DOMINIC
After our debate the other day, I sent a message to the Reed family about how honored they are that I was going to be picking my wife from their family.
Mateo had offered that we do more research about them before we get there but I wasn't interested even though he had gone ahead to get the information for me. I just want to get this going and have a wife.
I wasn't interested in any of that but one thing I became sure of is, I want a virgin. If I must get married, then I'd rather marry someone who's fresh and innocent. Someone who hasn't been corrupted by the word. From what I learnt, Reed's daughter is very young and I'm sure she'll fit.
When I get there, Reed and his beautiful wife alongside his daughter and son are already outside waiting for me to arrive. The house is a fit house for an average businessman.
Right now, as I'm looking at their delighted faces, I'm sure that if I permit them, they'll lie down for me to walk on—I would have loved that. But I have to be the man of the people or at least pretend to be.
We all go inside and I tell Reed my plan to marry his daughter again. I start to ask them a few questions. The girl in question is beautiful even though young. She's all dolled up and her black curly hair is cute. She keeps smiling like I handed her a candle. I think she might fit into the role of being my wife. Other than that, I just want to get this over with.
After we have decided that Winona will go with me and stay with me till our wedding, I wait for her to pack her things so that I can take her with me.
But the thing is long seconds past and everyone is still seated like they are not supposed to be getting the young girl ready. They are wasting my time. And one thing I hate is time wasted. If not for this stupid role of 'people's man,' I know what I would have done.
As if reading my mind, Reed says "I'm sorry for the little delay but we'll get her ready."
The mother of the girl takes her hand and disappears inside. They come outside soon enough and Winona goes to sit next to her father. Just then, someone runs in. She looks like she has been running. Her face is wet and her chocolate wavy hair has its strands dancing across her forehead. Her hoodies swallow most of her except for her tiny legs.
When she looks at me, her green eyes are sharp like knife piercing as deep as it could go but they look sad. Then she looks at every other person. From the look on her face, she has no idea what is happening but I'm curious to know who she is.
She goes to Reed. "Help your sister pack" he orders with this tone that reminds me of everything that I don't want to remember. I grit my teeth together. I thought he had only one daughter. All his appearances online have only Winona on them. All the photos that Mateo showed us had only Winona in there as his daughter. Even the information Mateo gave me had no information about another daughter who's old enough.
He's hiding her. I'm sure.
I watch her. Her body language. She looks like she's in pain. I don't know why I think so but I'm somehow convinced.
When she is out of the living room, I turn to Reed "who's that?"
"Uhmm…" he starts and that's when I know there's something wrong.
"She's my first born actually" he says. At least it's good he knows that he can't lie to me.
I see the way he says it like he's not proud of it. I should have known when she walked in that she's not being treated right. While Winona looks radiant and cheerful, the other looks pale and tanned.
I let out a sigh as my hand forms a fist. Son of a b***h can't even treat his first born right. Nobody deserves to be in that position, it was hell for me.
"I want her instead" I say glaring at Reed. Right now, I don't bother thinking. I don't care if she's dirty or innocent.
There's suddenly a frown on his face but he brushes it off with a chuckle "that one, she's no good. Don't worry" His other daughter Winona now looks like she wants to start crying.
I grit my teeth harder. My fist hardens too. It's moments like this that makes me hate this stupid role I'm taking. How can he talk about his own daughter like that?
"I'm sure I spoke correct English for you to understand or do you want me to use Spanish? Should I—"
"No… ah, you don't have to do that, Senator. I understand you correctly. Don't worry she's all yours" he says. I know that the smile that follows is a forced one.
He has no choice not to, he knows that no matter the daughter I take, he gets the same privileges except right now, I'm beginning to think that I might change my mind.
"What is her name?" I ask.
"Ayi—Ayita" he answers.
He can't even pronounce it correctly.
Ayita returns with her sister's supposed bags. There's one on her back. Two across her arm and a big box in front of her which she's rolling forward.
"You are the one going instead," Reed says. I see the look on her face. She's not happy about the news. Though it's confusing. Like, is she not supposed to be happy that I'm taking her away from the family that doesn't regard her? Because it's pretty obvious.
But her green eyes flash wide open, then they blink and next I see a tear fall from them as she looks from her father to me.
"You want me to repeat myself? Go and park your belongings" Reed growls.
I know I just met them—her—but nobody can talk to my wife-to-be like that, it's like an insult to me too. I glare at Reed knowing what I'll do when I leave here. I watch her obediently run inside after dropping off all the bags she was hoarding earlier.
Reed tries to apologize again but I don't want his apology.
Ayita returns after a long minute with just one box. In front of her. She didn't bother to change her hoodie but I honestly don't care. Her eyes look like she went into a cry. I just want to take her away from them as fast as I can.
"Try to be grateful," Reed spits. I swear if he says anything again, I won't even care about being a people man or whether people are watching.
"Take her bag" I order one of my men who runs to where she is and grab the box from her.
She sits beside me and the drive starts. Seconds later, she still hasn't said anything and neither have I. But she keeps wiping her eyes and sniffing like she's trying to muffle in her weeping.
When I can't take it anymore—I hate tears—I clear my throat "are you not happy that I'm taking you away?" She shakes her head and I'm surprised.
"And why is that?"
She doesn't answer me. Her face is down. She hasn't looked up at me since.
"Do you want me to take you back?" I ask her even when I know I will not but she nods her head.
She's crazy. How can she want that?
"Did he hit you?" I ask and she shakes her head slowly. She's lying. I know that. She's probably covering up for him. I used to be like that too so I know.
I observe her for a minute as she keeps twisting her fingers against each other.
"How old are you?" I'm so curious to know. If I'm to judge with her look, I'll say at most twenty.
"I turned twenty two last month" she replies. Slowly and carefully. This is the first time I'm actually hearing her voice properly and clearly. She's twenty two and I'm thirty two.
She looks too timid for a twenty two year old. I nod my head and brush a finger across my right brow. I want to ask her more questions but I don't want to push her too much.
I wish I can tell her that it's okay and that she can trust me now. But it's a lie, she can't trust me. She should never trust me. And it's really fine for her to feel however she's feeling. She'll get over it when the time comes.
After that, I don't try starting any other conversation with her till we reach my home. And she had stopped sniffing or rubbing her eyes at some point. Her eyes were fixed on the road, with her chin resting on the window till we got home.
That's good I guess.
"You can come out" I tell her when I've gotten down from the car as she's still hesitant to come down.
Then I leave her behind and start walking towards my home. I've done my own part to get away from her people. It's now left for her to either see it and pick up her life or she can just keep crying. Either way, that's on her, not me.
My conscience won't kill me at least.