Chapter 13
CAROLINE stared blankly in front of the mirror. The girl with sad eyes was looking back at her. She touched her cheeks, the warmth in her face felt fine in her palm. Her body temperature indicates that she’s alive. But, Caroline felt the other way around. She may be looked well and glowing in the outside, but she’s dying or perhaps has died from the inside several years ago.
“Why am I like this?” Caroline asked herself. She put her hand in her chest to feel her own heartbeat. “I’m alive, but I feel empty. Something is missing in me…”
She went to her cabinet and opened the small compartment under her hanging clothes. When she saw the pink shoebox, her heart started to hammer inside her chest. Caroline hesitated to touch it or even lay her eyes on it. The last time she opened the box was when she was in her third year in college when she and Hyacinth parted ways because her Aunt Isabelle neglected her. She has to stop studying and get herself a job to feed herself.
“Caroline?” she heard Hyacinth’s voice from outside. Moments later, the door opened. Hyacinth peeked behind the door. “What are you doing there?” she asked, eyes on the box. “And what is that?”
“Nothing.” She stood up, closing the cabinet door behind her. “What is it?”
Hyacinth grinned and waggled her brows. “You got a delivery outside.”
Caroline knotted her forehead. “From who?”
Her friend shrugged her shoulders. “See it yourself. Come on, it’s waiting downstairs.”
On top of the stairs, Caroline can already see a tall man in white trousers and a black coat. He was on his back, and bright pink buds of tulips were peeking from both his sides. Caroline shook her head when she recognized who he is. That beautiful ash-colored hair was unmistakable.
“What are you doing here, Lucas?” she asked as soon she set her feet on the last step. Her friend Hyacinth walked straight in the kitchen, leaving her and Lucas alone in the lounge.
Lucas turned to face her. His face lit up upon seeing her. “Caroline, I just come here to check if you’re okay,” he said and offered her the bouquet of pink tulips. “I also brought you some fresh fruits.” He motioned his hand to the baskets on the coffee table.
“There’s no reason not to be okay, Tim, and as you can see, I’m healthy,” she said, ignoring the flowers and the fruits. “You may go now, Tim. And, please don’t come back again.”
The man’s expression turned rigid. “Did you find someone else?”
Caroline avoided his piercing stare. She heaved a sigh before looking straight in his eyes. Caroline can see in his face that he’s hurt. “I thought we have agreed to part our ways quietly?”
“Caroline, I ignored the rumors that I heard about you because I thought I can make you change. I’m willing to marry you, Caroline. I’m willing to help you with your problem.” He dropped the flowers and held her hand. “I thought you were just pressured, so I gave you time to think—”
“I didn’t ask you for that, Tim. I made it clear to you, right?” she said and pulled her hands from him, but he held it tightly. “I don’t have feelings for you anymore—”
“Why can’t it be me?” His jaw clenched while looking at her. “Why do you have to find another guy? I’m wealthy enough to build a world that you want. Come back to me, Caroline. Please?”
“Find another guy?” she asked with a frown, ignoring the rest of what he said. “Where did you get that news?”
Caroline was aware that because some of her exes were eligible bachelors—and her relationships with them ended in the same reason—she was labeled as a Serial Heartbreaker. Gossips have wings, and it flew to her thru some of her wealthy clients who often interact with the same circle of friends of her exes. But, Caroline doesn’t give a damn about it, or perhaps, she got used to being called a heartbreaker. She had numerous relationship failures, but most of her exes became her friends, and the rest well, broadcasted that they became her victim once in their life.
“A friend told me that you met a single dad in Pampanga,” Lucas replied, his brows furrowed. “Caroline—”
“Wait,” she cut off with a wave of her hand. “Did you say ‘single dad’?”
*
“DAD, where are we going? Why are you putting some of our things in the car?” Anastacia asked when she noticed him moving some of their things outside. “Are we going on a trip again?”
Benjamin hesitated to answer. He looked at his daughter’s confused expression. “Anastacia—”
“Are we moving out, Dad?” Antonette asked. Unlike her twin, Antonette’s expression showed suspicions while looking at their things in the car.
He brushed Antonette’s hair and touched Anastacia’s cheek. “Yes, kids. We’re moving out.”
“But why? Where are we going?” Anastacia’s confused expression was replaced by worries. “Who’s going to take care of our house?”
“Dad, this is so sudden… is there’s a problem?” Antonette asked. She’s now confused.
“We are going to stay at Café Demitasse for a while,” he said to them. “I… I have to sell our house to save our café.”
“But, this is our home…” Anastacia’s voice broke. “We have a lot of memories here… with Mom.”
“Dad, what’s happening to Demitasse?” Antonette clutched on the hemline of his shirt, her voice was unsteady. “Tell us the problem, Dad.”
Benjamin held his daughter’s shoulders. “Listen to me, kids. Remember Tito Mateo? He wanted to buy our Café Demitasse because he found out that it’s on the brink of bankruptcy. But, I declined. I know I can still save our café…” He heaved a sigh and glanced at their house. “I tried to apply in a bank loan, but… because I haven’t paid the previous loans, they rejected my application. Then, a bank client offered me his help, but to get the loan from him, I have to put one property as collateral.”
“And you chose our house to give them?” Anastacia asked while wiping her tears. “Mom will get mad—”
“Mom will understand. She loved Demitasse just like how we love it,” Antonette countered that made Anastacia shed tears again.
“Antonette, thank you for understanding.” He patted her head. “Anastacia, Mom’s memories will remain in our hearts forever. And, I promise, as soon as the Demitasse sales are back on its track, we’ll get our house back again.”
***
