The Casa Del Castaneda

Halterneck Dress

Next day.

As Rafael requested last night, Paloma agreed to go to Granada. After all, she missed Theresa and Alonzo very much, which was very instrumental in her life for the past few years. The husband and wife are so kind and treat Paloma like their own child.

“Jeez, Son. I miss you so much.” Theresa unceasingly hugged Paloma while shedding tears.

“I miss you too, Auntie. Too bad, because Uncle Alonzo is not home,” Paloma reply while wiping the tears that wet the cheeks. He then turned his attention to Rafael who was only silent to watch the two women across the ages.

Without being ordered, Raphael approached Theresa. He lowered his body in front of the middle-aged, fertile woman. “Auntie, I hope you don't forget me,” said Rafael accompanied by a smile. He put aside all the shame that plagued him.

“Solid boy!” Theresa patted softly on Rafael's cheek. “You are so outrageous! I'd love to rip your ears off!” Theresa sounded so anxious, for the actions Rafael had taken against Paloma. “To wherever you have been all this time. If I become Paloma, then I will definitely hit your head with a frying pan up to many times,”, Theresa said.

However, all the words of the middle-aged woman were only responded to with a smile by Rafael. After all, he had known the figures of Theresa and Alonzo for some time. Rafael knew what kind of character the middle-aged woman was. “His cup, Aunt misses me so much,” the grey-eyed man's clumsiness, making Theresa pat him back on the cheek much harder. However, it again made Rafael again smile calmly.

After giving up his longing with Theresa, Paloma invites Rafael to visit Nilo's grave. The condition of the child's navel was well maintained, because Theresa often visited there. Incidentally, the distance was not too far from the middle-aged woman's residence.

“Diego Nilo,” said Rafael mentioned the name on the tombstone before him. “What is he sick?” tanyanya without turning to Paloma, who stood staring at the nan mound of earth where the body of his son just lying stiff.

“Nilo had a heart defect from the time he was born,” Paloma replied. A single tear dripped down at the corner of his lips. “I even thought that he wouldn't survive. But God gave her a chance to accompany me. He probably knows that you're leaving,” said the woman as she wiped the corner of her eye.

“Every day, I have to work hard. Doing anything just to raise money. Nilo had to continue to undergo treatment. I didn't even think of anything else. Not wanting to preen and pay attention to appearance. There's no time for that at all. Every time, all I have in my brain is how to make money. However, reality still does not fully side with me. In fact, I've done everything. Although it is not maximal.” Paloma lowered his face, hiding a sense of haru that he could not contain.

“I wasn't even there, when they took off all the medical devices and covered my son's body with a white cloth ..” Paloma is sobbing slowly. He was unable to continue his words. Back in the memory of the twenty-five-year-old woman, the cheerful figure of Nilo despite being in an unhealthy condition.

Nilo, often accompany him when unwind at night. She won't sleep until her mother gets home. The boy was already used to sleeping in Paloma's arms. “If I am healed, I will work. What do you want me to buy?” Those words were what Nilo always said every night, before he fell asleep.

Rafael froze. Would it be fitting for him to blame God for closing his eyes with grudge and misdirected hatred? Even the greatest regret can never bring things back. Rafael, who was supposed to be in charge of Nilo's health, broke away from it. He put it all into the weak hands of a Paloma, to fight alone.

“I'm sorry, Paloma,” regrets Rafael. The man reversed his position. He who had been facing Nilo's tomb, this time had gathered while hugging Paloma's leg. Raphael wept, trying to wash away all his sins and mistakes with tears of deepest regret. “Sorry for all the bad things I've done to you and Nilo,”. If necessary, he might want Paloma to forgive him.

“Why should you apologize to me? Everything will not be returned. My nilo is gone. I can't blame anyone either. This is all the will of God,” said Paloma Iirih. Paloma grabbed Rafael's strapping body. He helped her get up. “I hate you, Rafael Hernandez. You have caused so much suffering in my life. Because of you too, I must be in Casa del Castaneda. Live the days among strangers who look at me with strange gazes.” Paloma's tears were flowing again.

So too with Rafael. The man cried, completely spilling his pain in the name of endless regret. I don't know what to do, to make up for all the mistakes. “What should I do now? Say, Paloma. If you want to see me die right now, then let God take my life in a horrible way. I won't regret it,” raved Rafael erratically. He looks so fucked up.

“What the fuck are you? I am not a God who is worthy of forgiving or judging someone's mistakes. I cannot judge how great your sins are. I'm not a perfect human either.”

“I'm much more depraved than I look. You were right when you called me a demon-hearted human. That's me.” Rafael looked at the woman before him with a glaring look. His eyes were red from crying. However, the man put aside all ego and self-esteem as a man. He did not care anymore, although he would look weak and pitiful in the presence of Paloma.

After Nilo's tomb, they decided to return to Porcuna. Almost half the journey, the two went through without any discussion. Rafael is focused on driving, even though the man's mind is actually wandering somewhere. Paloma is like that too. The spirit in his life is always absorbed, every time he remembers his failure to save Nilo's life. In fact, all this time he had been fighting desperately for the sake of the child.

Paloma's daydreams collapsed instantly, as his phone rang not too loudly. He immediately reached into the bag to retrieve his mobile phone. When checked, it turned out to be an incoming call from Sebastian. Paloma breathed slowly. He has not yet given an answer to the dinner invitation of the handsome widower.

“Paloma? Are you so busy that you can't even reply to my messages?” ask Sebastian without making small talk first.

“I'm sorry, Mr. Castaneda. Last night, I was very tired and ..”

“So, how?” sela Sebastian's.

“Yes. I will come to meet your invitation,” Paloma replied trying to sound convincing, although he felt a little doubt about his decision to accept the invitation.

“Good. See you at seven tonight,”, Sebastian closed. He ended the short conversation without any further ado.

Paloma exhaled slowly.His expensive hand-held phone still he held and occasionally he played on his lap. Meanwhile, the eyes of the beautiful woman with shoulder-length hair looked forward, on the road they went through.

“What's up? What does the guy want?” rafael asked for a moment to Paloma.

“He invited me to dinner at Casa del Castaneda,” Paloma replied.

“Inviting you?” rafael was trying to convince him of what he had heard.

“Yes. Mr. Sebastian Cruz Castaneda just invited me,” Paloma replied again as he turned his gaze to the side. Paloma saw some people walking on the sidewalk. Something that looks very ordinary. There was nothing interesting about this trip this time. Rafael did not respond again. They remained silent again, until they entered the Porcuna area.

At about sixteen and thirty, they arrived at the hotel. Paloma rested for a while, before getting ready again. He stood with his waist shuffled, facing the suitcase of clothes he had brought from Mexico.

“Why?” ask Rafael who just entered the room while carrying two cups of coffee with a famous label.

“I don't know what to wear tonight. There are no plans to attend dinner invitations. After all, I do not have any dress,” Paloma replied as she clucked slowly.

Rafael put down the coffee he brought. The man then walked closer to Paloma. “How special is this dinner invitation?” tanyakanya.

Paloma did not answer. He turned to Rafael for a while, before turning his gaze back to the pile of clothes inside the suitcase. “Nothing special. I just want to look decent,” said Paloma slowly while removing the towel that covered his head. He dries his hair using a towel.

Rafael smiled faintly at the answer of the woman he was about to divorce. He grabbed his wallet and car keys, then walked out of the room. Rafael walked down the corridor. I don't know where that guy is going. He ran the car he rented through the streets of Porcuna City, until he arrived in front of a boutique.

Rafael walked in, having previously parked the car well. His arrival at the boutique was immediately greeted by a woman who was an employee there. Rafael expressed his intention to look for a night dress for his wife.

With pleasure, the young lady gave some recommendations. Rafael's choice fell on a red halterneck dress, knee-length. “This is a very beautiful dress,” said Rafael as he walked following the woman to the cashier. He was ready to pay. Rafael offered some cards to the cashier. However, all of his credit cards were blocked. By force, Rafael paid for the dress using cash.

After completing the transaction, the man rushed back to the hotel. Paloma was getting ready. “This is for you. Wear it,” said Rafael, while offering a new dress he bought.