Chapter 80 - Reconciliation? - Mduno
I loved him, I looked at him and held myself back from running into his arms, for God's sake. I adored this man.
"Yes, my blockhead brother is going to propose to his girlfriend, and he didn't notify us so we could at least bring a different dress than this." She tried to hold back her laughter but couldn't help bursting out while I pointed at myself. "Thank you."
"No, Veronica, believe me, you are the only woman who can wear so many colors together and always... look perfect." I dug my nails into the palms of my hands.
"Is that a compliment?" Kiss me, I screamed from the bottom of my soul.
"Without a doubt, Veronica."
"How much longer do we have to wait for you, Vero?" He lowered his gaze; it was a different Roland, it was another person.
"I have to go." She whispered, her eyes screamed at me. "Can I..."
"Where will you be?"
"I'll wait for you at the bar."
The sparkle in his eyes sent a thousand tingles through my stomach.
"I have to..."
"You look beautiful." I blushed.
"Don't make fun of me."
"Don't take too long." I smiled; there was my bossy Roland deep down. "What are you laughing at?" I started walking backward.
"I'm glad for your change, and I'm even happier that you always keep that authoritative part, as long as it's not offensive." I turned around and entered the hut.
"We almost ordered without you," Dad commented grumpily.
"Before Santiago speaks, let me make something clear, Dad."
"I know. You forgave him and will get back with him once we finish dinner."
"Exactly." My brother choked on his water to keep from laughing at my impertinence. "Thank you, Dad."
"Well," my brother intervened, "since I know our dad's mood will change now."
"Young man!"
"I'm not lying." Dad rolled his eyes, Santiago began to speak or rather tried to. "Honey, this... Well, I..."
He looked at her and then at us, old Fausto softened his expression a bit, and I bit my lips, I couldn't help my brother much. "Sweetheart."
"Santiago, I accept."
We burst out laughing, my brother gasped, and then breathed again. It was the silliest yet most beautiful proposal.
"Thank you, love."
He extended his hand, pulled a square box from his pocket, and the ring was beautiful. The rest of the night, even though I was happy for Santiago, I couldn't stop thinking about Roland, I kept looking at the clock, I had stuffed myself with dinner, and we were waiting for dessert.
My father said a few words about the meaning of marriage, and I didn't pay attention, reliving my encounter from just over half an hour ago. He was still just as attractive, his eyes for the first time were a whirlwind of feelings... I can't wait any longer.
"I'm sorry, Santi."
"I understand, Vero, thanks for everything," he replied, smiling.
"I love you all."
I blew a kiss to each of them and ran out in search of Roland. I didn't make it to the bar; we stopped in front of each other, he was coming to find me.
"I thought you had changed your mind."
Simon and Onion took different paths when they saw me arrive.
"Dinner took a while, and I didn't wait for dessert."
"Veronica..." His breath rose and fell in sync with mine. "I'm sorry for being an idiot for not coming to find you, for insisting on pushing you away."
"I love you, Roland."
"Do you forgive me?" I smiled.
"I know you haven't had anything with Beatriz, there's nothing to forgive."
I don't know who took the first step, but I realized what was happening when we got so close our lips touched. As I felt him, I breathed again, he was like air in my lungs.
"God, I missed this." I pulled away. "No, no. This time you're not leaving, Veronica."
"God?" He made a face.
"Why does it surprise you that I call him that? We're still negotiating."
I hugged him tightly. It was a huge achievement that he accepted a Higher Being.
"You sound very sweet calling him that, love." He buried his face in my neck.
"How much time do we have?" He made a face, and I looked at him puzzled. "Your father, how long did he give us permission?"
"Don't be a clown, I'm twenty-one."
I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes and almost sticking my tongue out at him, but I held back.
"So, do you want to be my girlfriend again?" I could never say no when he looked at me that way.
"I never stopped being it," I whispered.
"Correct answer." He kissed me again.
We returned to the bar, got a table. He ordered a beer and got me a non-alcoholic fruit cocktail. He kept me by his side, played with my hair, with my hands, kept kissing me, and had a conversation on his phone with who knows who.
I felt as if we hadn't grown apart; he caught me up on his trip to Panama and the mix of excitement and fear he felt when he saw Santiago and my dad. He couldn't believe it.
"Destiny and the good Lord want us to be together," he whispered in my ear. He called the waiter and ordered a second beer. His phone buzzed with a message.
"Who are you texting so much?" he asked with a mischievous smile. He looked so handsome.
"Jealous?" I smiled back.
"Would you like that?" he shook his head.
"Of course not, but it's something for you. I need to take you to your room right now." I frowned. "Let's go," he said, leaving a bill on the table and pulling me along.
On the way to the room, we ran into Beatriz and Juan. My ex smiled at me, and that witch looked at me in a way that made my skin crawl. Don't be silly, Veronica. Roland hasn't let go of you. He loves me. She was the one who was infatuated, and that's how it would stay.
"I'm glad you two are back together," Juan said, smiling insincerely.
"Thanks," Roland replied, pulling me closer to hug me. "If you'll excuse us."
He tugged me along, and the anger in Beatriz's eyes was evident. Once we were far enough away, I asked, "Should I be worried?" He shook his head and took a deep breath.
"No, tomorrow we'll talk about something important, something that happened." We ran up the stairs. What was he up to? His phone rang again in front of my room. "Go in."
"What?"
"Please, go in." He kissed me. "Please, look out your balcony." He answered the call. "I'm coming down, Rata."
He winked at me and ran back. As I entered, puzzled by what Roland was up to, a mariachi trumpet sounded. My heart skipped a beat as the first song began.
When I stepped out onto the balcony, Roland was smiling from the ground floor with Simon and Cebolla beside him, waving and smiling too. My boyfriend, arms crossed, looked up at me. Mr. Fausto stepped out onto his balcony, turned around with a serious face when he saw the scene, while Santiago hugged Luz Marina from behind, and they stayed to listen to my first serenade.
It was an indescribable feeling; this tradition should never be lost. This was my second serenade. The first was with a trio when he asked me to be his girlfriend, and today he asked me again. My heart felt like it would explode with emotion. They played seven songs.
Simon and Miguel stayed behind to pay the musicians while Roland disappeared. A minute later, there was a knock at the door. That innocent look he sometimes gave me was how he got deeper into my soul, like he was the key to possessing me even more.
"Can I sleep with you?" That sleep was just sleep. "I haven't rested well in a long time."
"We need to fix that."
He cradled my face and kissed me, closing the door with his foot as he kissed me again. I slipped my hand under his shirt.
"Beautiful, just for tonight, don't go any further."
"What? Roland, you're acting so strange. Why is everything for tomorrow?"
"I don't want to ruin the surprise." I buried my face in his shoulder.
"At least it's almost here."
We've slept together so many times without anything happening. It's not uncomfortable; on the contrary, I feel safe with Roland. I snuggled up next to him, and he held me.
"I missed the smell of your hair." His breath near my ear gave me goosebumps.
"If all you can do is kiss me, don't waste time."
He laughed. I knew the desire to be together was in the air, but I didn't understand why he was holding back. His hand didn't go past my neck or waist. The way he pressed his hand against my skin showed he wanted to, but he held back.
"I love you, Veronica. You're going to make me do something crazy."
"What are you talking about?"
I loved seeing Roland's face after I moved the way I knew he liked.
"You're doing it on purpose, aren't you?" He grabbed a pillow and put it between us. "Go to sleep, you little devil."
"You're the second person today to call me that."
"Oh, really?" He lay on his stomach, clearly aroused. "Go to sleep, Beautiful, for the love of everything, or you'll have to sleep alone."
"I don't want you to leave."
"Thank you."
We didn't talk again. Tomorrow he'd tell me what was going on, no matter what. He held me, and I didn't know when I fell asleep. The knocking on the door woke me up. Roland was gone. They knocked again. Who could it be? When I opened the door, Beatriz was waiting, arms crossed, and I felt a pang of pain.
"Good morning," she greeted.
"Hello," I replied, frowning.
"I need to talk to you..."