Florence Middleton’s Point of View

As soon as I got home from Antonito’s office, I ignored the fact that I used to remove my shoes before coming inside the house. I walked directly to my kitchen, snapped the papers on the kitchen table and got myself a glass of water.

Everything was on favor, I believe, but the thing that I couldn’t believe in is the fact that this is actually a good streak of luck.

Mr. Antonito was so good on telling me his conditions hours ago. He told me how everything must be settled this way and that way. I understood everything else, but the thing that I’d never understand is the feeling I have inside.

It Is the urge of refusing the offer. No grounds of reason why I have this feeling but I must ignore it. Business was way more important than anything—including that intuition telling me to stop and not to sign the contract.

I reread the contract as soon as I sat down. With a pen on the right hand, I signed it after rereading all of the terms and conditions. I’d have the rights to the half of the entire farm, two million dollars and. . . . Stacy.

I scoffed and found it amusing. It’s funny the old man included his granddaughter. I don’t care about the woman, all I care about is our company.

I am getting it save from bankruptcy!

“Hey, buddy.”

I jumped out from my chair and looked up at the figure standing at the door. Xavier, my second-degree cousin, was there, his shoulders were on the side of the door, his arm were folding and his eyes were staring down at the papers on the table.

“What’s that?” he asked and took steps closer to the table. “You’re into business now, huh? Thought you wanted music for your entire life?”

There’s a mocking tone in his voice I heard. If only I didn’t know this man, I got to jab him in an instant.

I didn’t answer him, instead I rearranged all of the papers and put it on my left hand. I looked at my cousin and moved my left brow at him, giving him a sign that we could talk now.

“What do you want, man?” I asked and walked past him.

Xavier snapped his finger at me and followed me upstairs. “I thought that you’re having a boring day,” he said and shrugged. “Or maybe not boring but you know, stressful somehow.” He took a chair and sat down before he continued. “I heard about the bankruptcy, all of our aunties talked about it all day. I rather be deaf than to listen to all of those voices.”

I chuckled. “What’d they say? Something bad again?” I asked.

Xavier shrugged again and came inside my room as he still followed me here. “I don’t know, man. Nothing important, as I’ve said, I rather be deaf than to listen.”

I didn’t reply to that for a moment. I removed my suit and changed my upper clothes, regardless of the fact that my cousin was here in my room.

“Oh, so this is what Kela seeing whenever you both naked. . .”

I froze for a second and turned slowly to face him while I wrinkled my forehead. “What’d you say?”

He grinned. “You heard me.”

I didn’t answer so he continued. “I wonder where is she now,” Xavier said and spread his arms on my bed as he laid down. "Didn't you miss her?”

You just don’t know that her memories still haunts me here, Xavier, I told myself silently. I wanted to say it but I am not as stupid as that to voice it out.

“No,” I simply replied.

“You’re really a bad liar, aren’t you?”

I glanced at his way. “If you don’t want to believe my answer, then don’t ask me that question.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” Xavier said and moved his hands in a pushing movement. “What’s with the attitude, man? Seemed to be bothered, hmm.”

He's just teasing me. If I’d reply to that then I’d be doomed. Shutting my mouth was the best thing to do this time.

“Don’t you think she’d come back?” Xavier asked another stupid question again. As I’ve told myself, I didn’t reply to him. I came out from my room and left him there, however, I heard his footsteps following me again.

“Hey, wanna grab a drink? It’s on me!”

I stopped and glanced at him over my shoulder. “Where?” I asked.

Xavier smiled at me knowingly. “Somewhere you’ll love, mi amigo!”

While we’re on the car, I opened my phone to distract myself from Kela. Since my dumb cousin mentioned her tonight, I couldn’t help but to think about her even more.

I opened an app to watch hilarious videos but before it could even start, an ad popped on the screen.

“Coco!” It is said by the woman from the ad. “Wanna have a better refreshment than those carbonated soda? Healthier! It has Vitamin C. . .”

“Isn’t she pretty?” Xavier was referring to the young woman endorsing a new drink online. “That’s Stacy Lopez. I really love her thick Latin accent she uses sometimes.”

I frowned. Stacy Lopez? That name is so familiar!

I took seconds before I realized who she is. I paused the ad and stared at her cheerful face flashing on the screen. My jaw unhinged.

“Pretty, right?” Xavier told me again.

“She’s going to be my wife. . .” I murmured to myself.

“Bro, what?”

My whole attention shot straight to Xavier on the driver’s seat. I gulped and tried to think for a smart way to get away with it.

Too bad, Xavier was smarter than me in this kind of case. I couldn’t even tell a white lie!

I closed my phone, took a deep breath and looked straight to the front. “Yes, she’s going to be my wife.”

“Huh?” Xavier made a face exaggeratedly. “I am confused!”

“Those papers I was reading on the kitchen table, that’s a contract,” I started to explain and shrugged. “A business proposal, rather. A marriage arrangement, if I got to put it into words literally.”

“WHAT! YOU’VE BEEN ARRANGED TO MARRY STACY LOPEZ!?”

I closed my eyes tightly as his loud voice reached the deepest corner of my ears. “Damn it, lower your voice for heaven’s sake!”

Xavier chuckled. “I couldn’t help it, man.”

I massaged my temple. “Stacy’s grandfather heard about the bankruptcy and wanted to help us but in one condition, I must marry his granddaughter, Stacy.”

Xavier finally went serious and nodded at me. “Go on.”

“The old man wanted to secure Stacy’s future, he needed to know if there’d be an inheritor and if she’d be marrying a good man.”

“Good man, huh? Does this old man know you personally? Like, you know, he chose you over hundreds, or maybe thousands of men in the industry.”

“Our grandfather, Richard, told him things about me,” I answered grimly. I don’t want to tell that because my cousin would mock me eventually. “That might be the reason why Stacy’s grandfather chose me over the hundreds, or maybe thousands of men in the industry,” I added, copying my cousin’s line. He’s really into exaggeration of things!

“Oh! So you mean, Grandpa Richard told him your greatness, that you’re a good man that’s why he chose you?”

I made a face. “Stop mocking me.”

“I am not mocking you,” Xavier answered.

I didn’t answer for a minute. I just watched the road we used to take. Now, I knew where we are heading.

“That old tyrant,” Xavier muttered and clicked his tongue. “Listening to compliments made by him felt like you just won a lottery. You’re lucky he thought you’re a good man, like he recognized you in that way.”

“That’s why I was stuck on that thought while Mr. Antonito was telling me about his business proposal,” I said. “I’ve been living in this world for almost three decades already and it’s my first time hearing compliments from him, that’s not even directly said to me, it came from his old friend.”

“Yeah, I understand, must be a lottery victory to feel.” Xavier replied and pulled over. “But we’re here already!”

I climbed out from the car and looked up at the name of the club. “Drunken Bodies.”

Xavier clapped his hands once at me to get my attention. I looked at him and watched his smile grow to grin. “What are you waiting for? Come on, man!” Xavier cheered. “I’m actually invited to a party inside, heard that it's a birthday party of a friend.”

I frowned and glared at him. He didn’t tell me this before. “A party of a friend? Damn, Xavier, I didn’t know you have friends. Who’s this friend?”

“A friend of Stacy Lopez,” he answered and flashed that knowing smile at me again. “Your future wife might be there inside! Let’s go!”

I opened my mouth and shrieked. “My what?!”