Episode 16

Several days have passed and it’s Friday, Amanda’s 24th birthday. Amanda goes about her usual morning routine when she wakes up.

"Today I am going to dress up a bit better, a little more nicely and elegantly since it's my birthday and it only happens once a year, haha."

She dresses up, applies some perfume, combs her hair leaving it loose, and puts on light makeup—a little mascara, blush, highlighter, and lip gloss.

"Now I’m ready!!"

Amanda descends the stairs towards the dining room. When she arrives, she finds Marina, David, and Carmen at a table filled with delicious items and a beautiful cake.

"SURPRISE!!" (Marina shouts jumping up to hug Amanda)

"What is this?! It's so beautiful! Marina, when did you get here?"

"Your mom had me picked up; I haven't been here long!"

"Wow, I’m loving the surprise! Such a pretty table and that cake!!"

"Me and Gonzalez chose it!" (says Marina)

"Really?! Oh, you guys are the best!"

"Happy birthday, dear!" (Carmen says getting up and hugging Amanda)

"Thank you, Mom!"

"I hope you grow up now!"

"Are we starting this, Mom?!"

"No, haha, I won’t nag you today; after all, it’s your birthday!"

"I could celebrate my birthday every day then!"

"Very funny!"

David also gets up to hug Amanda.

"Happy birthday, young lady, make the most of your day, okay!"

"Thanks, Dad!"

"You never change, do you, Amanda?" (Carmen remarks because Amanda calls David, Dad)

"You look absolutely stunning, my God" (David says, whispering in Amanda’s ear)

Amanda just smiles.

She joins them at the table and they all have breakfast and eat cake together. Amanda feels very happy. She really enjoyed spending the morning with her mom, her best friend, and David, of course. Carmen was all smiles and chatted with Amanda the whole time without any fights or harsh words, making Amanda feel really good and happy.

Sometime later, a team arrives in uniform and begins to set up and decorate the pool area.

"Oh, Gonzalez, what is all this?!"

"They are getting everything ready for your party, Miss Amanda!"

"But, isn't it a bit much? I said I wanted something simple. What is that over there?"

"That’s where the DJ will be!"

"DJ?! I didn’t ask for a DJ!"

"My apologies, Miss Amanda; I thought you were aware..."

"It was my mom, right?! She is..."

"Actually, it was David!"

"David?!"

"Yes, he said he wants you to enjoy yourself to the fullest!"

"Well then, okay!"

"If you prefer, I can call off the DJ!"

"No need, Gonzalez, a DJ will be fun, haha. Thank you so much for organizing everything; you're amazing!"

"It's nothing, Miss Amanda. If there's anything you need, I'll be here."

Amanda watches everything unfold—a few men and women setting up lights, arranging tables, and decorating around the pool...

"Girl, it looks like it's going to be beautiful!" (Marina says, appearing out of nowhere)

"Where have you been, Marina?!"

"I was trying out some sweets that Mrs. Arlete is making. You have to try them; they're sensational!"

"I'm sure they are, haha."

"Oh, your dad is coming over. I’ll leave you two alone and go see Mrs. Arlete—bye!"

Marina walks past David, and David approaches Amanda.

"Hey, young lady, who told you to hire a DJ and do all of this? I just asked for something simple!"

"Don’t be mad at me; I want you to enjoy it, young lady!"

"Thanks for caring, Dad; a DJ will be fun. I’m going to dance a lot tonight!"

"I’m very excited to see that, haha."

𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑...

Amanda and Marina are in their room getting ready for the party.

"Marina, have the guests arrived yet?"

"Some yes, most of them actually; a few are already in the pool!"

"I bet you invited more people than just our friends, am I right?"

"Come on, the house is huge, and we can fit a crowd; the more, the merrier!"

"Hmm, I feel a bit odd doing this in David's house; feels like I'm taking advantage of his money and the mansion!"

"Ah, give over! You live here, and he knows you’re not a gold digger. Stop worrying and finish getting ready!"

"Okay, haha."

Amanda puts on her swimwear and picks out another outfit for later, for when they'll be out of the pool.

"I'm ready. Does this look okay, or do you think I should change?"

"You look amazing, we're almost matching, haha. Do you want me to change? Because today, you're the star!"

"Stop it, haha. Let's just go as we are; I don't mind sharing the spotlight with you, haha."

"Then let's go!"

𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀:

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐀:

They go downstairs to the pool area where the party is happening. All of Amanda's friends are there; the place is decorated with drinks, snacks, and fruits...

"Wow!"

"Hey, girl, happy birthday!"

"Hey, glad you could make it!"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world! This house is gorgeous, very swanky!"

"Yeah, it is quite fancy, haha."

"Let’s grab a drink, guys! Have you seen the bartender? He's quite cute with his bow tie."

"Where?" (asks Amanda)

"Over there, look!" (Marina points)

"Oh, I didn’t notice him—fancy! Let's go then!"

"They've gone overboard with the food, look at that table!"

"Man, what a posh party—I'm loving it! Hey, let's go to the pool for a chat; it's too hot out of the water!" (says a woman)

"Let's go, haha."

They head to the pool.

"So, are you dating?"

"Me? No, haha."

Marina laughs.

"What are you laughing at, Marina? Is she lying?" (another woman who has joined them in the pool asks)

"If you open your mouth, I’ll kill you, haha." (says Amanda to Marina)

"I won’t say a word, haha!"

"Then it's secrets, huh? Alright, I won’t push, haha!"

Amanda spends the whole day at the pool with her friends, while Carmen and David stay inside the house.

It’s nearly 7:00 PM when Amanda goes up to change because she won’t be getting back into the pool, and the DJ is supposed to arrive, so she plans to dance her heart out. She takes a shower, fixes her hair, and puts on heavier makeup.

She goes downstairs to return to the party. In the living room, she runs into David.

"Wow, look at you!" (David says)

"Thanks, haha."

"Enjoying your party?"

"A lot!"

"Good! Aren’t you going to join us, Dad?"

"I’m not really into it; it’s all young people out there!"

"Hmm, and you’re old?"

"Not old, but not young either, haha."

"Hmm, where's Mom?"

"She's working in her room!"

"Hmm, got it! Well, I’m going to go shake it some more since you don't want to watch… bye!"

Amanda struts off past David, who watches her smiling.

"Girl, you look hot! Come dance!"

Marina pulls Amanda to dance with everyone; the DJ has arrived, the music is great, and everyone is dancing and having fun.

"Hey, beauty, happy birthday!" (a man approaches)

"Gustavo?! You... you weren't here earlier, were you?"

"No, I got here a bit late."

"Let me guess, Marina invited you, right?"

"Well... yes, why? Want me to leave?"

"Of course not, just don’t bug me!"

"Wow, is that how you welcome me to your mansion?"

"Don’t start, Gustavo!"

Amanda dances a lot with her friends and also drinks quite a bit.

"Don’t you think you’ve had enough, young lady?"

"Decided to join the party, Dad?"

"No. Just came to check on you, noticed you've had way too much!"

"No… just a little, maybe!"

"Your friend is quite attached to that guy's lips."

Amanda looks to the side and sees Marina passionately kissing Gustavo.

"Really? With Gustavo?!"

"Who is this Gustavo?!"

"A guy who won't leave me alone; Marina invited him!"

"Seems like bad news!"

"Exactly!"

"Well, I’m going to dance some more, dad, if you’ll excuse me!"

Amanda moves away from David and starts dancing low to the ground with her friends while they drink cocktails.

David watches her for a few seconds before heading back inside.

"Who's that guy?" (a woman asks Amanda)

"My stepdad!"

"Wow, he's handsome, sorry to say, haha."

"He is indeed, haha!"

"Your mom's got it good!"

"Yes, very lucky!" (Amanda says while taking a sip of her drink and chuckling inwardly)

𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐃:

"David, my love? How are things outside?" (Carmen asks)

"Fine, your daughter is having a lot of fun!"

"Hmm! That music is so loud, all that noise, such a mess, nothing classy about it. If I knew it would be like this, I wouldn’t have allowed her to have this party!"

"Don’t start, Carmen, let her have fun; they’re young!"

"Hmm, okay! And... shall we go to the room for a while?"

"Why don’t you go enjoy with your daughter?"

"I'm too old for that kind of party!"

"I'll come up later; it’s not nice to go to the room with your daughter’s birthday party happening down here!"

"Ooh, getting very fond of Amanda, aren’t we!"

"She's like my own daughter!"

"Already that close, huh?"

"Yep! Go ahead if you want! And... we need to talk later!"

"About what?"

"About my credit card, have you used it again?"

"What? No! I need to go up; we'll talk later!" (Carmen hurriedly climbs the stairs trying to escape the conversation)

𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑:

Amanda is very drunk.

"Marina, I think I’ve drunk too much; I need to go up to my room!"

"Aw, come on, it's early!"

"I'm serious, my head is spinning; I can't take it! I’m going up, okay? You keep having fun!"

"Alright then, friend. You must have drunk a lot indeed if you're worse off than me! Go on up; I'll be up soon too!"

Amanda goes inside, stumbling on the steps and nearly falling.

"Damn, I overdid it with the darn drinks!"

"Hey, beautiful! You seem a bit drunk, huh?"

Amanda turns around with her vision a little blurry and distorted. It's Gustavo.

"Gustavo? Ugh, I need to lie down, leave me alone please!"

"You're stumbling drunk; let me take you to your room, gorgeous!"

"Don't bother, Gustavo; I'm not falling for that, leave me alone—it’s serious!"

"Easy there, beautiful!"

Amanda heads to her room and opens the door. Gustavo follows and enters as well.

"Come here, come here!"

Gustavo tries to kiss Amanda.

"Hey!!! Gustavo, stop it!"

"Calm down, babe; relax! You look amazing today! How about you show me how comfy this bed is?"

"Gustavo..."

"Shh! Relax, come here, lovely!"

"I... No! Let me go! Gustavo…"

Gustavo forces Amanda onto the bed.

"Your room is nice, gorgeous!"

"Gustavo, get off me! I'll scream!"

"Stop it, babe; you're all relaxed! Stop pretending you don't want this!"

"I don't want..."

𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐃:

David is coming back from the kitchen when he hears Amanda's voice on the stairs. He lingers somewhat hidden, listening to Amanda and Gustavo's conversation. When they enter the room, David goes up and tries to hear behind the door, realizing something is off with Amanda, but he can't hear clearly and then decides to knock on the door.

"Amanda? Is everything okay in there?"

"Buzz off, dude! We're busy in here!" (Gustavo responds from inside)

"Amanda! Answer me, are you alright?!"

"Hmm..."

Amanda mutters, and David senses something is wrong.

"Get lost, man, you're interrupting our intimate moment here. Can't you tell?"

"Gustavo, get out..." (Amanda says)

Hearing this, David tries the door and finds it locked.

"Open the damn door, man, or you're going to regret it!"

"Beat it, buddy; I’m about to have a good time with this cutie! You're killing the mood here; she's all set for me!"

"YOU WHAT, YOU SON OF A...?!"

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