Chapter 14: Chapter 14

“IS TEACHING always your dream?” Javier asked.

They were once again sitting inside the carriage. Javier was taking her home.

If he wanted to marry her not because of love, he should not be this thoughtful. He said he wanted to join her to help her carry the books. He was not the arrogant Javier she first met.

“Of course, “ Gretel replied with a smile. “I want to teach children how important reading is. If a child reads, she will grow up into a kind person and considerate of others.”

Javier pulled her to his chest.

“Do you think they would treat others with kindness without basing on their appearances?”

“Yes. Because what’s most important is what’s inside their heart.”

“I see that you were reading too much, “ he remarked with a chuckle. “Do you always escape the painful reality by reading?”

“Of course.”

“I tried reading, but reality still hurt.”

Gretel glanced up and found Javier looking outside the window.

“What do you mean?”

Javier smiled at her.

“Your kindness eased the pain a little.”

“Did someone hurt you, Javier?”

“Why didn’t I find you sooner, Gretel?” he said instead and cupped her cheek.

Sadness and regret was in his eyes, and it pained Gretel’s heart.

“Was she your lover?”

He nodded and pressed his lips against her forehead. Gretel closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“It did not matter anymore,” he whispered afterward.

“ARE YOU really sure you want to come inside? Our house isn’t that grand,” Gretel asked reluctantly as they stepped inside the gate.

Javier was carrying her books while Gretel was again holding the bananas in her arms.

“How about you show me your cooking skills?”

Gretel bit her lip.

“I’m not as good as Mother, though. Please lower your expectations, Mister.”

“No problem,” Javier replied, amused.

“Wait for me here,” Gretel said as they stepped into the living room. She rushed to the kitchen and put the bananas on the table. Then, she came back and took the books from him. “Thank you!”

She went inside her room and put the books in her shelf.

“Your room is too tiny.”

Gretel jumped in surprise as Javier entered the room, uninvited.

“What are you doing here?”

“What? I already saw you naked. Why can’t I see your room?” he said cockily.

“Mister, I think you need to know what ‘consent’ means, “ Gretel retorted, arching an eyebrow.

She was expecting Javier would show his arrogant side, but he smiled apologetically. And the funny thing was it reminded her of Alexander.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right.” Gretel took his hand and pulled him outside. “At least, you know how to recognize your mistakes.”

“I don’t want to see you mad at me, Gretel. And I know you want me to treat other people just the same.”

“Yes.” Gretel beamed. “I’m so proud of you.”

“I SUPPOSED you know how to slice bananas, at least.”

They were sitting together at the table. Gretel took a knife and a clean plate.

“You only have to slice the banana in half, lengthwise to be exact, while I make a fire on the stove. That would make the job quicker. What do you think?”

Gretel picked one banana and peeled it.

“See? A piece of cake, isn’t it?” she said as she put the already sliced banana on the plate.

“We’re not married yet, but you are already bossing me around, “ Javier said without sounding complaining, at all.

“Mister, if you want us to pretend to be dating to convince my mother, you should show her that you really are pursuing me by doing things such as this,” Gretel said matter-of-factly. “Who was talking about being cooperative again?” She narrowed her eyes at him.

Javier could not help chuckling as he took the knife from her.

“Clever girl. Do I get a kiss if I did this thing right?”

“You can try, “ Gretel teased and finally stood up.

She stood in front of the stove and pulled out some firewood underneath it. She glanced at Javier and found him slicing the banana in his palm ever carefully, brows furrowed.

“BE CAREFUL it’s hot.”

Gretel placed the plate full of fried bananas on the table and sat beside him.

“Smells so good,” Javier remarked with a pleasant smile.

“You did a great job.”

“That was nothing.” He cupped her face and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “You were amazing.”

Gretel giggled nervously.

“Was I? Does that mean I deserve a kiss more than you do?”

Javier laughed, his eyes sparkling with delight. Gretel could not help laughing along as she stared at his beauty.

“Come here.” He pulled her and claimed her lips once again.

“WILL YOU show me your favorite place?” Javier asked when they were done eating.

“If you’re not in a hurry to leave, I will.”

“I can stay for an hour more. Sunset is still a few hours away.”

“Great. Come on.”

Gretel took him to her meeting place with Alexander.

“What do you do in your free time, Javier?” Gretel asked as they sat on the thick grass facing the stream.

“I like gardening and hunting. Remember when we first met?”

“Oh, yeah. How can I forget?” Gretel laughed. “Isn’t hunting cruel, though? You go to a poor animal’s habitat uninvited and kill them for being dangerous.”

“Well, my father raised me that way. He taught me that survival is cruel.”

“What about your mother? What did she teach you?”

“My mother died of giving birth to me. But my father told me that I got my love for gardening from her. When he remarried, that was when my life became hell. And when he died, I got no more reasons to stay in my hometown. I’d rather be dead than go back.”

“You did not get along well with your stepmother?”

“I never saw her as a mother material, “ he said with a smirk. “She screwed my life.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

Javier lay on the grass and put his hand under his head.

“Come here.”

Gretel smiled and rested her head on his arm. Javier rolled to his side and put his other arm over her.

“Was she the reason your lover left you?” she asked.

“Well, that’s exactly like it.”