Wild Heart I

This is a chapter of my most recent novel: Wild Heart. I'm willing to share a little bit of it with all of you. This book is a recopilation of more than 10 different adventures with the Fuentes family. And this, is the first chapter. I was not sure if posting this was or not a good idea. But let's try. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed translating it to English so I could post it. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 1. Cars, fathers and other strange things.

Hello readers. I am the narrator. I am neither the protagonist, nor the antagonist, nor the love interest. I am the one who is going to narrate this story. I warn you that this is not a simple novel of magical realism or romance. I've been told to narrate, so I will narrate. It's noteworthy that I am not a first-person narrator, and it's even more surprising that I have my own point of view. Let's begin.

Our story starts with the birth of Verónica Fuentes Raven. Verónica was certainly not a normal baby. She didn't cry, slept through the nights, and never caused any trouble for her mother. Kiara Fuentes was only 18 when she had her little one, and although it was a mistake, this girl ended up being her greatest treasure. However, when the girl learned to talk and walk, things became complicated for Kiara. Verónica spoke all day, ran from side to side, but never disobeyed her beloved mom. Kiara instilled in her daughter all the necessary values to become the strong woman she would one day be. Though, I won't deny, Verónica had a very strong character, and she made it known. But that didn't surprise anyone, because Kiara was a very strong woman, just like Verónica. Since she didn't have a father figure, Verónica always wanted to be like her mother. She wanted to have her style, her way of speaking, her way of telling the truth... Kiara didn't want her to become her. In truth, behind all that facade of power and security, inside her, in her heart, was the girl who never had a happy childhood, who was always insecure and suffered from the absence of her mother. Kiara never had it easy, but she remained calm, with the support of her older sister, Selena. Selena Fuentes was very different from her younger sister. They were almost ten years apart, but that never changed anything in their relationship. Selena and Kiara hated each other when they were young, but over time, they began to love each other. And that love grew even more when Verónica was born. I won't mention the incredible fight they had when Kiara found out she was pregnant. Selena didn't mind her getting pregnant; she minded that she didn't know who the father was. But truly, Kiara never revealed the identity of Verónica's dad—well, she knew who he was.

She decided to keep it to herself and move forward with her baby. Verónica's father was Diego Jonás. Diego was a conceited and arrogant young man, but when his eyes landed on Kiara, dear friends, Diego fell madly in love with our young Kiara. Diego was extremely handsome, and it didn't take him much to get a date with Kiara, but she was very strict with guys. She had an exact prototype, and Diego was nothing like what Kiara was looking for. One thing led to another, and surprise... Verónica! He never heard from Kiara again after finishing high school, and he never knew about Verónica. He continued on as an actor and did well. Diego Jonás, the star of romantic comedies, where he was always the love interest. A hunk who, with a smile, made the heroine of the movie fall madly in love with him. Well, if you would put a Diego Jonás in front of me, I wouldn't know what to say. With his dreamy smile, blue eyes, silky dark hair... But Diego never lost the fact that he was very vain and conceited. His daily routine has more steps than the Kardashians'. In conclusion, Diego did wonderfully and became wealthy.

Of course, this surprising fact was known only to Kiara. Or at least, she discovered it a couple of years ago when she committed the greatest sin: searching for her ex on the Internet. I would never have stooped so low, but of course, Kiara was on her bus ride home and saw a giant poster with Diego's handsome face in "Passion and Love." Imagine, her ex who left her pregnant, they broke up, and she had the child alone was a Hollywood actor!

While Kiara hid the truth and despised romantic comedies, she focused on her career as a professional makeup artist and hairstylist, and on her family. Of course, her family was very dysfunctional. No grandparents, no husband, but with a sister and daughter. For the Fuentes family, they only needed each other. Strong, independent women who shared a passion for fashion.

Back to the present. Today is Verónica Fuentes Raven's birthday, and she's finally 18. The first thing she did was go to the driving school to get her driver's license. She had been dreaming about it for a long time. Among Verónica's favorite pastimes we find reading, music, and cars. Oh, driving is her biggest desire. Having her own car and going wherever she wants, with no one to direct her. Verónica rings the doorbell. Come on!

What's wrong with our protagonist? Why isn't she entering the academy? She's still, looking at the door. She bites her lower lip and looks around. She runs her hand through her curls and shakes her head. And takes a step back. Vero! Come on! What are you looking at? Enter already!

"Maybe I'm not ready," Vero thinks. Yes, you are! Gosh, only if you heard me. Don't dare to give up...

And she did.

Now she's buried in the red sofa in the living room of her little house. Her aunt Selena sits next to her and tilts her head.

"What are you doing at home?" Selena says gently.

"Well, I don't know," she replies after a long silence. "I got scared."

Oh sure... Fear of driving... It seems Verónica is not as strong and independent as we thought... It would have been normal for our protagonist not to be afraid... However, this protagonist is not like the others.

"Get up and go to your class. Right now," orders Kiara, touching up her lips with a Christian Dior gloss. She's wearing a short denim skirt and a very nice pink T-shirt. It says, "Je suis fantastique!." Though, Kiara doesn't speak French. She runs her fingers through her ponytail. Now it's straight, but normally, her hair is extremely curly. Something that Vero inherited—the beautiful brown curls of her mother. And also the eyes, hazel in color. Or the shape of the nose, pointed and perfect... Kiara and Vero were very similar. Kiara looks at them again. "Come on, what are you waiting for... A divine revelation?" she states, mad.

That's Kiara, giving orders to her daughter's life... Normally, Verónica is the one who acts responsibly.

Ugh, excuse me. The sentence was directed at Selena. She's a high school teacher.

"Do you think I don't know I'm late, Kia?" Selena grumbles. Then she takes Verónica's cheek. "Come on, you also have a pending class. You'll learn quickly. You've completed a humanities and social sciences bachelor's degree; this will be easy for you."

Now, that's Selena, giving orders to her niece's life. Unlike her sister and niece, Selena has lighter features. Blue eyes, straight and blonde hair... While Kiara resembled their grandmother, Selena was a copy of their father. I'll stop with the details or else this will be as long as a Dictionary.

"Mom, your teeth," says Verónica before Kiara leaves the house, with her stiletto heels and her extremely expensive Gucci bag. Vero was referring to Kiara's teeth being stained with gloss. Girl stuff.

"I don't think..." Kiara murmurs, rushing to check herself in the mirror. Boom, Vero is right again. "Okay, love you, good luck with the license. And run to school, Selena!"

The door slams shut. Do we follow Kiara? Or do we continue with the unfortunate story of our important protagonist's fear to obtain her driver's license?

I believe Verónica's part is more interesting. Just in case you're getting bored. Which I doubt.

Verónica, now left alone with her aunt Selena, sat there on the red sofa contemplating her decision. Selena, still in her teacher mode, was trying to encourage her niece to overcome her fears and attend the driving class.

"Come on, Vero. Everyone gets nervous about driving at first. It's normal. But you'll get the hang of it, trust me," Selena said, patting Verónica's shoulder reassuringly.

Verónica sighed and looked up at her aunt. "I know,Selena, but what if I'm not cut out for this? What if I end up causing an accident or something?"

Selena chuckled, "Sweetie, that's just your nerves talking. You're a smart and capable young woman. Besides, you've got the Fuentes blood in you, and we don't back down from challenges. You'll ace this, just like everything else you've done."

Verónica managed a weak smile, appreciating her aunt's attempt to boost her confidence. Selena stood up and urged her niece to get ready for her class. Verónica hesitated for a moment before finally getting up and heading towards the door.

As they left the house, Selena couldn't help but think about the strong bond between the Fuentes women. Kiara, Verónica's mother, had faced her own challenges, and now it seemed like it was Verónica's turn to conquer her fears. The three women, each with their unique qualities, had a deep connection that went beyond blood.

Wait... What's Kiara doing now?

Kiara was on her way to work, still reminiscing about the unexpected revelation of Diego Jonás being Verónica's father. The shock had settled in, and she couldn't help but wonder how this revelation might impact her daughter's life. However, Kiara was determined not to let the past disrupt their present. Of course, that was what she though right before walking inside the bus, just to find his ex signing some autographs to his fans. Kiara is going to faint. Oh Lord.

Too much pressure! Let's see what's Vero doing now.

At the driving school, Verónica took a deep breath before entering the building. The receptionist greeted her, and she made her way to the classroom. Inside, she found a mix of eager and nervous faces, all anticipating their driving lessons.

The instructor introduced himself and began explaining the basics of driving. Verónica listened attentively, her nerves still present but gradually subsiding. As the class progressed, she realized that many of her fellow students shared similar anxieties.

During the practical part of the lesson, Verónica sat behind the wheel for the first time. The instructor guided her through the controls and basic maneuvers. With each passing minute, she felt a growing sense of control and confidence. As the session came to an end, the instructor commended Verónica on her progress and encouraged her to continue practicing. Walking out of the classroom, she spotted her aunt Selena waiting for her.

"How was it, Vero?" Selena asked, a hopeful smile on her face.

Verónica grinned, "It wasn't as bad as I thought. I mean, I didn't crash or anything."

"That's the spirit! See, I told you," Selena said, proud of her niece.

As they walked back home, Verónica's fear of driving began to transform into a determination to master this skill. The journey had just begun, and with the support of her family, she felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Where's Kiara? Oh right, running home. Because she did not take the bus. Why? Because Diego was on it.

Little did Kiara know that the revelation of Verónica's father, Diego, would bring unexpected twists and turns to their lives. The story of the Fuentes women was far from over, and the chapters ahead held both challenges and triumphs for each of them.

And so, as Verónica Fuentes Raven embarked on the journey to conquer the roads and overcome her fears, the story of the Fuentes women continued to unfold. With each twist and turn, they faced challenges head-on, their spirits unbroken. The sudden appereance of Verónica's father, the lessons at the driving school, and the unwavering support of her family were just glimpses into the adventures of their wild hearts.

As they navigated the highways of life, the Fuentes women embraced the unknown, proving that resilience and love were their constant companions. This was not the end but merely a chapter, one of the many adventures written in the book of their wild hearts. The road ahead held more stories, more challenges, and undoubtedly more triumphs.

For Verónica, Kiara, and Selena, the journey was far from over. Their lives were a testament to the strength found in family bonds and the courage to face the uncertainties that lay ahead. And so, they continued writing the tale of their wild hearts, ready for whatever adventure awaited them around the next bend.

End of the first chapter.

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