Chapter 79 - Meeting in Panama - mduno
We had fun at the hotel bar, Dad stayed in his room, and I went to bed past one in the morning. I had an amazing time, knowing about Roland and that he didn't cheat on me while we were together filled me with satisfaction.
Dad knocked on the door, I was ready, and I opened it for him. I hadn't slept thinking about getting back with him, and when I return from Panama, I'll look for him. The ones who gave us trouble getting ready were the newlyweds. I imagine their night continued for a couple more hours. And when they finally opened the door, neither of them had gotten ready.
"You'll have to travel without showering, we need to be at the airport in half an hour, let's go."
"What?" I laughed seeing them run back and forth in the room.
"Why didn't you call us earlier?"
"My dad got tired of calling you, he's waiting for us downstairs."
"Aren't we going to have breakfast?"
Luz Marina laughed at the situation, they got ready in record time and came down with me. They had coffee with some bread. The flight went smoothly, and I was beyond excited. Time heals, and even though I've missed him, deep down it was like the old woman said.
The heart knows if he was yours, I don't need to be sad about not having him by my side, her words were: "You must understand that belonging to someone is transcendental, and as you evolve in love, the feeling moves to a higher state, and you will never feel alone, a part of his soul stays with you."
Raúl confirmed it yesterday, we've belonged to each other, we are evolving as human beings. Me, to not be dependent on his affection, and him... well, to be a better person in society.
The hotel, oh my God! Old Fausto outdid himself on this trip. From the moment we stepped into the hotel, the staff approached us to carry the luggage, and while that might be normal, for a man who hardly ever leaves his farm, it wasn't. He had never had that kind of attention.
Despite my simple life, even though my father has money in the bank, he has never flaunted more than necessary. Unlike Roland's world, where it was the opposite, and it seems I was getting used to it. In Santa Marta, the attention was incredible, and I thought it was because he was the Boss. These places are usually very attentive to guests.
We checked in just like we did at the hotel in Bogotá, and we were assigned rooms on the second floor. My room was amazing and faced the sea, we were next to each other, and when I opened the balcony, old Fausto was also looking at the view, and the lovebirds were kissing on theirs.
"Beautiful, Dad," I smiled.
"Thanks, dear."
"You outdid yourself, old man. I won't complain anymore about all those years of hard work."
"Stop talking nonsense."
Dad replied with a wave of his hand, and Luz Marina and I burst out laughing. Most of the time they are fighting and can't live apart.
"Well, tonight I expect you at... I'll tell you the place, I need to inspect it first."
My brother looked at me, and for a second, I frowned, not understanding. Seeing his expressions, I got it. I had to stay with his girlfriend while he organized whatever he was going to do to propose. Why didn't this rascal say so? I didn't bring any clothes for a special dinner... I'm going to kill him!
"No problem," I said. "Luz Marina and I will try on our swimsuits." My sister-in-law's mischievous laugh made her boyfriend uncomfortable.
"Behave," Dad commented, smiling, as he entered the room. My sister-in-law looked at me.
"Are we going to get to know each other right away?" I affirmed.
"The delay would kill us."
I went into the room and started changing in record time. I had bought a pretty wide black top to cover the scar with its respective bikini, I put on the cover-up, grabbed the sunscreen, my black hat to match, and laughed at myself in the mirror. I looked like a widow, all in black.
The perfect outfit for Roland's personality, nothing to do with my style. I didn't buy a colorful one like I usually like because I couldn't find a wide one to cover my back. I looked at the clothes I brought, took out another floral piece to put over the swimsuit, changed flip-flops to match one of the colors of the new cover-up, and also changed the hat. The mirror confirmed that this was me. When I came out, Luz Marina arrived with my brother in shorts and an angry face.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"According to him, my swimsuit is too small."
I raised my eyebrows; it was a topic I shouldn't get involved in. It was a couple's situation, where they need to understand each other, know to what extent you accept me and I accept you, you respect me and I respect you. Her outfit wasn't vulgar; she should know what attitude to take in front of my brother.
"You don't plan to say anything," Santiago commented.
"Do you really want to know what I think about a situation that only concerns you two?" My brother looked up and Luz Marina looked down. "Santiago Vásquez," I said, and he looked at me with wide eyes; I almost never call him by his full name. "Is she showing her breast?" He shook his head, I raised my eyebrow, and little by little my sister-in-law lifted her head. "Is her bikini too small?"
As much as she tried to remain still, she couldn't help but glance at the size of the thong, which was the same as mine. She shook her head again.
"That body is for my eyes only, Vero."
"And you can't be proud of it! What's wrong with you men imposing yourselves over artificial situations? What should matter is that you are the only one with permission to touch her; she allows that only to you." I felt my face heat up, but I held his gaze. "What's important, little brother, is to focus on much more important things, and I think you've already achieved that. Who cares if others look at what you enjoy?"
"No wonder you have poor Roland wrapped around your finger."
"And what's that comment supposed to mean?" My sister-in-law smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
"You drive anyone crazy, little sister. Take care of Luz Marina."
"Don't take too long, so you can show off."
"Oh, you devilish angel."
I burst out laughing. We went down together to the pool area; the place couldn't have been better. Santiago officially informed my father and me that there would be a dinner in one of the huts located at the back of the hotel.
We had to dress up for the occasion. If that scatterbrain had told us earlier, we wouldn't be in this situation. Dad only packed shorts, and I packed beach dresses. Plus, my back was burning from the sun we got in the afternoon.
If it weren't for old Fausto dragging us out of the pool, we would have been roasted. There was a knock on the door as I was tying the dress around my neck; it was backless, at least.
"You look beautiful, sis!" I smiled.
"It's the only halfway decent thing I found in the suitcase. If my brother's big head had warned me, we'd be wearing a nice cocktail dress instead of something to walk on the beach."
"What is Santiago up to? Your father passed by him and asked me to come down with you."
"Something I love to see happen." Her eyes sparkled. "We should go down."
When we arrived, the surprise wasn't just for Luz Marina because of the hut's arrangement, but for this humble servant as well. I was speechless, tried to breathe, and it was impossible. Was he following me? Had someone told him, or does life, one way or another, want to see us together?
Roland was talking to Santi, dressed in nice white pants, a light gray three-quarter sleeve shirt, and sandals for the occasion. He knew how to dress, and I was in this green floral dress.
It wasn't ugly, just for sunbathing. From my father's angry face, I deduced he didn't find the presence of the man, who made all my neurons explode, amusing. Santiago spoke to him out of courtesy, though deep down he liked him.
My hands started to sweat when his feline eyes locked onto mine. He was gorgeous. I approached them, and my father's neck seemed to stretch, Santi took Luz Marina's hand, introduced her to Roland, who didn't take his eyes off me, with that half-smile of a mischievous boy that I love.
"Let me introduce you to my girlfriend."
With the decency and courtesy that characterized him when he wanted to be, he was a perfect gentleman.
"Roland Sandoval," he said, shaking her hand and instinctively moving closer to me.
"It's a family dinner."
Mr. Fausto spoke from the hut, Santi shot him a look, and he lowered his eyes, leaving us alone.
"He'll never forgive me, will he?" Roland asked.
"You haven't done anything to prove otherwise." He furrowed his brows, and I had an overwhelming urge to kiss him. "Is this a coincidence?" He smiled again.
"I knew you were traveling because Raúl mentioned the passport thing, but he never said where you were going; he's a vault. I came because I’m receiving an award tomorrow, and I have to sign some contracts; some projects came through."
"Did you come alone?" I interpreted Roland's look.
"Since someone ran away, I have been." He looked at the table where they were waiting for me, hands in his pockets. "Is the meeting for a special reason?"