Just as the car was entering the mansion, I immediately saw Cadmus outside and staring at the gate. He was also typing on his cellphone while still looking outside. I know he is making a message to me so my cellphone notifications are ringing.
When he saw his father's car, it was as if he didn't care about it. Maybe he thought that Senyor Arcajante was alone.
Cadesia got out of the car first. Cadmus looked there but immediately returned his gaze to the gate. I even saw Cadesia pointing at him and laughing at him for some unknown reason because I was still in the car. But I guess she's laughing on how worried he looks.
"Come out when you're ready, Erin," Senyor Arcajante smiled at me.
"Yes, Senyor Arcajante---"
"Papa. Can you call me 'Papa' instead of that, Erin?"
I was stunned by it. "W-What for?"
He just smiled and took off his seatbelt before getting out.
I smiled too. Terrible! I'm really excited even for Cadmus's family. It's a pity that we didn't go to the Arcajantes' mother's grave because I'm sure she was a very kind person because her family is like this.
Cadmus looked in my direction when Cadesia whispered something to him. I saw the gradual appearance of a smile on his lips. He nodded to Cadesia before walking to the car.
Shocks! Did his sister say I was here? How?! Where I'm going?! Where will I hide?! Fuck... why did I even come here?! Hey!
The jerk on the way here is still sloppy. His hands are on his pockets. There was no indication that he was going to enter the car even if there was a knock. It goes straight into the car. I was about to go out when he suddenly pulled me and pressed me with a kiss.
My eyes widened but I didn't fight. He was holding one of my hands and the other was down but soon I put it on his chest.
"Damn, I've never craved for a lip more than I crave yours." He stared at me with full of desire.
"W-What's that for? Why did you kiss me?!" My cheeks are red with embarrassment.
"Kissed? You mean, like this?"
He kissed me again but now his lips were moving and it was stronger than the kiss he gave me earlier. My lips didn't move so he tried harder to move them by kissing me hotly.
When our lips parted, he started to talk again.
"I-I'm sorry again... I made you mad again. I'm really sorry. I will tell you every detail." He he placed his arms in my shoulderbut I ignored him. We haven't even made up yet but the way he touch me looks like we already did! "Is this okay? Is it okay if I do this?" He worriedly asked.
"What? Hold me? You're already doing it!"
He laughed. "But still..."
"Yes! Fine!" My cheeks flushed.
"She's been coming to the office for a week now... She keeps going back and forth. At first, she was the company's eye on our rival company, so I let her there even though I was annoyed by her because she'll suddenly touch me without my permission." He sighed.
"Just last night, what you saw, she grabbed me by the chest to kiss me but I didn't want to so I opened the door to drag her out but that's the first thing you saw so I understand if you're upset with me but we shouldn't stay like this ..." He continued.
I was stunned by what he said. Does that mean he doesn't really like Amber again?
"I'll never love Amber again, ever, Erin... She can't get us back to what we used to be, so if... If... If you're maybe, j-jealous..." He stopped for a moment to see my reaction. "Or maybe I'm just assuming things..." He added. "But if you do, I belong to you. Only you. You're my girlfriend, right?"
"Your fake girlfriend." I corrected him. "They found out."
He was stunned by what I said. "Found what?"
"They knew, from the start."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Guess they've already accepted you here before I even ask for it..." He smiled at me. "I won't do it again, Erin. Don't be jealous of her anymore. If I could bring you to my office every day, I would do it just in case but you would be bored there. I promise you, I promise you, Erin... You will never see me close to that woman again."
He received a hug from me. If yesterday I was crying out of jealousy even though we were not together, today my heart is overflowing with joy because apart from the assurance Cadmus gave me, his family seems to accept me. It just feels good.
And yes, today I am choosing the decision that Cadesia said over the one that was given to me by Nirca because I understand the situation better now unlike yesterday when I was blind to what really happened because I was overtaken by a gust of emotions.
"How are we going to do it now, we're going to stop the plan?" I asked him.
"C-Can we talk about that later?" His eyes were sad. Maybe thinking I'll leave him after.
There is only one more of the Arcajante family that I have yet to meet...
"Let's go see mom," he also smiled at me later before he moved to the driver's seat. I got out so I could get out of the passenger seat and moved to the shotgun seat so we could be side by side.
The whole flight was quiet, but whenever our eyes met, he smiles. He couldn't hide his reddened ears and cheeks from me. Is it possible... he likes me? Because if not, why would he give me assurance, right?
"We are here," he stopped the car on the road with an adjacent mango tree.
From where I was sitting I could see the graves on the bright green grass. It's just surprising and it's not like other rich people who still have houses with tombs or whatever it's called. It is not a private cemetery either.
He got out of the car to open the door for me. I laughed at him because he's holding back his giggles from what he's doing.
I used to cringe at things like that but when I experienced it I just wanted to roll on the floor.
A hand was extended to me so I smiled before accepting it. Our two hands became intertwined while smiling at each other like a fool. It feels so good... It's like as if a thorn has been pulled out of me.
We stopped at a tombstone.
Celestina Alcantara - Arcajante
you will be missed forever
Born: May 13, 1978
Death: December 31, 2009
I saw some flowers there that were drying. Perhaps Cadesia or Senyor Arcajante also visited her here. There is also writing there with a marker.
'I hope you're proud of me, mom. I'm now a CEO.'
I know Cadmus wrote them. There are two more.
'I'm on my last year of high school, mom! I'm going to be a model someday! You will be proud of me too. :D'
'Darling, they've grown well. I'm proud that you are my wife. Thank you for guiding us. I love you and I miss you every day.'
I smiled while reading them.
"Mom died before the new year 2010. The picture you saw on the mansion was the last picture she took before she died. She died because of Leukemia." he explained to me.
I nodded. I'm speechless. I want to hug him...
"Mom," he called her. "It's me again and I'm here with a special person. I'm glad the first one I invited to be here didn't accept my offer to visit you here because she could've been the first one to see you instead of this beautiful woman with me right now..."
"Hi! I'm Erin Hecate Crisostomo! I'm Cadmus' fake girlfriend!" I introduced myself. "Even though I have never seen or met you before, I am grateful for the love you gave to your children and your wife. They were all kind to me... Thank you and I met you today. For guiding Cadesia, Cadmus and... Papa."
"P-Papa? That's good to hear. Say that again!" The smile on Cadmus's face did not disappear. His smile even widened! "Please Erin say that again..." He held my hand.
"Papa?" I have a question.
"You called my dad 'papa'..." His eyes were sparkling diamonds.
"He said that's what I should call him, eh..." I was quite embarrassed.
I was surprised when he suddenly hugged me tightly.
We spent a little time there because we both talked in front of Ma'am Celestina. Cadmus lingered there. He said I should wait for him because he had something to say to his mother before we left. But because I was naughty and curious about what he had to say, I came closer to hear it.
"That woman... She's a good person, mom. She's beautiful... She's got everything. The humor that makes me happy and the presence that makes me feel safe." I smiled when I first heard it. "I'm going to marry that woman soon."