"So what..?" || Kevin Álvarez

||16|| His threat.

"I know what you're hiding, son." It's Mr. Alvarez's voice.

...

     Now I'm here. Sat around Mr. Alvarez's grand dinner table. My parents, Alejandro, and Kevin's immediate family are all gathered around the table.
     Alejandro is next to me and hasn't let me out of his sight. Just last Friday night Kevin and I got caught. More like found out, actually.
     Mr. Alvarez knows everything. He sat Kevin and me down that night and demanded we stop. He wasn't— couldn't— rat us out for the sake of his reputation. His own married son meddling with an engaged woman? He would rather die than have everyone find out.
     I look up from my bland plate of food and meet eyes with Kevin. Violeta is nowhere to be found.
     Mr. Alvarez lost his shit when Kevin refused to stop. I've never seen such a respectable man yell and turn red and scream and thrash around like a little kid. It was pure chaos. He ended up leaving, but it wasn't before he left with a threat over our heads. He said, "I'll figure something out. But this, will not continue!"
      "You should eat," My mother's voice snapped me out of my train of thought. We had the same eyes, but I swear hers have a certain warmth I feel I'll never be able to able to compare to.
      "I'm not hungry," I respond with a forced half-smile. I really wasn't.
     "Still, have something in your system. I hear Mr Alvarez has good news to share," she takes a sip of her fizzling apple cider.
     "What is it?" I ask quickly.
     My mother simply chuckles and shakes her head. "I'm not sure but your father seems to be in an extremely good mood about it."
     "Ah," I nod, but this has only made the churning in my stomach worse.
     "I have good news for you too, young lady," my mother chirps.
      I raise an eyebrow, "what?"
     "With the help of Alejandro, we already picked out a wedding dress for you! It's marvelous, really!" She takes another sip of her drink, "Alejandro mentioned you hated shopping, so we went ahead and did you a favor."
      I smile despite the fact I'm filled with dread. Who is Alejandro to tell people what I do or do not enjoy? He hasn't even bothered to find out whether I like shopping or not. The fact I already have a wedding dress makes me feel dizzy. It's not what I wanted, so soon. I didn't have the time to stop it.
      The loud clank of a silver spoon and a wine glass gathers everyone's attention toward Mr Alvarez and my father. I reluctantly shift my gaze.
     "We have an important announcement to make," My father begins.
     "A long-awaited arrival of a new company location!" Mr Alvarez continues.
     This is what everyone is here for? For the 'announcement' of just another building in some other location?
     Regardless, everyone at the dinner table cheers. I look over at Kevin, his gaze numb.
     "If run by the right person, this could have the potential to triple our funds!"
     The table erupts in cheers. I grimace. We already have more than money, why are they so excited to make more?
      "We thought, who better to run this than my son, Kevin Alvarez," Mr. Alvarez states.
      I'm sure my gasp is drowned out by all the claps and cheers. Everyone around Kevin starts to pat him on the back or yells out a congrats.
     Kevin shakes his head and stays silent.
     "Where will this new location be?!" Someone I don't know asks.
    "In New York, USA."
My jaw slightly drops and my gaze instantly shifts back onto Kevin. His head is slightly hung.
This is Mr. Alvarez following through with his threat. If he can't stop us, he'll simply resort to tearing us apart.
The luxurious dining room erupts in even more cheers. My hands turn into fists as I stare at my untouched food. I flinch at the touch of Alejandro's hand on my thigh.
"Isn't this great? Why do you look pale? Seems as if your blood got drained out of your face," he teases cheerfully.
"I need to use the restroom." I get up quickly and walk out. The loud noise of the dining room's cheer begins to fade. I'm not exactly sure where the restroom is so I ask a maid for directions.
The directions don't help. Maybe it's because I wasn't paying attention when the nice lady told me where to go.
Eventually, I found the guest bathroom. I shut the door a bit too loud on accident. I don't want to cry because it will ruin my makeup, and then everyone will be able to tell.
Shortly after, I gentle knock on the door startles me. "Occupied," I say quickly trying to level my voice.
"Y/n, it's me, Kevin."
I rush to open the door. I don't have time to say anything before he wraps his arms around me, closing the door behind him.
"You're actually leaving?" I almost don't want to believe it myself.
"I- I've tried to stop him-" he begins to explain.
I squeeze him tighter. "You can't! Things were just getting better-"
He parts from our embrace and keeps a firm but gentle grip on my shoulders. Then, he leans down to my eye level. "I know. I know—"
"When do you leave??" I interrupt him.
He looks down before returning his gaze towards me. "In two weeks," he sighs.
"I'm married in three." I manage to shudder. It's more so a reminder to myself that I didn't mean to say it out loud.
"Y/n."
I look at him and feel his lips crash into mine. He's never kissed me like this before. I can feel his own sadness through the kiss.
"Don't go." I am basically pleading— begging— for him not to go. I'm really scared of crying now.
Kevin's grip on my hips redirects me backwards, so I'm leaning against the door. He stays silent. I know he doesn't want to give me false hope by making empty promises. There's nothing we can do except enjoy the last moments we have together.
I try to ignore the sad lump in my throat threatening to overflow. Kevin's hands reach up to cup my cheek. His thumb gently grazes my cheekbone.
"I don't know how this is going to go, but I know I'll never stop fighting for you," his words were sincere.