Fate In Ink

chapter 5

"Introducing yourself won't change a thing, you know." I crossed my arms over my chest. I don't even know why I'm still talking to him. A moment ago, I was nervous and ready to run like a chicken, but his smirk was deadly. And he didn't seem too dangerous.

I think.

"It won't?"

I sighed. "I still don't know who you are."

The man, apparently named Julian, stood straight once again and wore that deadly smile of his. I glanced at the mansion once again, too embarrassed to look at his face.

"Must you turn me down over and over?" he asked, his voice not wearing even a single ounce of sadness. He was obviously toying with me.

I turned away from him, for real this time. "It's getting late. I have to go," I said. I folded my skirt to the side, and started walking back to the yard.

I could feel my cheeks slightly burn up, flustered at my encounter with him. My gait became faster. I ignored the pebbles occasionally poking my feet through the slippers and causing an unpleasant sensation of pain.

Afterwards, Matias was able to solicit a caritela after we had all gathered outside. My feet throbbed from walking along the pebbled pathway, and I longed for the comfort of the mats back home.

"So, you said your name was Catalina?" the wavy-haired the girl, the same one who ambushed Matias earlier, asked me.

She was small, both built and stature. Her skin was naturally brown and her wavy hair was tied up in a ponytail. She looked at me intently, as if studying me.

"Yes," I said. "And you are...?"

"Teresa," she replied curtly. She leaned back on her seat and glanced behind me. She motioned for me to come closer.

I heeded her gesture, then she gently tugged my arm. "I like Matias," she said. Her voice was low and she looked at me with eyes full of conviction. "I don't really know who you are or where you're from, but just so we're clear, I'm the one he's going to like, okay?"

I nodded. She pulled away and gave me a polite smile. Great. It's as if every girl in town somehow finds me mistrustful, and now I have no friends.

Matias dropped us off at our home. Teresa was the only one left on the caritela, aside from the coachman, and he refused to let her go home without a familiar face with her so he decided to escort her home first.

"Tell Mother I'll be late for the evening prayers." Matias called out just before the caritela rode off again.

Me and Solana bid them goodbye and then we tread our way back to our home. Sounds of praying mantises filled the yard and I stayed close to Solana. I felt kind of nervous. It was dark and only the weak light from the hut brightened our way.

"Matias is a really nice guy," I said in an effort to try to shrug the nervousness away.

"Teresa has liked him since forever," she said. "She has dreams of marrying him."

"Wow," I replied. "From the way I see it though, I don't think Matias returns her feelings."

Solana chuckled. She quickened her pace and I followed after her. "He doesn't," she said. She turned back to look at me. I couldn't make out her expressions; it was too dark. Despite that, I could feel myself frozen on the spot. "Of course he doesn't."

****

I laid down on my bed.

Sunlight streamed from my window, leaving strips of golden light upon my sheets. The cotton curtains gently swayed, and I could feel the cool morning air blowing through my window. Birds chirped outside my window, and I could faintly hear the boisterous laughter of the aunties in the house next to ours.