Eight –
Natasia paced back and forth in the hallway, restlessly gnawing on her fingernails. Her troubled thoughts drowned out the bustle of students that pushed their way past her. She rubbed her slippery palms on the sides of her skirt, as she mentally evaluated what she had prepared herself to say. She was terribly anxious, even a little frightened, but she knew she had to stay firm. She knew what she had to do, and she was ready. She pushed open the door to the office.
Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach at the sight of Vicente, clad in a cobalt blue suit, hunched over his desk as he stared absentmindedly at the stack of documents on his desk. His eyes lit up as they met hers, a genuine smile blossoming across his face. Her heart fluttered, looking away. She dropped a heavy brown paper bag on his desk.
“Natasia, what's all this?” asked Vicente with a questioning expression on his face.
“I want you to get help. This bag is filled with ingredients, ranging from basil to wormwood to rattlesnake venom – made into a concoction, this will help the pain from shifting, and maybe even keep things under control.”
“Venom? I think I'd rather stay put,” repeated Vicente, the creases next to his eyes wrinkling as he laughed, stopping short as he was met with silence.
“I'm serious. I want you to get help. I can't stand seeing you like this,” said Natasia, tearing her eyes away from his gaze.
“I'm sorry, Natasia. I was just trying to – I don't know. I know this is serious, you know I know that. I've lost everyone around me, and I do need help. I don't even – I can't even think about how I almost hurt you the other day without completely breaking down. I want you to help –”
“No,” said Natasia stiffly.
“What?”
“Talk to Aurora,” she continued, her voice wavering as she handed him a thick, leather-bound book with a blank cover, its pages yellowed with age. “I got this from...a friend. It's got everything you need to know. You don't have to be alone in this.”
“Wait, please – what are you saying?” said Vicente, his eyes narrowed as he looked at her imploringly. He pushed the book to the side, and reached over. He grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly.
“I can't do this with you,” said Natasia, her voice heavy with emotion, as tears sprang to her eyes, “I had my heart broken and it was the most horrible, most excruciating pain I've ever felt in my life. I craved for someone to finally just love me – just love me for who I am –”
“I'm so sorry.”
“I was cheated on.”
“What?”
“I was cheated on,” repeated Natasia, “We were engaged to be married and he slept with another woman. I'm being selfish. I should know better than anyone else, how it feels to be cheated on – what you hear about heartbreak isn't an exaggeration. Your heart feels like it was literally ripped out of your chest, and this hollow, empty feeling swallows you from the inside.”
“Natasia, please, I know what you're thinking –”
“I can't do this with you. All this hurt, all this pain I had to go through, I refuse to inflict on anyone else. I refuse to be the other woman,” said Natasia quietly, wriggling her hands free from his. She brushed away her tears with her sleeve.
“I don't have anyone left – please.” His soft voice trembled, a burning sensation ripping through his chest.
“No – don't say that,” said Natasia as she rose from her seat, walking over to his side. She placed her hands firmly upon his shoulders and gripped hard, the fabric of his suit rumpling under her grasp.
“I can't let them see me this way, how the hell am I supposed to let them know?” said Vicente, his tone escalating in frustration. “You're the only one I can talk to, Natasia.”
“You've got an amazing family, a beautiful house. I can't get in the middle of that – I won't let myself.”
“But I –” Vicente was frantic.
“I know how much Aurora means to you – how much your wife means to you–” the word left a slightly bitter taste in her mouth, “you love them, don't you?”
“Yes, of course. With all my heart.”
“Right.” Her heart withered slightly at his admission, but she instantaneously composed herself, knowing it was what she had to do.
“You know your family loves you. They'd do anything for you. I'm not saying it's gonna be easy, but keeping this from them has already torn your family apart. You need to tell them now – before it's too late.”
Natasia wrapped her arms around his shoulders, as he buried his head in her chest, the feminine, lilac fragrance of her perfume clinging to the hairs of his nostrils. She breathed in the minty scent of his aftershave as she ran her hands through his hardened, gelled hair. His silent tears dampened the sheerness of her blouse, his body quivering as he struggled to catch his breath. She pulled him closer to her embrace.
“Just hold me, for now,” said Vicente softly.
Natasia pushed the glass doors open, and bounded down the front steps of Cedar Creek Academy. Wei was waiting at the foot of the steps, his arms crossed, his famously crooked smile playing on his lips. Her face brightened as he leaned in for a quick peck. Before he could react, she slipped a hand behind his head and pulled him close and pressed her lips against his, as their lips locked in a drawn, passionate kiss. Wei softened, crumpling in her arms, as the blood rushed to his ears.
“What was that for?” Wei grinned.
“Nothing.”
“You ready to go?” asked Wei, reaching for her hand.
“Yes, let's –”
The side door of the building swung open. A mob of students poured out of the doorway, followed by Vicente and Aurora. Vicente pulled his trench-coat close, the locks of Aurora's bright red hair floating past her shoulders as they descended the steps. Their heads were lowered, the pair lost in deep conversation. Vicente's eyes wandered aimlessly, stopping short as his eyes met Natasia's. He nodded at her, and managed a faint smile as he placed an arm behind Aurora's back, ushering her forward. Natasia watched as they disappeared into the crowd.
“Yes, I'm ready.”
THE END