Arianna's head ached a little as she slowly opened her eyes. As soon as her eyes regained focus, she was met with the sight of a sturdy bare chest in front of her. She blinked once, and then blinked again. What's happening? Was she still dreaming? Suddenly, she realized that her hands were hugging the man's slender waist! What sin did she commit last night? Why was she cuddling a man on her sleep? And he's naked, too! Slowly, she lifted her head to see the man's face and she gasped as she covered her mouth.
Yago!
Why was she clinging to Yago? This was a big sin indeed! Just what happened?
Thinking about yesterday's events, she felt helpless as bits of yesterday's incident flashed through her mind. She closed her eyes while scolding herself when she recalled how she kissed Yago last night. She's such a horrible person! How dare she molest the poor guy!
"Morning..."
His sudden greeting startled her. His hoarse voice caused her heart to jolt. She sat up and looked away from him. Somehow, she was both nervous and embarrassed.
"Yago, last night..." she started while looking elsewhere. "I'm sorry."
Yago furrowed his brows as he got up and sat on the bed while looking at her. "Oh... what about last night?"
She glanced at the clothes scattered on the floor. Some of those were hers. But she was now wearing a silk night dress. Did Yago put it on her? He was always so caring... so how dared she...
"I'm sorry... I violated you." she said, her head lowered.
Yago watched her guilty face, amused. He then smiled and shook his head. "You're apologizing to me.... Aren't you planning to take responsibility?"
Shocked by his words, Arianna turned to him with her eyes widened. As soon as she turned, Yago's smile disappeared, leaving a cold expression.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Yago sighed.
" Aren't you supposed to marry me now that you've tainted me?"
Arianna was speechless. Her mind can't process what Yago was getting into. Her? Marry Yago? It never occured to her before.
Yago was just kidding, but seeing how Arianna was unable to get a word out, he suddenly felt hurt. He stood up and collected his clothes.
"Forget it if you're unwilling. Just forget about anything that happened." he said while heading to the bathroom.
" Yago...you're my brother... I--" don't want to hurt you. She was unable to finish that sentence as Yago glared at her.
"I said forget about it." He said before slamming the bathroom door shut.
Arianna was left dumbfounded. This could be the most stupid thing she had done in her whole life. She had crossed a line where she can never turn back.
Inside the bathroom, Yago stood under the shower and turned it on. The cold water drenched his body and cooled down his head. It was very wrong of him to lose his temper. But seeing her unwillingness to be with him hurt him, as if she was stabbing his chest. Before, it was easy for him to hide his feelings, but after last night, he knew it wasn't the same. The moment he let go of himself and kissed her, he had already set his mind to do something about his feelings. Being that close to her felt so good. He'll fight to the end to feel those emotions again. He would make her see the real Santiago dela Vega.
After his shower, Yago felt refreshed and calmer. He emerged from the bathroom wearing a gray shirt and a black slack pants. He didn't look upset anymore. On the other hand, Arianna was still sitting on the bed, the same way she did before he entered the shower. She remained looking bothered and guilty. Seeing him come out of the bath, she looked at him with pleading eyes as if she was about to cry. "Are you still angry?"
"No. I told you to just forget about it." he answered. He walked towards Arianna, sat beside her and then hugged her close. " I do want you to marry me, but since you're unwilling there's no choice but to just let things go. I forbid you to think about it again. Not unless you decide to marry me." Arianna was again speechless. She knew they were just talking about Yago's reputation, but why did those things sounded so romantic? And Yago embracing him should be normal, but why was it making her heart beat wildly?
"Okay," Yago continued as he let go of her. "You should take a bath now. You sweated a lot last night!"
Arianna blushed. She sweated a lot last night?
Seeing her flushed face, Yago realised she was imagining things. He smiled and then urged her to enter the bathroom.
Yago stared at the bathroom door. Arianna's personality was that of a queen. She's self confident and self reliant. She's tough and fearless. But the Arianna around him was different. She's clingy and dependent. She's spoiled and emotional. Only around Yago dared Arianna showed her vulnerability. Only around him dared she let her guard down. Being aware of that, Yago was sure he had a chance to win her heart.
While Arianna was taking a bath, Yago was making a phone call. He needed to investigate who plotted last night incident. Just after Yago finished his last call, Arianna stepped out of the shower wearing his oversize bathrobe. She clenched tightly on the collar as it was slipping off her shoulders.
"I forgot to take my clothes with me." she said shyly.
Yago stood up and walked towards the closet. He opened it and took a pair of women's clothes and a pair of underwear. "You can wear these." he said, laying them on the bed.
Arianna glanced at the pink blouse and hot pink tulip short skirt. Her eyes suddenly darkened. "Which teenage girl's clothes are these?" she said pointing on the clothes. "And I'm sorry but I don't like wearing someone else's underwear." she added, looking at the white bra and panties on the bed. Those underwear look good and stylish, but why would she wear those used items?
Seeing her furrowed brows, Yago took the clothes and stuffed them in Arianna's arms. "These are all new. I had them brought over last night."
Arianna raised her brows in amusement." And who's that subordinate of yours who picked these? The style and colors are very..... Well it's like....."she paused thinking of a better way to put it. "young, fresh and pure?"
Yago chuckled.
"Just wear them. I know you like pink."
"I do?" she thought for a while. Well, she did.... when she was younger. But pink added to her innocent looking face made her look weak and naive. She didn't want people to view her as a helpless girl who was easy to bully so she opted to more intimidating but elegant style. Those that would make her look strong and capable.
Arianna didn't argue with him anymore and took the clothes with her in the bathroom. After she changed, she glanced at herself on the mirror and admired how young-looking the outfit made her. She took her make up from her bag and applied a thin layer to bring a light shade of pink to her pale face at the moment. It made her look more lively, unlike a while ago when her complexion made her look sickly.
"Yago, where's this?" Arianna quickly asked after she finished dressing up.
Instead of answering her question, Yago remained silent. He stared at Arianna with a serious look on his face. He then shook his head. He was the one who chose the clothes, but it was a wrong choice. It made Arianna look more vibrant and approachable. With this look, men are sure gonna hit on her a lot.
"You should just stick to your usual style."
Arianna: "... "
Was she being criticized? Didn't it suit her? But she think it's splendid!
"Don't feel bad. You're gorgeous. But you can't always be this gorgeous."
Arianna: "... "
What's wrong with Yago today?
"This is one of my apartments. I brought you here because I don't want others to find out about what happened and gossip about you. Last night, I called a doctor and he looked after you for a couple of hours." he reported." Right now, we better get home soon. Your father called last night and I told him I took you to the hospital because you fainted. While you were in the shower, he called again asking which hospital you were in. I just told him we're now heading home."
Arianna remained silent while Yago walked towards her and hugged her tight.
" Let's go now." he said, releasing her.
As they walked out of that apartment, he felt like an important short chapter of his life just ended...
He wished she could be his woman...
someday...
Will it ever happen?
Yago sighed. As long as she treats him as her brother, it will never come true...