CHAPTER III: PALMS ROAD
The alarm goes off. It's 11:30 in the morning. I remember I have to be at the Bassets' house by 1:00, so I jump out of bed. For a moment, doubt creeps in: should I really go? However, the thought of turning down a gesture of gratitude compels me to leave the hostel.
At the nearest stop, I catch the bus that stops near the Palm Road district. It's about seven stops; I reckon I'll get there in forty minutes. When I get off the bus, I walk for a few minutes, and as soon as I step onto the main avenue, the guard rushes out of his booth and shouts at me:
—Excuse me! Where are you going?
—The Bassets have invited me to lunch. I brought their son last night.
"To whom?" the security guard asks me.
—Justin, Justin Basset—I say confidently.
—Okay, come in— she concludes.
I try to remember the route I took to drop Justin off at home, and with that memory, I head towards my destination. Palm Road appears before me, a different place, very different from the one I saw in the darkness of the night. In a matter of hours, everything on Palm Road has changed; the daylight has transformed its somber face into a luminous one. A blue haze rises across the sky, making the sun shine in all its splendor. Countless flocks of tropical birds can also be seen soaring overhead.
The avenue stretches straight and majestic, lined with rows of palm trees that rise in harmony. Between each one, hibiscus bushes with intensely colored flowers add a vibrant contrast that further highlights the beauty of the place. The houses, veritable mansions of different architectural styles, stand in line with their imposing facades. The front gardens are filled with geometrically trimmed topiary. At every corner, I perceive the aroma where rose bushes and jasmine shrubs unfurl their fragrance. I notice how, behind the gates of the mansions, the high-end cars dazzle. It's as if, in this place, problems don't exist and everything is perfect.
After a breathtaking walk through the neighborhood, I arrive at the Bassets' house. I press the doorbell button somewhat hesitantly. The gate opens automatically, and I walk through the front garden. A path of white pebbles stretches across the lawn, leading to the entrance of the Basset mansion. Along the pebbled path, there's a stone fountain with crystal-clear water that makes a soothing sound as it falls. The Bassets' house is modern in style, with a white, all-glass facade.
Anne Basset comes out to meet me and greets me with a smile.
"I'm so glad you came!" she says, hugging me. "Come on in!"
Inside, the Basset house is as imposing as it is outside. There isn't much decoration, but its minimalism makes it attractive. The floor is made of gleaming marble, and most of the furniture is white. Anne Basset invites me into the dining room, where everything is already set for lunch. Charles Basset is already seated at the long dining table. He gets up suddenly and says to me:
—Thank you for everything you did for our children yesterday! Nicki was discharged this morning; in the end, it wasn't anything serious, and although it could have been worse, thanks to you it was just a minor scare.
I don't know how to answer this, and then Anne invites me to take a seat. Suddenly, Nicki appears.
"You have no idea how grateful I am for what you did for me," she says, looking at me with bright eyes.
"It's nothing," I tell him with a slight smile.
At this point, Nicki takes a seat and later Justin arrives, who, upon seeing me at the table in his house, gives me a violent look and says to his mother, with a certain contempt:
—What are you doing here?
—Justin, don't be rude—Anne Basset replies—, after what she did for your sister yesterday, it's the least we could do, and not only for her, but for you, who didn't even know where you were.
"Couldn't you have invited him another time?" Justin Basset says. "I'm not in the mood to put up with guests, let alone strangers."
—Justin saved your sister's life, he's not just anyone—Anne Basset replies.
Justin, annoyed, takes a seat. We have lunch at a long table, lavishly set down to the last detail. It's decorated with a wide variety of dishes that Anne has prepared with great care. As lunch drags on, the Basset brothers keep a close eye on me. Nicki stares at me, lost in thought, as if I were someone who transcends the limits of her world. Justin doesn't look at me that way; he looks at me with a certain loathing, with an uncomfortable gaze that I prefer to avoid. It seems as if he's anxiously waiting every second, every minute, for the door to open so he can bolt out onto the street. I begin to feel uncomfortable, not only with the Basset brothers' stares, but also with Charles's, who's sitting right in front of me and also staring at me. So I have no choice but to seek refuge from these inquisitive looks in Anne's hospitality.
—The children say they don't know you, what's your name? —Anne asks me.
—Everyone calls me Nomad—I reply decisively.
"Nomad? How ridiculous!" Justin says sarcastically, while Anne glares at him.
"And why does everyone call you that?" Charles asks.
—I like to travel, to live in different places. I feel that this name represents me —I reply.
—I think it's very original, don't you, Justin? —Nicki says to her brother in a boastful tone.
—Of course! Super interesting —she replies ironically while looking at me with narrowed eyes.
Before finishing dessert, Anne asks her children:
—Guys, why don't you bring Nomad to the party tonight? That way he'll meet your friends.
Justin sighs and puts his hands to his head, while Nicki comes out of her reverie and nods her head, very convinced that she should go to the party.
"It's not necessary, Anne," I interject, not wanting to bother Justin.
—Of course it's necessary, you'll have a good time and you'll get to know each other better —Anne tells me in a convincing tone.
"Didn't you hear what he said?" Justin asked. "He doesn't want to come."
—Nomad, don't listen to him, you're coming with me —Nicki insists.
After lunch I return to Forest Wood, wondering if it will be a good idea to go to the party with the Basset brothers.
Time flies; it's 10:00 PM and I'm back on Palm Road. I finally decided to go, more out of courtesy than desire. The sky is starry and the lights of the mansions illuminate the avenue. The Bassett siblings come out the door, looking very smart. Nicki is wearing a stunning blue lycra dress and killer heels. Justin is wearing white pants and a lilac t-shirt with a huge flower on the back.
"Well, at least you're punctual," Justin says sarcastically.
—Thank you, I'm glad to see you too —I reply.
Nicki came over to me and gave me a hug, then we followed Justin to his black sports car. We got in the car and headed to the party.
"We're going to have a great time, Mia throws the best parties in the neighborhood," says Nicki.
"Who is Mia?" he asked with interest.
"She's a girl from school. Last year she was at a boarding school in Italy because her parents caught her hooking up with one of the Barracuda guys. She came back a week ago and today she's celebrating her return to the island," Nicki tells me.
"The Barracuda?" I asked, puzzled, remembering the first place where I was going to book accommodation.
"It's the most troubled neighborhood on the island," Justin interjects.
Justin parks and we get out of the car. The sidewalk is packed with people; from outside, you can see the countless neon lights emanating from the large windows of Mia's house. Music is blasting from the street. People, drinks in hand, stroll through the garden, dressed to the nines, with obvious glee. They're drinking in the street or going outside for a smoke, under a long string of warm lights. In the distance, I see some young people jumping into a huge pool, competing to make the most spectacular dive. Justin quickens his pace until, soon, we lose sight of him in the crowd in the garden. When we reach the entrance, a group of girls approach Nicki and start talking so fast they get lost in their own words.
—Nicki, I'm going in, see you inside—I interrupt to escape the sudden conversation.
"Okay, go to the bar and order whatever you want. I'll be right there," he tells me.
I enter the house and walk among the people; some are dancing, others are chatting animatedly, while music and colorful lights fill the air. Suddenly, I feel a cold hand on my shoulder and instantly turn around.
"Hey, I see you've lost your bearings!" a young man in his early twenties tells me...
—I'm looking for the bar—I tell him instantly.
"The bar is at the back, but I can offer you something better. I'm Troy, and I deliver flowers to your home or anywhere in the city, whichever you prefer," he says with a mischievous smile.
—Flowers? —I ask him, confused.
"Come with me, I'll introduce you to more people!" Troy urges. "Hey, you're not from around here, are you?"
—No, I arrived on the island recently —I reply.
—You're into new experiences, you must be a very interesting person. Come, join me!
Troy is short, with very dark brown hair and eyes as blue as a Siamese cat's. He's wearing a striped shirt and beige chinos. As we walk through the house, he starts greeting everyone. There are a lot of people; between the noise and the loud music, it feels like we're in a nightclub. A mingled smell of alcohol and tobacco, among other substances, permeates every corner.
Again, I see Justin appear, who nervously approaches Troy and says:
—Uncle, when will you be able to get the flowers!
—I won't have them for a few hours —Troy replies, pausing at that moment.
A girl with green eyes suddenly appears behind Justin.
"How romantic! Are you going to give me some flowers, my love?" she asks with innocent amazement.
—Yes, of course! —Justin replies.
Troy looks at him with a cynical smile and Justin sighs in relief.
—See you in a few hours, Troy— Justin concludes.
It's at that moment that I realize these two are up to something... Troy and I go upstairs to a higher level of the house, where there are fewer people and the atmosphere is less tense. On a long white sofa, a group of girls and boys are holding balloon glasses while they chat.
"Look who's arrived, guys! Our favorite gardener!" says Logan, the boy who made fun of my necklace at the dock.
Troy approaches and passes them what look like small bags of plant fertilizer, stealthily and discreetly.
—Here you go. Now for the money —he says seriously.
Logan takes a wad of bills out of his pocket and throws it on the table.
"Happy now?" Logan says arrogantly.
"If you want more, call me..." Troy replies.
—Don't doubt it—he replies.
Logan turns his head and fixes his gaze on me.
"Haven't they told you yet that only the island kids wear the white collar?" he says, mocking me.
"Logan, shut up. He saved Nicki," the boy next to him says in my defense.
"Are you the one who saved Nicki?" he asks me mockingly.
—And you're the one who ran away when he was drowning? —I blurt out.
Logan glares at me with hatred while his friends stifle their laughter and whisper amongst themselves. Suddenly I turn around and realize that Troy has vanished.
An awkward silence falls over the meeting, and Mia intervenes:
"Get rid of those long faces, it's my party and we've come to have fun!"
"Mia, nobody messes with me," Logan says.
—Logan, relax, let's dance—Mia says, trying to lighten the mood.
Mia takes his hand and leads him to the dance floor. They walk past me and Logan whispers threateningly:
—Be careful what you say.
The rest of the group follows and starts dancing; it's the perfect moment to disappear. As I head for the stairs to look for Nicki, I ponder Logan's words: the kids on the island? Why did my grandfather keep that necklace? A loud shouting startles me from my thoughts. It's a hooded boy arguing with Troy. Suddenly, he grabs Troy's shirt and yells:
—What the hell is wrong with you? You were supposed to be there at noon!
"Dude, Alex, calm down," he says with a hidden smile. "It won't happen again..."
"It won't happen again!" Alex shouts desperately. "Do you know the mess you've gotten me into? I've traveled halfway across the island with your damn merchandise!"
—Wait a minute, how did you pay them?
—Since you weren't answering the phone, I had to call Noah —Alex replies.
"Damn it!" he says, putting his hands to his head. "Noah's going to kill me..."
"Take care of your disgusting drugs, Troy! I'm already doing enough by turning a blind eye."
Alex fixes his brown eyes on me and realizes I'm listening. Quickly, I prepare to flee, pretending I didn't notice anything. I search the entire house for Nicki. I look around, but I can't find her anywhere. I walk to the entrance and leave the bustling mansion. The garden is packed with people who are completely wasted. Some, lying on the grass, gaze at the stars with fascination, as if it were the first time they'd ever seen them. Others stagger along the edge of the pool. While some get into fights, others celebrate their conquest of the night. In a secluded corner, I see Justin sitting on the ground, staring blankly, a bottle of whiskey in his hand. I hesitate for a few seconds before approaching him, but finally I do.
"Are you okay?" I ask him.
"You again, what do you intend to do, save us all?" he replies, stammering.
"It doesn't matter. You're drunk," I reply indignantly.
—But what are you saying? Yes, I'm better than ever —she tells me with a dislocated smile.
—Yes, of course. Good night, Justin—I say as I get ready to leave the party.
—Palm Road, a dream life: mansions, sports cars, parties... You live in paradise until one day you discover that this perfect world only exists from the outside.
I stare at him in bewilderment, not knowing what he's talking about.
—Don't try to be one of us, believe me, this world isn't made for you— Justin tells me.
A wave of indignation washes over me. I step out of the garden, and a jet-black blanket envelops the entire neighborhood. Appearances are deceiving. Who would guess that behind those perfect lives, luxury homes, high-end sports cars, and harmonious gardens lie secrets, lies, betrayals, and an emptiness no one dares to acknowledge? On Palm Road, nothing is as it seems.
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