My parents would always remind my older sister and me,

‘You create your own destiny. Do not be contented of what this life shows you. Break boundaries and get in touch with the inner explorer inside you.’

It was easy for them to say it. Their work requires them to. My older sister doesn’t have any problem with being adventurous because she’s got the whole package –the confidence, the wit and the extra beauty that makes it easier for her to fit in anywhere.

Like, she’s extra extra extra beautiful.

How about me? Yeah, I do break out of boundaries. But the thing is, most of the time, it ends up as an epic fail. That is why I gave up that searching for my own destiny and just stayed with our parents in Singapore.

It’s a very small country. You’re a complete idiot if you do get lost.

Okay, well, I grew up in the Philippines until I was eleven. I got lost like three times on a four-liner train station.

Fine. I got lost for seven times. I was eleven, for crying out loud. Michelle was already fifteen and by the fourth day of us moving in permanently in the City of Lion, she had every single street memorized up in her head.

Beauty? Check.

Brains? Double check.

Me? Velvet Ferrol? Well, the only thing unique about me is my absolutely amazing appetite. I can eat a four coarse meal meant for two people in one sitting.

Fact.

Awesome ability? Check.

Beauty? Eh, answer to follow. I have to feel it myself first & need someone to tell me I’m beautiful –excluding parents and Michelle because that’s just pure pity. That’s like the last thing that I’ll need. I’ve got low self-esteem. Everyone does –excluding Michelle.

Brains? Duh! A hundred percent genius!

Well, minus the whole geography thingy.

No, don’t put me down for The Amazing Race. We’ll definitely lose that shit if you pick to team with me.

My Mom and my Dad are both missionaries. They met each other as they were both members of Red Cross that volunteers in Ghana. Mom is the only Korean volunteer and Dad is British man that was appointed to help her with her English. She would always tell both of Michelle and me that Dad was the most attractive 24 year old lad Mom has ever met, and he’s got the sexiest British accent she’s ever heard in her life. They got married a year later while they were in a mission in Austria and had Michelle nine months later while they were volunteering in Madagascar. Quite funny, Mom didn’t really want to name her ‘Michelle’. They wanted something that’s got to commemorate their special connection which was volunteering and ‘Red Cross’ but the nurse that attended Mom was a bitch that wanted to do her birth certificate right away because she’s struggling on conversing with English so my Dad had to think of the nicest name ever possible to name their first child and instead of something super unique, he had her named Michelle Angelique Hyun Ferrol.

Michelle. What a bland name for such divine beauty. If they only knew that their child would have a face only a billion men would want to see each of their waking moment, they would have put more effort.

Dad still blames the nurse.

Four years later, as they were back on spreading their humanitarian mission in Africa, Mom and Dad had me. I was born in a small African village, in their small tent with just my parents, an ecstatic three year old and a midwife. I was welcomed to the world with such joy and happiness. Mom was weeping of gladness to give birth to another beautiful baby girl.

Okay, I put too much detail in that.

My parents were just glad to have another angel. End of story.

And then we come to the part of naming their little new miracle up from God above.

Because they still want to have a special remembrance to their undying devotion and connection with volunteering and the Red Cross, my parents thought what perfect name to give me for so long. Mom said I was called ‘Poppy’ for like a week. I don’t know why.

They couldn’t name their child ‘Red’. That was lousier than the name they gave Michelle, not to say I’ll probably forever hate them if they did end up naming me ‘Red’. They couldn’t name me ‘Cross’ because what the fuck? Who would name a pretty princess ‘Cross’?

Do you know what they did? Only the most genius solution to ever come up with!

They got themselves a pocket dictionary.

Looked down for the word ‘red’ and what’s synonymous to it;

-Of a color like blood
-A communist
-Pain
-Ruddy
-Ruby
-Scarlet
-Bloody
-Said to be Hell

Okay…

-Love

Too tacky.

-Heart

Honestly…

And then, BAAM!

-very famous cake flavour: Red Velvet

Oh, how about we just completely ditch the idea of Red Cross and take off the ‘red’?

Just, Velvet…

Another gunshot.

Velvet.

It’s not weird. It’s not just ‘so-so’. It’s not very common.

VELVET.

It was like the music of Mozart and a thousand angels to the ears of my parents.

Velvet.

Velvet Eunice Hyun Ferrol.

Yay! Two points for the unique name!

My name is so much better than Michelle’s.

And that is the story of my life.

How stupid do I sound now, right?

I was their golden child in the making, soon after they named me with the most awesome name ever in history.

Well, they were wrong.

I was a curious child when I was small but then I had an attention span of a squirrel. I’ll ask a question and when I get the answer, I’ll completely forget it a minute later. I grew up with that kind of habit and it never shed off of me up until now. As the years go and I mature, we then found out it wasn’t a simple quirk. It was some sort of short-term memory lost kind of disease that I really have. There was no medicine for it. No cure at all. What my parents and Michelle needed to do with me is just give me so much patience because it brought me so much trouble as I aged. All I’ve caused my parents were lots and lots of insurance every time we travel because they can’t literally put me in a new place with them without the fact that I’ll get lost anytime –even with the help of maps and GPS.

It was the curse to the so awesome name.

So when Mom and Dad were put in charge to be the heads of the Red Cross volunteers’ chapter in the Philippines, they decided to raise both Michelle and I there.

Six years later, we found out that our Dad has brain cancer. We were then advised by Filipino doctors to fly him to Singapore for better care, that’s why we’ve decided to move and it just so happened to be very convenient for my condition too since it’s a small country.

Again, I only got lost for seven times. No biggie.

That wasn’t even my record.

But I’ll be breaking my own record of getting lost for fifteen times when we were in three day tour in Italy sooner than I plan to…because I just got out of my twelve hour from Singapore to Heathrow Airport, London.

And I’ll be here for a very long time.

“MARY FUCKING PEACHES! My little sister ain’t that so little anymore!”

That, my folks, is my lovely older sister -with a dirty mouth.

But don’t worry. She won’t get any violation for indecent public behavior because she spoke in fluent and fast Korean that people won’t understand a thing she said, unless they do understand the language of course.

Michelle and Velvet Ferrol, just two little mixed-race ladies that have plans of taking over the world one step at a time, as per what our parents told us to do.

If I post that on Twitter, I’ll be called a terrorist.

“Ooh, I missed you so much! My little sister!” Michelle screamed at me as she wrapped her skinny arms around me and squeezed the air out of my lungs.

Again, that was screamed in Korean.

I tried my best to reply in the same language, but then I haven’t spoken in Korean for years and well with the memory thing I have, I’ll not remember how to anymore. I bet even Mom and Dad has forgotten about it. “Could you please speak in English? My Korean’s already rusty.” I said –of course in English.

“I’d rather have them not understand us. It’s the way we bond!” she said, still in Korean.

Both misunderstood by the English society, she meant.

Not that I care anyway.

Actually the way we bond is crazier than our Mom’s native language. We’ve been given the freedom by our parents to let loose and see the world. Isn’t that just crazy? Well, it’s not very irresponsible for them anyway. We’re of legal age. We can do whatever we desire. Having very supportive parents were just a massive bonus.

And not only do people not understand a single word Michelle was shouting, we’re actually getting attention because my freaking sister looks like a freaking Victoria’s Secret model.

“How long haven’t we seen each other?” I asked.

She thought about it for a second and answered, “About two years and four months. Why?”

Michelle is practicing here degree in Clinical Psychology in London. After graduating in the University of Singapore with all possible awards present, she was granted a working visa to the United Kingdom to work for Southern Liberty Hospital –only the finest of all the finest- because I told you she’s got brains,

And the beauty that everyone wants.

“Damn, Michelle! How do you manage to get even more beautiful? I look like an ugly unicorn next to you.”

I was currently on a bundle of the worst clothes pulled off because I was seated for a one way trip abroad. Jeans and a plain white shirt, that’s it. I wanted to be comfortable at least, and I wasn’t much into fashion really.

Michelle, however, was just dressed with a pair of ripped skinny jeans and an oversized cream sweater but still looked like a freaking runway model. Tyra Banks would be absolutely floored if she sees her.

“That’s so not true! You’re cute!” she gushed at me while I pouted back.

What am I, a puppy?

Soon after when we’ve finally got my suitcases, we drove off the airport and headed home. I was too tired and just really needed a decently long nap –sleep- to be ready for what’s in store for me tomorrow.

“I’m so happy you’ve finally decided to come to London and live with me.” Michelle said at me, smiling. So beautiful. What happened to me?

What she didn’t know was that I almost changed my mind up to the last minute on the airport. I got scared and I didn’t want to leave Mom alone to take care of Dad. Our parents just managed to strap me just so I could fly to Europe.

The truth is that I got accepted to the best Medicine school in England. Just like my older sister, I have always wanted to be a doctor; an oncologist. I wanted to take care of my parents, especially Dad. It wasn’t easy for me since my memory is somewhat fault at everything but I managed through by lots and lots of different study methods and caffeine that somehow gets me remember whenever I study lessons. Studying to be a doctor was surely going to be so hard but I was ready to burn my ass out just to become one, for my Dad.

Getting accepted in the School of Medicine in King’s College in London was the exception of the fact I promised myself I won’t get out of Singapore because the world is a cruel place that doesn’t want a Velvet Ferrol wandering around. I wasn’t going to let an opportunity pass. It’s a huge effing deal I’ve seriously thought of.

Of course I’m coming to U.K.! I miss my older sister. I’ve got my older sister with me. There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve got Michelle, and if I really needed help, I could always go to our Grandmother. But she lives on the countryside which will need at least a day of road trip.

Road trips are like Satan pulling me to hell because no matter how right maps and GPS work, I’ll always get us lost. It’s depressing to think about.

Michelle doesn’t get pissed. She never does. She actually thinks this curse is a quirky trait everyone will get to love about me.

No. It’s stupid. That’s why I loved and vowed to stay at bloody Singapore because it’s really small.

I was about to dose off when I heard Michelle asked me, “So, how are Mom and Dad?”

“Free of me, at last.” I joked. I was too tired to be witty, that’s all I can come up with.

Even Michelle’s laugh was beautiful. Told you, she’s a package. “Oh Velvet, I’m sure they’re so worried for their little bird to finally leave its nest and go take its own adventure.”

Have I mentioned Michelle is a hippie? Now that takes one brownie point off her because nobody likes and understands the thing hipsters want to prove in this planet.

Suddenly, I remembered we’ve also got someone else aboard our Korean trail here in the British territory.

“Where’s Andrea?” I asked Michelle. “I was expecting to see her with you to come pick me in the airport.”

Andrea Hann. She is our semi-famous nineteen year old cousin that’s also studying here to be an Engineer. She came to London with Michelle and was sharing a flat with her, now with all three of us.

Semi-famous I say because not many people has heard of her –yet. A hectic uni student but she’s got a career as a DJ and she also sings. She’s a fantastic singer that’s got high belts that could get Beyoncé running for her money.

Really, she’s fucking amazing. I’m so proud to be related to her.

And let’s not to forget that she’s beautiful too? I’m two years older than her but puberty hit her so well and then BAAM! She looks way mature in every special place than I do. She could also pass a modeling career if her current act won’t suffice for her future.

Our Korean ancestors probably didn’t see me coming in our bloodline. They didn’t think much of beautifying me like how they did to my older sister and cousin.

“Andrea’s back at home. She’s preparing for a huge hosting gig later.”

In other words, she’s probably sleeping right now. She hates daylight.

Have I told you she’s gone through all phases as a teenager? Name it, she’s been one.

Our family’s weird. I know.

Michelle turned the radio on and a very familiar song blasted on her car’s stereo.

“Midnight memories
Baby, you and me, stumbling on the street
Singing, singing, singing

Midnight memories, oh oh oh oh
Everywhere we go
Never say no
Just do it, do it, do it

Five foot something with the skinny jeans
Don’t look back baby follow me
I don’t know where I’m going but I’m finding my way
Same old shhh but a different day.”

One Direction.

“Remember when you started liking this bubblegum boy band? Like, two years ago?” I laughed at Michelle. I went through her CD stash and found all albums. “And you’re still obsessed with them up until now?!” I laughed just louder.

I can’t believe people still listened to them. Boy bands are just like canned foods, all of them have expiry dates whether they like it or not.

“You’re being rude. They’re a bunch of nice guys and wonderful company.”

“Yeah, right, like you’ve actually hanged out with them.”

“I did, actually. Four times.” I shot her a surprised look. “Andrea’s friends with them, and she’s actually hosting their fifth year anniversary as a band tonight.” she explained to me.

Wow. Five years, she said? Most boy bands don’t even reach that long.

Let me give you an example, the Jonas Brother.

It didn’t even surprise me that Andrea knows them by now. She’s got a line of connections because of her career.

“Whoa! Andrea’s going to be loaded for tonight!” I exclaimed. “That’s lot of money for sure!”

I didn’t care about who she’s hosting for. One Direction meant lots and lots of pounds on Andrea’s bank account.

I am so proud of our little one.

“More like lots of boys that you can bag to bring home tonight.” Michelle stated, earning a confused look from me.

“What?” I asked skeptically.

“We’re invited.”

“By One Direction?!” I screamed, still equally surprised that my older sister are somewhat buddies with the poster boys I assume that was still in her room.

“By Andrea.” she clarified right away.

And I actually thought for a second that they’re buddies. Psh.

----------(Blue Velvet)----------

When we got in the apartment, Andrea has already left.

Just fifteen minutes in and Michelle was already shoving me in to a little black dress. I can’t remember if I was referencing a song or not.

“Wait! I didn’t say I want to come! I’m jetlagged! And I’ve got an orientation tomorrow!” It wasn’t even a lie. I do have my career orientation tomorrow. I don’t want to look hammered as I stroll down the campus for the first time.

“Are you choosing a boring orientation over a family event?”

Erm, yes?

“But-”

“Families support each other. This is Andrea’s big break. She’s been told there will be huge producers present in the club. She’s playing in Razz & Rebels. That’s like top of the line where only high class party peeps go. She needs us to be there to cheer for her! We’ll boost her confidence.”

“Andrea’s got more confidence than both of us combined. She’ll be fine! She’ll nail that gig with or without our support-”

“Oh shush you little bird. You’ll need a life before you go to torture school.”

That one she’s based on her own experience.

I hate to break it but I really don’t have a social life. I mean, I’m not fucking awkward. I just always like being a home buddy.

I’m fucking boring, that’s why I should have stayed in Singapore.

I don’t have a life there either but at least I got my parents that understood me when I say I’d rather be in my room and read books all day.

WRONG. Break boundaries, remember?

I am so weird.

That’s why I’ve got no circle of friends, a life and I’ve got no other direction to choose but only one direction… I hate myself.

Michelle shoved me to sit in front of her Vanity Mirror and said, “Put that frown upside down, my dear Velvet. We’re partying with One Direction!”

----------(Blue Velvet)----------

It was a fact that Michelle does not only cure people of their various mental illness, apparently, she also could create a fashion miracle.

She’s actually got to make me at least look like her.

A bit.

But no one could ever look more perfect than the goddess that was my sister in a red dress.

I just hope Andrea looks less perfect than this.

Who am I kidding?

“You don’t know half of the people in the party.” Michelle said as I watched her do her lipstick flawlessly.

I smirked back at her and said, “I know, right?”

I wasn’t being sarcastic.

I AM sarcastic.

Michelle sniggered back at me. “No. What I’m trying to say is that you not knowing half of these people in the party will definitely mean there will be a higher chance of you getting yourself a boy toy.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You get yourself a good sex tonight before entering Medical school.”

I laughed, but I couldn’t tell if she’s joking or not.

“Are you freaking serious?” I asked deadpanned.

Michelle just shrugged at me and said, “Why not?”

“Oh my god. I thought you only wanted me to socialize?”

“Well that’s connected to each other and you’ve got yourself a 95% chance of bagging a lad from One Direction.”

Of all the guys I would want to take home, why would I want a boy from a boy band?

No thanks.

Oops. I mean, cue long sarcastic laugh.

Not a fucking chance.

Notes

No One Direction in this chapter, but they're in the next. And the next. And the next. And they just might be in the one after that.

Weh hey! Welcome to the first chapter of another crazy story that is BLUE VELVET (I swear, it’s got no relation to the Lana Del Ray song –which just got me really really sad)!

Say hello to Velvet Ferrol



Michelle Ferrol




& Andrea Hann



This isn't my first story. I’ve got two 1D fanfics still pending but I’m pretty ecstatic to share this one here. Any feedback (even a simple "This sucks") is greatly appreciated, so please tell me what you think. Please? :)

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-Andie