The Commitments Novels & Stories

Isn't that what every relationship goal is? "Would you like to make a commitment someday?" Micaela's voice intruded my thoughts and I glance down at her. "Commitment? What commitment?" I ask confusedly. I don't understand what she's talking about. She sat up and look me in the eyes. "Commitment in relationship means having an agreement to love, trust, be honest, openness, loyalty to your partner. And this are the necessary keys to marriage..."

"Assure me that we'll see each other after this. I want a commitment with you. I want us to be in a relationship." I sighed. Dumbfounded by his words. My body froze. I could not speak out of panic. I didn’t expect those words from him. When he recovered, he started to laugh. "Commitment? Don't be ridiculous, Carter. Do you even know what that word means?" I tried to sound casual. His forehead creased. "I'm serious. You left me before. I won't allow that to happen again. I want something to hold onto. I want an assurance, that is what I am trying to say, Lea.”

You wish. I took a deep breath and sighed. “I’m afraid I cannot give that, though. I’m gonna save the company by myself,” I said. Tito Arthur gasped. “Huh. And you’re not even determined to stay for that. You. cannot commit to the company, so how sure are you that you’re going to make the company great again, huh? How sure are you that you will be able to let us rise again, huh? You lack commitment!” I tightened my fisted hands as I breathe deeply. I didn’t want to burst out, so I looked him in the eyes.

“They’re not examining Sophia tomorrow. Riccardo plans to switch the girls. Sareena’s being hidden and only a few people know she’s back.” His eyes narrow. “She took a ‘Voto Di Castità’ at her Confirmation. Do you know what that is?” I whisper. “She wears the ‘Anello Di Promessa Di Castità’ on her thumb. That vow? It means nothing goes inside her. Not even tampons. Not until she’s married before God.” Damian stiffens, choking slightly on his coffee.

It’s making me crazy. "The day I told you I want your commitment, I committed myself to you. And committing myself to you means loving you blindly, staying loyal to you even if you don't love me..." I breathed fast as he showered a little kiss on my jaw. His hand on my lower thigh moved a little bit higher and the growing anticipation made me feel intoxicated.

They did not discuss next steps. They did not need to. This was not an engagement that asked the world to witness it. It was a partnership that asked the participants to stay awake. And as they moved forward together, neither leading nor following, Lucas understood something he had not before. Commitment did not require a symbol to be real. It required values strong enough to be shared. Chosen daily. Revisited honestly. And allowed to change without breaking what held them together. That was the proposal. And Sofia had accepted it. Not as a promise. But as a practice. One they would build. Together.

And if nothing else, I am indisputably a man who honors his commitments, regardless of personal cost. The moment stretches between us, elastic and fraught with tension. It feels like hours. Days. Entire eons compressed into this single, breathless instance. Every muscle in my body aches for release from this exquisite torture, screaming for me to close the final distance between us, but I stubbornly remind myself of my promise to her.

Uncle's eyes were so proud at me, I could see it through his eyes. "Are we going to cry here, Uncle? You're making me cry." I joked again. "I want to, but we are loaded with work," he said. "Anyway, how's the contract?" I sip my coffee before speaking, "Some are very trustworthy and some are trash, sir. You know what I mean by that. Others are only giving 10 to 25% share to the project they are proposing you sign up for. That's very dull; they want us to support their projects, but they will give us that low. I will set up the meeting after reviewing it all like what you said."

There's a bite to Andrei's words. I stare back at him, my jaw clenched, but I don’t interrupt. Let him have his turn. Afterwards, I’m going to throttle him. With a smile. And a well-placed line about spending my “forever” with him, which apparently means jack shit. Well, the jokes on me, isn’t it? I thought I was the one signing up for a lifetime of commitment and sacrifice when all he saw was a transaction. “... I made a commitment, and I intend to honor it. Our marriage may not have worked out, but I won't renege on my obligations.”

Instead, he watched me. Carefully. Like he was measuring something that couldn’t be calculated. Then— “It belonged to my grandmother,” he said. That made me still. “My family uses it only in specific circumstances.” I frowned slightly. “What circumstances?” A pause. Then— “Commitment that cannot be reversed casually.” That word settled heavily in the space. Commitment. I looked at the box again. Then back at him. “You’re making this sound dramatic.” “It is,” he said simply. Silence followed.