Chapter 34: His Birthday Gift for her
"What can't a Fuentes do?" Mr. Nikolas suddenly spoke which made all their smile fall.
"Lolo," he said in a warning tone and he only shrugged.
"What? We all know that. What's the matter?" he said but she felt her back stiffen and felt very uncomfortable.
"Is she?" Lola Clarita asked.
"It's late and I'm sure she's tired. We need to go." Mister Nikolas only nodded, no reaction was plastered on his face it was plain cold as it usually does. While Lola Clarita was all confused and hadn't got the chance to stop her grandson as he pulled Fera away.
A hard lump had stuck in her throat and she lost her words upon hearing him say that but she wave them goodbye despite the awkwardness.
"Oh! wait. My gift for you is in my room. Can you wait here for a while?" They suddenly stopped at the gate while Fera was dying to get out of their place.
"Okay," she couldn't refuse so she only watched him run back. She walked closer to the gate and tried to hide behind the shadows of the plants around.
"Do not think I don't know you. Ms. Fuentes." She kept her composure as she face him. Despite her panic on the inside, she could still keep her feet on the ground firm.
"I am not expecting anything, Sir."
"Also do not think that. Nick told me about that. I knew from the very beginning." She nodded listening closely to every word he spoke.
"Do not also be scared of me, I mean no harm. But I know everything happens around me and every living thing I met. You might need my help."
She blinked twice as she heard him offer help.
"I am beyond grateful for your kindness and hospitality towards me. I can not afford to accept such an offer, sir. But maybe one day I will be needing your help. Thank you very much. But do you mind if I ask you why?"
"As you are, I can not answer those why's."
She turned to him and looked him straight in his eyes.
"You knew my father," she stated which was answered by a nod. "You knew my mother." And he gave her another nod.
"How much do you know about that happened to them?"
"More than you could imagine."
"Do you think the person behind my parent's death is the same?"
"Yes,"
"Some of what you know wasn't true." She said and watched Nick coming.
"No one has more knowledge about it but you. Whatever happened those nights, no one knew."
"I hope so."
The words that left him speechless, she walked toward Nick and Nick was eyeing his grandfather who was unbothered and only blew the smoke of his tobacco.
"We'll be heading out, Lolo." He bid and his grandfather only nodded.
They got into the car and Fera sat in silence which bothered Nick.
"Are you okay?" asked he.
"Yeah." She only looked at the view outside, a few lights from the small house around and the moon was bright that night. It was cold and fine.
"What did he tell you?"
"Nothing, he greeted me again." She lied and never looked at him while he kept glancing at her.
"I may not read your thoughts but I know my grandfather. He won't stand there with you for a simple greeting." He heard no response so he took a glance again.
"Implying something?" her words come out irritated which she was true. She was trying not to outburst, Nick may be special to everyone but he was not excluded from those people who want to know what happen. She couldn't afford to trust anyone.
"I'm sorry." He felt the sudden rise of the tension inside the car, while she was on the verge of exploding but she manage it well. They reached the apartment yet she utters nothing.
She was about to open the door but it was locked.
"Do we have something to talk about?" He asked her but she only raised her eyebrow.
"I was the one who supposes to ask you that." He saw how she shut her emotion down and spoke real cold. She was watching his every move from the edge of her eye. Her guard had been up and her system seemed like couldn't recognize his presence anymore.
Suddenly she felt him holding her left hand and holding it firm yet soft. "Calm down," he softly told her. He even tried to catch her eyes but he couldn't.
"I am calm."
"No, you are not. Loosen up, nothing is out of place. Everything is fine now." His raspy voice sounded begging, it seemed a magnet pulling her to face him. "I'm sorry for his question or anything he had to tell you. He didn't get it. I will warn him not to intervene with you."
"I am fine, Nick."
"You are not, I know."
"What do you know?" She snatched her hand away and eyed him suspiciously. "What do you know, Nick?"
"Where is this coming from?"
"You know nothing, don't act like you know everything." Her bitterness never failed to lace her calm voice, it came out firm and sounded a warning.
"I'm sorry, I know nothing. What is happening? I didn't get it." He was too confused to think of anything and he kept saying sorry when he knew nothing of what was going on and what to worry about. He only knew that she was mad and he needed to say sorry.
"You have nothing to feel sorry about." Her cold voice hurt him badly, he held her hand again and made her face him.
"What did I miss? We were happy backq there, it's your birthday remember? I am confused about what is going on." As she saw his worried and teary eyes her eyes quickly released a tear.
"I am just probably tired, I'm sorry." She quickly wiped her tears and sniffed. She hurriedly fixed her face when she realize what she had done.
"Hey, hey. It's fine, everything is fine. Tell me what made you mad." She felt his warm palm holding her cheek and made her face him. She shook her head to deny everything but her tears kept betraying her in front of him.
"Tell me what should I do to ease your anger and frustration. I probably won't sleep if you will not tell me." His sincerity was too strong to break her barrier and she couldn't speak due to its overwhelming feeling. She felt guilty as his care reached her cold heart.
He couldn't watch her pour her tears so he pulled her into a hug. "I understand that you can tell me. It's okay. There's nothing to worry about or angry about." He whispered which destroyed her strong anger at what his grandfather did to her. She hug him tight and cried all she could until she calmed down.
"Thank you."
"Anything for you. Do you still want to unwrap my gift for you?" And she remember he hadn't handed her his gift.
"Sure," he got a small black box from his pocket and hand it to her. At her first look, she already knew it was jewelry that was not new to her. But anything from him would always be the best.
She carefully opened it and saw a golden coin-size circle, she expected it to be a locket. She took it out and opened it. Then she realized it was a compass.
"When I saw this, I remember you. This reminds me of her eyes, they always seemed lost. I just think you need this, remember that any direction is fine, your path is your choice, if you sometimes feel lost, this may help you find a way out of those miseries." He flipped the locket and opened it from the other side and I saw his picture on it.
"And every path you take or any choice you made, I will be here just right behind you." He never leaves her eyes, he watches her every reaction while saying those words.
She looked up at his eyes and saw how bright it was. She smiled while her tears were falling endlessly." Thank you, this is beautiful." He gently wipe her tears away and kissed her forehead.
"Anything for you."