Sinner

1

Jennifer

Bell Rang

"Alright, students, the class is over. I hope you have understood today's topic. If any of you have questions, feel free to ask till I'm here. Once I'm out, you will not be able to reach me out easily," Professor Richard stated, pausing for a while to detect any raised hand but finding none, as if no one had attended the lecture. I doubted if anyone was interested in today's topic of common drawbacks of criminals' mentality. Although it was an interesting topic for me and I could discuss it for hours, I didn't feel like having any questions for him, nor any energy to speak.

"Okay, then, looks like there's no question. Then see you all in the next class, folks. You can all leave," The professor announced and I heaved out a sigh, stuffing books in my backpack. I was internally pleased for my day to finally be over and now, I could go home and get enough sleep because I couldn't get a chance to close my eyes even once last night. These assignments would suck the life out of me one day.

Don't worry, Jennifer, it's just your last year. I thought, which brought a smile to my face.

I slung my backpack on my shoulder and began to walk out of the auditorium. My phone started to ring in my jeans pockets, I fetched it out and saw mum's ID popping up. The sight brought me a perplexing feeling. I wasn't sure if I should feel content or tensed as mum and I hadn't been on the same page ever. The disputes continued till this day, but I couldn't simply ignore her, that was off-manners for me. So before the call would cut, I swiped green and the line connected across, "Hey, Jenny baby, how are you?" Mom spoke gently from the other side. I sighed in relief, knowing this call wouldn't be a burden on my heart after I cut it.

"Hi, mum, I'm good, how are you?" I asked as I reached the corridor. The glass windows passed sheer bright sunlight upon my face, squinting my eyes.

"I'm not okay, your brothers never miss giving me a headache," The tone took a 360-degree shift. There we went. My heart sank in the following second. She said the usual. That meant I should be ready to listen to her complaints. It was obvious what was coming to me and how this call would end now; in a disagreement. It was a daily-based thing.

I sighed deeply, recalling the memories of whenever she'd call me and complain about every single person in this world, "What do they do now?" I asked when I already knew what her answer would be, either they didn't sleep on time or were out of the house for two hours.

"They didn't eat when I asked them to, what should I do with them? They don't obey me at all," she grumbled. I reached my locker and placed my backpack in it while reading a note stuck to it. It said 'Wait For Me After Class - Andrea xx'

"Ah, mum, the best you can do is leave them on their own. You know they are adult enough to act responsibly and if they aren't, life will teach them gradually. They have their own lives to handle, just don't stress yourself out too much over small things," I replied to her, locking my locker's door.

"Small things and adults? Are you kidding me, Jennifer? They can't figure out where I put their clothes and you are saying they can act like grown-up adults? Jennifer, sound practical at least," My fingers reached my forehead as I rubbed it and I sighed again. Mum had always been like this; unapologetically controlling and complaining, I just feared my brothers would get spoiled if she kept on acting the same with them like she did with me and I had to run away at last.

"Mum, Mum. Stop treating them like three-year-olds, they've got their own lives. I told you that a thousand times if you keep on controlling them, they would get depressed and—,"

"And you mean to say, they will leave me like you left me and ran to Italy," Mum backfired, blocking my tongue to work properly. I had a wish to hear her apologise to me for what she did to me but she was no nearer to it, instead, she always blamed it all on me. I pity my two little munchkins. This must be going hard on them.

"Whatever you say," I muffled, sounding defeated.

"You never support me, Jennifer, you always have been against me," She said as if I was her enemy.

My mouth remained wide open upon her words, against? Hell, you used to tie me up in the house yet I never complained, you manipulated me whenever I tried to make you realise things but it was my fault and you still have the courage to say this, mum? "Mum—," I paused when I felt a little tap on my shoulder. I moved that way and saw Andrea and Rory—my friends, gazing at me with their wide eyes. "Ah, Mum, I'll talk to you later, I gotta go," I told her and cut the call, not giving her a chance to taunt me again.

I didn't want to spoil my mood in front of my friends.

"Hey, guys, how have you all been?" I asked, opening my arms to offer them a group hug and they ran to me.

"Fine, what about you? How was the class?" Rory asked, pulling away.

"It was great and criminological as always," I replied, to which they both chuckled and I smiled. Watching people laugh at my puns always blesses me with serenity. "So, I read your note, what's your emergency?" I asked Andrea as I turned to her.

Her eyes glimmered as I put the question. There must be big news coming for me, a happy one. "Wait a minute, let me take a breath," she exhaled deeply while her hands followed the gesture, "I... have... been... appointed as an intern in Bernardi's group of companies in their marketing department," Andrea announced, clapping her hands and bouncing like crazies.

My mouth went wide open and I scoffed loudly, which had been replaced by a chuckle. "Seriously!?" I doubted my amusement, the answer was obvious, but I took time to register the news. That company was the dream of every student of this university, but sadly, they don't have space for criminologists. Even if they did, they asked a lot and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to meet a full day job forever.

"Yes, Jenny, I couldn't believe it either until the lady handed me my employment letter," Andrea told me. I hugged her again and this time, tightly, with a bright grin.

"I'm so happy for you, bunny. Congratulations. It's a matter of celebration," I uttered excitedly in her ear.

"Yes, treats on me at Convivio," She answered, taking me by surprise. Convivio was a crazily expensive restaurant, I didn't want to disturb her budget plan. I never liked being a burden, even if it's to celebrate a moment like this.

"Hey, that's a hell of a money place, you sure about that? We can easily adjust to something less than a thousand euros," I offered her, pulling away but my arms still holding her while Rory witnessed the whole scene and second me.

"Yeah, Andy, we can check out the new cafe around the corner," Rory recommended.

"I'm hell sure about what I said, that expensive food in a fancy restaurant never hurts when you know your company will pay you triple more than a treat," Andrea's confidence overtook her senses I guess.

"But still, you sure you'll be able to make it to your first salary without being broke?" I couldn't get over my middle-class insecurity.I should've remembered that she belongs to a cash-loaded family. It wouldn't be a problem for her.

"I told you, Jen, we are good," She mumbled softly.

I smiled at her. "Okay but make sure we don't let her book a VIP cabin," I directed towards Rory and told him, to which he beamed and winked. "Yes, captain," After that, Andrea pushed us out of the building and took us to the real luxury—Convivio.

It took us half an hour to reach there because the restaurant was above the hills and I can't describe what a pleasant sight it was to witness. The greenery was cherry on top of the beauty of the hills.

Andrea parked the car in front of the restaurant and a fancy valet came to open my door. I stepped out of the car and my eyes roamed over my outfit. I was dressed as an average druggie nerd who looked like she hadn't got coke for the past 24 hours, that thought was surely going to eat out my inners, I never liked feeling inferior, but it seemed like everything in that restaurant would make me feel like one.

I jogged towards Andrea, "Andy, do I look acceptable here?" I asked her, tugging my strand behind my ear due to nervousness.

Her eyes scanned me and a smile came on her face, the exact smile that I failed to decode, "You look fabulous except for your eyes, they look like someone punched you in the face," She tried to be nice but turned out brutal, making me a little more conscious. My eyes, what should I do with them? Oh, I should've slept last night. "Hey, calm down, you look presentable, just don't feel it," her hand landed on my back and she rubbed it.

I passed her a tender smile and nodded, to which she replied, nodding back and pushing me inside the restaurant.

We entered the place, the hostess welcomed us and asked for a person's count. Andrea engaged her and she took us to the three-seat table that was near the VIP cabins. We settled down and Andrea asked us to choose our meals.

I had a tough time selecting a new dish to eat because, first, it's always written in Italian. I mean I have been living here for three years and I know a little Italian. I couldn't read or speak Italian fluently like natives and that was a huge drawback for me, but it was bearable, unlike my mother's behaviour.

And second, I was annoyingly picky whenever it came to food. That was the only problem I had that I couldn't rectify. I loved the perfect flavour of food melting in my mouth. When the taste hits my soul, ah, it's addicting. Whoever tasted the food I ever made has always liked it because I have always been mindful about flavours, because I am a big food-lover.

Call it my speciality or choosiness, but I was that way and I would never repent it.

I was sure this restaurant wouldn't disappoint me in these two matters and when I saw the menu, I inwardly sighed in relief. Thank God, the dishes were translated into English, which was very foreign yet acknowledged by them. There must be a great range of foreigners visiting their restaurant, perhaps.

"Jenny, where are you lost?" I heard Rory's voice fogging the voice of my thoughts. I blinked twice while gawking at the menu and woke up from the trance.

"Yes... yes?" I turned towards him.

"We are calling you out, but seems like you're somewhere else?" Andrea complained, waving her hand.

"Yeah, I'm listening now," I told them.

"What have you picked?" She asked and I opened my mouth to answer her but... I didn't plan on losing my voice again but I did, when my eyes focused on her back. I gulped down at the intensity of a few suited-booted men being guarded by well-built bodyguards dressed in black.

Andrea and Rory followed my gaze. These men didn't feel like ordinary beings, they exhibited power, influence, authority and, most of all, arrogance. Their gaits were enough to cause a cold shiver down my spine. Those five men were trudging towards the VIP cabins and they passed by us to the cabin opposite our table.

"Whoa, that's some sexy hot pieces walking in. Look at the middle one, he looks so satisfyingly thick," Rory bit his lips. I forgot to mention he was gay. Rory should know if they catch him obsessing over them, he could get into a big problem.

"Oh darn, guys, you recognised who they were?" Andrea spoke, surprised as they entered the cabin.

"Umm... no," I hummed.

"They are the Bernardis. I have seen them in pictures. Oh, God, my boss's boss's bosses are here," She hid her face like they were here only to observe her through tinted windows.

"Relax, they don't even know who you are. Better concentrate on the menu than those rich, hot brats," Rory schooled Andrea while drooling over them himself.

The waiter arrived at our table and we recited our order. I made sure to choose the least expensive yet tasty dish. Now, we were at a waiting point and starting a conversation. All the while, I tried to keep my focus on Rory and Andrea's voices but I was losing massively. My eyes never stopped glancing over the tinted windows as if I felt like I was being watched, but I knew it was only in my imagination. Why would such powerful, notorious men spare me a glance?

I was looking unacceptable for here. I shouldn't have been here but I was and now. I wanted to run away from here. "Jenny, I think you didn't sleep well last night, why don't you go and splash some water on your face. Go, fresh up," Andrea suggested to me.

"Yeah... yeah, you're right, I think I need some cold water on my face. I'm sorry, I'm ruining the fun for both of you," I apologised, to be honest, I felt like a third wheeler acting strange, being a spoiler.

I excused myself and went to the bathroom, which was located on the third floor. I walked near the lift, pressed the button and waited for the door to open and have me inside. While waiting, I got busy checking out my Instagram.

But my body got tense as if something was wrong. My subconscious detected someone behind me. I gulped down and chose to pay a gaze in that direction. As I carefully turned back, I first saw a huge silhouette towering over me. A tall and thick man standing behind me, his hazel-gold eyes stood out first. His sharp jaw scared me. He was the man being guarded by security.

Where was his security now? Was he following me? "Oh fuck," I whispered, turning around and closing my eyes in disquiet.