Chapter 4 four

"The party had been a success, so much so that my mother made some extra money. I helped her clean up everything and then we left. We got home at seven in the morning, luckily it was the weekend, so I didn't worry about the time. Before taking a little nap, I took a quick shower. I was tired and couldn't stop thinking about that guy, his kiss, and, above all, his proposal. I didn't know what to answer him. Who the hell goes through life offering a love contract? Because that's what it was, I was going to marry a stranger for his grandmother to fulfill her dreams.

It seemed like a crazy gesture to me, but I wouldn't help him with such madness. I felt sorry for him, but I'm just about to finish college and I want to get a good job, create economic stability for myself. I didn't want to depend on any man, I wanted to be brave and strong like my mother.

When I come out of the shower, I decide to sleep in my underwear, I put my hair in a bun, and lay down on the bed, closing my eyes. I fall asleep almost immediately.

I wake up at eleven in the morning, I thought I had slept a little, but I feel quite rested. I go to the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth, pee, and then put on some shorts and a tank top. I didn't have plans to go out, so I didn't need to dress differently. I leave the room and head straight to the kitchen in search of my mother, who has a bowl in her hands and is whisking something.

'Mom, don't you rest?'

'Yes, daughter, of course I do. But I'm used to it, I'm making a cake that I was commissioned at the last minute. You have coffee there and your breakfast is over there.'

'Thank you, mom.'

I take my steaming hot coffee with little sugar. This was the nectar of the gods, I couldn't be without it, because I would immediately get a migraine and my mood would go from good to very bad. After breakfast, I help my mother with the cake decoration. When we finish, we start cleaning the table and preparing lunch. My father was about to arrive.

Luckily, mom didn't notice my encounters with Edder, I didn't want her to think things that weren't true. The rest of the day we spent watching TV. It was the Twilight marathon and I wouldn't miss it. My mom liked it too, so we suffered together. When the beloved vampire leaves Bella, she suffers a lot and so do we.

Sunday passed in the same way. I exchanged messages with Lis, she was mad at me for not wanting to enjoy the party, but she had to understand that I was working. I can't jeopardize my mother. It took a lot for her to understand that, but in the end, she processed it and was quite calm. She asked me where she knew her cousin from, and I changed the subject. I didn't know if I could trust her.

I was ready to sleep when my phone started ringing.

'Hello, beautiful. How are you? How was your weekend?'

The message makes me doubtful, I didn't have that number in my contacts.

'Who is this?'

I wait for the response, but it doesn't come as quickly, so I take the opportunity to change and put my hair up. I hated sleeping with it down, it made me hot and annoyed. I had always, for as long as I can remember, slept like that. When I lay my head on the pillow, my phone rings again. At first, I don't get up and close my eyes again, but the damn phone insists on ringing. I reluctantly get up and check the messages.

'I'm sorry if I bother you,' the first message says, and the second one makes me tremble.

'Lis gave me your number, I'm Edder.'

OH MY GOD! I'll kill her, I swear I'll kill her. I quickly respond, I was very nervous.

'Hi Edder, if you bother me, I'm sleepy. I have classes tomorrow and I have to wake up early. Can you text me tomorrow?'

He responds quickly.

'Sorry, alright. I'll text you tomorrow. Rest well, goodnight.'

I leave the phone on the table and return to my bed, falling delightfully into the arms of Morpheus.

I wake up at six in the morning when the damn alarm wakes me up. I was very tired, but I had to endure. This torture of five years would soon be over. This was my last week in college. I go to the bathroom and fix myself as best as I can, I really don't like to draw attention or wear makeup. But what I hated the most was wearing tight clothes, so I always, always wore a size up, which made me look fatter and hid my curves. I enter the kitchen and kiss my father, who, as usual, is in a bad mood.

'Mom, I have to go. See you later,' I say hugging her.

I quickly leave the kitchen, if I don't hurry I would be late. So I walk as fast as I can, arriving to the first class just in time. The class, as always, was quite boring. Professor Janet couldn't explain anything properly. Everything I have learned I owe to the internet. I searched for tutorials and books. I walk straight to the cafeteria, I was a little hungry. I didn't have a chance to have breakfast, so I order a strong coffee and a cheese bread. I spot an available table next to an apple tree in the distance. Better impossible.

I am enjoying my breakfast when Lis hugs me from behind."

"You scared me, Lis," I say, choking on my coffee.

"Exaggerated," she says, downplaying it.

"No. I'm not exaggerating. You gave my number to your cousin, why? You know I hate it when you do those things," I say annoyed.

"Gossipy," she says, looking behind me, so I turn around and see him. He looks as beautiful as the day I met him. He was dressed casually and relaxed, but his face had the best smile.

"I'm sorry if my boldness bothered you, it wasn't my intention," he says, sitting next to his cousin.

"I'm leaving, I have an important exam," she says, leaving me alone with him. She doesn't give me a chance to say anything.

"Don't worry, just don't do it again. I like my privacy."

"Okay, what are you studying?"

"Business administration," I say.

"Oh, that's great. Me too, this is my last year, so I'm done with the torture," he says, smiling, causing me to smile back.

"It's also my last year, how is it that in five years of college I hadn't seen you?"

"I'm in a private university, I came here just for a game, nothing more, but if I had known I was going to find you in this place, I would have been studying here a long time ago."

"Please, you're just like Lis, exaggerating," I say while laughing.

"Maybe, that's why we're family, but going back to the party night, what have you thought? Will you accept my deal?"

I sigh. "I'm sorry, but no. I'm not that kind of girl. I know you're doing it for a noble cause, but I don't want to join my life with someone I don't know, especially not like that."

He looks at me for a few minutes, without saying a word.

"You're right, you're not that kind of girl. You're something better. How about if I invite you out? I want to get to know you, I want something with you. Let's take things slow."

"I'll give you a date, but then, if I don't feel comfortable, I would appreciate it if you don't bother me anymore. Deal?"

"We have a deal. So, how about I pick you up at seven, at your house? Send me the address in a message. See you tonight," he says, quickly leaving. What the hell was all that? I gather my things and go to my next classes. When I'm done, I hurry home. But just as I was about to open the door, I hear an argument between my father and mother.

The party was a success, so much so that my mother earned extra money. I helped her clean up everything and then we left. We entered the house at seven in the morning. Luckily, it was the weekend, so I didn't worry about the time. Before taking a nap, I took a quick shower. I was tired. I couldn't stop thinking about that guy, his kiss, and, above all, his proposal. I didn't know what to answer. Who the hell goes through life offering a love contract? Because that's what it was. I was going to marry a stranger for his grandmother, to fulfill her dreams. It seemed like a crazy gesture, but I wouldn't help him with such madness. I felt sorry for him, but I'm just about to finish college. I want to find a good job, create economic stability for myself. I don't want to depend on any man. I wanted to be brave and determined like my mother.

When I get out of the shower, I decide to sleep in my underwear. I put my hair up in a bun and lie down on the bed, closing my eyes. I fall asleep almost instantly.

I wake up at eleven in the morning. I thought I had slept a little, but I'm quite rested. I go to the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth, pee, and then put on some shorts and a tank top. I didn't have any plans to go out, so I didn't need to dress differently. I leave the room straight to the kitchen, in search of my mother, who has a bowl in her hands, beating something.

"Mom, don't you rest?"

"Yes, daughter, of course I do, but I'm used to it. I'm making a cake that someone ordered last minute. There's coffee for you there and your breakfast is over there."

"Thanks, Mom."

I take my hot coffee with just a little bit of sugar. This was the nectar of the gods. I couldn't be without it, because I would immediately get a migraine and my mood would go from good to very bad. After breakfast, I help my mother with the cake decoration. When we finish, we start cleaning the table and preparing lunch. My father was about to arrive.

Luckily, Mom didn't notice my encounters with Edder. I didn't want her to think things that weren't true. The rest of the day we spent watching TV. It was Twilight marathon. I wouldn't miss it. My mom liked it too, so we suffered together. When the beloved vampire leaves Isabela, she suffers a lot and we suffer with her.

Sunday went the same way. I exchanged messages with Lis. She was mad at me for not wanting to enjoy the party, but she had to understand that I was on a working mode. I couldn't harm my mother. It took a lot of effort to make her understand that, but in the end, she processed it and was quite calm. I wondered where she knew her cousin from, and I changed the subject. I didn't know if I could trust her.

I was ready to go to sleep when my phone started ringing.

"Hello beautiful, how are you? How was your weekend?" The message leaves me doubtful, I didn't have that number in my contacts.

"Who are you?" I wait for the response but it doesn't come as quickly, so it gives me a chance to change and tie up my hair. I hated sleeping with it loose, it made me feel hot and annoyed. Ever since I can remember, I had always slept that way. When I lay my head on the pillow, my phone rings again. At first, I don't get up and close my eyes again, but the little phone insists on continuing to ring. I reluctantly get up and check the messages.

"Forgive me if I am bothering you," the first message says, and the second one makes me tremble. "Lis gave me your number. I'm Edder."

OH MY GOD! I'll kill him, I swear I'll kill him, I quickly reply, feeling very nervous.

"Hello Edder, if you are bothering me, I'm sleepy. I have classes tomorrow and need to wake up early. Can you message me tomorrow?" He responds quickly.

"Forgive me, it's alright. I'll message you tomorrow. Rest, have a good night." I leave the phone on the table and return to my bed, falling deliciously into the arms of Morpheus.

I wake up at six in the morning when the damned alarm wakes me up. I was very sleepy, but I had to endure it. This torture of five years would soon be over. This was my last week in college. I go to the bathroom and get ready as best as I can. The truth is, I didn't like to draw attention or wear makeup. But what I hated the most was wearing tight clothes, so I always, always wore a size bigger, which made me look fatter and disguised my curves. I enter the kitchen, kissing my father, who, as usual, is in a bad mood.

"Mom, I have to go, see you later," I say, hugging her. I quickly leave the kitchen. If I didn't hurry, I would be late. So I walk as fast as I can, arriving at the first class right on time. The class, as always, was quite boring. Professor Janet couldn't explain anything well. Everything I had learned, I owed it to the Internet. I searched for tutorials and books. I walk straight to the cafeteria. I was a bit hungry. I didn't have a chance to have breakfast, so I order a strong coffee and a cheese bread. In the distance, I spot an available table next to an apple tree. Better impossible.

I am savoring my breakfast when Lis hugs me from behind.

"You scared me, Lis," I say, choking on my coffee.

"Exaggerated," she says, downplaying it. "No, I'm not exaggerated. You gave my number to your cousin. Why? You know I hate when you do these things," I say annoyed.

"Gossipy," she says, looking behind me. So I turn and see him. He looks as handsome as the day I met him. He was dressed casually and relaxed, but his face had the best smile.

"I'm sorry if my audacity bothers you. It wasn't my intention," he says, sitting next to his cousin.

"I'm leaving. I have an important exam," she says, leaving me alone with him. She doesn't give me a chance to say anything.

"Don't worry, just don't do it again. I like my privacy."

"Alright, what do you study?"

"Business administration, I say."

"Oh, that's good. Me too. This is my last year, so I'm almost done with the torture," he says with a smile, which makes me smile back.

"It's also my last year. How is it that in five years of college, I hadn't seen you?"

"I'm in a private university. I came here just for a game, nothing more. But if I had known I was going to meet you in this place, I would have been studying here for a long time."

"Please, you are just like Lis, exaggerated," I say while laughing.

"Perhaps, for a reason, we are family. But going back to the night of the party, have you thought about it? Will you accept my proposal?"

I sigh. "I'm sorry, but no. I'm not that type of girl. I know you're doing it for a noble cause, but I don't want to join my life with someone I don't know, especially not in that way."

He stares at me for a few minutes, without saying a word. "You're right, you're not that type of girl. You're something better. How about if I invite you out? I want to get to know you. Let's take things slowly."

"I'll give you a chance, but afterwards, if I don't feel comfortable, I would appreciate it if you don't bother me anymore. Deal?"

"We have a deal then. How about if I pick you up at seven, at your house? Send me the address in a message. I'll see you tonight," he says, leaving quickly. What the hell was all that? I gather my things and go to the next classes. When I finish, I run home, but just as I was about to open the door, I hear an argument between my father and my mother.