She sat there like a ghost when I looked at her. My eyes then landed on her hands which were trembling against her thighs. Her brown dress seemed to have been lifted after she sat down, exposing her thighs. My heart broke upon seeing how hard she tried to hide how miserable she was.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Yet it was evident in her eyes and how she asked me softly, that she worried about how I looked at the moment.
"No, it's nothing," I wiped the tears from my eyes, "It doesn't matter,"
She stayed silent before saying, "I think you're lying to yourself, "I looked at her again. The faint light from the sunset made her face even prettier.
"And why would you think so?" I said sarcastically.
"Because," She paused as if waiting for me to speak, but I remained quiet, "I just caught you crying,"
I looked down. I wanted to respond to her words; I truly did. However, I was incapable of making myself speak especially because it was about another her.
"Is there anything I should... Know?" I could see how afraid she was through her face. Considering she asked me about her mother's whereabouts, it's understandable she thought it could be the reason why I was crying.
She had the right to be nervous. The real news about her mother would make her cry and tremble even more. However today, I didn't want to see her in that state. I wanted to make her smile. I wanted to make her feel that her sacrifice was worth it even though in reality, it wasn't.
"How's your thigh?" I asked as I looked at it.
"It's fine. I took some painkillers and it's a miracle how fast it's healing, " She sighed as she looked at the wound.
"I told you. The magic of that ointment," A small smile left my face and hers soon after.
"I went to Tulum yesterday, and came back this morning," My heart was now heavy. I didn't think it would be this hard to tell her my plotted story. But I had to keep going.
She gasped, "You did?"
I nodded. I got up from the wooden bench and took a small white paper envelope I put in the back pocket of my jeans. I sat again and handed it to her.
She looked at me before taking it. She slowly opened it and took the pictures. Her eyes began filling up with tears once more as soon as she saw her mother.
"Oh god," She whispered. Tears began streaming from her eyes. I was unable to move, so I just watched her.
She was just like a small child. The picture depicted a woman who was sitting on her hospital bed, she was smiling.
Her hair, which had some grey strands, was spread over her pale skin and shoulders, and her hands were placed above her lap. A blue hospital dress was covering her body and her white thin sheet hugged her thighs to her toes
"Mother," She whispered as she touched her face on the picture, "So she lived. She's happy,"
A perfect lie.
Camila's POV
I couldn't help but cry. She looked so peaceful, healthier, and more beautiful. She was just perfect. My heart however could not be at ease. It was hard to believe it when I hadn't seen her for myself. She was just too perfect from the last time I saw her.
The doctors had already told me that the chance of survival was way too little. So how could I believe such a miracle happened to a mere person like my mother? What did we do to deserve it?
It simply did not seem possible. And yet there she was. Happy and recovering. I closed my eyes to fight back the urge to cry once more. When I opened them again, Juan was still there watching me.
"Are you that happy?" His voice was deep yet soft. His gaze was sincere and his smile was comforting.
I gave him a warm smile, "Yes,"
I shook my head before continuing, "I still can't believe it's true." I sobbed, "It feels so surreal,"
He sighed softly, "Believe it. She lived because you made the hard choice. Because of you, the most precious daughter, your mom is alive."
My heart began to ache once again. The pain in my chest intensified. The image of the last time I saw my mother. That wasn't the image I wanted to keep as the last of her, yet I wanted to see her in person. I missed her so much.
" Thank you, Juan, "
He just nodded. I took the pictures and handed them to him.
"Don't you want them?" He asked me with a frown face.
I shook my head, "If Marcus finds them, both of us will be in trouble. It's already enough that I know she is alive and well,"
I stood up and walked toward him. I stood inches apart from him, staring into the brownish orbs of his eyes. They were beautiful and captivating.
"Thank you, Juan. I appreciate everything you have done,"
He just nodded as he smiled. Slowly, I left the garden. The moment I stepped foot outside and turned my head, he was gone.
******
I went inside, a smile kept forming on my face. I couldn't help it. I was happy. I didn't know that would attract attention until I looked up and saw the maids talking while eying me suspiciously.
I pretended not to notice and continued walking towards the kitchen. As I was heading there, I stopped at the door when suddenly I heard my name, then,
"She's nothing like the previous lady of the house. She was elegant. Stunning. And Beautiful." She talked like she was speaking of a fairy. The girls were sitting on the chairs, their hands placed on the table they'd use when chopping some food or eating their meals.
The other one added, " She had expensive taste. She was elegant and refined. Even though she never wore makeup, she always pulled out that stunning beauty."
I couldn't help but listen to their conversations. Comparing me and her caused little stitches of jealousy, I must admit.
"Above all, let me give you girls the most exclusive one, come here!" They gathered closer and her voice was lower. I could not hear what they said but I was surprised when one of them blurted,
"Madam and Juan? My Juan?" Her thin voice hurt my ears. Her fellow maids shushed her to keep quiet.
My heart thudded a little against my chest. Did we do something to make our closeness too obvious to the maids? We didn't even do much. We weren't even a couple or anything. And one more thing, was she in love with him?
I swallowed hard before I made my entrance as if I didn't hear any word of what they were gossiping about. Seeing me, they almost jumped from the chairs they were sitting on.
"Ma... Madam Camila?"
"Hello, Madam,"
"Is... There any... Anything we can help you with?" They all made nervous yet weird smiles.
I looked at them. They seemed so embarrassed and their faces were already red. I cleared my throat. They stared wide-eyed at me, one of them bit her lip.
"Nothing," I said, "Just wanted some strawberries,"
I opened the refrigerator and took one bowl of strawberries and a bottle of milk. With a nod and a smile, I walked away.
I walked upstairs to my room and closed the door behind me, but before I even sat down, the door was opened once again. Turning around,
"Carmen," She entered and closed the door behind her. She didn't even knock like she usually did.
"I need to talk to you, Madam Camila," Her tone was calm yet sent chills and goosebumps. She looked a little worried too.
"Sure, what is it?" She sat beside me on the bed and looked at me with an intense eye. I gulped nervously.
She sighed before she started speaking, "Madam, there are rumors that you and Juan are lovers. Is that true?"
I gasped, "Wh...What?"
"Madam, don't lie to me. That's the only way I can help you"
"Why should I lie to you?!"
Her facial expression became a bit more serious. She leaned toward me, looking directly into my eyes,
"Because," she said slowly, "People have eyes and ears and so does the sky,"
I scoffed, "What are you talking about, Carmen?"
"Everyone keeps talking about it," She leaned back and crossed her hands, looking at me with a worried frown, "The rumor started spreading around last night. No one believes that part of course but the audacity of whoever spread it to say what he said is what made people connect realistic dots,"
"What rumor?"
"Someone claimed that he saw Juan at your window last night,"
My eyes widened.
"Someone saw what?" My heart was beating against my chest like I was running a marathon.
"Now tell me. Did you put that band-aid on your own?"