Ninety six

CHAPTER 96

SANTIAGO.

Just a moment ago I just popped the question I had been dying all morning to let out, and just as I thought it shook the entire room right down to its foundation, literally.

In return all I got was silence, she stared blankly at me with her jaw dropped as though she didn't believe I had actually said those words.

I was lost in her perfection, her sweet perfection and it felt like what I would forever want to do.

Compared to Martha she brought a lot of calm to my soul and she did this in a way I couldn't even comprehend, it was like I was completely sold out to everything that had to do with her both her flaws and everything that came with it.

It was the same reason I was at her doorstep, the same reason I was in her room. My heartbeat quickened with the second each fleeting past us—

She Inched closer and I had hands in mine. For some reason I hated that fact that she was doubting me, if there was anything I would have loved to take away it was that doubt.

I wanted to have everything, every bit of her till she had no more to give.

"So what are you going to say?" I repeated the question.

A deep sigh came from her, it wasn't what I was expecting but at least it was so much better than being treated with silence. As she took a breath in I could feel her warm breath warming my face. A tremble coasted through me while I was still there on my knees cupping her face.

"I don't know what to say." She fluttered her eyes.

“If you’re saying this just so you'd get my reaction I must say you have it already."

Her words pulled me out of that dream state I was in as reality settled in slowly.

Cautiously, I dropped my hands from her face

to see her expression towering over me — thoughtfully.

“Just for clarification, you'd be meeting mother. " I muttered hoping it would convince her.

She tilted his head—then, seemingly thinking deeply about my sort of proposal as she did as

heavy breath whooshed out of her.

I was left there still at the spot wondering what it would take to combine her, it was all glaring in the eyes that flared with uncertainty. It was so much that I could feel the flickers racing with her pulse.

"Is that why you are here?" She asked . "To Convince me to come with you."

I shut my eyes. "Yes. " I answered without opening them.

"Then you need to give me time."

I sounded perplexed. "Why, you can easily make this decision, why wait…"

Somewhere in my mind I could not still understand where all of this was coming from, it did seem strange, too hard for me to comprehend.

It felt to me as though I was sinking into a deep beyond… Drowning but in the end, just when I thought this might be over I felt her voice dragging me from the darkness I was descending in

Drawing in a shallow breath, I stood…

"Guess I would have to go now."

She seemed confused at my action. "Because I didn't say yes?"

I smirked hard. "You can't say no—"

As I was walking toward the door, she stopped me right in time. "Santiago!"

I turned just as I was about to open the door. "Yeah?"

"Thank you." She muttered.

I looked back at her confused. "What for? "

"For the rent. "

" Oh that. " I gave a weak smile.

" Anytime. " I muttered before stepping out.

***

As it turned out it was slowly becoming the longest day of my life apparently the woman I wanted in a way didn't want me me back perhaps she did but not the same way I wanted, I felt so guilty for calling Martha's name in the middle of our conversation as that proved to be the driving force of whatever crazy mood she was having.

To think that I had even debated over getting anyone involved before leaving made me more annoyed, I knew that it was just a temporary mood for me and soon that I let myself settle it would probably be the best time to reflect on everything again.

Just as though the day had been destined to be more difficult I bumped into Martha.

Of course that was a normal thing to happen as we lived together in the rented apartment but at the same time I had calculated the entire situation and time and had thought she would have probably been away.

If there was anyone not impressed at my antics it was Martha she seemed to be able to tell where I had been by just looking at me at how she did that was totally beyond my imagination.

Perhaps that was what I needed…another tongue lashing from her that would set my senses straight but at the same time I didn't look like her words might have amounted to anything.

The thing about Martha was that we appear to move over certain states or situations that would have drifted us apart, somehow instead of running we were still here unwithered even after each storm—The fact she lied, finding the envelope with her bag and… The list was endless.

The only thing was the fact that my heart was with another in a way that would have led to a kind of jeopardy.

It was crazy really, crazy to the extent that she wasn't even aware that my father was dead and I was here arguing in my mind about why Glenn was telling me she needed time.

I knew deep down that Martha would jump right at the idea and instead of that being a kind of consolation it kind of hurt me more.

The moment she saw me, she started it off again… The endless nagging.

"So you are saying you didn't notice I was awake? " She grimaced. " Please, give another sensible excuse. "

We had been in for it for about an hour, all through that time we had been arguing within ourselves about the entire situation. She was insistent on the fact that I had seen her awake and I argued blindly at the chance even when I knew she was right.

I figured it was time I used the last bit of option left. I had to openly tell her what this was about and why I had acted that way and hoped that it would work.

I stared out at her for a minute while she still went in and and on and then that moment came when I knew I had my chance and it was best I used it.

"Stop, please stop." I shut my eyes… I knew what I was doing was manipulation of the highest order but it was the best option I had. It was either that or I would have to listen to her all evening long .

I was trying to prevent all of this as much as I could.

"Please stop?" She probably seemed unsettled at my choice of words when it seemed like the word was about to burn under my watch, using that word felt like I was setting more fire to the whole situation when I figured it was best I go for my kill.

I knew that it was best I jumped for my kill and told her what she wanted to hear as it would be my only saving grace at this period. I Knew she'd jump at the chance of comfort, especially if she knew what was at stake … Martha wouldn't think twice of coming with me but as they say love is a crazy merry-go-round.

I didn't do it anyways. "I just needed to clear my head, I lost my father."

Just as I had thought, she was at my side trying to comfort me. I could most necessarily see the reaction in her eyes. For some reason it was funny how I chose to ignore this care for something I wasn't even sure about.

Deep down I knew I was still feeling this way because of how Glenn had reacted earlier but trust me it did give me a deeper thought.

She wanted to come with me even without asking, She said she would take time to come with me whenever I was ready.

Caught unaware by her suggestion, I told her at first that it wasn't necessary and that she should probably stay at the house, but she insisted on coming because she perhaps knew exactly that I might want to throw the chance at another… Smart woman!

I'd give her that —

“You need me on this trip, Santiago. Not only do I know this but I need to meet your family as well… Maybe the rest of them. "

I rolled my eyes as Martha just reminded me of another reason why I shouldn't. Consider taking her.

In a way she just reminded me about my mother when she had used the phrase, the rest of them.

Of course she could make her promises here right now that she wouldn't over react If the going gets tough. But it was Martha … she could be charming but that was it never trust her words.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “Why don't we talk about this much later "

I was just about to come out of my crazy state that had been driving at me since morning and what I would need at the moment was comforting rather than have her make the situation more difficult than it already was.

“Yeah. I was hoping you would say yes immediately, why are you making this more difficult. "

" Trust me I'd put your suggestion into consideration until then … "

It’s all instinct, I knew the best thing for me to do was definitely for me to make the situation s lot more calmer, I had this awareness of comfort and friendship I felt for her but for Martha it went beyond that.

She wanted more and most of the time it got me worried if I could give her everything she wanted . It was exactly my fear that I wouldn't be able to fit into that picture.

My phone buzzed just as I was about to make my way out of the room, leaving her feeling bad and selfish about the entire situation.

I could see who the caller was but somehow, I didn't want to speak with her at the moment. It looked like I was a bit annoyed at the entire situation.

All I wanted was clarification…

She didn't stop calling however, she kept doing that till I picked, as did I took a deep breath just so I wouldn't lash out at her.

I closed my eyes after picking and took a long deep breath, enough that I could hear my own heart beat.

"Yes… "

"I am coming to Santiago, I would come with you."