The Casa Del Castaneda

Invitation for Dinner

Rafael breaks off the intention to take a shower. He rushed out. Rafael stared at the nanar towards Paloma who was asleep in bed. The young lady's delicate snoring sounded like a gentle tone. It was so rhythmic, that it could soothe his troubled soul.

“What are you still saving my photo for, Paloma?” Raphael whispered softly, as if he did not want anyone to hear him. “I almost finished you off. I'm the one who's made you live for years in misery. You ... and Nilo …. Gosh.” Rafael scooped his face rough while exhaling softly. Raphael steps up to the balcony. He sat down on one of the chairs and began to regret himself for all the bad things he had done all along.

Raphael began to shed tears. The longer, the droplets of pain the faster the self-control. Tearing down all his fortitude as a man, who has long waded through the rigors of life.

That slow but heartbreaking cry finally managed to wake Paloma from his sleep. “Rafael?” The beautiful woman rubbed her eyes. I was afraid that he would see wrong. After being convinced that the figure sitting half-bent on the balcony was indeed Rafael, Paloma immediately rose from the bed and approached the man.

“What are you doing here?” tanya Paloma made Rafael flinch. He immediately looked.

“You? Why did you wake up?” Raphael immediately wiped his tears.

“I heard the sound of crying,” Paloma replied hesitantly while looking down. “Why are you crying.

“Ah, the ..” Rafael laughed bitterly. Without saying anything else, he thrust out two photos that he found in his wallet. “I accidentally found this,” kilah Rafael with his hands still outstretched towards Paloma.

“Gosh!” Paloma. As fast as lightning he snatched the two photos from Rafael's hand. “What do you mean open my personal belongings?” paloma protest not accepted.

“So ... Is this the face of our son?” Rafael did not mind the objectionable question from Paloma. He instead smiled faintly as he continued to stare at the beautiful woman before him.

“Ya,” Paloma looked down deeply as her thumb gently rubbed the surface of Nilo's portrait. He was impressed, with the word ‘son kita’ that Rafael said.

“The face of the child was very similar to mine as a child,” said Rafael accompanied by a smile that looked much calmer.

“I know that. I once saw a picture of you as a toddler in the workspace of my father-in-law,” said Paloma while looking away.

“Oh, yes?” Rafael laughed softly, then fell silent. After that, silence came and enveloped the two human children who were immersed in each other's thoughts.

“Sorry, Paloma. For years I have lost my direction and my purpose. My common sense was lost instantly, when I saw Selena hanging herself directly,” said Rafael. “Still remembered by me. At that time his body stiffly grasped a pregnancy test device. There are two red lines on the tool,”. Raphael again shed tears. “She was pregnant with my son and chose to commit suicide upon hearing that I was going to marry the girl of my choice.”

Rafael looked up, looking at Paloma. He stared fixedly at the hazel-eyed woman. ”I'm so angry. However, I do not know who to vent it to,” said Rafael. “You're an innocent girl who knows nothing. You must accept my anger. I'm a jerk,” regretted.

“I should also apologize to you,” reply Paloma. He who had been trying to keep avoiding Rafael's gaze, now dared to look straight at the beautiful face.

“If I had known in the past that you already had a lover and would be a father, I would have rejected that matchmaking. Although ... I ..” Paloma paused his words. He's back down.

“What?” ask Rafael curious.

“I've been in love since I first saw you. You're a very handsome man and look grown up. You are my first love,” said Paloma sounding so soft.

However, Rafael was still able to catch him clearly. “Really? I was your first love?” Rafael looked up in disbelief, then laughed. “How can, Paloma?”

“As I said earlier. I fell in love with you when Dad introduced us both. You are so charming with your most mesmerizing smile.” Paloma laughed softly, then bit his lips. “Since then, my life has become more colorful,”. “It sounds very funny. Back then, I was only nineteen.”

“Dad said that he would finance my education to university after we got married. However, at that time it turned out that you took me directly to Spain. I thought I would continue my education here. But ...” Paloma bit her lip again.

Rafael again looks uncomfortable to hear Paloma's words. He scratched his forehead, then did something else that was not so important in order to divert the disturbing feelings in his heart. No matter how often he said a word of regret, it would not change anything. Rafael chose to shift the subject. “For what do you keep my photos, Paloma? After all the evil things I did, I ..” Rafael could not continue his words.

“Think I am a stupid woman who is too complacent in the name of love,” said Paloma while shaking slowly. He doesn't understand that either. “There are many women who become very silly because of blinded love for a man. Sometimes, we forget our pride just for the sake of getting a confession.”

“Tak only women. Men are the same as that. Blind love does make anyone stupid because of it,” said Rafael.

“No man is a fool for his love for me. I am not a lucky woman,” Paloma said. He's standing near the guardrail. Paloma looked at the expanse of darkness that enveloped Porcuna.

“You want to make others go crazy because of you?” Rafael stood next to the short-haired young lady. He laughed softly, then fell silent. His gaze glared far away, breaking through the limits of the human eye's vision. “The meeting went well.” Rafael changed the subject.

“I haven't reported anything to dad. What if you just told him?” Paloma turned to Rafael who was still glaring forward. He looked at the man. Rafael's good looks have never changed in the past. Perhaps, that was why Tatiana was so infatuated with him.

Rafael. He smiled calmly. Her gray eye iris returned Paloma's gentle gaze. Somehow, all the feelings of anger and hate that had been present and fortified the two of them seemed to disappear and slowly collapsed. “I see Sebastian looking at you in a different way,” said Rafael, with a view still fixed on the beautiful face of Paloma.

“I didn't notice it,” Paloma reply. He turned his eyes in all directions.

“Has anything ever happened between you?” ask Rafael. He starts to get curious after seeing the body language Sebastian showed, when dealing with Paloma.

“No,” Paloma replied. He seemed to want to avoid Rafael's question about the handsome widower of the largest olive plantation owner in Porcuna.

Rafael mangosteen. However, he can catch something strange from Paloma's body language, when they discuss Sebastian. Rafael did not want to ask further, about something that was not his business. The man turned his body forward. Looking at the dark night sky.

“What if you accompany me sometime to visit Nilo's grave?” Rafael returned to his voice, after being silent for a while.

“Really? You want to visit him?” Paloma looked in disbelief.

“Yes. Of course,” sahut Rafael sure.

“Gosh.” Paloma smiled widely. A smile mixed with tears full of joy. The paloma covers the mouth using both palms. He could not hide his happiness, because of the wishes expressed by Rafael.

Does that mean the handsome man has already accepted Nilo and their marriage? I don't know, because only Rafael himself knows the answer. But one thing is certain. Rafael has made love in Paloma's heart that in some time has faded, this time appearing again. The red color in Paloma's heart again blushed, like a cherry ready to be picked.

“It's too late. You better continue sleeping,” said Rafael.

“You too. Happy resting.” Paloma smiled, then turned around. He's back inside. Paloma got into bed. He prepared to continue his disturbed night break. However, before closing his eyes again, Paloma took the time to check the phone. That sophisticated communication device he had only a few days ago, before he left for Spain.

Paloma frowned, as he opened a message from Sebastian. The message came in a few hours ago. However, he did not immediately reply. Paloma didn't know what to answer.

I invite you to dinner at Casa del Castaneda tomorrow at seven. There's something we need to discuss. So, come without a bodyguard.