KATALINA.
She didn’t.
When I woke up, it was evening and I was in bed. Huracio had rushed back home to take care of me. The moment I opened my eyes, I saw the worry in his eyes. But all I could do was avert my gaze as guilt crushed me.
“You are finally awake.” He sighed with relief.
“What happened?” I asked, feigning ignorance.
“You can’t remember? You fainted inside the school today.”
“Oh, that’s true. Where is Emilia? Did she come with us?”
“No. She didn’t. How do you feel now?” He placed the back of his hand on my forehead.
“I feel rested. Did Doctor Gerald come? What did he say?”
“He said you are under a lot of stress. Why are you stressed, Kitty? Are you still jealous of Ane?”
He gave me a deep look that made me break into a cold sweat. If he should go on with that assumption, he might lock me up in a cage again.
“No, no, no. I am not stressed. I am not jealous. Doctor Gerald must be mistaken.” I hurriedly tried to clarify things.
He raised his brows at me, his eyes imploring me to say the truth.
“Huracio, I am not jealous. I swear.” I held his arm and acted coquettishly.
“It’s good that you are not jealous.” He ruffled my head, stood up, and scooped me out of bed.
“Take a shower, then eat dinner. I don’t want you to fall sick. I am too busy to stay by your side.”
“Okay. I am fine.”
Hurt by his words, I wiggled out of his arms and got out of bed.
Picking up my phone, I saw several texts from Emilia. A knowing smile broke on my face. I wasn’t surprised. There is no way she would see me in that condition and stay angry. This out of nowhere fainting spell at least took care of something for me. I walked into the bathroom and dialed her number. She picked on the first ring.
“Emilia?” I cautiously called her name.
“… ”
There was a long silence, but there was no need to rush. Since she picked, she would definitely talk to me.
“How are you now?” She grumbled after a long silence.
I feel better. I saw your texts. I am sorry I couldn’t respond immediately, I was sleeping.”
“Cut the crap. Are you pregnant?” She snapped.
“What? Pregnant?” I gasped in shock. “Why would you say that?”
“Well, you nearly walked into a speeding car, then started vomiting, then fainted. Sounds pregnant to me.”
As she listed each event, my eyes got wider because her line of thought was reasonable.
What if I really am pregnant? What will I do about it?
Everything I had done with Huracio since he married me started playing in my mind. We have been having sex with abandon and he had never used any form of protection. I wasn’t on the pill like Mum was, but we also never talked about having babies.
“Oh, my god! Oh, my god!
Feeling like my head was about to go on a spin, I disconnected the call and dashed out of the toilet.
“Huracio…!”
The bedroom was empty, so I dashed out calling his name at the top of my voice.
“Hey, what is it?” He hurried up the stairs, meeting me halfway.
“Huracio. Am I pregnant?”
Hearing my words, he visibly relaxed and glared at me angrily.
“Is that why you were shouting like that? You scared me, Kitty.”
“I am sorry. I am sorry. But am I?”
“No, you are not. What’s wrong with you?” He snapped at me.
“Oh, mine, oh mine.” I held my head and sat on the stairs. Taking deep breaths.
“Do you want to get pregnant?” Huracio bent down and asked in a soft voice.
“I…”
Catching his eyes, they seemed expectant…
What should I say?
Looking away, I couldn’t bring myself to say No. He looked like he wanted me to say yes.
“I will happily give you kids if you want them. How many kids do you want to have?”
There was a twinkle in his eyes. He wants kids with me!
“Hmm.” I cleared my throat and adjusted uncomfortably. “I am just nineteen. I am not ready for kids.”
His bright eyes dimmed, and he clenched his hands into fists.
“So, you don’t want to have my kids? Is that what you are saying?”
“No, no. That’s not what I mean. I will definitely have kids, but not now. I just entered school, and …”
“Hahhah.” He suddenly started laughing, throwing me off. “Just kidding. I am not ready either. When I am ready, you will get pregnant.”
He shrugged and then descended the stairs. “Don’t wait for me. I am going out.” He called from the front door.
His voice sounded odd, but I was too distracted to be bothered.
I checked the time and it was almost 8 in the evening.
Going to meet Ane? I couldn’t help but wonder.
I watched as he left the house. I then returned to the room and called Emilia.
It was as if she was waiting for the call. Before a second ring, her voice floated into my ears.
“So?” She growled.
“I am not. I am not pregnant.” I exclaimed excitedly.
“So, it’s true. You are sleeping with him.”
“…”
Gasping, I covered my mouth with my hand. Was this a trap or a coincidence? There was simply no way of denying this now.
“When did it start? When you travel or before that? Have you been lying to me all this time?”
“Emilia, listen. I can explain this.”
“That’s what I am waiting for. An explanation.” She sneered.
“Not on the phone. Can we have lunch tomorrow?”
“Ain’t you sick? Can you move around?”
“I am fine, Emilia. I fainted for some other reason. I will tell you when we see tomorrow. I swear you want to hear this.” I whispered, cautious of the cameras in the room.
“…”
“Emilia, Please.” I drawled, sounding pitiful.
“It’s better to be a good one.” she sneered.
“Thank you.”
“So, where…”
“Your place. Let’s meet at your place.”
“Okay. Come before Lunchtime. I am baking next week’s snacks.”
“Okay.”
“Bring a bottle of wine or two.”
“I will.”
The call disconnected, but I couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across my face.
I got her back.
“Let’s see. There is Chardonnay and Cheval Blanc.” I placed two bottles of white wine on her dining table and said. “I also bought some sugar-coated coconut flakes for the bread.”
I just arrived at her house and she was already at work. From the mess around the kitchen, she probably started working at dawn. The fresh smell of pastries and cookies assaulted my senses, making my mouth water. But looking around, I saw nothing I could steal. She was probably hiding them.
By the kitchen island, Emilia was in an apron and kneading some pasta dough.
“I also bought some.” She sniggered.
I just rolled my eyes, pulled the coconut jar close, and started unsealing it. “Good. I will just snack on this one.”
“If you dare!” She snapped, hurried over, and grabbed the jar. Taking it away, she opened her fridge and placed it inside.
I love coconut and everything made with it. So, whenever she is baking, Emilia will always bake some coconut bread for me, while she would do raisin bread for herself. Because I always end up eating most of the prepared flakes, my coconut bread always depends on artificial flavor to even smell close to its ingredients. That was why she snatched it.
So, what can I do?” I got into an apron, washed my hands, and asked.
“I am marinating some chicken in the deep freezer. Get it out and spread them on the oven tray.”
“Okay.” I went to her mini deep freezer and got out the large bowl of chicken parts. The marinate was creamy and fragrant. The garlic and onions were probably fried in olive oil before being added as their fragrance was the strongest.
After putting the tray in the oven, I started working on peeling and dicing potato chips. Engrossed in cooking, I was shocked when she suddenly broke the silence with an unexpected question.
“How was he in bed?”
The peeler in my hand dropped, and I blinked at her in confusion.
“What did you say?”
Of all things, I didn’t see that coming.
“Well, who else are you sleeping with? How is your husband in bed? Is he as good as your Mum said?”
“My Mum told you about him?” I gasped with wild eyes. How come I was just hearing this?
“No, she didn’t, silly. Eewwuh. Why will she do that?” Emilia contorted her face in utter disgust.
“Then, how did you know?”
“I overheard her on the phone.”
I really doubted that. Mum wasn’t vulgar. Why would she do that?
“I am serious. I don’t know who she was talking to, but she did say that he was huge and everlasting. Is it true?”
Huge and everlasting?
His performances flashed through my mind. My face grew red with embarrassment. He is really huge, but I wasn’t sure about the everlasting part. Yes, he can last for almost an hour, pounding me ruthlessly. But he can also finish within five minutes. It’s like he decides how long he wants to last. Can that be called everlasting?
This topic was very awkward.