Forty-Four

ERIC continued on.
“If you’re going to study and we’re paying for it, you’re studying in the best university that’ll serve you what you need. If you’re going to work hard, it will be in an educational institution that’s going to give you as best as you’ve got. I would bring you abroad if I can… I just know that’s going to be too much for you. Maybe, eventually., if you’ll have your Masters. That can be arranged.”
“Whoa-whoa-whoa… wait. Wait. Stop.”
He was shaking his head. “You’ll have to wrap your head around that, baby. I have the same preposition about Tommy’s education, too. That kid’s head is alert and his intelligence is strong. A technical school isn’t enough for him. He can lead an industry if he’s educated and trained right.”
“Eric, stop. This is too much.”
He squeezed her hand. “Hey… my plans for Tommy started after I received reports from Chairman Castro about the performance of your kid brother. He’s been impressive from the first day. That laptop wasn’t only for work, I wanted him to start wrapping his head around the activities he needs to start doing before he gets to college. He can either be a scientist or a chairperson, but he has qualities that could get him through the right education to get there. I can’t expect him to learn the confidence to meet others like him whose probably going to be from the best schools to, here and abroad, if he doesn’t go to the right school. Training him and education him will be a welcome challenge. I already am looking for young people like him before we even met and I feel stupid for not seeing one is just right under my nose.”
She watched him… saw how serious he was, noted the change in his tone and voice. She believed she was seeing the businessman Enrique in him, the man known to be his father’s tycoon. And she felt like she didn’t really know this person.
“And you… on the other hand. I don’t have any idea how you did in school.” He kissed her knuckles. “I admit I want to spoil you, give you the best. I heard you had honors when you finished high school. I see the amount of reading materials in your house. I see how easily you managed the lunch break activity in your house… considering how young you are and you have helpers who were twice or almost thrice your age helping you… and I see how they look on you for instructions. You are feeding about almost fifty men now in the house, not included even the amount of food that need to get packed and sent to the offices since now, our office staff wanted your food instead of their own cooking.” He was shaking his head, amazed. “Who else in your age can do that…?”
She blinked. “I-I have good and fast workers. They just know what to do.”
He nodded. “And you know who among them do something specific better than the other one. You knew who to pick to do something else. You think fast on your feet, economical movement, learns fast even without the basic electronic equipment. I wanted to bring in a big oven and a commercial dishwasher for you… but I didn’t think it’s going to help as everyone just wants to work around you. So you roast and grill using wood and coal and as I understand, in the few weeks this started, it’s become like a community thing everyone enjoys. You brother and sister keep on amazing me. So don’t think this is all just about my feelings. With good education, you two can multiply what you have both accomplished so far. Do you understand me?”
She gulped. “I think I do, Guidance Counselor, sir.”
He blinked. Then he laughed, his head thrown back.
“How old are you again?” she asked, frowning, truly curious and feeling stupid she hadn’t asked before. “I know your birth date but I don’t remember the year. It’s April 24. If you happen to be here, your father held a big party.”
He nodded. “It’s 1995. I turned twenty-seven my last birthday.”
She took a long-drawn breath. “My gosh. You’re old.”
“I’m experienced,” he corrected.
“You’re like my professor. Wealthy and old. No wonder you think and talk like that.” She teased him, poker-faced, even crinkling her nose.
“So you like Ruel better than me?”
She turned nervous at the tone. She suddenly felt like it was hot in the kitchen.
“He’s your age.”
She bit her lower lip. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Get jealous of another man when you clearly know there’s nothing to be jealous about. I don’t like Ruel better than you. I don’t even like one nail on his fingers better than yours.”
He blinked.
“Are you going to be that kind of boyfriend who will make me feel bad because another guy happens to like me, too? Or happens to stand beside me? Or…”
He was shaking his head. “No. I wasn’t like that.”
She caught that. “Wasn’t?”
He took a deep breath. “I was jealous of him during the time when I can’t even get near you but he can. You were talking to him but when you saw me, you stood there about to faint. I was jealous of him, then.”
“And now?”
He shook his head. Then he nodded, as if confused. Then he closed his eyes. “I’ve never felt obsessed about a woman before.”
She gulped. “What about when I’m in college? I’ll have classmates who are guys. I can’t be friends with them?”
“Of course you are. I’m not unreasonable.” But then, his jaw were starting to clench. “I might…”
“Might?”
“Probably…”
“Probably?”
“Get territorial. You are beautiful. They’re gonna like you. Am I not allowed to bash a head or two as your boyfriend?”
“Bash a head…?”
“Kidding…” he murmured, lowering his eyes.
“How about just trusting me and believing that I love you and there’s no other man greater in my eyes than you?”
He was shaking his head again. “There you go… I can’t believe you’re just nineteen.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
He stood up from the stool and pulled her from hers, then he looped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.
“I’m a man. I know how men thinks. I trust you to put them in their place, Arianna. But I don’t trust them staying put.”
“What?”
“Because I won’t be, if I’m in their place. If I had happened to meet you and you’re with someone else, I will damn well do everything I can to snatch you away from the bastard and make you mine.”
“Eric… you’re crazy…” she managed to say. “And I’m not even there yet.”
He lowered his forehead gently to hers. “I’m not going to deny it. I’ve already told you I’m obsessed with you, haven’t I? I am. I don’t care if I have to play dirty to get you. That’s how obsessed I am with you. I don’t know why I’m suddenly like this. No woman has ever made me feel this way. But I’m about to bring you out to that big world and I’m a little scared I’ll lose you.”
They were quiet for a few moments. He continued to hold her tight as scenarios played in her head of what she knew of his past.
His ex-fiancée really did a number on him.
And she suddenly felt a surge of hatred at the woman.
His mother might have also played a part in making him feel this way. Afraid of feeling settled and happy with a woman.
Arianna suddenly realized how hard it must be for him to feel the way he did with her.
Could it also be that her simpleness attracted him to her? That she didn’t have the glitter and straps, social connection and attractive people as friends that his ex-fiancée had, and any other temptations that could take her away from him?
Didn’t he know how perfect he already was in her eyes, in her heart? Didn’t he know he was so much more than enough?
I’d like to bash his mother’s and that bitch’s heads for what they did to you, went on inside her head.
She was so angry she didn’t even feel shocked at thinking it. A surge of protectiveness for him was consuming her.
And she promised herself she would love him with everything in her and she would not do anything to trigger his anxiety about being left behind again. It didn’t matter if in the future, his feelings changed.
She didn’t care. She would never be the one to leave him when that happens.
Never.
It was her lips that seek his.
He was surprised for a little moment before he hungrily kissed her back.