Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Amadeus nodded. “Yes. They will send in help. And maybe I could finally leave tomorrow once help arrives.”

“I’m glad you could finally leave.”

“Do you want me to leave?” he asked in surprise.

She nodded. "Isn't that what you want? It's better if you could go back to civilization, to your normal life. I'm happy for you. Excuse me. I'll just call my b-boyfriend."

Esmeralda climbed on top of the hill which she could get a good reception. He waited in a spot where he could still somehow hear her voice. He knew it was rude to eavesdrop, but he could not help it. He wanted to know how she treated her brother. If she ever loved Aiden, even just a little.

Once Amadeus proved that she loved his only brother, he’ll let them be. That Esmeralda was not only using his brother to pay for Jeremy’s medical treatment. For the sake of Aiden’s happiness and his gratitude toward Esmeralda for saving his life, he will leave the two alone once he proved that they were truly in love with each other.

"Hello, Aiden!" she greeted, smiling. Her voice may sound excited, but it did not reach her eyes. "Don't worry. Jeremy and I are safe. There were damaged houses, but no one was hurt in our place. Don't worry about us. We are used to the typhoon."

Amadeus could not help watching her. Esmeralda looked bored while talking to his brother.

"Thank you," Esmeralda said in a firm tone. "Next time, when the reception was better, you can talk to Jeremy. I need to go back home now. I might get caught in the rain. Bye."

Was that how they talk? They talked as if they were only friends or business partners. Too formal. As if they did not share any intimacy at all.

There was no fire nor happiness in her eyes. That was not how people in love looked like. There was no spark. She did not even say ‘I love you.’ That was the final nail on the coffin. Esmeralda did not love his brother. It was a stupid decision to push through with the wedding.

He turned his back and clenched his fist. He had made up his mind. He would draw his brother away from Esmeralda in every way possible.

“WE HAVE to hurry. It’s starting to rain,” Esmeralda told Richard.

She was walking down the hill with big steps. She did not care about the mud that squirting on her jogging pants, or she was leaving Richard behind her. She finished talking to Aiden so they could leave the hill immediately. She was not comfortable that Richard was nearby and the fact that he could hear their conversation. She kissed him last night that she was trying hard to forget until now. She felt guiltier as she talked to Aiden. She felt like she was cheating on him.

And the rain poured harder as if to tease her. She pulled her raincoat closer to her body and held on to the umbrella that was being blown by the wind. Richard was also wearing one, but it seemed like the water was still penetrating because of the heavy downpour. She could barely see the path, but she did not stop walking.

Richard caught up with her and stood under her umbrella. "Esmeralda, maybe we can take shelter in one of the huts here. Let's wait for the rain to stop. Your gadgets will get wet. The rain is too heavy. I don’t think it will stop sooner. Look, I could not see the way anymore.”

“Can’t you just walk faster?” she spat.

She knew the heavy rain would take a while. She knew it was dangerous to continue, and she only used her instinct to find her way down the hill. But she chose to take the risk to protect her heart.

If they would take shelter inside the hut, she will be left alone with Richard. She did not feel safe whenever he's around. She did not feel secure with herself. She did not want the last night's event to happen again where she let herself get carried away.

“But we have a shelter. Let’s stay there for a while,” he insisted.

Esmeralda flinched. “You can go if you want. I’ll go ahead. I’ll just ask Topher to collect you.”

The hut was safe because it was still part of her family's banana plantation. They had cleaned it before the typhoon came in case someone would need it. Everything they needed was there. Maybe Richard would survive there. She could not think of being hospitable at the moment. All she knew was that she needed to get away from him.

“I just can’t leave you, you know,” he said as he continued to tail her.

“Then stop complaining…”

Esmeralda screamed as her foot slipped. She thought she would fall, but Richard was quick to grab her by the arm.

"I told you we should stop here. You see, it's dangerous," he said, scolding her, and helped her stand up.

Esmeralda’s chest was pounding hard. She was holding on to his arm tight even though she had already gained her balance. She could feel his strong arms. When she glanced at him, she found him staring at her. His coffee-colored eyes were scalding. She thought he was going to kiss her, but he suddenly lifted her up.

Her eyes widened, and she almost dropped her umbrella.

“Hey! What are you doing, Richard?”

“Protecting you. We’ll stay at the hut until the rain stops,” he said in a firm tone.

“Then you should have talked to me formally.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do, but you’re not listening. You’ll get injured and all, but I’m sure you’ll only insist on walking. I don’t understand what you’re resisting for.”

Esmeralda pressed her lips. She had no power against him. She knew she was at fault. And she would never admit to him that she was helpless when it came to him. Slipping a while ago was already an embarrassment, and now he was carrying her like a child who needs to be suppressed.

From her silence, she felt their bodies touched. The surrounding was already cold as the water penetrated their raincoats, but their bodies seemed to be on fire. Her coldness was denied by the attraction she felt toward him.

“Can you just put me down? I can walk,” Esmeralda asked softly.

“No. It is better this way. You won’t argue much.”

Every step he took was firm as he looked straight ahead. He was not easily swayed.

“I’m heavy. It might be more difficult for us.”

"It would be much difficult if you always argue. Can't you just endure not arguing with me? It is just a few more steps, and we are at the hut. I'm leaving tomorrow. Do we still have to fight?"