Crimson hearts

Chapte eleven: Jack and Rose

~Celeste~

I stared at Mateo, my eyebrow raised, waiting for him to say something. But, he stayed silent.

I don't even know why he thinks he owes me an explanation. It's not like we're dating or anything. I cross my arms and let out a sigh, unsure of what to say or do. I have a to get back to work soon, so I need him to start talking.

"Are you gonna say something, Mateo?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. But, once again, he doesn't respond.

Finally, he breaks the silence. "Listen, I know I don't owe you an explanation or anything, but I needed to get this off my chest," he says, taking a deep breath. "Sas- that girl isn't my girlfriend. We're just in an arranged marriage that neither of us wants. Her name is Sasha, and we're only dating for appearances." He finishes his explanation in one breath, leaving me impressed.

I give him a reassuring smile and say, "You don't have to explain yourself to me, Mateo. It's okay." He looks relieved and a little nervous, avoiding eye contact.

"I just thought you seemed a bit disappointed when Sasha and I came in," he admits, fidgeting with his ring. My eyes focus on the silver ring on his finger, noticing a date engraved on it: 26.5.2017.

It feels oddly familiar, but I push aside the uneasy feeling.

"Well uhm," I decided to break the silence making Mateo look up at me confusion written all over his face. "let's head back inside? it's really cold. . ."

"Yeah, yeah of course," Mateo rushed over to open the door for me snd walked after me as I walked  inside the Café.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Luis and Quinn give Mateo thumbs up then sighing in relief seconds later.

I chuckled under my breath and went back behind the count and Mateo returned back to Luis and Quinn and they both started whispering and bombarding him with questions.

They looked like seventh grade girls gossiping and whispering in the breaks.

I was supposed to get off work earlier today because my dad wanted me to make lunch for him, and I couldn't be late today.

•••

I sighed as I removed my apron off and grabbed my sports bag.

I was never much of a sports fan, except when it came to football.

Me and my brother always played football when we were younger or when dad wasn't home and drunk. But when he was drunk, Celestino would try to hide and protect me in his room but it rarely worked.

I shudder shaking the memories off, walking out of the backrooms to close the café.

I keep walking thinking that everyone left the Café already, then bump into what felt like a wall.

I back up a few steps and look ahead of me to, for my luck, see a certain someone's chest instead of a wall.

I rub my nose as I looked up at him, only having to crane my neck inly a little bit in order to make eye contact with him.

"I, uhm, I just wanted to uh, know if you. . ." Mateo trailed off as he stuttered slightly through his words, "you know. . . would you like to, uhm. . ."

"Mateo, are you asking me if I want to come over to your house again?" I ask, amusement evident in my voice.

"If you, uh want to, you know. . . I wouldn't mind."

I smiled slightly as I watched his fingers playing with the ring on his ring finger again. "I wouldn't mind either, Teo."

We walled out the café and continued bickering about whether Wisconsin is a state or country.