I Will Take Hold of You

Chapter Seven

"That's your boyfriend, miss..." said Paolo when they were on the national road going home.

"Yes," answered the girl who was leaning on the backrest.

"Handsome, rich, Model T model. You guys are meant for each other..."

The girl did not answer. She closed her eyes and folded her arms. Sarcasm was in the tone of Paolo's voice and she didn't want to fall into his trap to argue. One day is enough.

"Isa, wake up... we're here..."

"Hmm..." the girl wanted to squeeze into the chair but she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder and opened her eyes.

"We're here..." said Paolo again.

"I fell asleep. I'm sorry, I sleep..."

He smiled. A real smile, and the girl looked around. It's their garage. Paolo turned off the engine and went out. Isa straightened herself and before she could open her door, Paolo was there and opened it for her.

"Thank you, Paolo. Please stay for dinner."

"Just at home and dad is definitely waiting, thank you, miss. What time do we leave tomorrow?"

"Just like earlier."

The young man saluted and walked towards his car. He was already at the car when she called. She walked slowly towards him.

"Do you need anything else, Miss de Leon?"

"Before I woke up I heard someone call my name. Was it just a dream of mine?"

The young man stared at her for a few moments before answering. "I called you by your name..."

"Just call me Isa, Paolo... I look like an old maid teacher to Miss de Leon," she said with a smile.

The young man smiled back. Never taking his eyes off her face, her lips. The girl swallowed. It's just a thought but why does she feel like he's kissing her? "W-who's in charge of... your shop while you're driving me?" she said.

"My father. He's also a mechanic. I didn't study it. I learned it from him since I was little."

"W-will your father and Papa oblige you to agree to drive me?" the girl asked softly.

"Yes and no. Yes, because I wouldn't do it if they didn't tell me. No, because I can refuse if I don't want to and no one can force me, Isa."

How good it was to hear her name from the young man's lips. The girl's heart beat faster when she asked again.

"Why didn't you refuse?"

"Because I want to," he answered shortly. "Good night, Isa." he finally got into the car and left for home.

The darkness consumed the young man, Isa was still there. Until she comes inside. Above, at the window, Nicholas was there and had been watching them for a while. A smile appeared on his lips before leaving from the window. The next day, Isa purposely ordered Juana to deliver the flower order and have Paolo drive her. In that way, Thomas will not see him. Why she has to do this, and she doesn't know either.

"Is your driver absent today?" said the young man when they were eating at Toho Antigua Panciteria.

"Please, Thomas. What's wrong with you?" she was already irritated.

"Happening? Nothing. I'm just jealous of your driver, Isa, that's all. Any woman could have easily fallen for that guy! He's even more handsome than me."

The girl couldn't stop smiling despite everything.

"And you have the grace to smile at me like that?"

"What do you want me to do, Thomas? Get angry too?"

"My goodness, Isa, he doesn't even look like a driver even though he's wearing faded jeans and rubber shoes."

"I strained my knee on Saturday, Thomas and it hurt. Even until yesterday, I wasn't able to walk properly if you noticed. Papa won't allow me to use the horse..." the girl explained again.

"You know, your father could have talked to me about that. But I have this feeling that your father doesn't like me, Isa. Well, he is very polite and civil when talking to me. I think it's too polite he deliberately put it between us so that I wouldn't have a chance to be close to him."

"That's not true, Thomas," the young woman denied. She doesn't pay attention to it but now that her boyfriend is saying it, she sees that what he is saying is true. Although Nicholas does not directly say that he does not like Thomas, he does not approve of or even praise him. And his father is strangely civil and polite to her boyfriend. Thomas has been her boyfriend for more than six months, but for once, Nicholas doesn't like him. If Thomas doesn't start, his dad won't speak.

Thomas patted her palm. "Give me my peace of mind, sweetheart. Marry me."

"Oh, Thomas. Don't use this as an excuse to bring up those things again. I don't want to rush. Maybe when we're married we'll realize that it shouldn't be."

"What else are we waiting for, sweetheart? We are both mature and stable enough to handle marriage. I love you, Isa, and I long for the moment when you become mine forever," he said passionately.

"I...I love you, too, Thomas," replied the young woman hesitantly. Thomas is very vocal in telling her how he feels. How many times did she just say that? If she doesn't make mistakes, it's just the second. The first was when she fell in love with him and now is the second time.

And at the same time Paolo's form flashed in his mind. Lord what's wrong with her? She couldn't even feel the sincerity of what she said, she was still thinking of another man in front of her boyfriend.

Isa wanted to cry. She is being unfair and unfaithful. Even if only in the mind. How come she doesn't feel the thrill of Paolo's presence in Thomas? In her sweet moments with her boyfriend, she gives in when he kisses her because it's her obligation and she doesn't feel anything for that. She even thought, that she has a disability.

But not with Paolo. Just looking at him seems to be caressing her entire being. And forgive her, but she fantasizes about him, that he crushes her bones when he hugs her. Which has never been done to her lover.

Why does she have such passion and desire for another man instead of her boyfriend?

"There's no reason why we can't marry, sweetheart. I'm just waiting for your approval. You know my family will vote for you."

"Please, Thomas. Give me a little more time to think about what you're saying," she pleaded.

Thomas leaned straight back in the chair. He formalized. "Alright, Isa, I'll give you one month. Think about it carefully and four weeks from now you probably won't have any more excuses."

The girl looked at her boyfriend. "What if by that time I haven't decided yet?"

The young man took a deep breath. "If anything I can think and say, I guess you will know on that day. For now, I could only think of one reason why you would not want to marry me."

"W-what was that?"

"You are not really in love with me."

"Nonesense, Thomas. And I didn't say I don't want to marry you. I'm asking for a little time."

"One month is more than enough," the young man finally answered.