Seems like deja Vu

★LYNETTE★

Without thinking twice, my mom, Emilio, and I darted off in the direction of the panicking outcry. By the time we got there, a little girl was drowning in the pool. My pupils dilated in shock and my breath hitched.

Acting based on impulse, I dived into the pool to rescue the girl. My heart was thumping rapidly against my chest as I struggled to whisk her up. With exuberant power, I exerted force on her waist and pulled her alongside me out of the pool.

Furthermore, I crouched down beside her and laid her flat on the floor; back facing down. I tilted her head backward, and pinch the bridge of her nose with my index finger and thumb, afterward, I swallowed in the air and pressed my mouth against her, then began to blow into her mouth.

Memories of how Meredith was in this same vulnerable situation five years ago, surged to the forefront of my brain and I unconsciously burst into tears. “Please, open your eyes,” I said, exerting more pressure on her chest by pressing it down.

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks. “Please,” I muttered as I continuously blow into the girl's mouth, hoping she would respond.

My head was already spinning out of its axis and my mind was running amok. What if she dies in my arm the same way Meredith did? Would I be able to get myself out of this dilemma?

And to make matters worse, she seemed around the age Meredith was before she died.

Emilio was already making phone calls, while my mom paced back and forth, looking all worried and helpless.

“Please.” My voice cracked. More tears were filling my eyes.

Eventually, the little girl spluttered water out of her mouth and I heaved a sigh of relief with tears coursing down my face.

Oh, how I wished Meredith survived like this too. Alas, I would have been the happiest sister alive.

I pulled the girl into a tight embrace, wishing she was Meredith for a split second. “Oh thank you. Thank you.” I muttered under my breath. Then I slowly released her.

Emilio scurried over to me and pulled the little girl into a hug. I heard him inhale deeply. “Thank goodness, you're safe. You're going to be fine, Isabella. You're alright.” Having said that, he turned his attention to me and muttered. “Thank you so much for saving my daughter's life, Lynn. I owe you.”

I shook my head and managed a small smile. “No, it's fine.”

My mom walked over to them. “Are you okay, princess?” she asked with concern and curiosity tugging in her voice. “Do you feel hurt anywhere?” She surveyed Isabella from head to toe. And I watched Isabella shake her head in response.

Slowly, my agitated nerves retrograded into calmness and I shuffled to my feet. “Please, where is my room? I'm drenched and I need to change.”

Emilio gestured at the front door. “Go through that door. Ask any maid for the room at the end of the hallway.”

“Okay,” I mumbled.

Just then mom pulled me into a deep warm embrace. “Thank you so much, Lynn. You did great by saving Emilio's daughter and I'm so proud of you,” she whispered into my right ear before pulling away.

So I managed a small smile and then trudged off to the front door of the large mansion. The thoughts of how pale and almost lifeless Isabella was a few seconds ago plagued my mind. Although it was a good thing that I managed to resuscitate her, my heart clenched in pain for my late sister, Meredith.

Damn, I miss her so much. Her cute smile, how much she loved kimchi stew and Korean pork rind. It's been five years, and I still couldn't believe her incessant request for candies and for me to paint her was gone forever.

With tears in my eyes, I pressed down the knob to the front door and sauntered in. The house was welcoming from the open door to the wide hallway. Upon the walls were photographs of Russo's family, so obviously loved. The floor was an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep homely browns and the walls were the greens of a summer garden meeting a bold ingeniously done piece of artwork. The banister was a twirl of a hand, tamed by the carpenter's hand. Its grain flowed like water might, in waves of comforting woodland hue. Under the lamp shine it was nature's art. Something that soothed right into the soul.

The dining table was to the right and was situated in a turret of windows. Both rooms were a shade of yellow and I stared at them blankly. Of course, it was the parsonage. I could see a bar curving into the galley-style kitchen. The window shades were pulled up so the morning sun beamed into the room.

“Good afternoon, Miss.” A tiny voice greeted me and I turned abruptly.

“Good afternoon.”

The pretty blonde young lady cast a cursory glance as she surveyed me from head to toe. I could tell from her furrowed brows and puzzled look that— she was trying to find answers as to why I was dripping or why there were tears in my eyes. But reasonably, she chose not to. She forced a smile, disappearing that perplexed look from her face.

“I have been instructed to show you to your room.” She informed. “It's this way,” she said, walking away while I followed right behind her.

When we got to my room, she opened the door and gestured that I preceded her. I simply complied. My mood was sunken and I need to dip myself into a tub filled with warm water.

If I wasn't in a very depressed mood, perhaps I would have taken much time, admiring how exquisite my room was. I wiped the tears from every corner of my eyes, while the maid show me around.

“This is the bathroom.” She opened the door at the rear end of the large room and I responded with a nod. “This is your closet, and this is your study.”

Oh my goodness, I'd get to have a study too? I thought to myself. “Okay thank you.”

The maid beamed a smile at me. Then she walked into the bathroom and flipped on the faucet. Instantly warm water rushed into the tub.

“I figured you might need a quick bath.” She said as if she had read my mind earlier.

Muttering an inaudible thank you, I eyed my luggage arranged neatly in front of my closet.

“Okay, Miss. I will leave you to do your thing. But if you need me for anything at all, do not hesitate to call me.” She added with that smile not faltering for once. “I am Amanda by the way.”

“Lynette,” I uttered. “But you can call me Lynn.”

She nodded. “Alright, miss Lynn. Welcome to the Russo's mansion.” Having said that, she walked away, leaving me with my sad thoughts.

I inhaled deeply and exhaled afterward. Looking around the room, I pressed my lips together into a grim line.

“Alright, Lynette, I guess this is it,” I said to myself. “You just have to embrace this new life and hope for things to keep getting better.”

Picking up my luggage, I placed the box on my bed and opened it. The first thing my eyes fell on brought a faint smile to my face; my first painting. It was an imitation of the Mona Lisa, a painting by my icon, Leonardo Da Vinci.

At long last, my dream to become an artist would finally come true, because my soon-to-be stepdad has all the resources to support me. Maybe my mom didn't make a bad decision after all.

The room was becoming too cold because Amanda had switched on the air conditioner earlier on. I immediately set my painting down amongst the rest, then I peeled off my dampened shirt over my head, tossing it to the ground. My pants followed right after. So it was remaining my lingerie.

I was just about to remove my panties when a masculine voice resonated through the hallway into my room. “I heard you were the one that—”

“Jesus!” The person yelled. I turned abruptly in the direction of the voice only to meet a guy in a leather jacket, covering his eyes. A loud gasp escaped my lips as I quickly picked up one of my paintings and used it as a shield in covering my body.

“You don't know how to knock?” I questioned angrily.

“The door was open so there was no reason to knock.” The leather jacket guy retorted shortly.

My eyes drifted to the door. Indeed, I didn't hear it creak open, meaning Amanda must have forgotten to close it on her way out. Without further ado, I set my painting down on the bed and picked up my dampened shirt to cover up my body. The luggage containing my clothes was very close to him. I couldn't risk going that close for the moment.

“You can open your eyes,” I said after slipping the shirt back on.

The leather jacket guy let out an exasperated sigh. “My father told me what happened. So I came to express my gratitude.” His eyes squinted at me, and so did I.

Leone? I asked myself.

“Wait.....” He narrowed his gaze at my face. “Lynette? You are my stepsister?”