Fate In Ink

chapter 14

"I insist. I'll wash his calesa in your stead," Matias said.

He stood in front of me, his arms wide. I shook my head and smiled. "No! It was me who promised that guy."

Matias crossed his arms over his chest and knowingly eyed me. "I told you I dislike how he's making ladies work odd jobs. I'll do it. If I don't, then how different would I be from him?"

"Matias!"

We both turned to our left and saw a man running towards us. He held up something white, whipping wildly against the wind. The man came to us, his sweat trickling down his face. There were a few strands of silver hidden under his large curls, and I am surprised at how fast he could get here.

Matias held his shoulder and helped him regain his composure. "Mang Nestor," Matias said. "What happened?"

"I was terrified," he said. He blew air out of his mouth, his chest erratically rising up and down. "Some personal guards blocked me on the way here and told me to bring this thing to you."

"Personal guards? Whose?" Matias asked. His eyebrows scrunched together and the man before us sighed.

"Castillo's."

The man showed a small white paper and I craned my neck to see its contents better. Matias took it from him, and glanced at me, his eyebrow raised. The whole family already knew of my capability to write, and now that someone sent a note like this must mean it's addressed to me.

I opened the note. It had a clear and elegant writing, like a real-life Lucida Calligraphy. Or an italicized Times New Roman. It had an impressive consistency in the angles, no inks bleeds, and a loud, overly fabulous G with lots of swirls.

Miss Catalina,

Good day. I apologize for my unsightly conduct the other time. You need not think of cleaning my calesa. However, I do wish for your agreement on me and Doña Valentina's invitation. We hope for your visit in her home sometime soon.

With regards,

Julian Castillo

I folded the paper again and gave the man a small bow. "Thank you, sir," I smiled.

The man looked at me. His eyes were widened and his finger was pointed at me. "You must be that lady!" he exclaimed.

Matias held out his hand to the man. "This is Catalina. She's been staying with us for the past few weeks." He turned to me and gave a small smile. "This is Mang Nestor. Teresa's father."

My mouth fell open in a big 'o,' and I held my skirt by the sides and sank a bit in a curtsy. Mang Nestor and then straightened his yellowing white camiso, bowing his head to me. He looked at Matias once again and patted him on the shoulder. "I'll be off, lad."

Matias inched closer to me and peered over the paper I nestled between my fingers. "What's it about?" he asked.

"We don't need to go to his house. He says we don't need to clean his calesa anymore," I said. Matias frowned and clicked his tongue. I tilted my head. He didn't look too pleased with the news. "But he told me to come by Doña Rivera's house soon."

The wind then pulled at my hair and flitted my skirts up. I squealed in panic and gathered my wild skirts. Matias spread his arms in front of me in an attempt to block anyone from seeing me. He stepped on the skirt and I lost my balance. I sank on my side, low to the ground, Matias landing on top of me.

His weight pushed down my waist and my hip bone burrowed onto the hard earth beneath me.

"Brother! What are you doing!"