|Destined With You|

Chapter 13.

[Quote above applies for Hannah]

Catalina

"Mommy! I'm back." A grinning Adelaide barged into my room with Alex in toe.

"Hey sweetie!" I saved the document and turned my laptop off, putting it on the side to allow her to jump on the bed and hug me.

"How was your day?" I kissed her forehead softly and inhaled her babylike scent.

"I made a friend, her name is Angela. Why didn't you come to take me home?"

She shot off her questions instantly and I started thinking of all possible reasons to give her. Although, the only one that kept coming back to me was Alex.

"I had to...you know...write. I've not written a blog since so many days."

"Oh. And my- Daddy! Why are you  standing?" She patted the bed. "Sit! And my teacher is Mrs. Johnson. She's very sweeet."

"So, you like the new school?"

"Yes." She gave a toothy grin.

"What would you like to eat? Should I cook something for you?" I got up, trying to avoid Alexander.

"No. Grandma is making me sandwiches."

"Well I'll help her-"

"No. I wanna eat her sandwiches. You sit here and talk with Daddy."

"Sweetie at least let me come with you."

"Catalina." He spoke in his hoarse voice, making me tighten my knuckles. "Just talk with me."

"Yes! I'll be back." Adelaide jumped out of the bed, leaving us alone.

"You can go now." I spoke after a minute of silence.

"Huh?"

"She's gone, Alex. You can go too."

"What if I don't want to?"

He sat just a bit closer and I felt my breath hitch at the simple action. No matter how hard I try to get away from him, he somehow comes back to me.

"What do you mean by you don't want to? Go talk to Hannah instead. That's what you should be doing."

"You, Catalina, don't have to tell me who I want to talk to." His voice dropped low. "I can talk to whoever I want."

"Well, I too can decide who I want to talk to. And unlike you," I pushed myself back so my back touched the pillows. "I know we shouldn't be talking."

"But why, Catalina? Why shouldn't we be talking?"

"You know why Alex. You know a can't help ourselves when we are close."

He knew it too, yet there was still the same look wavering through his eyes, a bit of expectation, a bit of determination.

"I know...but can't we...like for once-"

"Alexander! Why can't you get it straight through your head? You, are engaged. If you want to do anything-for once- go for Hannah. Try to let my thoughts go."

"I wish it was that easy."

He shrugged and again, we slipped into a silence which was broken by Hannah, as she entered into my room, her high heels clicking against the tiles as she walked.

"Alex!" She placed her arm around his shoulders. He did not even try to get up and hug her back, instead I could see his expression just a little, trying not to cringe.

"Hey Hannah...where have you been?"

"Where have you been Alex, I've been looking for you since minutes."

"We were here...just talking."

"Talking. I see...about what exactly?"

"Just...stuff, you know. Adelaide and her school. What else could we talk about?"

"Well...we need to talk too, you know." Her voice was as cold as her expressions on looking at me.

"Okay." He instantly jumped out of his seat and I heard his steps in his room's direction.

"I should talk to you as well, but not right now. I'll deal with that later."

×■×

Alexander

"You remember we're engaged, right?"

I heard her slam the door behind her as Hannah entered into my room with her heels clicking along.

"Hey Hannah..."

"Don't you 'hey' me, Alex. What's going on?"

"What's going on?"

"Stop acting like you don't get it. You've stopped spending time with me." She complained, trying to catch my eyes which I avoided.

"I'm trying, okay? It's not that easy." I shrugged helplessly.

"And how exactly are you trying? By joking around with Catalina?"

"Why are you bringing Catalina in this? She's got nothing to do wi-"

"Oh please...tell me then, why were you sitting with her?"

"Because Adelaide told us to. She had gone downstairs for lunch and forced me into sitting and chatting with Cat-alina so I did that."

"Adelaide." She scoffed. "Literally anything goes on between you two, Adelaide is the reason behind it. You ate together because Adelaide wanted you to, you took her to school together because she wanted it, you sit and chat with Catalina because Adelaide wanted it, next thing I know, she'll want you two to sleep together."

"Enough, Hannah. Mind your words. You have no right to speak against my daughter or her mother."

"Alex," Her voice softened. "I want you to understand this, alright? I don't want to take Catalina's place. Neither do I want to keep you away from Adelaide. I just want some of your time. Can't I have that? Just a few moments together?"

"I'm trying Hannah, I really am. But it is not that easy. I realise it must be hard for you, but-I...I don't know...I'm trying and that's all I can do."

"Okay," I knew that tone. "Keep trying."

"You need some rest."

Without any arguments, she turns around and reached the room. What would I expect in her place in this situation, right now? An affectionate gesture, maybe. I stopped her by her elbow just as she reached for the door. Leaning down to her height, I thought this might be the time to kiss her. I tilted my head and her eyes fluttered close.

But I couldn't.

Just as my eyes closed to kiss her, there it was. Out of all thoughts, I could just imagine the feel of Catalina's lips against mine that night, of her intoxicating scent and her warm eyes. I couldn't kiss Hannah thinking of Catalina.

Instead, I pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Her disappointed eyes opened after I pulled away, and she looked at me with an icy expression. I knew that with that expression, she could kill. So, I decided to turn away.

"Take some rest." I whispered.

A few seconds after she left, I heard the clattering of a flower vase in her room. Her kind of frustration.

~