FIVE
CATHERINA
“Where have you been, hermana. I have been searching all over for you.” My sister asked, settling herself beside me.
I had remained in the garden, pondering on so many things when Andres left. It was like my mamma had said, I loved to day dream but what she did not know is that it kept me sane and it was a safe place for me, away from my family and their drama.
The music filtered through from the patio, old Spanish songs playing and if I wasn’t in such a mood; I would have smiled at the things the singer was trying to say.
“I am just taking fresh air, what is the matter?” I asked.
“Nothing, you are the only one I recognize in that house right now. Papa is entertaining one of his many guests and mamma, she is in a conversation with an anciana. They are discussing the wedding and I cannot help but feel pressured.” She said softly.
“Come here.” I said, hugging her to myself as we both sat in the comfort of the gardens.
She sniffled before saying
“You know, I already packed a bag yesternight and was going to just ask for your blessing this morning. I had made plans for Bruno and I to leave before the introductions.”
“It is a good thing that you did no such thing, Audrey.” I told her, my voice carrying concern at her words.
“I wonder if it wouldn’t be better to just die than have to endure a loveless marriage with such a ruthless man.”
“Do not say such things, someone could hear you and he seems…okay” I bit my tongue from really telling her the kind of person her future husband was.
“You said it yourself that he is rude and uncouth and I saw for myself during dinner just how rude he is. He said nothing to me, not even a peep or a glance in my direction.”
Guilt rode up my spine at her words; I could imagine that he did not look in her direction because he was busy staring at me and playing some twisted game, I wanted no part in.
I could hardly tell my sister that I had had a moment three times today with her future husband while she, the bride-to-be had had none.
“I don’t know how else to comfort you.” I said, patting her back gently.
We stayed like that for a while until I realized that I could no longer hear the music.
“We should go inside” I told my sister.
“You should go on without me, I think I will stay here for a while.”
I nodded and gave her one last pat before turning back into the house. It would seem that the crowd had dispersed, leaving the house silent. I did not see my papa anywhere which was all for the better because I had already calculated my flight upstairs and into my room before anyone would see me.
I walked into the dark, counting my steps and knowing exactly when to turn right and…
I slammed into something strong.
A yelp escaped my throat as I sprang back, my eyes peering and trying to adjust in the dark.
Andre Cruz stood staring at me like I was some animal he had caught in a trap; he was holding a cellphone to his ear and regarding me like I was some prey. I glanced behind him and towards the safety of my room, wondering if it was possible to just make a dash for it and be gone before he finished the call he was making.
This had to be the worst day of my life, I wondered why it always had to be him anytime I slammed or ran into something. I continued staring at him, the movement of his lips as he spoke and the way his muscles strained against the material of his suit; his lazy stance and the way his eyes observed my face.
“Are you done ogling me, Catherina?” he murmured softly.
My eyes whipped up to his face in alarm and then annoyance; he was blocking my escape route, wasn’t he?
“What if I say no, what then are you going to do?” I blurted and almost regretted my bold utterance.
He leaped away from the wall he was leaning on like a cat and took a step towards me, his eyes holding mine.
I took one step back, hating the fact that his presence both frightened and drew me in. I was like the two sides of a magnet; attracted and repelled by him, all at once.
He took another step towards me and I took one back, turning around to be sure no one could see us. He stopped mid stride and watched me; his eyes lit up with amusement, like I was something entertaining and brought for his pleasure.
I felt an instant dislike and eyed him with very venom I felt.
“What is amusing?” I ground out.
“The things I have heard about you” he drawled, his eyes trailing lazily over my physique and then up to my face to settle on my lips.
My tongue snaked out of their own volition as I licked them.
His eyes snapped with such intensity to my face that I staggered at the weight of it.
“Whatever you have heard about me, you are being fooled.” I squeaked, annoyed at the way I sounded
“Is that so?” he slurred.
“I have heard a lot about you too.” I shot back.
Why am I trying to justify myself to the man, he needs no explanation from me, I thought fleetingly.
“Indeed, are you curious to know if they are true?” he asked me.
My heart thumped painfully in my chest, my mouth dry and so I nodded. He took a step forward and this time, I did not take any back.
“Do you know what they say curiosity did to the cat?” he asked, a hand coming up to trace the contour of my jaw, his thumb caressing my lower lip.
“It got it killed?” I answered, my breath hitched in my throat at the feel on his rough thumb on my lip
“Smart girl” he smiled, showing pearly white teeth.
“See you around, Catherina” he said, his hand dropping from my face as he walked past.
Leaving me with the feeling that I had just touched fire and gotten burned.
SIXCATHERINAI reached my room and bolted the door securely behind, my ears roaring and my heart thumping painfully in my chest. It was the way he had said my name Catherina in the most inappropriate way I had ever heard it said. My face still burned from the places his fingers have trailed and my lip remained seared by the feel of his thumb on them. I wasn’t supposed to feel that type of way for my own sister’s future husband; maybe my father was right and I was some kind of self- righteous whore.I collapsed on my bed and folded myself, hugging my knees. I was drained both physically and mentally but I still could not stop thinking about him, his eyes as he watched me and how I had felt stripped underneath his gaze. I did not think anyone could make me feel the way Andres Cruz had but then again there was no one like him.I closed my eyes to dispel the thought him and only succeeded when I finally succumbed to sleep but even then, he came in my dreams, watching me with eyes that co
SEVENCATHERINAWe all sat down at the table again, me to my mamma’s right and her to my papa’s. My sister sat beside her future husband whose sleeves were still rolled up; tempting me to look. I kept my eyes fastened to my plate, hoping there would be no drawing me into the conversation going on at the table… fat chance.My papa had extended an invite to Andres Cruz to dine with us after their little meeting that morning and again; just as last night, the presence of his uncle was required. My brother was absent for reasons best known to him and I was forced to sit beside his uncle who was doing all he could to look down the bodice of my gown and at my breasts.My papa glanced towards me and I could feel the disgust in his cold stare but I did not bother looking up, not because of him but because of the man sitting opposite me who was at that moment burning me with the intensity of his stare.“Your papa tells me you are a singer.” Franco Cruz and uncle to Andres said to me.“I am” I
EIGHTANDRESEverywhere was deathly silent after the gunshot. Mr Salvador stared at me with a look of alarm and also one of respect and admiration but I only had eyes for the fallen girl and her brother who had gone to rescue her from the weight of the dead meat that was my uncle.I dropped my gun to the table and let my arms rest beside my plate as I rolled my fork between my fingers. I was mad with rage and it burned brightly behind my eyes and in my blood. You could say that I saw red, the moment my uncle held a gun to Catherina and I snapped when he began calling her a whore.I turned to my uncle’s bodyguard who merely nodded in my direction indicating that he had no objection to his death. I still had to explain how he had died to the rest of my family but at this moment, I was in rage. My eyes darkened dangerously as Catherina was helped up by her brother, blood coating her face, her dress and hair. She had the look of someone who was shell shocked and who wouldn’t be? I had jus
NINEANDRESShe got up immediately, excusing herself from the table even as her dress dripped blood. My eyes followed her movement, waiting until her eyes met mine from behind her papa’s chair. I smiled in amusement at the wild look in her eyes but at the same I was concerned which was a feeling I found quite irritating.She turned and fled from my presence, her bloodied dress trailing behind her like in a horror movie. Mr Salvador cleared his throat beside me, drawing my attention back to him.“You shall take the body with you, I presume?” he asked“Yes, I shall” I answered distractedly as I glanced over to his wife who stayed silent beside him.“And you will definitely want something in return for the incident?” He asked.“You know the laws, Manuel.” I replied through gritted teeth, my eyes showing my anger.He nodded and then said nothing else; of course, he knew the laws. It was an eye for an eye but in this case, a life for a hand.I turned over to the sister who was sitting quie
TENCATHERINAI sat on my bed staring into space as I recalled the events of the past hour, the grip on my throat and the cold metal that had been pressed to my temple. I was still in the bloodied dress but I hardly paid much attention, the events stuck as a recurring nightmare in my head.The door to my room opened but I paid it no mind, I was in a world of throat gripping and metal pressing in my head.“Hermana…Catherina…are you okay?” my sister said, coming to my side.I nodded not glancing in her direction once; I was day dreaming but this time around, it was a fucking nightmare.“You need to get out of this dress, listen to me.” She said, shaking me.The sound of the gun ricocheted in my head as I jolted out of my day dream in shock.Tears streamed down my face then and the sobs escaped my throat“Hush now, come and take a bath.” My sister said, helping me to my feet.I passed the mirror on my way to the bathroom and bile rose up in my throat at the sight of my body drenched in b
ELEVENCATHERINAI might have just disliked how arrogant and so full of himself Andres Cruz was but right now after almost killing me by shooting so close to my head and his breaking my brother’s arm; I had every reason to dislike him with a passion that overwhelmed even me.After the doctor had treated my brother and he had had a good night rest, he went out and has not been back but I knew he was going to be fine and the hand was going to heal if he took good care of it as the doctor had said.My mamma was still in an argument with my papa over his non- challant attitude towards my brother’s pain and judging from my papa’s response to her, I just wished she would give up. There was no convincing somebody as bull headed as my papa that he was in the wrong.I sat on the couch with my sister Audrey beside me listening to the news about a drug bust and the death of one of the key witnesses to the crime.“That’s Andres’ warehouse, isn’t it?” my sister asked.“I suppose.” I answered as we
TWELVECATHERINA“My papa will be waiting for you in his den” I said, gulping as I faced the rogue who had an eyebrow quirked up and observing me with amusement again.“Will he?” he murmured coming around to where I stood.I held my ground, glaring at him… I wasn’t going to flee because of this dangerous man and I sure as hell was not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing that he affected me so.He stopped in front of me, watching my face.I kept my eyes on his, making sure to glare to show him I wasn’t scared and I did not like his presence in our house all the time.“You are blocking the television” he whispered.“Oh” I answered and moved so he could get a better view but his eyes followed me instead, his gaze intense on the side of my face.I did not spare him a glance as my gaze remained on the TV, they had interrupted the program to bring breaking news about the attack on a warehouse… his warehouse. I watched from the corner of my eyes as his jaw hardened and his eyes turn
THIRTEENCATHERINAWe weren’t expecting my abuela but there she stood at the door with a little packed suitcase and that grin that frightened me as a child. She was a tall woman for her age and that probably was the reason my papa was tall because I was sure he did not get the height from my midget of a grandfather who died before I was born.“Well, child… are you just going to stand there and gawk at me without letting me in?” she said, her mouth thinning.“Sorry abuela, we were not expecting you.” I answered, opening the door wider for her to come in“Do I need to phone ahead before visiting my son and grandchildren?” she sauntered in, stopping to take a deep breath.“Ofcourse not, abuela. I shall ask mamma to set out one more plate for lunch since you will be joining us.” I said, dragging the suitcase behind me; it was heavier than it looked and I wondered what she had packed in it.“I came over to see the man that will be marrying my granddaughter… where is he?”“He is with papa i