Unwanted guests

Catalina's POV

"Catalina! Guess who's here?!" Nana's voice rang through my room.

"Not now Nana," I said, pulling my sheets closer to me. I was still recovering from the humiliation I faced. I wasn't ready to meet the outside world yet but Nana wasn't having it. She opened my curtains, daylight streamed in and I quickly covered my face with the duvet.

Nana walked around the room, placing stuff back in place. "It's your aunt and cousin. They are here to see you!"

I sighed. "Have them wait for me, I'm not ready to see anyone yet."

"Child, that's your aunt. She took care of you. She missed you so she came to see you. I can only imagine how worried she was for her to come all this way."

I groaned. "I said I don't want to see anyone. Take them to their rooms or whatever. I'll go see them later." I waved her off, my face still under my sheets.

"Do whatever you want child. Just don't come crying to me when the regret sets in."

I heard laughter a few minutes later. They were happy while I was sulking in my room because of some jerk. My workers would never take me seriously after that incident. They must feel I'm a joke. I grabbed a pillow, my face sank into it as I screamed. I relaxed a little, the heavy feeling that once sat in my chest was levitating.

I continued my pity party for the next couple of hours. Taking a few bites from the food Nana sent up to me. She had someone bring it up to me, letting me know I annoyed her.

The next morning, I was the first at the breakfast table. I planned on making it up to Nana so I made a little something for everyone so she didn't have to do anything. My aunt was the first to walk in.

"Cat, how are you feeling this morning? Paola said you were unwell?" The last part was meant to be a statement but it calls me out of questioning instead.

I didn't have the heart to tell her I wasn't in the mood to see her so I went along with the lie, "yes, I think it's the change of environment but I'm much better now. How was your trip?"

"You've been here for a while now, you should be over that." She ignored my question, throwing one of her own.

"I wouldn't say that. You know how delicate my system has always been." She relaxed a little, falling for my little white lie.

Mariana walked in, her bed hair and dropping eyes were evidence that she was just waking up. She stood by a seat on the table, her attention on us. "What are you two discussing?" She took a piece of bread, not waiting for others.

"I was wondering about your trip, how was it?"

Filling the piece of bread with eggs, she responded, "It was exhausting. The old lady who sat beside me snored the entire journey. I felt like throwing her off the plane. She was so loud, it was irritating!"

"Maria, you are exaggerating. It wasn't that bad." Aunty scolded Mariana who pouted.

"Ma, don't call me Maria. You know I hate it." Her face flushed crimson as she took another bite. " We should have called Catalina, she would have arranged a flight for us, instead we went in coach!" Mariana was still going on about her bad trip. Aunty completely ignored her daughter, mumbling something to herself.

"You should have called, I would have made some arrangements. Maybe a hot pilot too." I winked at Mariana who gave me a disapproving stare and proceeded to completely ignore me. This was strange as the Mariana I know would have giggled, mentioning crude stuff that would make a nun choke in her seat.

"By the way, I'll be going into town. Might as well find something to occupy me with while in this awful town." She looked disgusted

"Well, you shouldn't have come if you find the place so awful." She was prepared to retort to my statement and she did. "I didn't want to, Mama forced me." Aunty gave her a death glare, she immediately stopped talking.

*

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Andre's POV

"I'm heading into town, Felipe. I won't be back for a while."

He walked through the front door, dropping a rake by the side. I shook my head disapprovingly, "I told you I was going to do that."

"But it's my job, this is what I'm being paid to do. If your parents found out that I let you do my job, they could fire me." He blinked quickly, trying to get rid of the horrifying thought.

I replied right away, trying to ease his mind. "My parents will never do that. You are family, and family sticks together, no matter what."

He smiled from ear to ear. "You know exactly what to say. It's a wonder you aren't married yet. How are girls not fighting for you?" I knew this conversation was going to ride in that direction. Even my parents ask me that and I always had the same reply but this time, I said something different.

"You don't have to wait too long, I already found the woman I want." I grabbed a piece of apple from the table, munching straight into it.

"What?! Who is she? Is she from this town? When did you meet her?" I gave him a sheepish smile, pointed at the apple in my mouth, avoided his questions, and walked out the door.

"Do you need me to get you anything?!" I yelled from outside, getting on my already saddled horse. The reply I got was comical, "all I need is to see our daughter-in-law!" I simply shook my head in response as if he could see it.

The town was peaceful. I rode towards the public clinic, ready to meet my long-time friend, Macario. He had lived in this tiny town all his life, committing himself to the public. I knew he earned nothing compared to what he would if he left this place. Fortunately, he was like that, he cared about the people in this town.

Knocking on his office door, Macario called out, "Come in."

I walked in, a grin already setting in on my cheeks.

"Andre! Is that you? What are you doing back in town?" We shared a brotherly hug. I was about to answer when I heard a toilet flush. Macario walked away from me, towards the toilet door. A lady walked out, handing him a container filled with a yellowish liquid. "Here you go, Doc." Her voice was angelic and her features looked familiar. I just couldn't place my finger on it.

He quickly wore a glove, took the container, and placed it in a drawer under his desk. "The results should be out by next week. I'll have to take it to the nearest town to get it tested as we don't have the facilities here."

"That's fine. I do have a question though." She gazed at him with hopeful eyes. He nodded, urging her to go on. "From the test, we conducted here, do you think I'm pregnant?" She asked, forcing the words out.

I cleared my throat, finally making my presence known as it seemed the duo hadn't noticed me.

"Oh! I didn't know you have company. I'll be leaving then." She took her bag which I hadn't noticed from a nearby seat.

"Wait, let me introduce you. This is my long-time friend, Andre." He pointed at me. "And this is Mariana. She's visiting her family here."