TWO

TWO

CATHERINA

“Mister…” I began

“Cruz” he interrupted me immediately.

“Excuse me?” I said

“I am to be your brother-in-law so it is only right that you know my name. it is Andres Cruz and you are the lovely miss Catherina; I have heard so much about you.” He said slowly, his tongue slurring on the ‘much’ which suggested things I did not want to begin imagining.

“I am sure you have” I said, my eyes showing that I did not care one bit about the things he had heard.

“I did not bump into you on purpose and I am sorry if I have given you such a notion, now if you would excuse me.” I said, walking past him barely. He occupied the whole place, with broad shoulders and an aura spanning miles.

I congratulated myself on maintaining my composure and not flinging the slipper I had on at the moment at his proud head. I met my sister halfway on the stairs and she stated she was about coming to look for me and so we went back up and to my room.

“Have you met him?” she asked, making sure to bolt the door securely

“Met who?” I asked innocently, my mind drifting carnally to the thoughts of how strong his arms had felt, holding me.

“My husband-to-be, Andres Cruz. I cannot help but be nervous about the kind of person he is and papa has told me to act like the proper girl he has trained me to be.” My sister wailed.

“Papa has no business telling you anything and you should act however you want to act, Audrey.” I told her.

“I am terrified” Audrey said softly.

I came around to hug my sister, tapping her back gently as she burrowed her head into my shoulder.

“Have you met him?” she asked again.

“I have and by far he is the most rude man I have ever spoken to, so uncouth in his words and is a really horrible match for you.” I blurted

“You don’t even know him that well and you already deduced these things?” my sister said, her eyes huge with fear.

“I do not mean to frighten you Audrey but your husband-to-be’s reputation precedes him and from the slight conversation we have had today, I believe what the rumors say about him is absolutely right.” I told her.

“I do not want to get married to him; I am in love with Bruno and we are going to elope, just as you did.” She whispered conspiratorially.

“You cannot do that! Elope? Whatever are you thinking Audrey?” I jumped off from the bed, staring at her with huge eyes.

“I do not know what else to do Catherina; I cannot marry a man that I do not love and I am deeply in love with Bruno.” She wailed.

I held her shoulders in a tight grip and shook her, forcing her to look me in the eyes.

“If you love Bruno as much as you say then you will never elope or else...he is going to die.” I told her, my voice breaking.

“What happened with papa and that boy you ran away with?” she asked me softly.

I let go of my sister, my eyes filling up with tears at the painful memory tugging behind my eyes. I never did tell anyone about what had happened that day and my mamma never asked. My sister Audrey had asked for a while and then stopped because she could see I was not ready to discuss the issue.

“Please tell me Catherina; what did papa do?” she asked again.

The tears came then; streaming down my face in rivets. I collapsed on the ground and brought my knees up, hugging them to my chest as I rocked, my head moving from side to side. My sister fell on her knees beside me, gathering me up in her arms as I wept.

“He…killed…him” I managed to utter

She did not say a word but just continued hugging me as I cried, letting it all out till I was spent.

“I am sorry for your loss; I will marry him for I cannot bear to see Bruno killed.” My sister said, her eyes wet with unshed tears.

“I put you in this situation, hermana. If I had not tried to elope, I would be the one getting married right now and not you; at least not in a few years.”

“You are not at fault, blame papa for being such a bastardo” she said, her voice dropping at the last word.

I laughed amidst my tears and we remained in that position for a moment until there was a knock, informing us that dinner had been served and our presence was ultimately needed.

“Your makeup is ruined.” My sister said, patting my wet cheek.

“I will just take it off, I never liked the makeup anyways. I have to change into something else, I do not need the disapproving glare of papa’s stare on my face tonight.”

My sister waited while I got changed into an emerald dress and a short heel to match, I rid myself of the soiled makeup and together we went downstairs.

I was hit by the intensity of his stare and resisted firmly the urge to look up just to be sure he was staring at my sister, his wife-to-be and not at me.

I took a seat beside my mamma, whose eyes passed briefly over my outfit in approval and then my bare face in disapproval.

The food smelled heavenly as usual and I could still feel his stare upon my face. I braved a look up and there it was; blue eyes as beautiful as the sea, boring into me with such intensity that I was lost.

And when my lips parted slowly to let out the pent-up breath in my lungs; his quirked up in a smile and then he mouthed the word ‘sexy’ at me.