Meeting Him Again

“Why aren’t we eating……I’m hungry….” Katelyn whined, looking at her father who was swallowing the pills he had to take before dinner. “We are waiting for someone sweetheart, he’ll be here any minute now” her father replied, after drinking water and clearing his throat.

“I would have eaten in my room…...if you had told me earlier you know” kate said grumpily as she stared at her food.

Kate loved and appreciated her father for the little time he kept aside for spending with her because of his busy schedule. She was her father’s whole world and he did everything to fill the gap of her deceased mother. Kate used to argue with him frequently, but ever since he developed a heart condition, she has been very cautious not to speak anything that might upset him. She hated eating along with his other friends from the mafia but the love for her father never let her deny him.

“Actually, you might remember him; you have seen him a few times before. It will be good to rekindle the old friendship” her father suggested.

Kate could suddenly think of many of her friends from mafia who were the same age as her.

 “Is it Luther?....No wait….it should be Sam…-”

“No its DON QUISITO” her father’s reply cut her off, completely silencing her. She would have definitely fallen down if she wasn’t sitting. His name echoed in her mind again and again, causing her face to go pale.

“Are you alright?” her father asked, concerned at her quick change of emotions. “I’m fine…you should have…given me a heads up…or…something…” Kate mumbled, while sipping water so she could compose herself.

Don Quisito was her father’s most trusted partner and has even saved his father’s life once. But there was a secret only Quisito and Kate knew and if at all her father comes to know about it, she was as good as dead.

“He should have been here by now....oh wait…THERE HE IS” her father spoke with excitement, making Kate look up to meet the last person she wanted to see on Earth.

Quisito entered like a king, with a pregnant woman by his side. The moment they reached the table, he pulled out a chair for the woman.

“It’s a pleasure to have you over; please sit” her father gestured.

“Thank you, it’s a great to see you too Winston” Quisito greeted her father back as he took a seat exactly opposite to her, with her father at the foot of the table, between them.

“Pleased to meet you too....Kate” Quisito spoke in a casual tone. “Um....nice to meet you... sir” she gave a polite nod. She could practically feel her heart pumping wildly in her chest, making her feel light headed.

“How is your heart ?” Quisito enquired Winston, who replied in a subtle manner about his degrading health and the worry of his only daughter’s future. Eventually they navigated into other topics and in between the conversation Kate learned that the woman’s name was Lena and that she was 9 months pregnant.

Kate was trying hard to act casual but sweat kept on forming on her forehead, which she kept on wiping at equal intervals. The hunger she felt minutes ago had magically disappeared and all she wanted to do was to leave the atmosphere. She couldn’t even breathe properly while she was in the same room as Quisito.

“Kate.....I see you haven’t touched..your..food” Quisito enquired, at the same time touching Kate’s foot under the table with his shoe, making her jump lightly in her spot.

“what’s... wrong ?” Lena asked, unaware of Quisito’s act even though she sat next to him.

Kate was trembling inside but she managed to keep a neutral tone “No...nothing. I think I’m not feeling well. I’ll have my food upstairs....in my room” Kate looked at her father, who nodded, giving her permission to leave the table.

 

Kate stood up and walked away as the maids carried the food behind her, not even once glancing at Quisito, who was watching her every move like a hawk.