Something Wrong

 

"What is that!?"

A man's loud voice jolted Ruby awake, still feeling tired after a long night that left her sore down below.

As Ruby opened her eyes, she was startled to see her husband towering beside the bed, looking at her with furrowed brows.

Ruby forced her head to turn as her brown eyes met Eduardo's accusing finger. At that moment, Ruby saw the dark red stain tarnishing the bedcover where they had 'wrestled' all night.

"Bloody." Ruby answered in a murmur, unsure if her response was correct. The stain was clearly blood; there was no need to ask. Ruby suspected the question was just a trap.

"I know it's blood! But why are you bleeding?! You're not menstruating, are you?!" Eduardo's shout grew louder. Ruby naturally flinched, her face slowly reddening—embarrassed.

She knew exactly where the blood came from, and Eduardo should too. That thought made Ruby fall silent. Could it be that he thought she was some cheap woman who slept around with random men?

Ruby continued to keep her head down, squeezing her hands tightly, confused, until she finally shook her head vigorously. That blood wasn't from her monthly cycle.

"Answer me!" Eduardo demanded, unsatisfied with the silent response.

The shout made Ruby shuffle away in fear. But the movement only aggravated Eduardo further. He pulled the blanket over Ruby.

"Ah!" Ruby screamed in surprise, trying to hold onto it, but Eduardo jerked and swatted her hand away, then tossed the blanket onto the floor. Then he pulled Ruby's legs closer.

"Let go!" Ruby realized she shouldn't resist, but she felt like she would die if he repeated what he did last night.

"Don't..." Ruby started sobbing and pleading with trembling limbs as Eduardo held her waist and spread her legs wide. Ruby tried to cover herself with her hands, but Eduardo also swatted her hand aside.

"I beg you, don't..." Ruby pleaded desperately. Besides the pain, she felt ashamed because he was looking right between her open legs.

"You've never slept with a man?!"

Finally, Eduardo released Ruby's legs and straightened them up. Ruby rolled away in relief, curling up and hugging her trembling body. She wanted to cover herself with the blanket. Embarrassed and scared. The blanket, however, was near Eduardo's feet. Ruby didn't dare to approach it because she was too scared.

"How could..." Eduardo fell silent when he saw Ruby cry. There was no way he could talk to her again. Ruby trembled, unable to answer his question anymore.

Eduardo scoffed, then went into the closet to change clothes. His brow remained furrowed in bewilderment.

Ruby didn't look at him, but her sobs grew louder as she heard her bedroom door close, trapped between relief and mourning her fate.

***

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"I slept with her." Eduardo sat down and crossed his legs.

"Ed, I'm a pastor. Do you think it's appropriate to discuss that with me?" Javier closed the book in his hands and looked at Eduardo. It wasn't surprising, as Eduardo had always opened up to him.

"Maybe not appropriate, but you're my brother, and you're the one who told me to marry her. So you need to know." Eduardo reached for the coffee on the table and drank it. Without permission, although it was clear the coffee belonged to Javier.

"I didn't ask or force you. I suggested. You are the one who suddenly decided to break up with Mayte. I was concerned about the Rosas family's future. You know I can't marry." Javier wished to avoid accusations of coercion, as he never did.

"I felt Esli's offer to marry his daughter to you was quite good—as a form of responsibility. This marriage will make him behave. Make sure he is faithful. And you also fell in love with Lizeth, didn't you?" Javier teasing.

Eduardo snorted. "Fallen in love? I just thought she was pretty, but when was that? Fifteen...no. That's twenty years ago."

Eduardo couldn't even recall the exact moment, and it was evident that Liz wasn't old enough to experience love at that time. Liz's age might have been only three when they met. Eduardo thought she was a cute and pretty doll to play with.

"That's a start. At least her face still fits your taste." Javier tried to find the positive side.

"My face doesn't fit hers," Eduardo hissed, rubbing his uneven face.

"That..." Javier fell silent with a sad face. He had no comfort for that issue.

"I didn't want to discuss my face. I slept with her." Eduardo brought back the conversation.

"What am I supposed to do with that information? Celebrate?" Javier snatched his coffee from Eduardo's hand, rolling his eyes. He didn't understand why Eduardo had to repeat that information.

"She's still a virgin. Lizeth Marin Ramos is still a virgin," Eduardo said.

Javier spat out his coffee. Choked by surprise.

"Lizeth? She's a virgin?! How is that possible? That woman clearly isn't Liz if she's still a virgin!"