Chapter 5: Proposal

Emilio was very aware of my hostility. He remembered clearly how amused I was when he came out of the water that afternoon six months ago. He was certain that whatever happened afterwards will forever be engraved in my heart.

It was mid afternoon, the sky was clear and the hot sun was pricking my skin at every angle. The kitchen in the courtyard was a small hut without walls with just a roof to block the rain. It did not provide any privacy whatsoever

I was on my knees blowing as hard as I could trying to bring life into the fire. The smoke filled the air, and swirling around my face caused a rush sensation to cough and forced me to get a breath of fresh air.

Emilio stood under the mango tree observing my every move just as he did that afternoon from the river. I did not notice him at first. Tina was on the laundry line hanging some clothes. From the corner of her eyes she noticed a figure watching me. Without looking at him, she asked,

"Was there something we could do for you?"

It was then that I noticed him standing there, and glanced his way for a second. I remembered him but I did not want to acknowledge him so I turned my attention back to the fire.

"Good afternoon madam. I am here to talk to you. Do you have a minute?" Tina's expression changed and she wondered what he wanted.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"May I come in? I want to talk to you about your niece."

"What about my niece? Did she insult you?"

"No mam she's done no such thing."

Tina was curious. The last thing she needed was me causing trouble. She noticed that I got the fire started and ordered me to make coffee as she motioned for Emilio to follow her to the porch.

She offered him a seat as she positioned herself in the corner. She did not say anything while waiting for him to start talking. Emilio thought this woman was not going to be easy to deal with. Her demeanor was strong and it seems that she had a short fuse and he knew why.

"How are you madam?"

Before he could finish, Tina said, "Call me Tina."

Both Emilio and Tina were very familiar with one another. But he was willing to entertain her for now.

"I would like to ask you for Saintilia's hand in marriage."

Emilio purposely fixed his eyes on her looking for some sort of reaction, but she showed no expression. Tina was boiling inside. She said nothing but continued to listen. He explained how he needed a wife and thought her niece would be the right one for him.

"What exactly do you want, Emilio?" Tina's tone was not friendly. Emilio wanted to explain what he meant. But all Tina could hear was him babbling about how he longed for care from a woman, and he was ready to take responsibility for me.

"So what you are really looking for is a housekeeper."

Emilio smiled. This woman was not going to make it easy for him. Tina felt awkward. Perhaps a bit jealous. Why is this man aiming for her niece? He was old enough to be her father. Emilio knew what she was thinking. He was familiar with her Long enough to know that his words would play tricks in her mind.

"As you said, I need a housekeeper, that's all."

"What are you proposing?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you said you want her. Don't you think you are too greedy?"

Emilio clenched his teeth. 'How dare this woman doubt him and talk to him this way. I will punish you later.'

For now he would put up with her; it was not time to go against her; he needed her to be on his side for his plan to work. "

"She's too young first of all and you are too old for her. By the way, how old are you? If you don't mind telling me."

Emilio was surprised 'why did she ask him that?;

"Then tell me Tina, tell me has anyone asked you for her hands in marriage?." Avoiding Tina's question.

"I won't give her away till she is of age."

"Tina she's already sixteen."

Tina's eyes showed anger. "How do you know how old she is?"

"Did I not tell you? Jonas promised her to me so I have been waiting. And I think she's old enough to be my wife."

"Emilio really, I don't think Jonas would make such a promise. Why did you choose Saintilia? She's just a child."

He laughed. At that very moment I appeared with the coffee and placed the cup in front of him.

"Is she really a child?" He asked purposely to get my attention.

"If you're asking for proposal gifts in exchange, she is not worth it. But I am willing to make her a respectable young woman in this village."

I was not phased. From the little I heard, I understood why he was there. I did not care to stick around to hear the rest of the conversation.

Tina was angry.

"Are you not going to tell me your age?," Her eyes were bulging with resentment. Her instinct was to slap him but something in her halted her impulse.

"I am 35 Madam." Tina seemed satisfied with his answer. Marrying Saintilia off was more important to Tina. But this man sitting in front of her was not the right choice for her niece.

"Six months ago something terrible happened to Saintilia. Did you know that?"

"Yes.'

"If you know about what happened to her, why are you interested?"

"Like I said, I need a housekeeper. Don't you believe me? I can also provide for her better than anyone else in this village."

"Excuse me for a moment." Tina could not control her emotions. She walked to the kitchen in pretense and asked me to follow her to the house. Tina did not have to come to the kitchen. She could have called me to come to her. I supposed she needed to step away from him in order to calm down.

Tina re-entered The porch with me on her hills.

When I entered the porch, I kept my eyes on him. I already knew what he was there for and I was not going to let him embarrass me. He was puzzled to see the intense look in my eyes and thought; 'this girl was not simple.' He's going to have his work cut out for him. 'Damn she's pretty. She's going to be a handful.'

I stood there looking at him intensely trying to figure out why this man was after me. Perhaps this was a set up between the two of them to get rid of me.

"Hello Saintilia! Thank you for the coffee, it's really good." I could see the desires burning in his eyes, it was creepy.

I bowed my head in response. I really did not like the way this man looked.

"I just told your fine aunt here that I want you to come home and live with me." He said as he brought the cup to his mouth.

"Why do you want me? I am not worth it." Using his own words against him.

"Well your father promised me that I can marry you when you turn this age. Since Jonas is not here to fulfill his promise, now I am here asking your aunt." He responded.

"I am sorry to bring so much trouble to you auntie." I swapped my gaze to a softer look addressing Tina. Emilio noticed.

"Auntie, I don't want a husband without Jona's permission. Since Jonas will never give me his blessings, I will never take a husband."

Emilio was speechless. He could not believe the boldness of this girl. All his efforts could not be in vain. His expression told me he expected me to jump at the chance that someone thought I was worthy to take me as a wife. It was not going to be easy.

I turned toward Emilio with a faint smile

"Sir, will you stay and eat with us?" Tina was shocked to see how capable I was. Before Emilio could answer, I turned toward the kitchen "excuse me I don't want to burn the food." and walked away.

"I will stay for dinner." Emilio decided that both Tina and I had no choice in the matter. He will use every means necessary to achieve his goal. But for now he wanted to taste the cooking of his future wife. He grabbed the coffee and continued to sip. Not one word from Tina. They both stared at each other understanding that her niece was not a naive girl.

The days that followed I became pensive and withdrawn. Seeing that man reminded me of my ordeal. It was only minutes before I was raped that this man was watching me and having all kinds of thoughts about me. No one knew for sure who raped me but whoever it was got lucky. Some of the villagers did not believe that I was raped but rather I was too embarrassed to admit that I gave myself willingly to some stranger. So in order to gain sympathy I claimed to have been raped.

The thought that I wasn't raped was barbarically ridiculous. The truth is the truth, and those who did not believe I was violated were beyond my control. How could I claim to have been raped when I never even talked about the incident.

“Aunty, I am going to bring Jonas some flowers. Do you want to come with me?” Tina glanced at me holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Where did you get this?" Pointing to the bouquet.

"Oh this I picked them up in Celia's backyard and put them together."

Oftentimes, the way Tina looked at me told me made me feel that she was jealous of me. She had some resentment towards me and I didn't know why? Perhaps I was overthinking it but she was always cold to me and I would catch her staring at me and would roll her eyes as if to say she didn't care that I knew she didn't like me. We were cordial to each other. I didn't know much about her and she didn't divulge any information. We had a special relationship based on respect. She was my aunt and that was that.

If only she looked like me, she would be married with children. She would tell me, making me feel it was my fault she looked the way she did and I was the reason she didn't have her own family. I needed Tina in my life for now I could not survive without her. I would leave this place one way or the other. For now I would endure any treatment from her so long she stayed with me.

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