Chapter 24

Althea just wasn't the kind of person to hold a grudge. Even if she wanted to, she didn't have it in her, so it was easy for her to forgive Mateo. She just hoped in her mind that what happened between them was a mistake, and would never repeat itself. She didn't know how she would react if Mateo tried to kiss her again. She hopes he would not.

Althea finished her food while Mateo just watched her. Even though he had apologized, and she had forgiven him, she still felt his gaze heavy on her. In truth, she couldn't just shake off what happened like that. Using Mateo's own words, you can forgive, but you never really forget.

As she finished her food, she eventually looked up at Mateo, and he was still smiling. His smile is so contagious, so she started smiling too.

"Since you've forgiven me, can I get a hug?" He asked Althea. He wanted to be sure that she had forgiven him, and wasn't just saying it to get him off her back. But to his surprise, Althea gets up and walks up to him. So he stands and hugs her.

As he holds her, he can't help the feeling that gushes through his body. It's as if Althea's frame fits against his body perfectly. She's just the perfect height, stopping below his chest. Her body is so soft and warm. He leans in closer and wraps his arms against her tightly.

Althea notices when the hug goes from just a mild hug to a deeper hug. She immediately breaks free from the hug and gives Mateo a small smile.

"I'm tired Mateo, I should head back upstairs and go to bed," she said.

"Alright then, have a goodnight Althea," he says, and she goes upstairs to bed.

Althea knew that it wasn't just a hug. It meant more for Mateo. She noticed everything about the way he held her. Mildly and first, then he pulled her in slightly, even sniffed her hair. She wasn't very comfortable with it, so she pulled away from the hug, and then smiled at Mateo instead.

Mateo thought that Althea's smile at him was just normal, but he didn't know she just smiled to hide her thoughts. He heads to his room, and all that occupies his mind are thoughts of Althea.

"She's something." He said out loud to himself. The way she forgave him shows that she has a pure heart. She's a nice person. He thinks about her smile. How it frames her face and makes her look so extraordinarily beautiful. Eventually, he's lulled to sleep with thoughts of Althea on his mind.

________

It's been two months since Xavier has been on his trip. Mateo and Althea have been getting along quite well, with no hitches. Mateo has respected himself and hasn't repeated his action since the last time, and Althea has gradually let it go from her mind. She is now convinced it will never happen again.

That morning, while he was just lounging around in his room, thinking of what to do for the day, Mateo receives a call from Xavier. He picks on the second ring.

"Hello, big brother" Mateo answers in a playful, teasing way. You could almost hear Xavier roll his eyes from the other end of the line.

"How are you doing Mateo?"

"I'm alright, how about you, how's your business trip going."

"I'm good. Business is going fine. I'm hoping I can be back soonest. How is Althea doing"

"She's fine, perfectly fine."

"Are you sure she's doing okay Mateo?"

"She's perfectly fine. We've been hanging out together a lot." He goes into detail about how much fun they've been having, how he takes her into the city from time to time, and everything.

Xavier is relieved to hear all that. Throughout his trip, he has been worried about how Althea is fairing. "I'm so glad to hear that Mateo, thank you, thank you very much. That's very thoughtful of you."

"It's the least I can do," Mateo says. Having to tell Xavier all this is just making him sad and angry. It's like a harsh reminder that Althea doesn't belong to him. He wishes Xavier will never call again after this. At least he can imagine that Althea is for him alone until Xavier returns.

"Please continue to keep her company if you can. She's been alone for a long time, and I'm not going to be back yet either."

"I will. You don't have anything to worry about, she's in safe hands." Mateo assures his brother.

"Alright then, thank you. I'm counting on you."

"Bye, see you soon," Mateo responds and cuts the call.

He almost scoffs at the end of the call. He doesn't believe that Xavier's concern for Althea is real. If he cared about Althea, he wouldn't have accepted to be married to her. To get married to such a young girl, and allow her future to be snatched from her.

Even though Mateo knows that there is only little one can do to change their father's mind when he makes a decision and that it wasn't Xavier's will or decision to get married to Althea, he still can't help the burning anger he feels towards his brother when he thinks about the situation.

Every time Mateo sees Althea, he has the urge, the feeling that he's supposed to protect her. She's so delicate, so fragile. When he thinks about it in retrospect, he knows that the way he feels is not just because Althea was forced to Marry Xavier. He's in love with Althea, and he despises his brother because he was the one to get her, and not him. He wishes he can have Althea for himself, but he knows that it is not possible, so he pushes the thought down.

That morning, after freshening up, he goes to seek out Althea. The maids tell him she has already had breakfast, and is out in the greenhouse, so he goes there to find her.

As Mateo sees Althea, his love for her grows. She's so beautiful. She's putting on a yellow dress, and she lets her hair flow down her shoulders. She's easily the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. More beautiful that the flowers in the greenhouse. His eyes trail her body from head to toe, the way her dress hugs her waist and shows her small curves. Her skin is so smooth, like milk.

As he's walking up to her, Althea hears footsteps and turns around to see that it's Mateo. She flashes him a beautiful smile, and he goes to sit with her.

"Good morning Mateo, how are you today?" She asks him with a bright smile on her face.

"I'm alright. You look so happy this morning." He tells her. He can't help the smile on his face too. Her happiness is rubbing off on him.

"Of course I am, it's beautiful today, look around you. You should be happy too." She tells him, and he laughs.

"How was your night?" She asks him, still smiling.

"It was fine, I slept well, thank you. How was yours?"

"It was splendid. I even watched a movie on my laptop last night before I slept."

"Really? Which one was it?"

"I think the name is the matchmaker or something, I honestly can't remember what the movie was called," she said, laughing at herself. "But it was about a man who was like a love guru. He helps other men get the women they want. But he isn't a fan of love. It's ironical." Mateo just looks at Althea in wonder as she's talking. He's captivated by her beauty. It's a miracle he can even hear a word of what she's saying.

"But then, he falls in love with this girl, and it's like everything that he knows isn't working, and the girl doesn't like him. He keeps trying tho, and he eventually gets her."

"Really? That's good for him."

"Yeah, that's not everything that happened though, that's just like, part of it. It's a long movie. It's really interesting, you should see it." It's quite comical how enthusiastic Althea is about the movie. She's so innocent, like a child.

"Okay, let's make a deal. I'll see the movie if you accept to watch it with me."

"Deal. But just know I'm a talker. I don't know how to keep shut when I'm watching a movie I've already seen with someone else" she says laughing.

"That's fine, I don't mind." Mateo's heart flutters at how easily get make her laugh. He feels so proud of himself.

They settle into a soft conversation about flowers when Althea mentions something about roses, then later, they take a walk around the mansion, chaffing comfortably with each other. Anyone who sees them will think they have been friends for years. Mateo is relieved that his mistake didn't cause their friendship to go sour, and Althea is not angry with him.