I Will Take Hold of You

Chapter Eight

A week passed quickly since the lovers talked. And within those days they were together twice. Once, he took her to see a play at the Teatre Zorillo with Juana, and once again they had lunch outside. Except that her boyfriend visits her every day as if he's making sure she's always there.

One Friday night when they entered their place, Isa noticed a woman approaching. Paolo also saw it and braked.

"Where are you going?" the young man asked her.

"I'm really waiting for you," she replied softly. "We have something to talk about, Paolo..."

"Wait for me there..." And entered the car completely.

"Who is that, Paolo?" Isa couldn't stop asking.

"She's Marga. Come and I will introduce you to her."

The young woman followed the young man out of the way. Under the moonlight she saw the woman. This is who she saw coming out of the office in the shop. She is beautiful and young. Maybe only twenty years old.

"Marga, Isa. Marga this is Isa..."

Marga extended her hand to Isa who accepted it. Marga gave a friendly smile and her deep dimples appeared on both cheeks which accentuated her beauty even more.

"I saw you once at the shop. I was in a hurry then. Paolo often told me about you..." she said looking kindly at the young man.

"Well no. He said you're beautiful and smart. And you're even more beautiful up close..."

Despite everything, Isa smiled. What is Paolo's relationship with this woman? She is really beautiful even without makeup. She has a long hair and smooth complexion. A slender body and tall. In Isa's whole life she never felt insecure with another woman no matter how beautiful it is. Just now!

"I'll take Isa inside first, Marga and I'll get the car too."

"Alright," Marga said.

"Come on, Isa."

They walked back to the house and Paolo took his car for good.

The two were far away, but the girl was still watching. and before they disappeared into the darkness she saw her leaning on Paolo inside the car. The girl entered the house feeling aching and heavy in her chest.

She slept that night thinking about Paolo and Marga. She woke up to a knock on the door. She opened the door drowsily.

"Did I disturb your beauty rest?" Juana entered the room.

"Isn't it obvious?" she answered with a hoarse voice and closed eyes.

"Isa, it's half past nine!"

"Okay...okay...is there a problem?" Isa who still doesn't want to get up.

"Miguel arrived last night from Kafagway..."

"You went all the way here and woke me up just to tell me that Miguel had arrived? I can't believe it, Juana..."

"Crazy! Listen to me first. Wasn't it my birthday the day he left for Kafagway?" Isa growled. Juana continued laughing. "And he promised me to give us a blow-out when he arrives..."

"I know. And that was on Monday night..." she answered with a yawn.

"Not anymore. It's tonight."

Isa's eyes widened. "Tonight? Whhyyy?"

"Don't scream, I might get deaf. They have something to do on Monday night in Intramuros, so now is the time. Besides, this is a good opportunity because his brother and his brother's girlfriend are in his apartment right now. So, let's have a threesome date. The merrier the better..."

"What the hell is wrong with your boyfriend, he just got promoted, he's already very busy," Isa complained, getting up completely.

"That's why I was loved so much because I was so understanding," she joked. "I'm going to close the shop early, huh? Oh, I'll go ahead and maybe Thomas will go there, I'll tell him. Bye..."

Isa put on a robe and left the room. Her father also went to the kitchen to have breakfast.

"You're awake, hija..."

"Good morning, Pa. You looked refreshed. I was planning to join you for a walk earlier but I didn't wake up early," she poured juice on his father's glass.

"Thank you, hija..."

"I was going to say goodbye to you, Papa. We have a get-together later in Tayabas. Juana's delayed birthday celebration tonight."

"No problem, hija. Talk to Paolo to accompany you."

"Papa! It's Saturday, it's embarrassing to ask the person. We're already taking advantage of that person and then we're going to bother him on his day off."

The old man shrugged. "That's a get-together of young people. Surely a little drink, ladies drink... that can't be taken away. And you will be riding on the carriage alone in the middle of the night plus I don't trust our poachman. No way, daughter."

"Pa, I promised to be very, very careful and won't take anything except juice and food... and our poachman will not bring any harm towards me for sure..." and she raised one hand.

"You can choose, Isa. Paolo, or just say sorry to Juana on Monday that you weren't able to come," Nicholas said formally. "And if I were you, I would go see Paolo before he could commit to another path," he drained the juice from the glass and stood up to go out. It was a few steps when he look back at her. "Don't use Panyang, walk."

Isa cried. "Just because of a minor accident you are turning me into a child!"

The old man stopped walking. "You call that a minor accident? You almost lost your leg!"

"But I didn't! And you're being over protective!" The girl wanted to cry but the father ignored her tantrums. He continuously came out of the kitchen.

THE girl walked the way to Paolo's shop with heavy steps. As always there are people who were very busy. Maybe three or four. She saw a leg sticking out from under a cart. One is standing and one is in the corner whom she doesn't know if anyone is with him. They were busy and no one noticed her so she walk towards the office continuously.

The door was open and she entered steadily. A table full of paper on top appeared to her. Others still have grease. The table was next to a large window and she accidentally overlooked it. From where she was standing, maybe twenty five meters away, was a large country house. Two stories, brown paint and no fence. Surrounded by trees. Is that paolo's house? Maybe, because her father said that their land is adjacent to her father's and this is the only place where they live near the shop. She turned her attention back inside the office. No one was there and she was about to leave when she noticed another door near the filing cabinet.

She knocked three times in a row. Waited a moment then repeated. She thought there was no one and was about to step back to go out when suddenly the door opened and Paolo, who was still wiping his sweats, came out. He probably woke up to the knock.

The girl did not immediately move and just stared at him. His hair is a bit messy. Eyebrows furrowed as if dazzled. Wearing nothing but ripped jeans. From the young man's face Isa's eyes went down to his shoulders... down to the muscular chest that he could see with thin hair that make its way down and she follows with her gaze as far as it ends.

It led and disappeared into the young man's pants that were half way up with the zipper still unzipped. She suddenly turned his eyes up to Paolo's face. He smiles at her. He was amused by the survey she did.