your balls off!’ Caramella cried out; tearing rolling down her eyes as she closed them.

Christiano loved teasing her and leaned forward even closer, ‘Look at me, Caramella. Open your eyes and look down, just watch my face.’

‘I don’t want too,’ Caramella said her eyes shut tightly as she feel the heat between them grew; and her hormones were acting wildly. ‘I need to stay calm and breathe,’ she thought.

‘Open them or I won’t let go, princess,’ Christiano dared.

Caramella whined and scoffed, ‘Okay, okay…’ slowly lifting her head opening her eyes and realised how close he was too her, smiling. She felt knees went weak about to fall her caught her in his arms as she rest against his good-looking set of abs.

‘Was that so hard to do now?’ Christiano smirked.

‘When you look like Tarzan; everything is,’ Caramella spoke shaking.

Christiano laughed at her comment, ‘I’m taking that as a compliment though because you’re my Jane’ and pulled her closer to him before their lips said hello; sending shockwaves their spin. Deepening their kiss; over and over, the tension in their bodies built with pleasure. Caramella couldn’t control herself neither could Christiano; as the rain fell heavily. Pulling away from each other for a breath, wordless in the moment; it was blessing in every second as did it again before running back to the mansion.

‘Get out of these clothes before you catch a cold, Caramella,’ Christiano warned.

Caramella blushed and couldn’t concentrate as much handing a sofa cushion to cover his jewels, ‘I will and use this it fits perfectly.’

‘It will only fit perfectly in you, princess,’ Christiano teased.

Caramella threw at cushion at him, ‘Will you stop it’ she blushed before heading off to her bedroom.

‘Call me if you want to cuddle with some hot cocoa,’ Christiano suggested teasingly as she laughed ignoring a little but she loved it. Back at the field the women cheered crazily and whistled, Amelia and Sandra loved every second of it especially Amelia who had goggling eyes on Lucas Neymar, the fourth in command. Afterward the guys were inside properly dressed, the mothers kept watching their video clips and photos of the memorable moment as their daughters left the party getting to ready home. Dustin was keeping an eye on their football match while babysit the girls and found it was hilarious when the guys ran around the field naked but then his eyes got to Caramella and a nude Christiano who made out and it shattered him completely.

‘He stole her heart so easily.’ Dustin frowned. ‘Even though I try I couldn’t go through that embarrassment.’ He laughed spinning his chair around.