Chapter 23: Chapter 23
AMADEUS did not seem to care about the fire igniting between them, but Esmeralda could feel the loud pounding in his chest. He was also affected by her. He could feel what she was feeling. She should worry about it, but a part of her rejoiced.
How stubborn. Why can’t it just behave?
When Richard finally put her down, she opened it quickly.
“Whose hut is this?” he asked.
“It’s ours. We have vegetable plantations and fruit trees. It’s a good thing it was not damaged by the typhoon,” she said and glanced at the thatched roof. There were weights put on it so it won’t be swept away by the wind. She had just go it back after being pawned. She was thankful the person was kind and did not ask for an interest. Thanks to Aiden’s help.
“You’re saying this is yours, but you refuse to take shelter,” Richard said as he took his raincoat off.
Esmeralda shrugged and took a tour inside the hut. She took some firewood to make a fire to prepare a hot drink for the two of them. "There's rice coffee and wild tea. What do you prefer?" she asked him since there were no instant coffee and tea available.
“Just coffee. Let me help you,” he said and watched beside her.
“I can do this on my own,” she said and focused on making fire. “You can just sit over there.”
"I prefer here. It's warmer beside you. I feel better with you around."
She ignored him and stood up. There was a pipe connected to the spring and fetched some water. She felt Richard’s gaze following her.
“When are the people coming to get you?” she asked.
“I don’t know. As soon as possible. It depends on the situation of the road,” he replied and shrugged. “In a hurry to get rid of me?”
“I just want you to return to your family as soon as possible.”
“What if I tell you I don’t want to leave your side? That I’m happy being with you? I can’t forget about your kisses last night. I haven’t sleep. I can’t get enough of the feel of having you in my arms.”
She shot him a glare. “Will you stop it? I told you I’m marrying Aiden. You might encounter each other tomorrow. He was one of those who will bring help. So please stop it!”
She bit the inside of her cheek. Of course, Aiden was still out of the country, but Richard did not need to know. He was already leaving tomorrow. All she need was to use Aiden as a shield from temptations.
“Do you love him?” he asked.
Her lips parted to say ‘yes.’ But instead, she uttered a different thing. “I’ll marry him.”
“You did not answer my question,” he said in a warning tone. “A simple question you cannot answer. You don’t love him.”
“And who are you to say that? You’ve never seen Aiden and me together.”
“I want to know because if you really love him, I’ll leave you alone. That is if you’re telling the truth.”
She boldly met his eyes. She did not have to shout to the world that she and Aiden were in love. When her neighbors found out that she was getting married to a handsome and rich man, they made their own story that it was love at first sight. That she was lucky to meet a handsome prince like Aiden. Nobody questioned how quick it happened. Only Richard knew what's inside her heart. And she was scared that he was not buying her lies. If Richard, who was a stranger, knew that she was not really in love with Aiden, how much more were the people who were trying to prove that she was lying and pretending to be in love with Aiden just like his brother Amadeus dela Merced?
She needed to stand by her lies. She should not fail Aiden. She needed to do her job. She had to convince everyone that she loved him and she will start it with Richard.
She gathered her courage and met Richard’s eyes. “I love him. I love Aiden,” she declared through gritted teeth.
Richard grabbed her arm. “Even though you kept telling me that you love him, I could see differently from your actions. If you love him, why were you not happy when you were talking to him? You did not even tell him you love him.”
“What? Were you eavesdropping?” she uttered.
Richard grinned. He seemed like the type of person who did not care how to do things. All that mattered to him were results. “Someone who was truly in love gives the other person assurance. You say it. You don’t save it, Esmeralda.”