*

FAKEBRI
DE
Compi
le
dby
Nov
els
Republ
ic
*
∆ FAKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
ovemenot
]•
wr
it
tenbyWi
ls
onl
ibr
ary
Pr
ologue
"
Letgoof
fme
"
"Le
tgoof
fmeRodri
guez
"Idemandedbuthe
pul
ledmesor
uff
towar
dsthebe
droom.
"What'swrongwithCel
ina,I
'myourhus
band
forcr
yingoutloud?"hes ai
dst
il
lfor
cef
ull
y
holdi
ngmyar m.
"
Hus
bandmyas
*hol
e.whi
chhus
bandwi
ll
t
reathi
swi
fei
nthismanner?"I
ask
edt
ryi
ng
t
opullmys
elf
off
hisgri
p.
"Cel
ina,
whycan'twel
iv
eourli
fe'
sli
kehowwe
use
dt odobe
foreImarr
iedy
ou?"heasked.
"
Marr
iedme?"Ias
kedhol
dingbac
kmyt
ies
f
romfal
li
ngout
.
"Youj
ustcametomyfat
herandhewi l
li
ng
gavemetoyouwit
houtmyc oncer
n.Youdon'
t
evencar
eifIl
ovey
ouornot"Ishoute
dathim.
kindl
yhinovel
srepubli
conWhat s
Apponpl us
twothreef
oure i
ghtzerofi
vefi
veeighte
ight
nineoneri
ghtthreetogetaddedtothenovel
s
group
"Ar
eyoutal
kingt
omel i
kethatCel
ina?"he
sai
dmoreli
keaski
ngaquesti
on.Hepus he
d
metothebedandtookoff
hisshi
rt
.
Hes
tar
tedf
orc
inghi
mse
lfonme
.Het
ri
ed
ki
ssi
ngmebutI s
truggl
esohewon'
tbeabl
e.
Hepinnedmyt wohandsdownonthebedand
f
orceful
lyk
iss
edme .
Ic
ouldn'
tscre
amnorrele
asemyse
lff
romhis
gr
ip.
.hewastoostr
ongandIdi
dn'
thavei
nas
muchenergyashedoe
s.
Ijustk
eptt
ryingsohandt
osmuggl
emyhands
offandImades ur
eIcl
ose
dmymouthsohar
d
thathewouldn'
tbeablet
oki
ssme.
Hewentahe
adste
eri
ngoff
there
dgownI was
wear
ingonmeandIsuc
ceede
dinpus
hinghim
of
fme .
Hestoodup,
picke
dhisshi
rtandwal
kedoutof
ther
oomwi t
houtaword..
.
Yeah,
that'
showI
'vebee
nl i
vi
ngmylif
ewit
h
Rodri
guez,
hesex
uall
yassaul
tsmeandwal
ks
outever
yti
me.
Idon'
tk nowhowI endedmarry i
nghim.It
f
e e
lsli
keac urs
emar r
yingasoldierl
ik
ehim
who'sjobistopic
kandas s
aultmee very
day.
Hekeepsmenti
oningofhows weetIwasto
hi
mandhowwel ovedeachotherbutIdon'
t
seeanyl
ovei
nthisourmarri
agenor
re
me mberofs
uche vent
severhappening.
Rodr
iguezmus thavemist
akenmefor
someonee l
se.Eversi
ncet
hedayweme the
haskeptsayi
ngthingsIne
verimagi
neofus
doi
ng.
AmI
afak
ebr
idet
ohi
morwhat
?
Wel
cometotheWil
sonl
ibr
ary,
Ift
hisyourf
irs
t
t
imeherepl
easel
ik
ethepageanddon'tf
orget
t
ofol
lowus.
..
Si
tbac
k,rel
axandenjoyonhowI nar
rat
ethe
l
ovest
oryofRodr
igue
zandCe l
inatoyou.
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
ovemenot
]•
wr
it
tenbyWi
ls
onl
ibr
ary
Epi
sode1
Inasunnyandheavyday,
ever
yonemovingup
anddown.Fix
ingthehous
eastheypr
epared
formymarri
ageceremony.
Iwasn'
tsosureIwasmakingther
ightdeci
si
on
bymarryi
nghimbutIhavet odoi
tsoasto
ple
asemyfatherandsav
et hemfr
omhi s
thr
eats
.
Ev
eryonewass
obus
yli
kehone
ybe
esbui
ldi
ng
i
t'
shome .
.
.
"Ce
li
na"myfathe
rcal
ledandI
smi
le
dathi
m
bef
oreans
weri
ng.
"
Ist
il
lcan'
tbe
li
evet
odayI
'mgi
vi
ngy
ouout
f
ormar
ri
age
"hes
aide
xhal
ingas
oundof
rel
ie
f.
"
The
ndon'
t"I
whi
spe
red.
"
what
?"heas
ked.
"
Nothingdad,Iwasjustt
hinkingi
fyou'
renot
r
eadytoletmegot hendon't"Isai
dandhe
i
mme diat
elyc
losedmymout h.
"Don'
tsaythatmylittl
epr
incess
,youk now
eveni
fIlov
ey ousos omuch,youwillhaveto
getmarr
iedandstartupyourownfami lyl
ik
eI
andyourmotherdid"hesaidnoddinghis
headwithsomuchj oyandhappiness
.
"Whatwasi
tli
kewheny
ougotmar
ri
edt
o
mom?"I as
kedandhes
mil
ed.
"
HowIwis
hy oumotherwasal
ivet
ohavetol
d
y
outhi
sher
self
?"hesai
dlooki
ngali
tt
lebi
t
s
ad.
"
Daddoe
sn'
tbes
ad?"I
sai
dandhes
mir
ked.
"Yourfatheri
sn'tf
eel
ingsad,
Ijus
tmis
sy ou
mother .
I'l
lte
llyoual
laboutmyexpe
rience"
hesaidandI s
mi l
ed.
kindl
yhinovel
srepubli
conWhat s
Apponpl us
twothreef
oure i
ghtzerofi
vefi
veeighte
ight
nineoneri
ghtthreetogetaddedtothenovel
s
group
"i
twast hemos tbeaut
if
uldayof ourli
feand
oneI wi
llal
way sremembe rinmye nti
reli
fe
ti
me .If
eltsone rvousbutthelovebe t
we en
yourmot herandI keptmes trong,wewe re
bothouts t
unni ngonthatday ,Ist
il
lremember
howmyf at
he rinlawheldhe randbroughther
tothealter
.Le tmenots aymuc hRodr i
guez
mus tbewaiti
ngf orus"hes aidcal
li
ngt he
nameof thatunwant edfell
e r
.
"Ar
eyouready
?"Dadas
kedandI
nodde
dwi
th
abeaut
if
ulsmil
e.
Hewalkedmeoutof t
hecarandwebothhead
i
ntothealt
ert
ome eteve
ryone.
..
myf ac
ewas
cover
edwithave
ilandIwasassi
ste
dbybri
de
honour.
Ist
oodoutsi
dethechur
chwait
ingforthe
churc
hdoortobeopenwhil
emyf athe
r
walkedi
ntothechur
ch.
Ibec
amene r
vousasti
mepas s
edby ,j
ustas
myfathe
rhadsai
d..
."you'
ll
feelsodif
fer
ent
t
hatyouwon'tev
enbeabletoc ont
rolyour
sel
f
".
Thedoorstot
hechurc
hwasopenedandI
walke
dr i
ghti
nhol
dingaf
lowerwi
thmytwo
hands.
L
ook
ingar
oundt
hec
hur
ch,
itwas
n'ts
oful
l
butpe
opleofgr
eati
mpor
tanc
est
oodupand
l
ookedbackatme.
Myfathercametoholdmyhandandwal k
ed
metot healte
r.I
mmediat
elywegotupatthe
al
terhegav emyhandtoRodri
guezent
rusti
ng
metohi m.
"I
'vedonemypat hasafathertoyou,goand
enj
oythebe autyofmar
riageasIbles
sy ou
two"af
terheplacedmyhandonRodr i
guez'
s
pal
mshewal ke
dbac kt
ohi ss
itwit
hte ar
yeyes
.
"Inowpronounc
ey ouhusbandandwife"he
saidandever
yonearoundusclapped.
Rodrigue
zunvei
le
dmebutne v
e rdi
dhek i
ss
me .
Ev
eni
fhewast
odos
o,I
was
n'tgoi
ngt
oal
low
hi
m.
Rodr
igue
zsmi
le
dandr
ais
edupourhandsf
or
t
hecr
owdtoseet
heri
ngs.Ik
ne wbehi
nd
t
hos
esmile
swassomet
hingels
e,t
hestar
tof
mywors
tdays
.
Aft
erthes howatthechurc
h,welatermoved
tohishous etoc
elebr
ateourmarri
age.when
wegott hereever
ywherehadbeende c
orat
ed
ande ve
r y
thingwaswellar
range
d.
"
He yCe
li
naarey ouok?"Pat
ienceaskedasI
s
toodbythetabl
et odi
shoutfood.I
'dalr
eady
c
hangedmyc lot
handwasdr e
s se
dinalong
r
edandfashi
onablegown.
"Ye
saunty,I'
mfine
"Isaidweari
ngonaf ak
e
smil
e..
.not
hingwasmov i
ngwe l
lformeasI
wantedtoret
urnbacktomyorigi
nalhomebut
i
twastoolate.I
havetosacr
if
ic
emy s
elf
tolet
myfamilyenj
oypeace.
"
Oke
njoyy
our
sel
f,
you'
ll
soonne
edt
ole
ave
totheroom"s
hesaidandInoddedt
hen
questi
onedmyse
lfaboutwhi
chroomshewas
ref
erri
ngtomeabout.
Pati
enc eishisonl
yrelat
iveIknowandthe
onl
yoneI canreportanyt
hingthatRodr
iguez
doestome ,butassuchRodri
guezsometimes
doesn'tli
stentoher..
.Ie
ve nsawhim
di
srespe c
the roncewhatmor eofmethatis
new.
"Comehav eadancewithme "Rodri
guezsai
d
Whispe
r i
ngjustsocl
osetomye ars.
Ifel
this
handsraparoundmywai s
t,hische
stagai
nst
myback .
"I
..I
..I
..
.I'
mhungr
y"I
saidwi
ths
omuchfe
ar
atheartasIt
ri
edt
omoveawayf
romhi
m.
"Soyou'
rerej
ect
ingmydanc
eoffer
?"hes
aid
holdi
ngt
ighttomeandnotl
ett
inggo.
"No,nonoI.
.
."Isaidt
hink
ingofwhatt
osay
nextwhenhecaughtmeshort
.
"
Youwhat
?"hesai
dpul
li
ngmeawayf
romt
he
t
abl
eandtak
ingmetot
hedanc
efl
oor
.
Il
eftt
hefoodIwasdi
shi
ngout.
.
. andIwas
n't
wil
li
ngtodanc
ebuthekeptpushingmeoutof
mylimit
s.
Hehuggedmeandwebot
hdanc
esl
owl
yto
thef
lowoft
hemusi
c.
"Cel
inadoy oust
il
lre
membe rwhaty
ou
promisedtodoonourwe ddi
ngni
ght?"he
askedspeakings
ogentl
y.
Mymindwasblankandmyt hought
swe r
e
wander
ing,
Idon'te
ve nremembereve
rtalk
ing
wi
thhimaboutmarriage
.
I
shemistak
enorsomethi
ng.Hewalkedupto
myfat
herandt
alk
e daboutmarr
yingme..
.
we
nev
e rl
ovedeachother,
wej
ustmetonceand
hekeptrunni
ngtowardsme,whe
ndi dwe
di
scussaboutmarr
iage?"I
wandered.
"
Cel
ina"hec
all
ed.
"
Huh"Isai
dsnappi
ngoutof
myt
hought
sand
t
hought
.
"Youwaitformei ntheroom, I
have
some t
hingI'
lll
ik
et oshowy ou"hesai
dand
walkedawaybe foreIcoul
dalterawordabout
goingtotheroom.
Aft
erthewhol
ecelebr
ati
onofat
hingIwentt
o
theroomandsatonthebedt
owaitforhi
m.
Iwanderedonwhathewaspl
anni
ngandI
thoughtofs
omanybadthi
ngshemightbe
plani
ngondoingt
ome .
Hewalkedi
nsoni
ceandsmoot
h,its
eemedhe
hadnotbee
ndri
nki
ngwit
htheother
s.The
f
ir
stt
hinghel
ook
edatwhe
nhee
nte
redt
he
r
oomwasme .
Heimme di
ate
lypul
ledmeforaki
ssandI
was
unwil
li
ngtoki
sshimsoIbl
ockedmymouth.
"
Ce l
ina"hec
all
edtouchi
ngmyfac
ewit
hhi
s
f
ingerasher
emainedontopof
me .
"You.
.
."I
tri
edsayi
ngaf
terIr
emovedmyhand
fr
ommymout hbuther
eplac
editwi
thhi
sown
hand.
"sh.
.
sh.
..
sh.
.s
h"hesai
dandIremai
nedsi
le
nt
butwasaf
rai
dofwhathei
nte
ndtodotome .
Hebroughtdownhishandt
omydr
essand
pul
leditupsl
owly
..
.
"
Whatarey
ou?"Isai
dtry
ingtof
reemysel
f
f
romhimbuthec
rappedmes ot
ight
lyand
c
onti
nuedt
oupli
ftmydress
.
CEL
INE•
•√
"Wows omuchfoodtoeat
"Isai
ddi
shi
ngout
foodfr
omthetablewhi
chhadsomany
dif
fer
entf
oodtypes/
dis
hes.
"Thi
scouplesmustbeveryri
ch,
I haven'
tbeen
toanyoccasi
onwiththi
skindofarrange
me nt
"Isai
deatingany
thingt
hatIpassedont he
tabl
e.
Itwasver
yhardf
ormet ochoosewhatI'
ll
eat
andwhatI'l
ll
eav
ebe hind,
atleastl
etme
enjoyt
hefunbefor
eI getcaughtupagai
n.
"Hel
lobe
aut
y"hemanl
yvoi
cecal
ledf
rom
behi
ndandI
smil
edbef
oret
urni
ngtol
ookat
him.
"Cel
ina,
are
n'tyousupposed.
..
.whatamI
eve
nt hi
nki
ng..
.you.
.."hesai
dyel
li
ngatme
maybehemus thavenoti
cedthewayI
c
oll
ect
edf
oodf
romt
het
abl
eandhewant
sto
s
topme.
"I
'mj
usts
os orry
, I
didn'tmeantodoit.
..
I'
ll
woul
dn'
teatitagain.I
'mv er
ysorr
y"Isai
dand
dr
oppedt
hepl ateoffoodthenranaway.
"Stop,Ce l
inast
op"hecal
ledr
unni
ngand
shoutingbe hi
ndmebutIt
ooktomyhil
lsand
didn'tlookback.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode2
^
°Rodr
igue
z°^
I
walk
e dint
otheroomandthef
ir
stthi
ngmy
e
yescaughtwasCeli
nawhowassi
tt
ingont
he
be
d.
Iwalk
e dt
owar dsherandI
notic
edmyaunt
st
andingbythedoorandpipi
ngatus.
.
.soI
hadtoactac
c ordi
ngtowhatshewant
edto
see
.
Ipul
ledCel
inaonthebedandtri
edk
iss
inghe
r
buts
heblockeditwi
thherhand.
I
thens e
ntmyhandt owar
dshercl
othand
s
lowlypull
ingi
tup.Myauntwal
kedawayand
c
losethedoorj
ustasIdi
dthi
s..
.
Iquic
klywokeupfr
omherbodyandarr
anged
my s
elfwhil
eshei
mmedi
atel
ystooduptosay
something.
"
What
'swr
ong?
"
"youcan'
ttal
k?"Ias
kedmovi
ngc
los
er
towar
dsherandshemeett
hewal
kbehi
ndhe
r
back.
"Whatar
eyoudoing?"sheaske
dpl
aci
nghe
r
handsonherupperbody/
che
st.
I
tur
nedandpul
lof
fthebl
ank
etf
romt
hebe
d
t
henhande
ditt
oher.
"Yousl
eeponthecouc
h"Isai
dandlai
don
thebedcov
eri
ngthewhol
eplacewi
thmyl
egs
andhands.
Shest
oodsti
ll
andj
ustwat
che
datmeashe
r
angr
yri
ses
.
"
What
?"
"Don'tyouwantt
oslee
pther
e?"Iaske
dand
sheshowe dmeafak
es mi
let
henmumbl e
dt o
hers
elfbefor
egoi
ngovert
othecouc
htos l
eep.
Shearrangedher
sel
fthereandbe gansl
eepi
ng
soundlyonthecouchbutI wasnotokaywit
h
i
t.Celi
nawasne v
erli
kethisnotanobedient
gir
l,s
hewi l
lal
waysopposemewhe nI s
ay
s
ucht
hingsbuts
heobe
yedme
.
Iwokeupf
rombedandwe ntovert
othe
couc
hwhereshewassl
eepi
ngandc ar
rie
dhe r
up.s
heopene
dhe re
yesimme di
ate
lyIdidt
his.
"
Whatar
eyoudoi
ng?"s
heas
ked.
"
Putmedown"shesai
dtr
y i
ngt
oswinghe
r
l
egsbutt
her
ewe
r ei
nsi
dethebl
ank
et.
Idroppe
dhe ront
hebe
dthe
nst
andt
olookat
heronelas
ttime.
.
.
"
Whatar
eyout
hink
ingabout
?"s
heas
ked
l
ook
ings
car
ed.
I
turne
dagai
nstherandsai
d"y
ouc anhav
e
t
heroomtoyour
self
"the
nwalkedoutt
oslee
p
i
nthegue
str
oom.
I
'l
lwaitst
il
lshe
'sre
adyt
ote
llmewhatr
eal
ly
wentwrongwithher
.
"Cel
inaImi s
stheoldyoufr
omt woyear
sago,
whydidy ouhavetorunawayfromme .
.
. now
t
hatI'vefoundyouI'
mnotlett
inggo"Isaidt
o
my s
elfbefor
eturni
ngofft
heli
ghtandsleepi
ng
soundl
y .
Ne
xtMor
ning
"Goodmor
ningGe
neral
"themai
dsgr
eet
e d
measIwal
kedpasst
hemt ot
hedi
nni
ngtable
.
Iconti
nuedaft
ernoddingatthemandwhe nI
gottothedi
ningtable
,ther
ewe resomuc h
foodtoeat,
deli
ci
ousone satthatbutCe
li
na
wasnotinthediningroom.
"
Laur
a"
"L
aura"Ic
all
edandsheres
pondedf
roma
di
stanc
ethenrus
hedtowardsme
.
"
Yesge
ner
aly
ouc
all
edme
"shes
aidt
aki
nga
bow.
"
Wherei
sCel
ina?"I
ask
edi
nabol
dandl
oud
t
une
/manne
r.
"She
'ss
til
li
nbedgene
ral,
shehasn'
tyetc
ome
downfr
omhe rr
oomgeneral
"shesai
dandI
l
ookedatmywris
twatc
h.
"Whatt
imeisi
tandshe
'ss
til
li
nbed?"Isai
d
moreli
keye
lli
ngatL
auramyheadatt
ender
.
"Gowak eherupandshemustbeherei
nf i
ve
minutesti
mewe l
lpre
pare
dforbreakf
ast"I
sai
dands henoddi
ngandimme di
ate
lyranup
t
hes t
airs.
Iwalk
edtowar
dsthedi nni
ngc hai
randtooka
si
tthendi
dn'
teatanythingbutlookedatmy
wri
stwatc
htowaitforCe l
ina.
CEL
INA•
••
Iwashav i
ngabe auti
fuldream,ar esounding
sl
e ep,howe ve
ry onewasy ell
ingandc lapping
atmef orbeingandwi nni
ngmyc ountry'smis
s
be autyofthey earawar dwhe nsome one
sudde nlystart
edc all
ingmynameandt he
i
mage ryfrommydr eams lowlybe c
amebl ue
leavingmewi t
hnot hingtos e
eagai n.
Ir
oseuptose
eayoungbeaut
if
uly
ounggi
rl
as
kingmetowak
eupfrombed.
"
What'swrong?"I
askedopeni
ngmye ye
sand
s
tre
tchingmybodyindi
ff
ere
ntdir
ect
ions.
"MyLord,y
ourhus
bandask
e dy
out obedown
fordi
nneri
nfi
veminut
es"shesai
dtaki
nga
bow.
"Y
ourLor
d?"Imumble
dt omyse
lfwande
ring
whosher
efe
rre
dtoasherLor
d.
"
MrF
eli
peRodr
igue
zyourhus
band,
don'
tyou
k
nowhi
magai
n"s
heas
kedandI
cuthe
rshor
t.
"Okay
,okay,l
etmetak
eabathandI
'l
lbe
down"Isai
dwhiles
henodde
dandwalked
outoft
heroom.
Ir
aise
dmyhandandmix
edi
tin-
bet
wee
nmy
headmyhai
rthe
ngav
eoutayawn.
"
Fiv
eminut
e s
?"Iwander
edtomy
sel
faf
teri
t
r
angabel
lshehadsai
dso.
Ir
osefrombe d,e
nter
edthebathroomanddi
d
ever
ythingasqui
ckasposs
ibl
es oastogo
downont ime.
Af
terdre
s s
ingupandadmir
ingmyse
lfont
he
mir
rorIwalkeddowntoj
oinhimatt
he
di
nningtable
.
j
ustbe
foreIgott
here,
thes mellcomingf
rom
t
hedir
ecti
onwass obreat
ht aki
ng..
.Iwal
ked
morecl
oserandmye y
esc aughtsomany
de
li
ci
ousme
alsont
het
abl
e.
I
immediat
elydi
vether
eatonceandtookasi
t
r
eadytost
artt
ryi
ngoutal
lthedel
ic
iousmeal
s
t
hatwasonthetabl
e.
JustwhenIpic
kedupas poonandwantedt
o
starte
ati
ng,s
ome onecoughedandthat
pe r
sonwasnootherthanRodri
guez
.
"What
?"Iask
edrai
si
ngmyhe
adt
olookat
hi
mont heot
hers
ide.
"Putthatdown"hes
aidbutI
jus
tst
areat
him..
.
"Is
aidputi
tdown"herepeat
edandthi
sti
me
hewantedtost
andupandwalktowar
dsme
butIi
mme di
atel
ydr
opitandfr
own.
"Inthi
shous
etherearerule
sandwhe nyou
breaksuchr
ule
sy oumus tr
ece
ivepunis
hme nt
fori
t"hesai
dbinninghi
smouth.
"
Whatr
ule
s?"I
ask
eds
til
lfr
owni
ngathi
m.
"Youmustbeupfr
ombedbyse
veno'c
loc
k
andyou'
vebroke
nther
ule
s"hesai
dand
si
ghed.
"
Youne v
ertoldmeoft
hisrul
esy
est
erday
"I
s
aidangri
lyandhesmi
rked.
"Nowy ouknowandyou'
llhav
etopayf
or
break
ingtherul
e"hesai
dsmil
ing.
"
Whot
oldhi
mIl
ikeseei
ngt
hoset
eethsof
his
"
I
mumbl
edtomy
se l
fandhi
nte
dout.
"
What'
sthepuni
shme
nt?"I
ask
edandhes
til
l
s
mir
ked.
"L
aura,
bri
ngitt
oher"hesaidandthemai
d
walk
edinwit
hasmallbowinherhand.
Shedroppediti
nfr
ontof
meandt
her
ewasa
l
iqui
dinside
.
"Whati
sthi
sthi
ng,
itst
ink
s"Isai
dcove
ring
mynostr
il
sandwanti
nghert
otakei
taway.
"
You'r
egoi
ngtodr
inkthatf
orbreak
inghous
e
r
ule
s"hesai
dandIalmostspi
tout.
"
Whatdoy oumeandri
nkthi
s,i
tst
ink
s"I
sai
d
r
efus
ingnottoe
venlookati
tagai
n.
"Ifyouwanttoe atall
thisdel
ici
ousfoodon
thistablet
heny oumus tbereadyt
odr i
nkit
butif nott
hennof oodforyou"hesaidand
placedaf i
ngeront hetabl
e.
"Rodr
iguezhowc any
oubesuc
hadevi
li
sh
monster"Iye
lle
dathimwi
thmyhandst
il
lon
mynos t
ril
s.
"That'
swhatyougetf
orpl
ayi
ngdumpwith
me "hesai
dandmov e
dovert
omys i
tand
pickedupthebow.
"
Dri
nk"hes
aidof
fer
ingi
ttomebutI
tur
ned
myf
aceaway
..
.
"I
'll
askthemai dstocl
earthetablesince
you'r
enotdr i
nkingit
"hes ai
dandt hisgotme
f
rightenthatal
lthi
sde l
ic
iousfoodI s
me ll
ed,
I
wasn'tgoingtoeatany.
"
I'
ll
dri
nkit"I
sai
dst
ret
chi
ngmyhandf
orwar
d
t
ocoll
ectt
hebowfr
omhim.
"
Bit
ter"I
sai
dimme
diat
elyi
ttouc
hedmy
t
ough.
"Dr
inki
tall
"Rodr
iguezsai
dfor
cingi
tint
omy
mouthashehel
ditformetodri
nk.
"MyLor
d,y
ouhaveague
st"Some
ones
aidas
hewalk
edinatus
.
"
Who'
sit
?"Rodr
igue
zas
ked.
"I
t'
syourfr
iends"hes
aidandRodr
igue
z
nodded.
..
"Lett
hems t
ayint
heli
vi
ngroom,I
'l
lj
oint
hem
short
ly"hesai
dandhenoddedt
henwalk
ed
out.
"St
ayhereanddon'ttryany
thi
ngst
upid"he
sai
drais
ingmyheadt henwalk
edoutaf
ter
makingmelookathisuglyf
ace.
I
stayedatthedinni
ngroomands t
art
ing
e
atingever
y t
hingIf
ounddeli
ci
ousont he
t
ablewhil
eRodr i
guezhadgonetomee thi
s
f
ri
ends.
I
wanderwhatt
ypesof
peoplewil
lmak
e
f
ri
endswi
thanugl
ymonsterl
ik
ehim.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode3
^
°Rodr
igue
z°^
I
wal
kedfr
omthedi
ningr
oomtothel
iv
ing
r
oomtomeetmyl
ongawait
edf
ri
ends
.
"Rodr
igue
z ,
it'
sgoodtos
eey
ouagai
n"Rol
and
sai
dimme diat
elyhes
awmeappr
oacht
hem
andIsmir
k e
d.
"Samehere,I
wasn'te
venexpec
tingyouguy
s
sowhatwiththes
urpri
sev
isi
t"Is
aidandthey
alls
toodup.
"Ye
ahthat'
sbecaus
eyougotmar
ri
edri
ght
anddi
dn'twantustok
nowabouti
t"Mi
kesai
d
andIs
mirked.
"I
t'
sisn'
tli
ket
hatguy
s,Ij
ustgotmarr
iedno
bi
gdeal"Isai
dbutever
yonenoddedin
di
sappoint
ment.
"
What
'swr
ongguy
s?"I
ask
ed.
"Y
oudidn'
tev
enletusknowy ouwereget
ti
ng
marr
iedman,
C'monRodriguez.
Youchoos
e
j
ustwhenwewereonamis si
ontoge
tmarrie
d
Youf"c
kedupbi
gti
me "Patr
icks
aidandt
he
othe
rsnodde
dinagr
eeme ntt
owhathesai
d.
"Guysthi
swe ddingwasanur gentoneforme
andImy s
elfdidn'thav eti
met ogetprepar ed.
Icoul
donlypus hthroughwi ththeweddi ng
befor
elet
tingy ouguy sknow, I
knowit'she art
breaki
ngbuty ouguy swillhavetotak
ei tthe
wayyous eei
t. "Isai
dbutnoonewas
convi
nce.
"YoucanaskJacque s
,hewaspr e
s e
ntthe
re
withme,he'
lltel
lyoue v
eryt
hingthat
happened,r
ightJacques?"I
saidlooki
ng
aroundanddidn'tf
indhimamongt he
m.
"
Whe
re'
sJac
que
s?"I
ask
ed.
"
Heisn'twit
hus,t
aket
hingse
asywearegoi
ng
t
oletthi
spass,
socanweseethebr
ide"Mik
e
s
aidandI c
ough.
"
She,
,,s
he"I
sai
dpoi
nti
ngont
her
ightand
c
ove
ringmysai
d.
"Uhs oyoudon'twantust
os e
ehe rafternot
l
e t
tingusknowaboutyourmarri
age
ceremony"Patri
cksai
dandtheyallsatdown
withoutlooki
ngatmeagain.
"Whydon'twefocusont hemainr easonwhy
youguysareheredress
edi nuni
formsf i
rst
,
whil
ewear edoi
ngs oshewi l
lpr
e paretome e
t
youall
"Isai
dandt heynodde dt
he nlookedat
mewithas mil
e.
"
That
'sgood"
"Howwast
hemi
ssi
on?"I
ask
edandRol
and
s
mil
ed.
"Ever
y t
hingwentwell
,themis
sionwasa
succe
s sandnowwear ebackt
ot ownfora
li
tt
lerestbef
oreheadi
ngbacktothecamp
general"Mi
kesai
dandI noddedwithasmil
e.
"Sowhydoy ouvi
si
tmeput t
ingony our
unif
ormsif
you'r
ehe r
eforr
elaxat
ion?"Ias
ked
andtheyal
lchuckl
ed.
"Di
dyouf
orge
tyourpromi
sege
ner
al?"
Rol
andas
kedandItr
iedre
member
ing.
"
ohhI'msorryguy
s ,
letmege
tprepared,
I'
d
t
otal
lyf
orgotit
"Isai
dandtheyal
llaughe
d.
"Maybeaft
eryougotmarri
edyoufor
getthi
ngs
alot"Rol
andsai
dandtheyalll
aughwhil
eI
r
us hupthest
air
stochange.
I'
dpromise
dtopr ac
tic
ewi t
htheminunif
orm
aft
erthe
irmis
sionwasc omple
tedbuthow
c
ouldIhav
eforgotabouts
uchani
mpor
tant
t
hingI
promis
est hem.
Irushedintotheroomandc hangeintomy
unifor
mt he nwenttose
eCe l
inabefore
headingtoj oi
nthemoutsidet hegunshotzone
.
TheGuns hotzonewaswe rewepr acti
cedon
howt oshotgunsandpr acti
c edwithother
we aponsforfi
ghti
ngwar s
.
"L
aurawherei
sCel
ina"I
askedaft
erIwentto
t
hedini
ngroombutshe'
dfi
nishe
de at
ingand
wasn'
tthe
re.
"Shewe
ntt
othest
udyge
ner
al"s
hesaidwi
th
abowandI
walke
dawaytot
hest
udyroom.
"
Whatdi
dshegot
heret
odo?"Iwande
red,I
r
emembers
heneve
rlov
est
or e
adbooks.
"
Cel
inawhatar
eyoudoinghere?"Ias
ked
i
mme di
ate
lyIe
nte
redthestudyroomandsaw
he
r.
"Iguessyouar
enotbl
ind"shesai
dnoteven
l
ook i
ngupatmebutshekepthe
rhe addown
tothebook.
"You'
'Isai
dnotev
e nfi
nis
hingmywords
.I
rushedtowar
dsherandgrabherupt
henpi
n
hertothewall
.
"Whatarey oudoing?"Isai
dtryi
ngtowalk
awaybutI blocke
dhe rbyputt
ingmyhandson
thewalktopr e
ventherfr
omwal kingaway
.
"
Whatdoy
ouwant
?"s
heas
kedi
nahas
ty
v
oic
e.
"Doyouthi
nkyoucane
asil
ys peakli
kethat
andwalkawayfr
omme ?"Isaidneari
ngmy
fac
etohers
.
"Rodr
igue
zle
tgoofme
"shesaidtr
yingto
re
movemyhandsfr
omthewalkbutIjus
t
s
mir
ked.
"
Ireme
mbe ry
oudon'
tli
kere
adingbookss
o
t
ell
mewhatarey
oudoingher
e?"Iaske
dand
s
hesmir
ked.
"
Whydi
dyous
mir
ked?"I
ask
ed.
"Me,
don'tl
ik
ere
adi
ngbook
s.Igue
ssy
ou
don'
tknowmesowel
l"s
hesai
d.
"
Soyou'dl
iedt
ome
?"I
ask
edands
he
c
huc
k l
ed..
.
"Y
oul ookl
ikeal
airy
ours
elf
"shesai
dand
wentundermyarmtorunaway.
"Stop"Is
aidandpulle
dherbackbyholdi
ng
herhandandI l
ostbal
anc
emak ingusbot
hto
fal
lonthegroundandmylipst
ouc he
dhers.
Wes t
ayedl
ikethatf
orawhi
lebe
for
esome
one
suddenl
yappearedf
romnowher
e.
"General
"L aur
acal
ledsee
ingusonthe
groundsheimme di
ate
lyl
ookedawayandwe
bothquickl
ygotupandfaceddi
ff
ere
nt
dire
cti
ons.
"
I'
ms osor
rytohavei
nte
rrupt
ed"s
hes
aid
t
urni
ngandlooki
ngaway.
"
Nono,
it'
sok
ay"I
sai
dands
henodde
d.
"
Yourf
ri
endsask
edf
oryoutoqui
ckl
yjoi
n
t
hem"shesai
dandI
nodded.
"Okay,
tel
lthemI'
llj
oint
hems oon"Isai
dand
shenoddedandwalkedawaywhi l
eCeli
na
pret
endedtobereadi
ngorrat
he rst
il
lmaybe
shewasactual
lyr
eadi
ng.
"Celi
na"Ical
ledands
heans
wer
edbuts
he
didn'
ttur
nt ol
ookatme.
"Y
oushoul
dc hangeint
osomet
hinggoodand
metmyfri
ends"I s
aidandwal
kedoutoft
he
s
tudyr
oomt
ogoj
oinmyf
ri
ends
.
Ist
il
lhadtheimageryofwhatj
usthappene
da
mome nt
sagoandi t
'sjus
tmakesmef ee
l
happenfornoreas
on.
"
Whyar
eyoublushi
ng?"Pat
ri
ckas
ked
i
mmedi
ate
lyI
jointt
hem.
"Not
hingle
t'sge
tonwit
hthepr
act
ice"I
sai
d
andtheyal
lnodded.
"Maybehi
snewwifeistr
eati
nghims
owe l
l"
Rol
andsai
dandI playf
ull
yhithi
monthear
m
whil
eever
yonec
huc kle
d.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode4
^
°Rodr
igue
z°^
"
Nic
es hot
"Patr
icksai
dasIhi
tthet
arge
tby
s
hooti
ngthebul
letf
romthegun.
"F
ocuswhil
eyouarmatyourtar
getandyou'
ll
al
lbeabl
etogeti
tri
ght"Isai
dandtheyall
cl
apped.
"
Whil
enots
hoottheres
t"RolandsaidandI
s
hotatt
her
emindingbul
let
sstrai
ghtontar
get
.
Whil
eshoot
ingsomethi
ngfellf
romt hegr
ound
andwhenIstoppedt
olookitwasCe li
nawho
hadbrok
enonec upoft
eafromt hefourc
ups
shewashol
dingonasil
verplane..
.
I
droppedmygunont hetabl
eandwal
ked
t
owardshe
r ,
coll
ect
edthetri
alf
romhe
rand
k
eptitonthetabl
enextt
ous .
I
heardherbyt
hewai
standwal
kedhe
rtomy
f
ri
ends.
"Ev
ery
onemetmywifeCe
li
na"I
sai
dst
il
lwi
th
myhandonherwai
st.
"Ni
cetome
ety
oual
l"Ce
li
nas
aidandt
heyal
l
nodde
d.
"She
'sr
eal
lyt
hegov
ernor
'sdaught
er"Rol
and
mumbledout
.
"Cel
inadoy oure
me mberhowItaughtyou
howt oshootagun.Comeshowittothe
m"I
sai
ddr aggi
nghertothet
ablewhereI
'dplac
ed
mygun.
"Whendi
dyout
eac
hmet
his
?"s
hemumbl
ed
ask
ingme.
I
reloadedthegunandgavehe rtoholditthe
n
I
assist
edhe rbyhol
dingherhand.Ipointe
don
t
argetthenshootati
twhil
es hehel
dt hegun.
I
mmediat
elythesoundoft
hegunwentof
fshe
s
hout
edinfearandIjus
tsmir
ked.
Iarr
angedherhandforthenextshotandl e
t
hertodotheshooti
nghe r
self
.shepointedthe
gunforwardandwhe nshooti
ng,sheclosed
hereyes,r
ais
edthegunupands hotatthe
fl
owe rj
arcl
osetotheroof.
I
timme di
atel
yfe
lltowar
dsherandI bl
ock
edi
t
f
romt ouchi
ngherbuti
tmadeac utonmy
r
ighthand.
"Rodri
gue
z,Rodri
guezyou'rebl
eedi
ng"she
sai
dlooki
ngatthewoundt hefl
owerj
arhad
madeonmyhandandbl oodwaspull
ingout
ofit
.
"I
'msorr
y"s
hes
aidwhi
leI
hel
dmyr
ighthand
qui
etl
y.
"Gene
ral,ar
eyouokay
?"Mi
keas
kedast
hey
all
worryaboutme.
Weal
lwe
nti
ntot
hehous
eandmyhandwas
s
til
lbl
eedi
ng.
"Ge
neral
,doyounee
dustot
akey
out
othe
hos
pit
al?"Pat
ri
ckask
ed.
kindl
yhinovel
srepubli
conWhat s
Apponpl us
twothreef
oure i
ghtzerofi
vefi
veeighte
ight
nineoneri
ghtthreetogetaddedtothenovel
s
group
"
Sinc
eIcaus
edi
t,I'
ll
takecar
eofhi
m"Ce
li
na
s
aidtot
hemandtheynodded.
"There
'snonee
dforthatI
'mf i
ne.Youal
lcan
r
e t
urnbacktot
hecamp, I
'l
ltakecareof
it
my s
elf
"Isai
dandthe
yal l
nodde d.
CEL
INE•
••
Iwal
kedint
oanightcl
ublooki
ngar ound,I
spot
tedari
chandhandsomey oungman. he
washavi
ngatal
kwiththebarattendant.
"
He l
lo,
handsome"I
sai
daf
terwal
ki
ngand
s
itt
ingbyhi
sside
.
Her
aise
duphi
she
adandl
ook
edatmet
hen
smi
le
d.
"Cel
ina,
isi
tre
all
yyou"hecal
ledandI
saton
hisl
apswhi
lehekeptonsmil
ing.
"
MynameisCe
li
neandIl
ikey
ou"Isai
d
t
ouc
hinghi
minaromant
icmanne
r.
"
Iknowi
t'
syou
Ce
li
na"hes
aiddr
unkandI
smi
rke
d.
"Whydon'
twegotspe
ndtheni
ghtt
ogethe
r
handsome?"I
ask
edandheset
tl
edthebar
att
endant
.
"
Let
'sgo"hesai
dcarr
yingmeli
kehowabr
ide
i
sbei
ngcarri
edandhewalke
dawaywit
hme
t
ohi
s,car.
*
Nex
tmor
ning*
Iwokeupandhewass ti
ll
onbed,
Iwenti
nto
theshowerandtookabatht
henc
hanged
backint
omydr e
s s.
Whi
leleavi
ngIst
oodandwat
che
dhi
mfora
whi
le.
Ik i
sse
dtheneck
lac
eonmyne
ck.
"Thi
sneckl
acei
sre
all
yables
singgi
ventome
byRodri
guez"I
sai
dtouc
hingandholdi
ngit
happi
ly
.
"
Celi
na,Il
oveyou.Don'tl
ethi
mt ak
eyouaway
f
romme "hesai
dwhi l
einhiss
lee
pandI
c
ouldn'
tunders
tandhim.
"
Celi
na?"I
wander
edwhyheke
ptc
all
ingme
t
hatnameeve
nduri
ngt
hewhol
eni
ght.
"
MynameisCeli
ne,
whythehe
lldoe
shek
eeps
c
all
ingmeCel
ina"Is
pok
eout.
"Ohno, Rodri
gue
zmus thavek nownI'minthe
countryandmustbetryi
ngt ocatchme, I
'm
goingtobeinaverybigproblemifIdon'tr
un
outfromhe r
eimme di
atel
y"I s
aidtomy sel
f
thenthoughtoft
akingsomeof hisexpensi
ve
tre
asures.
Isear
chedhi
sdrawersandfoundasmal
lbox
andItooki
tthenopenedthesmal
lboxand
foundari
ngins
ide.
I
tookther
ingandwalk
e doutofhi
shous
e
l
eavi
nghimunnoti
cedthatIhadl
eft
.
J
ACQUES•
•
Iwokeupf
eel
ings
odi
zzyandmyhe
adwas
achi
ng.
"
Whathappe
nedl
astni
ght
?
whydoI
feell
ikeIs
awCe l
inal
astni
ght"I
tri
ed
r
ememberi
ngitbutnot
hingcoul
dcomeupto
meandmyhe
adbe
ganac
hingagai
n.
I
foundmyse
lfwi
thoutcl
othsbutI
coul
dn'
t
r
eme mbe
rwhathadhappened.
Il
aidbackont
hebe dandcont
inue
dsl
eepi
ng
asIfe
ltv
e r
yweakandtir
ed.
^
°Ce
li
na°
^
"Ce
li
na"Rodri
gue
zc al
ledmeint
othe
bat
hroomandIwentinandj
oinedhi
m.
Hejus
tst
oods t
il
landwasdre
sse
dup.
Ist
are
d
athi
mwithoutsayi
ngaword.
"
Whatar
eyouwai
ti
ngf
or?"
"
He l
pmetakeof
fmyshi
rt"hes
aidandI
fel
t
r
eluct
antt
otouc
hhi
m.
"Nowt haty
oumademyhandl i
kethi
syous
til
l
don'twanttohel
pme?"hesaidmakingme
fee
lguilt
ysoIse
ntmyhandsforwar
d.
Istar
tedunbut
toni
nghi
sshi
rtasheopened
hishandsf
ormeandhewaslookings
trai
ght
atme .
Icompl
ete
lytookof
fhi
sshi
rtandhe
ldi
twhi
le
hewasshi
rtl
ess.
"Whatar
eyoustandi
ngthe
redoi
ng?"he
aske
dbutIkeptmyheaddownandadis
tanc
e
fr
omhim.
"I'
mabouttotakemybath,t
akeoff
your
cl
othesandj
oinme"hesaidbutI
imme di
ate
ly
cover
edmyche s
tver
ywellandhesmir
k e
d.
"
Whatar
eyouaf
rai
dof
?"heas
ked.
"Wearebothmarri
ed,
Idon'ts
e ewhyy ou'
ll
ref
usemeintohavi
ngacces
stoy ourbody"he
sai
dbutIj
ustkeptqui
etandfearedtolookup
athi
m.
"
For
geti
t,I
'l
lj
usthav
emybat
hal
one
"hes
aid.
"butnowthatmyhandisi
njur
edallbecaus
e
ofyouandwhatify
ourfat
herf
indsoutabout
i
t"hesaidl
icki
nghi
sli
ps.
"I
t'
sgoingt
ocauseabigfamil
yprobl
emand
youknowwhat'
sgoingtoawai
tyou"hes
aid
annoyi
ngme.
"Howcanyoubullymeinthi
smanne r
Rodri
guez
"Isai
dandhei mme di
ate
lycrapme
bythewai
standforc
eful
lyst
arte
dk i
ssi
ngme.
I
hithimtry
ingtobre
akoutbuthehel
dmes o
t
ightandhejus
tconti
nue
dtok i
ssmeroughl
y.
Ic
ontinuedtohi
thimandhepulledoffthe
ki
ssandletgoofme.I
mme diat
elyheletgoof
mywai st
,Ir
anoutoft
hebathroom,le
av ing
hi
mal lal
onethe
re.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
 •[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode5
^
°Rodr
igue
z°^
Aft
erCeli
naWalkedaway,Ifel
thurt
.
Reme mberi
ngwhatshedidtomebe forewe
evengotmarri
edandI c
ouldn'thol
dbac kmy
angerasthi
sme mor
iescamerunningintomy
headli
kewildf
ir
e.
Shehumil
iat
edmeri
ghtbef
orehe
rfathe
r,she
mademelookli
keaf
oolandamoc k
eryto
peopl
e.
AsIthoughtaboutthi
sal
ltheeventskept
runni
ngintomyhe adli
keaflas
hingli
ghtata
veryfas
trate
.
"
Ire
all
ywantt
oknowwhatr
eal
lyhappe
nedt
o
cel
ina.
Weweresohappybac
kthenwhe
nwe
gottoknowe
achotheri
nDubai
.
Welovedandcaredforeachothersomuch,no
onetodis
turbusbutthenall
of asudde
ns he
l
eftthec
ountrywit
houte v
ente l
li
ngand
headedbacktoChina.
WhenIcamebackdownt oChi
naIstar
ted
sear
chi
ngfory
ou.Iwaslate
rsendtores
cue
host
agesi
nceIwasagenerali
nthearmy.
Iwe ntands aws hewasoneof t
hehostages
he l
dc apt
ive,Ifoughtwit
hmye ver
ys t
rengt
h
tosavehe r.Idi
dn' ts
topfi
ght
ingtosaveher
andwhe nIe v
ent ual
lyde
feat
edallt
he
kidnappe r
s.
Ir
ushedtowardsherandunti
eherhands.I
l
ookedintoyourey
e sandki
ssedherbuts
he
wasresi
stantt
owardsme .
shepushedme
awayli
kes
heneve
rknewmeandne
ver
wante
dmet ot
ouchhe
r.
Icames t
ill
reme mberwhatshesaidt
ome"
Howdar eyouk i
ssme ?,
doy ouknowwho's
daughterIam?"s hesai
dthistomeli
keIwas
astrangertoherandbehavedlik
eitwast
he
fi
rstti
meI everki
ssedher.
Aft
ershewastakenbythegovernorandIwent
tothegov
ernor'
shousetolookforherand
metwithhi
sguard'sathi
sgate.
"
Whoar
eyou?"t
heyas
kedbl
ock
ingmyway
.
"Moveas
ide
"Icommandedsi
nceIwas
dre
ssedi
nunif
ormsbutt
heyr
efus
edtobac
k
out.
"
Gobackanddon'
tcausetr
oubl
ehe
re"oneof
t
hemsai
dandtheyalls
toodonmyway.
I
wasaboutt
ost
artaf
ightwhe
nthegov
ernor
wal
kedoutof
hishous
e.
"Whoar
eyouandwhatdoyouwant
?"he
ask
edandIhumbl
edmy s
elf
.
"I
'mCel
ine
'sboy
fri
endandI
'mhe
ret
ose
e
her
"Is
aidver
yboldl
y.
"
Whatnons
ens
ear
eyous
ayi
ng?"
Cel
inaj
ustcamebackint
othec
ount
ryand
whendidshehaveaboyf
rie
ndwhoi
san
of
fi
cial
general
?"heasked.
"Iamr e
all
yhe rboyfr
iend,Iwaswithheroutof
thecountry
.wear ebothinlove,wemade
promisetoeachother.wee venplanon
getti
ngmar r
ied"Isai
dr emembe r
ingal
lthe
loveandaffe
ctionIandhe rshar
e.
"Youmus
tbeamadmanoraf
ool
tos
ayt
hat
"
hesai
dyel
li
ngatme
.
"If
youdon'
tbel
iev
emey ouc
ancall
Celi
ne
andaske
dher.I
evenri
skmyli
fet
osaveher
"I
sai
dandhechuckl
ed.
Hetookmeintot
hehous eandIme twit
h
Cel
ine.
Shedidn'
tevenruntohugmebutj us
t
st
oodinfr
ontofme.Thegovernorals
ostood
besi
deherandwatc
he dme .
"I
'msorr
yal
thoughyousave
dmyl
if
ebutI
don'
tknowyou?"shesai
d.
"HowcanyousaythattomeCeli
ne"
.I
tme
Rodr
iguez.
"Is
aidt
ryingtohol
dherhandbut
shewalk
edback.
"
I'
msor
rybutI
don'
tknowy
ou"s
hes
aid.
"Yousai
dyouk nowCe l
inabutshesayss
he
doesn'
tknowyou.He rname si
sn'
tevenCel
ine
butCeli
na,whoareyout r
yingtof
oolher
e?"
thegover
noraskedandI l
ook e
dather.
"Al
thoughI'
v ebe enwit
hCeli
ne.
s hetoldme
shegotint
oanac ci
dentwit
hherpar e
ntsand
sust
ainaheadi njurywhi
chdoesn'tal
lowher
toremembe rthingssometi
mesandhe r
parent
s"Isaidbowi ngmyheaddownv er
ysad.
"
whathappe
nedt
ohe
rpar
ent
s?"heas
ked.
"
Theybot
hdiedi
ntheac
cide
nt"I
sai
dandhe
s
tar
tedl
aughi
ng.
.
.
"DoyouknowwhoI am?"heas
kedbutI
'dno
othe
rans
we rr
athe
rt hank
nowi
nghi
mast he
gover
nor
.
"
I'
mhe rfat
her
"hes
aidandI
look
edatCe
li
ne
c
onfus
e d.
"Youngmanyoucomeupwi t
hav er
ygoodl
ie
togetmydaught
erbutI t
ell
you,yourpl
anhas
fai
ledyou.
Someonethrowhimoutof my
house"hesai
dorder
inghisme nandoneof
hi
sguar
dswal
kedt
owar
dsmeandwant
edt
o
hol
dmyhand.
I
tur
ne dandpunc
hedhimandanot
herr
ushe
d
t
owardsmeandstar
tedt
ofi
ghtwit
hme.
"WhatI hat
et hemostint
hisworl
darelai
rs.
Mak esureyouthrowhimoutofhere"t
he
governorsai
dandI fe
lthi
ssti
ckhitmyhead
real
lyhardfrombe hi
ndandIfel
lonthe
groundfeeli
ngs omuchpainbehi
ndmyhe ard.
"
Guardst
hrowhimout
"heor
der
edandt
hey
c
arr
iedmeouts
ide.
Iwasthr
owni
ntot
her
ainandbe
ate
nbyhi
s
guar
ds.
"
Don'te
v ert
hinkof
cominghe
reagai
n"oneof
t
heguardssai
dandk i
cke
dmeontheches
t.
"Youj
erkthi
nkyoucancomeandmarrythe
gover
nor'
sdaught
er.whataf
ool
"theother
s
aidandpus
hedmebac
ktot
hegr
ound.
"Youdon'tthi
nkof ruiningthegovernors
daughter'
sreput
ationbyt hi
syoufoolis
h
acti
ons,goandne verc omebac khereagain"
anothersai
dbe f
oret heyallwalkedaway ,
al
lowingmet obebi ttenbyt herai
n.
I
twasrai
nings
ohe avi
lyandI '
dbroughtdown
myse
lfj
ustsoIcoul
dbe gforherl
ov ebutshe
t
urnedmedownands aids henev
e rknewme .
Theheavyr
ainandstormsventall
theirange
r
onmeasI l
aidbef
orethegovernor
'sgate,
cr
yingandwipi
ngont hegr
ound.
Ipromisedtogethernomatt
erwhat
.I
promiseshewill
bemywi f
eandwhenshe
eventual
lybecomesmywife,I
'l
lmak
eherpay
foral
lthehumili
ati
onIsuf
fer
ed.
I
promi
seI
'l
lmak
ehe
rre
membe
rthel
if
ewe
us
edt
oleav
ebefor
eshecamebacktoChi
na.
wewer
edeepl
yinl
ovebutnowIs
e enol
ovei
n
he
rey
es.
Al
lIwantt
odoisre
vengeforwhathe
rfat
her
di
dtome .
she
'll
suf
ferf
ordenyi
ngtoknowme.
"Rodr i
guezfr
omt odayy ou'r
ehearby
grounde dtotakepartinanymi s
sionandyour
statusasgeneralshal
lbet akenf
romyou"our
he ardcommis s
ionsaidfol
lowinganorder
fr
omt hegovernor.
Foralongt i
meI wasdown, Icouldn'
tdo
anythings oIdecide
dandmadeupmymi nd
thatImus tmarr
yonlyCe li
na.Evenbe i
nga
general ornotIwasn'tgoingtoletanyone
takehe rawayf r
ommes oI st
arte
dt o
negotiatewi t
hhe rf
atherunti
lIfi
nallywas
abletomak ehimagre etomemar r
yingher
.
AndnowI'mfi
nall
ymarr
iedt
ohe
rbutIfee
l
shei
sn'
twhosheus e
dtobe,
maybebac
kthen
shewasonl
ylyi
ngtome.
Iwokeupatt
hemiddleoftheni
ghtandonthe
l
ight
s.Is
awCeli
nasle
e pi
ngonthecouchandI
wokeupandwalke
dt owardshe
r.
I
tri
edc
arry
ingherbutshewok
eupandI
r
emovedmyheadfrombodyimmedi
ate
lyI
s
awheropenhereyes.
"
Whatareyout
ryi
ngt
odo?"s
heas
ked
l
ook
ingatme.
"
Ijus
tdon'twantt
oseeyousl
eepi
ngonthe
c
ouch"Isaidandwal
kedbac
ktothebed.
"
Comeandsle
eponthebe
d"Is
aidands
he
i
mmedi
atel
ynodde
dandrant
othebed.
"
Don'tgetc
los
etome
"Isai
dands
hes
hif
ta
l
it
tl
ebitawayf
romme.
Ioff
edthelight
sandwebot hs l
eptsoundly
butduetothehe avyrai
nthatstar
tedfall
ing
andthetremblingsoundoftendersherushed
andlai
dhe rheadonmyc he
standI rappedmy
armsaroundhe r.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode6
^
°Ce
li
na°
^
Iwok eupi ntheearl
ymor ningandf ound
my selfsl
eepi
ngonRodr iguez '
sbody. Hi
sbody
wass owar mandI fel
tli
kes tayi
ngonhi m.I
rais
edupmyhe adandlook edathim, hisf
ace
wasl ookingsosmoothandhel ookeds o
hands omewhi l
ehes l
eeps, Iwishe
di tcoul
d
staylikethi
sbutwithallhisgoodqual it
ies
,
he
'sr
ude
,ar
rogantandbos
sy.Iquic
kly
move
dawayfromhimandstoodup.
Rushedintot
hebathr
oomandtookabat
h
thenwentoutandhadbr
eak
fas
twhil
ehewas
sti
ll
sle
eping.
Il
aterwalke
doutof thehouseandwenttothe
gardensoIcoulds
itquietl
ythe
reanddraw.
Drawingwasoneof t
het hi
ngsIl
oveddoing
andIhavequiteatal
e ntwheni
tcomesto
drawing.
^
•Rodr
igue
z•^
I
'dwok eupanddi
dn'tse
eCeli
naaroundsoI
tookmybathandchangedi
ntosomethi
ng
nicet
henlat
erwhenaheadandhadbreakf
ast
.
"Wher
e'sCel
ina?"Ias
kedL
aur
aands
he
qui
ckl
yresponded.
"
she
'satt
hegar
den"af
terhe
ari
ngt
hisI
br
oughtoutourdogandwe
ntonawal
kwi
th
hi
m.
Whil
eIhel
dtherope,wemove
dtowar
dsthe
gar
dentomeetCeli
nawhoIwast
oldi
sther
e.
Onarr
ivi
ngther
eIfoundherdrawi
ng,
I was
sur
pri
sedtohaves
e ent
hatshewasdrawing.
Celi
nane v
e rli
keddrawingwhil
ewewe r
e
dati
ngandI di
dn'tunderst
andifshewas
tr
yingtolearnhowt odraworshegot
i
nteres
tedi ntheartscal
leddr
awing,Maybe
she'dl
iedtomet hes ameways hedidabout
herparentsbeingde ad.
Iwal
kedc
los
etoherands
hemove
dbac
kas
Ti
ll
awast
ryi
ngtor
eachcl
oset
oher
.
"
Whatareyoudoi
nghere?"I
ask
edt
ryi
ngt
o
s
eewhatshewasdrawi
ng.
"
Drawi
ng"s
hes
aid.
"
Yourdrawi
nglookst
err
ibl
e"I
res
ponde
dand
s
hefrownedbutIs
mirke
d.
"
Comeoverhe
re,Ti
ll
awantst
oplaywi
thyou"
I
sai
dcar
ryi
ngthedogandpat
ter
ningi
t.
"Don'
tcomeclos
etomewi
thi
t"s
hes
aidand
movedback.
"
What
'swr
ong?"I
ask
ed.
"Ar
eyouaf
raidoft
hedogyouboughtand
namedbyyours
elf
"Isai
dandshesmirke
d.
"Youmustbeki
dding,mebuyadog.That
's
i
mpossi
ble"shesaidandIwasremi
ndedof
howsheusedtoplaywit
hTil
la.
We '
llgobythebeachandspendallourti
me
touchingandrunni
ngaroundwithTill
abut
nows heprete
ndsofnotknowinghe rowndog.
I
gotangr
yandpl
ace
dTi
ll
aont
hegr
oundand
beganchasi
ngheraroundthinki
ngs hewas
goi
ngtomay bere
me mbe rsome t
hingbuts
he
j
ustkeptrunni
ngaroundinc i
rcl
es.
"
Rodri
gue
zstop,
ple
as es
top"shesai
dass
he
r
unsar
oundandIkeptonchas
ingher.
It
he nstoppedandwalkedawaywit
hTi
ll
a
becauses t
ayi
ngaroundherj
ustk
ept
re
mi ndi
ngmeof howsweetandl
ovi
ngwe
weretoe achother
.
Shewouldusual
lybetheonet
ochaseme
aroundwit
hTil
laandIwouldr
unaroundwhi
le
shepatt
edhimsowe l
l.
I
lat
erwalk
edbac ktot
hehous
eandgotac
all
f
romCel
ina'sf
ather
.
•
•CEL
INA•
Aft
erRodri
gue
zhadfol
lowe
dmearoundwi
th
thedog,I
gott
ire
dandwantedt
otak
eares
t
buthi
sauntj
ustwal
keduptomeimme
diat
ely
Iwasaboutl
eavi
ngt
hegarden.
"Ar
ey oual
ri
ght?"SheaskedandI
nodded.
Pat
iencewasn'
talwaysar
oundandIwander
whysheisback
.
"Ar
eyoubackt
ostay
?"I
ask
edands
he
nodde
dwithano.
"Howhaveyoubee
n.If
Rodri
guezt
reat
sy ou
badl
yyoushoul
dletmeknow"s
hesaidtaki
ng
myhand.
"
noauntyI
'mfi
ne"Isai
dfak
ingas
mil
eand
s
wingi
ngherhands
.
"
Okay.Yous
houldfol
lowmeint
othehouse
,
s
ome onewantst
os e
eyou"s
hesaidand
s
tar
tedwalki
ngback.
I
thenfol
lowedherbac
kandwebothwalk
ed
i
ntot
helivi
ngroomandmeetRodr
igue
z
se
atedal
ongs
idetheCommande
rge
ner
alwho
work
sformyfat
her.
Igr
eete
dhimthent
ookasi
tnearRodr
igue
z
whil
eaunt
yPati
enc
ekepts
tandi
ng.
"Yourfat
he rhasinvit
edy outwooverfor
di
nne randhewi l
lli
keyout wotospendthe
ni
ghtathi shous e"hesaidandI s
miledbut
Rodriguezdidn'texpres
sanys i
gnofhappine
ss
norjoybe causehene verli
kedmyfather
.
"Rodri
gue zlhopey ouc ouldr e
turnbacktothe
armyandt akeyourpl aceasge neral
ofthe
tr
oops "hecontinuedbys aying"Thegov e
rnor
als
ohope stohe argoodne wsf r
omy ou
concerni
ngCe li
nahav ingac hi
ldorgett
ing
pregnant".
Thisgotmer eallyangryandI
wantedt ost
andupandv e ntmyange ronhim
butRodr i
guezstoppedme .
Hehe l
dmyhandands toodupwi thmeand
thenhes aid"Idon'tplanonr eturni
ngt ot
he
army,Ijustwantt ostayandt akegoodc areof
mywi f
e .Asfortheinvit
at i
onI'l
lbet her
ewith
Celi
na"hes aidandwal k e
doutwi thme .I
felt
real
lyspe ci
alatthemome nthesaidthi
s,my
fel
tmyhe artbeatrai
sef orhim.
Hetookmeoutsi
dethe
npi nne
dmet othe
wallandhe
ldmyhandsveryti
ghtagainstt
he
wall
.Hethenk
iss
edmer oughl
yandI began
st
ruggli
ngt
opull
himoffbutheconti
nue d.
Serv
antsandmai
dswhowerewalk
ingint
othe
housepasse
dandsawus
.Helat
erstoppe
d
ki
ssi
ngme .
"
Letgoof
me "I
sai
dimmedi
ate
lyhest
oppe
d
k
iss
ingmeandl
ookedi
ntomyeyes
.
"
Ire
all
ywantt
ose
ewhaty
ouandy
ourf
athe
r
areplanningbutl
etmewarnyou.i
mme diatel
y
wege ttherewatc
hwhatyous
ayordo, i
fnot
I'
llk
il
l youbymyownhands"hethreat
ene d
andletgoof myhandst
henwalkedaway.
I
star
edathi
mve
ryangr
yashewal
kedaway
.
"
Rodri
guez
,whenwil
lyoust
optot ortur
eme
l
ik
ethi
s?"Ias
kednooneinpart
icularbut
r
ememberedwhatmyfat
hertol
dme .
"I
hopeyoucanbeagoodgi
rlandmarr
yhi
m"
myfat
hersai
dandIt
urnedt
olookathi
m.
"
Doy outhi
nkI
'mjustat
hingyoucanus
eand
s
ignoffy
ourde
alsfat
her
?"I as
ked.
"
Ple
asejustrespectmyde ci
si
ontomar ryhim
t
oyou.Doy ouk nowhowt hi
swillbenef
itour
f
amil
y"hes aidandc ont
inued"Nowour
f
amil
yisinachar es,doyouwantt hisf
amily
t
ofall
"hes ai
dr ai
singhi
svoiceatme .
"I
'vefi
nal
lyunder
stood,
whymamadi e
d
waiti
ngtoendhermarri
agewi
thyou"Isai
das
t
iesdroppeddownfrommye y
es.
"Howc
any
ous
peaks
uchabouty
ourmot
her
?.
Doyouthinky
ou'
requal
if
iedt
otal
kabouthe
r
"heyel
ledatme.
"
Youj
ustge
tre
adyt
omar
ryhi
m"hes
aid.
"Thatwil
lbeimpos s
ibl
e.Al
lIj
ustwantisto
fi
nds omeoneIloveandbuil
dafamilywith
thatpers
on.Iwanttohaveahappyfami l
y
whe r
ewebot hloveours
elv
esnottoge t
mar r
iedtoanas*hol
ecall
edRodri
gue z"Isai
d
andmor eti
esroll
eddownmyc hee
ks .
"Mydeci
sionisfi
nal
lyCel
ina,
you'r
egett
ing
marri
edtohimwe athery
oulikei
tornot
"he
sai
dandwal k
e doutofmyroom.
I
cont
inue
dtoc
ryandt
houghtof
howwi
cke
d
myfat
heri
sbytryi
ngtorui
nmyfut
ure.
Giv
ing
outhi
sonl
ydaughtert
osomeonewhodoes
n't
val
ueanyt
hingi
nli
fe.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
Cant
hingsre
all
ywor
koutf
orCe
li
naand
Rodr
iguez
?
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode7
^
°RAMSON°
^
"Openyourmouth"I as
kedt
heladywhowas
havi
nghercons
ultat
ionandshedi
d.
Ir
ecorde
di tdownandpassedhe rmedi
cal
bookl
et.
"J ustgett
hesedr
ugsf r
omthe
phar
mac yandy ou'
ll
bealr
ightaft
ert
aki
ng
t
hem"I
sai
dands
henodde
d.
"
DrRamson,yous
til
lhav
en'
tdonemyvir
gini
ty
t
est
"shesai
dandInoddednotl
ook
ingather
.
"
Don'tyouworry,DrMi
chaelisgoi
ngtodo
t
hatforyou,I
'malit
tl
ebitti
redtoday
"Isai
d
t
ryi
ngnott oat
tendtoher.
"
ButI
wantj
usty
out
odoi
t"s
hes
aidwal
ki
ng
t
owar
dsmysi
t.
"Li
ndajus
tgoandgett
hosedr
ugsok
ay"I
sai
d
andshenodde
dthensmir
ked.
"Heycany
ouge
tmet
ome
etDani
el
?"s
he
ask
e d.
"YoumeanDrDani
el
?"I
ask
edands
he
nodded.
"Idon'
tthi
nkI'
mabletome
etsuc
hfamous
doctor
s"Isai
dbendi
ngmyhead.
"
Butherei
sapic
tureofyouandhim"shes
aid
s
howingmethepic
tureonherphone.
Icoughedbef
oretal
ki
ng"I j
ustmethimthat
daybe c
auseoft
hebigeventwebothatt
ended,
wear e
n'tf
ri
ends"Is
aidandshelooke
datme
sad.
Rodri
guezj
ustsudde
nlywork
edinand
coughedal
ert
ingmethathewasar
ound.
"
DidI
int
err
upty
out
wo?"heas
ked.
"Nonoy
oudidn'
tint
err
uptus"I
saidand
si
gne
dapape
randhande di
ttoLi
nda
"Y
oucango"Is
aidands
hege
ntl
ywal
kedour
ofmyof
fi
ce.
Rodr
iguezt
urnedaroundtheoff
ic
elook
ingat
pl
acesli
kehelos
tsome t
hing.
"
It'
sgoodt
ose
eyouagai
nRams
on"hes
aid
andI
chuc
kle
d.
"Samehere,di
dyouc ometoconsultory
ou'
re
heret
os e
eme ?"Iaskedknowingthat
Rodri
guezhasnevermetmetodiscuss
i
mpor t
antis
sues.
Hej
usts
tar
edatmeandl
ookar
oundmyof
fi
ce.
"Doy oupsychol
ogie
sgets
ocl
osewit
hyour
pat
ients?"heaskedandIs
mir
ked.
"hmmi tdepe nds,t
hat'
sLi
ndaandIknowher
alotsot
he r
ei sn'
taprobl
emwithwhatyou
j
ustsaw"Isaidandhef i
nal
lys
atdownthen
cr
ossedhislegs.
"L
etmet el
lyoubeingromanticis
n'tagood
i
sn'tagoodthingatall
,youmus tmi ndyour
manne r
sandbec auti
onnottof al
lintoany
t
empt at
ion"hesaidandI di
dn'tunde r
stand
whathewass ayi
ngbutI j
ustlaughedati t
.
"What
?ar en'tyoumarri
edtoCe l
ina?"Ias
ked
aft
erl
is
teningtohisle
ctureaboutromance
andhejustsatquit
e.
Ichuckl
edwhil
elookingathi
m. "OkayL e
tme
takeawil
dguess.
..si
nceyout wogotmar r
ied
youhaven'
thads*xualint
ercours
e ,
it'
seit
her
Celi
nanotwanti
ngy outohav eherorshe'
s
beingst
ubbor
n,arrogantandov e
rprotect
ive
ofhers
elf
"
"
He y,
amI r
ight
?"Ias
kedandhet urne
dhi
s
c
hairtowar
dsmethenbroughthi
sface
f
orward.
"
y ou'
rereal
lyane
xpe
rt"hes
aidpoi
nti
nga
f
ingeratmeandIsmi
led.
kindl
yhinovel
srepubli
conWhat s
Apponpl us
twothreef
oure i
ghtzerofi
vefi
veeighte
ight
nineoneri
ghtthreetogetaddedtothenovel
s
gr
oup
"ButI
'mnother
etoas
kforadvi
cefromyou"
hesai
dandInoddedr
eadytohearwhathe
wantst
osay.
"Br
ingy
ourhe
adforward"hesai
dandI
dids
o
andhewhi
sper
edinsi
demye ar.
.
.
"
What
?"I
sai
drai
si
ngmyv
oic
e
"nonoIcan'
tdothatnott
oCe
li
na"I
ref
use
d
di
sagr
eei
ngwithhispoi
nt.
.
.
"Doy
ouwantmet of
inds
ome
onee
lse
Ramson?"heas
ked.
.
"
C'monman,she'
syourwi
fef
orc
ryi
ngout
l
oud"I
caut
ioned.
"Iknowandt hat
'st
hemorereasonwhyIwant
youtodoi t
"hesaidbutI
couldn'
tbeli
eve
Rodrigue
zwi l
lwantt
odos uc
hat hi
ngtohis
ownwi
fe.
"
I'
llgi
vey
ouacall
whenev
eryt
hingi
sse
t"he
s
aidandwal
kedoutof
myoff
ic
e.
Is
tar
edaroundthinki
ngof hows
hame f
ult
his
ac
tcanbe.Justthi
nkingofhowI
'l
lfac
eCeli
na
wasawholelotoftr
ouble.
.
.
•
•CEl
INA•
•
Iwe
ntbackandconti
nue
ddoingmydr
awing
whenaunt
yPati
encewal
keduptomeagai
n.
"Thisi
stwomont hsalreadypassi
ngbysi
nce
yougotmar r
iedandt here'
snonewsabout
yoube i
ngpregnant
, aresureev
erythi
ngi
s
alr
ightwit
hyou?"s heas ke
d.
I
turnedandst
aredatherf
orawhi l
ebe f
ore
t
alki
ng."Don'
tyouseemys uf
fer
ing,howdo
y
ouwantmet obepregnantwhenI'mbe i
ng
t
reate
dinthi
sway?"Iaske
dhe r
.
"Soyou'
rewaiti
ngt
ohav eanoppor
tuni
tyand
div
orceRodr
iguezr
ight
?"shesaidl
ooki
ngat
mydrawing.
"
Act
ual
lyI
knowy ouwoul
dn'tdot
hatbecaus
e
y
ou'
vef
all
eninl
ov ewi
thRodri
gue
zbutyou'r
e
y
ett
oadmiti
t"shesai
dandI r
emaine
dmut e.
"Al
thoughor dinar
ype opl
ewill
think
Rodrigue ztreatsy
oubadbuthel ovesyoualot
andhev aluesyoumor ethanhevaluesmehis
aunt"s hes ai
dandI pl
ace
dmyhandagai nst
myhe artbe f
orerespondi
ngtoher.
"
Soy
out
hinkRodr
igue
zlov
esme
?"I
ask
ed.
"Hee xperi
ence
smak eshimwhohei snow,
that'
swhyhet r
e atsy
out hatway ,
althoughhe
treat
syouliket
hathewi llalwaysconsidery
ou
asfamily"shesaidandI keptlooki
ngathe r
.
"
Hei
ssome
onewhohadgonet
hroughal
ot
andneedst
obeguided,
shownl
oveandbe
lov
ed"shesai
d,t
ouchedmyheadthe
n
walke
daway.
I
he l
dbac kmytear
sandbreathoutheavi
ly
t
hent r
iedtot
hinkaboutwhatauntyPat
ience
j
usttol
dme .
I
tocc
urredt
omet hatRodri
guezmightl
ove
mebutdoes
n'tknowonhowt otreatmefai
r
duet
ohisex
pe r
iencethroughouthisl
oveli
fe.
Hei sasoldie
rwhohade xpe riencewar ,
hatr
ed,
tortur
eande v
enbe trayals ohene edstobe
shownl oveandc areinot he rtoge thi
maway
f
r omt hi
nkinghisallalonei nt hisworldand
ev e
ryoneheme etswon' tlov ehimbutt ryt
o
kill
him.
.
.
Tobec
ont
inue
d
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode8
^
°Rodr
igue
z°^
Is
atonac hai
rintheli
vi
ngroom,watc
hinga
movieandwait
ingforCel
inatobr
ingmethe
j
uiceIor
deredhertobri
ng.
Whilel
ook i
ngathowt hec
ouplesdis
playt
hei
r
lov
eandaf f
e c
tion,I
sudde
nlyrecal
ledwhenI
andCe l
inawentt ot
hethe
aterandwatcheda
mov i
etogether.
ThatdayIbooke
dthewholecinemae
rjustf
or
herandwes t
ayedt
ogethe
rwhi l
ewatc
hingthe
movie.Shewasswe
ettowardsmeandI
al
way
sgav
einwhe
nev
ers
hee
mthe
atme
..
.
Ibroughtoutmyne c
klacehande
dt omeby
myl atemotherandworeitonhernec
kwhi
le
shes mil
esatme .
"Y
ougavemeyournec
klac
e?"s
heas
kedwi
th
asmi
leonhe
rface.
"I
tnowbe
longstoyoumyl
ove
,"I
sai
dand
nodde
dbl
ushing.
"Thi
sisat okenof ourlov
egi v
ent omef rom
you,I
'l
lche r
ishitwithmywhol ehe artand
als
ostayfaithf
ul toyoumyl ove,andonel as
t
thi
ng.Thisrepresentsapromi s
ef r
ommet o
youthatI
'llneverleaveyounomat te
rwhat
happens"s hesaidandI kis
sedhe rgently
abovehernos tr
ilsthenkis
sedhe ront he
mouth.
Af
terwebr
okeawayf
romt
hek
isss
hepl
ace
d
herheadonmyc hestandI wrappedle
dmy
ar
mar oundhershoulderthenwec onti
nuedt
o
watchthemovi
et ogether
,happilyandwit
h
beauti
ful
smil
esonourf aces.
Looki
ngathowe motional t
hos etwodisplayed
thei
rloveont hetelevis
ionpr ogramI was
convi
nc edthatevent helovet heysharecould
onedaydi sappearsOneof t
he mc ouldleave
andne verwanttor eturn,oneof themc ould
pret
endnott oac knowle dgetheot herand
denyk nowingore verbe i
nginl ovewithone
part
ne r.
Jus
tasIthoughtaboutthisCeli
nawalk
edin
wit
htheglassofj
uiceanddr oppedi
tonthe
t
ableandIpulle
dhe rtowardsme .
Kis
singhe
rroughl
yandnotl
ett
inggoe
veni
f
shewantedt
obr e
akof
f.
..
"
Rodri
guez,c
ouldy
ous t
opdoingt
his
?"s
he,
s
aidaf
terI
breakof
ftheki
ss.
"Cel
ina,
Look,"I
sai
dpoi
nti
ngatt
het
ele
vis
ion
andshelook
edatit
.
"
Doyoust
ill
reme
mbe rwhaty
ous
aidt
ome
?"
I
ask
edholdi
ngherar
ms .
"Rodriguez
,c ouldyous t
opthishabitofyour
s
wantingmet or eme mberthi
ngs,I'v
etoldyouI
don'tremembe ranythi
ngabouty ouandme "
she,saidbreathingoutheavi
lyandI l
etgoof
herarms .
"I
jus
tdon'
tunder
stand,Whydoyoutryto
hi
dethet
rut
hfromme ,"Is
aidy
ell
ingather.
"
ButI
don'tk
nowwhatyou'
ret
alk
ingabout
"
s
hebr
oughtuphe
rvoi
ce.
"
Finesi
nceyoudon'tknowthere
'snoneedf
or
y
out os
tayher
ejustle
av e
,"Is
aidtur
ningmy
c
ount
enanc
eaway
.
"Ar
eyoust
il
lgoi
ngtoaccompanymet
ose
e
myfat
her
?"sheask
e d.
"Sinc
eImadeapr omis
etoyourfat
hert
hatI
wasgoingtovi
sithi
m,I'
ll
keeptomy
promise,
"Isai
dandshenodded.
•
•THEGOVERNOR•
•
"Mr.
..
..we'
vebe enwaiti
ngheref
oral
mos tan
hournow,whe naretheygoi
ngtoarr
ive?"one
ofmybusines
spar t
ne r
saske
daswes tood
outsi
detowaitformydaughterandher
husbandRodri
gue z
.
Ilaughe
dandr es
ponded"Don'ty
ouworry
therewil
lsoonbeher
e,youshoul
dknowhow
girl
stak
etimetodomak eupandal
lther
est
.
J
ustaswekepttal
king,
Rodri
guez'
scar
s
toppedr
ightbe
foreus,andCel
inast
eppe
d
outof
thec
ar.
"
Dad"s
hecal
ledrunni
ngt
owar
dsmeands
he
i
mmedi
ate
lyhugsme .
"Howar eyoumyde
ar,
goinsi
deandwai
tfor
me,"Isaidands
hewal
kedawayint
othe
house
.
Rodri
guezt
henste
ppedoutoft
hec araf
tert
he
doorwasopene
dforhim.Hear
rangedhis
bl
acksui
tandwalktowar
dsus.
"WelcomeRodr i
guez,c
omeletmeint
roduce
youtos omeof mybusi
nesspar
tne
rs.Her
eis
Mr..
.
"I sai
dturningt
ointr
oducehi
mbutwhe n
Itur
ne dbackhehadwal k
edawayint
othe
house.
"Y
oual
lcango,
"Isai
dtot
hem,
ande
ver
yone
gr
umbl
edastheyl
eft
.
I
wal
kedi
ntot
hehous
eandhe
ade
dst
rai
ghtt
o
Ce
li
na'
sroom.
"Ce
lina"I
cal
lede
nte
ringhe
rroom,
Ifoundhe
r
onthebed.
"Howarey
oumydarli
ng?"Ias
kedhol
dinghe
r
handandl
ook
ingatherbodyf
oranys
cale
dent
.
Shenodde
dwi
thouts
ayi
ngany
thi
ng.
"IhopeRodri
gue
ztre
atsyouwel
l?
"Ias
ked
andshesti
ll
shokeherhe
adwit
houtawor
d.
"
DadIdon'
twantt
ostaywi
thhimany
more
,"
s
hesai
drai
si
ngherhe
adtolookatme.
"Whatar
eyousaying,mydaught
er?.Youknow
you'
remarr
iedtohim,howcanyous ayyou
don'
twanttoli
vewithhi
m."Iasked
"C'
mondad,YouknowI
don'twanttobewi
th
Rodri
gue
z.Whydoyoukee
ponpus hi
ngmeto
hi
m?"sheas
kedwi
tht
ear
yande
mot
ional
ey
es.
"Celi
najustbeagoodgir
landstaywithhi
m
fornow,afte
rI'
mdone .
Iguaranteeyouwon'
t
havetostaywit
hhimany more".I
'l
lmakesur
e
ofthat"Is
aidholdi
nghershoul
ders.
"That'
swhatyoupromisedmebe foreIgot
marri
edtohimbutwhe nwil
lthatbe,isi
t
whenmys uf
fer
ingsar
eabundant "shesaid
rai
si
nghervoi
ceandcryingoutloud.
Iwalkedoutoft
her oomandor dere
dt he
maidstoserv
edinne r
.Ihavenoplansof
l
ett
ingmydaught erdivor
ceRodri
gue z
,
i
nsteadlett
hemgiv emeagr andc
hild.
.
CEL
INA•
••
Ik
nowcryi
ngi
nfr
ontofmyfatherwon'
tmake
hi
mchangehi
smindbutI
justhadtotr
y.He
wal
kedoutofmyroomwi
thouts
ayi
ngawor
d
asI
begancry
ing.
Aft
erhelef
t,Iwalk
edbackt
othel
iv
ingroom
andme twit
hRodr i
gue
zwhowassi
tti
ngdown
quiet
lyandwatchi
ngamovie.
I
joi
nthimandsatontheothersof
a.He
r
emainedqui
teandcalm.Wewe rebot
hlat
er
c
all
edfordi
nneraf
tereve
rythi
nghadbeenset
.
Wehaddi nne
rwit
hjusthi
mandmyfather
convers
ingwit
heachothe
raboutmi
li
tar
y
aff
air
s.
Af
terIwal
kedbacktomyroomt os
lee
p,al
lof
asuddenRodr
iguezwal
kedin.
"Whatarey
oudohe
re?
"Ias
keds
tandi
ngon
myfeet.
"
Thi
siswher
eIwasdi
rect
edtosee
p,soI
s
houl
dbetheoneas
kingyout
hatque
sti
on"
.
hes
ayss
oar
ingont
hebe
dal
ready
.
"Butthi
sismyroom,i
fyousl
eepher
ethe
n
whe r
eshouldI
slee
p?"Ias
kedandhepoi
nte
d
atthedoor.
"Gofindyourse
lft
hegues
troom"hesai
d
ar
rangingthepi
ll
owcasetohi
shead.
"
What!
thi
sismyroom,
youshoul
dbetheone
t
ole
ave"Isai
dandwal
kedc
losetohi
m.
"
Youshoul
dbetalk
ingabouty
oursel
fbe
c aus
e
I
'mnotgoi
nganywhere.
I'
ms l
eepi
ngherefor
t
oni
ght"hesai
dcl
osinghi
seyes.
Is
taredathi
mfeelingastohithi
mbutI
'dhad
nochoic
ebuttoleavetheroomtohi
mand
sl
eepatthegues
troom.
Iwalke
dtowardst
hedoorandtr
iedope
ningi
t
buti
tseemstohavebe
enlocke
dfromthe
outs
ide.
"
Rodri
guezwhat
'sgoi
ngon?
"Ias
k e
dtur
ning
t
olookathi
mashelai
donthebed.
"
Whycan'
tIope
nthedoor
?"I
ask
edandhe
s
mir
ked.
"It
'sse
e msyourf
atherr
eall
ywantsa
grandchi
ld"heasser
tsandsaunt
erdownf
rom
thebed.
Movi
ngtowardsme,I
gotscar
edof
whathi
s
i
nte
ntionsof
comingtowar
dsmeweref
or.
"Whatar
ey oudoi
ng?"I
ask
e di
mmedi
ate
lyhe
pl
acedhishanddhi
ghabovemyhe
ad.
"F
ulf
il
li
ngy ourf
ather'
swis
h"hesai
drai
si
ng
upmyhe adwithhishandands
mili
ngatme.
Ikne
whewasde fi
nit
elygoi
ngto
appr
ox i
mate
lyki
ssmeagainjustashehad
al
waysdone.whatashame,Ican'tdo
anyt
hingtof
reemysel
ffromhim.
.
.
.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode9
^
°Ce
li
na°
^
"Whatar
ey oudoi
ng?
"Iaske
dimmedi
ate
lyhe
pl
acedhishandhi
ghabov
emyhead.
"F
ulf
il
li
ngy
ourf
athe
r'swi
sh,
"hesaidr
ais
ing
myheadwi
thhi
shandandsmil
ingatme.
Iknewhewasgoi
ngtoapproxi
mat e
lyki
ssme
agai
njus
tashehadal
way sdone.whata
shame,I
can'
tdoanyt
hingtofre
emy sel
ffr
om
hi
m.
"Openy oure
yesandgotobed,
"hesai
dand
whenI openedmyeyes
,he'
dmov e
dbackon
t
hebe d.
"wher
eshoul
dIsl
eep?"I
askedl
ooki
ngathow
heopene
duphisbodyonthewhol
ebed.
"
Youshouldsl
eeponthefl
oor,
"hes
aid
t
urni
nghisfac
eagai
nstthewal
l.
"What?I
shoul
dslee
pont hef
loori
nmyr oom"
Igr
umbledbuthepaidadeaf
e art
oal
lthatI
wassayi
ng.
Af
tergr
umbling,
I'
dnootheropti
onthanto
br
ingoutablanketf
romthecabi
netandpl
ace
i
tonthegroundsoIcoul
dsle
e pon.
I
lai
ditonthegroundanddozedonitnotunt
il
i
twaspastmidnightandRodr
igue
zroll
ed
f
romthebeddownt owhereI
wasslee
ping.
Hestar
tedkissi
ngmeasif
hewas
dr
unk .
..
headingdownt
omyunder
wearashe
wentonwi t
hk i
ssi
ngme.
It
ri
edmybesttopushhi
maway ,
try
ingt
ocal
l
hi
snamesev
eralti
mesbutheact
edasif
he
wasbei
ngi
nfl
uencedbydrugs
.
Isentmyhandf orwardandtouched
some t
hingsohardupabov ethecupboard,i
t
wasav ase.
Ipulle
di tt
owardsmeandhi tthe
backofhisheadwi t
hit.
Hefel
ltothesideoft
heblank
etandIbr
eat
he
outheavi
lyknowingt
hathehaspass
edout
.
I
sle
ptquie
tlyaf
terawhi
leofst
ari
ngint
o
s
paceandimagini
ngwhatcoul
dhavebeenI
f
I
'dl
etRodr
iguezhavehi
sway.
Rodr
igue
z••
•
I
wok
eupf
eel
ingas
ett
ingpai
natt
hebac
kof
myhead,andwhenIl
ookedaroundther
oom,
Inoti
cedIwasont
heground,
s l
eepi
ngri
ght
bes
ideCel
ina.
Myheadwaspai
ningsobadl
yandwhenI
sent
myhandtost
ret
chitCel
inaope
nedupher
ey
es,wak
ingupandseei
ngme .
"Mor
ning"shegr
eet
edmesmil
ingandIdi
dn'
t
unde
rstandther
eas
onbe
hindhersmil
e.
I
coul
dn'
tre
membe ranyt
hingthathappene
d
t
hepr
evi
ousni
ghtnorhowI wassleepi
ngon
t
hegr
ound.
Iwokeupandde ci
dednottothi
nkmuch
aboutit
,soI
we ntinandhadmybatht
hen
headeddownst
airstothedi
nerr
oomandhad
break
fastwi
thCeli
na.
Weweret
oleav
ebacktomymans i
onatnoon
sowedi
dn'
thaveanyact
ivi
ti
esort
hingst
odo
t
hewhol
emor
ning.
Aft
erbreakf
ast
,Ispe
ntmyt i
mewat c
hing
mov i
esandwalki
ngaroundthehousethenI
sawCe l
inat
ryi
ngsohardtori
deabicycle
.
Iwal
keduptohersmuggl
ingalongt
heway
whil
ewatc
hingherbe
ingafr
aid.
"
What
?youal
sol
aughatme
"shegr
umbl
ed.
"I
fyoucan'
tri
deitj
ustfor
getit
,none e
dtryi
ng
sohardandwast
ingyourti
me "Isai
dplac
ing
myhandsinsi
demypoc ketandlooked
upri
ght.
"Soyouals
othi
nkIshoul
dgiveuponleani
ng
howtori
deabicyc
le?,
thati
sn'
tpossi
ble"s
he
sai
dgett
ingont
hebicycl
eandtry
ingto
paddl
eit
.
Shef
ell
onthegr
oundafe
wme t
ersawayf
rom
meandIimmedi
ater
ushedt
oher
.
"Ce
li
naar
eyouok
?"I
ask
edl
ook
ingi
fshewas
hur
t.
"L
etgoof
fme ,
Icandoit"s
hesai
dst
anding
upandwant
ingtocl
imbbackont
hebic
ycle
.
"
Cel
inadon' tcl
imbonitagai
n,y
oumighthur
t
y
ourse
lf"Isaidstoppi
ngherf
ormount
ingon
t
hebicy
c l
e.
"Whydoy ouspe akli
keyoucare?,
Rodri
guez
doyoueve ncareaboutme ?"sheask
ed
l
ookingri
ghtstraighti
ntomye ye
sandididn'
t
knowwhatt osaybuthadt othi
nkof
somethi
ng.
Idi
dn'ts
ayai
n't
hingbutgl
anc
edathe
r
s
il
entl
y.
letmete
achyou"Isai
daf
ters
het
ri
edge
tti
ng
onthebi
cyc
leagai
n.
"
,its
eemshec
are
smor
eaboutmyf
athe
rthan
me"shemurmur
edt
omyhe
ari
ngwhi
les
he
l
ooksaway
.
Ihelpe
dhe rgetonthebicycl
eandtrai
nedhe
r
onhowt orideit
.Webot hhadfunr
idding
aroundtheneighborhood.
..
Shewasjustashappyassheus edtobewhil
e
wewe redat
ingandIlovedthisver
sionof
her.I
lov
edthisCel
inawhone vercare
dabout
anythi
ngbuthappiness
.
Shewouldf
indeve
rypossibl
eme anstobe
happynomatte
rwhatitcausedherorwhat
shewoul
dlossi
nothertobehappy .
Cel
inatheoneandonlygirl
I'v
ec ometolov
e
somucht hatI
can'tl
etgoofherevenifs
he
bet
raysmeandr unsaway,I
'l
lsti
llt
rac
emy
waytofindi
ngher.
Wef
ini
she
dri
dingt
hebi
cyc
leandwe
ntbac
k
tothemansi
ontotakeourbat
hin
pre
parat
ionst
oleavebacktoourownhous
e.
Ce l
inadress
edhers
e l
fupinacol
ore
dblue
longfashi
onabl
egownwhi chmadeherl
ook
gorgeousandsocuteinf
rontofme.
"Whydoyoust
areatmei
nthatmanne
r?"s
he
ask
edandIsmir
ked..
.
"I
t'
ssuchapit
yy ourdre
ssi
ngis
n'tcomple
te,
youj
ustlacks
ome thi
ngtomakey oul
ookli
ke
apri
ncess,
"Iconfess
edandsherushed
t
owardthemirror.
"
what'
swrongwit
hmydre
ss i
ng?"s
heas
ked
l
ook
ingather
sel
fi
nthemi
rror.
"It
hinky
oujustdon'tl
ikeanythi
nggood
aboutme,l
ookhows tunningI
'minsi
dethi
s
dres
sbutyetyousti
llc
ompl ai
n,"s
hesai
dandI
gentl
ewalk
e dtowar
dshe r
.
Ibroughtoutane ckl
aceandworeitonher
neck,i
twast hesamek i
ndastheoneI'd
previ
ouslygi
v enherwhenwewe redati
ng.
I
wande r
edifshewoul dst
il
lte
llmeshedoesn'
t
remembe rif
I ask
edhe r
.
"Nowyoulookper
fectinmyeyes"I
sai
dand
smooche
dhe ronherfore
headandshe
blus
hed.
Iwalkedoutoft
her ooml eavi
ngherbl
ushi
ng.
Istee
redtothecaroutsidetowaitf
orhert
hen
Isuddenlyr
emembe r
edy est
erday'
s
happeningbuti
twas n'tsocl
ear.
Igoti
ntothecarandwait
edf
orCel
inat
oc ome
j
oinme .
..
maybes hewoul
dgotos
eeherfathe
r
befor
ewet woleave.
.
.
Shel
aterj
ointmebutIdi
dn'
twantt
obri
ngup
matt
ersfr
omy es
ter
daywhil
eweweres
til
lat
he
rfat
her
'shous
e.
SoIl
efte
ver
ythi
ngtowhe
nwe '
ll
reac
hmy
mansi
onandwee v
ent
ualdi
d.
Igotoutoft
hec
ars
amet
imeass
heal
sogot
outthecar
..
.
I
clut
chedherhandandpinnedherbyt
hec
ar
t
henlooke
dde epi
ntohereye
s .
.
.
"Rodri
guezwhatdoy outhi
nky
ou'r
edoing?
.It
hurt
s"shestr
uggl
e dandmanagedtos
ayafew
wordsasIhel
dhe rti
ght.
"Whatdidyoudotomeye
ster
day
?"Iask
ed
fur
iousandurgi
nghe
rtot
ell
meallwhat
happened.
"
Rodri
guezj
ustletgomyhandi
tre
all
yhur
ts"
s
heyanke
dout .
"
Notunt
ily
out
ell
met
het
rut
haboutwhat
e
xac
tlyhappe
nedl
astni
ght
?"I
demande
d.
"Youwanttoknowwhathappe ned,t
hetr
uth
i
sIkil
ledy
oulastnight
,yesImurder
edyou
Rodr
iguez
,Idi
ds o"shesai
dandI s
coff
ed.
"Le
tseewhomass
acre
swhot
oni
ght
"Is
aid
andle
tgoofhe
rhands
.
"
Whatarey ouspeculat
ing?.
Doy ouwantto
k
il
lmeov ernightRodri
guez,I
'my ourwi
fenot
y
ourtoyRodriguez"shemut t
eredandI
s
mirk
e dputti
ngmyr ighthandinmypock e
t.
"We'
ll
seet
oni
ght"Iwhi
spe
redandwaddl
e
awayi
ntot
hehouse
.
Ent
eringt
hehous
eIbr
oughtoutmyphonet
o
cal
lRamson.
RAMSON•
••
I
'dc
los
eforwor
kandpr
epar
ingt
ole
avet
he
of
ficewhe nmyphoneunexpec
tedlyr
ings
.I
broughtitoutof
mypocketanditwas
Rodrigue
zwhowasc al
li
ng.
Answeri
ngthec
all
,Igotaf
rai
dof
whathe
mightaskme.
"He
lloRodri
guez
"Is
aidimme di
ate
lyIpi
cke
d
upthephoneandpl
aceditonmye ar
.
"
Ramson,Inee
dyoutonight
.Youmus
tdoi
t
t
oni
ght"hesai
dhas
tings
.
"Rodri
guezwhydon'tyouthi
nkthi
sove
r
agai
n?"Isai
dtr
yingtopleadedwit
hhimnot
toconti
nuewit
hthisawfulpl
anofhi
s.
"Rams onthe
reisnoneedt
ryi
ngtoar
gueor
pleadwithme ,
mymi ndi
sal
readymadeup"
hes ai
d.
"
Haveyouthoughtofhowy
ourwi
fewil
lse
e
y
ouaft
erthi
s..
.I
twil
lseemt
oherl
ikey
oudon'
t
tr
us thernott
ot alkoflov
ingherRodr
igue
z,
pl
e asetakebacky ourdeci
si
onondoingthis
,"
Isaidbuthesti
llInsis
tedIdoit
.
Look
slikehi
smindhasbeenmadeupal
ready
andIcan'
tdoanyt
hingt
os t
ophi
mbutto
complyandworkwi
thhispl
an.
Rodr
igue
zmaynotv
alueCe
li
nabutI
do.
.
.
.
Tobec
ont
inue
d
Oneminutehe
'sbei
ngniceandthenexthe
bec
ome sasol
die
rinthebat
tlef
iel
d.I
feelf
or
Cel
ina.
.
.
"
Wil
lRams
ondowhati
sas
kedof
him?
"
"
Whatdoy
out
hinkRodr
igue
zint
endst
odot
o
Ce
li
nat
oni
ght
?"
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode1
1
une
dit
ed(e
xpe
cts
omee
rror
s)
^
°Ce
li
na°
^
Look i
ngaroundasIwalk
e dclosetothetal
l
oldtree.I
thadbeenafavori
tes potf
ormet o
vi
sitovertheyear
swhenev e
rI wasangryor
feel
inglonel
y.
Ist
oodunde
rthetre
ethi
nkingof
howmyl i
fe
hasbec
omewhilel
ivi
ngwit
hRodrique
z.He
bul
li
esmeandhardl
yseesmeashuman.
MaybeI'
mnotfi
tforhi
morj us
tanite
mf or
hi
mt ouseandt
rash,t
hink
ingaboutall
thi
sI
bur
iedmyheaddownt
omyt
highsasI
'dl
ean
ontheol
dtal
ltr
ee.
I
fIknewthiswashowI '
ll
betr
eat
edI
could
havekeptf
ight
ingnottomarr
yamanli
ke
Rodri
guezasmyfatherwant
ed.
Myf at
here venpromisedi
twasjustgoi
ngto
beamar riagethatwouldl
astformonthsbut
whe nwepai davi
sitt
ohimthislas
tsumme r
,
hewast alkingaboutmegett
ingpregnantf
or
thatbastard.
NeverdoIimagi
nemy s
elf
c ar
ryi
nghi
schil
d"I
cont
inuedtothi
nkasI'
dstayedal
oneunder
thewatchf
uleye
softheol
dt al
ltr
ee.
Icouldn'tholdbac kmyt ear
sasI kepton
regr
e t
tinge v
e raccept
ingmyf ather
'sdeci
si
on
tomar rymeof ft
oRodr i
guezforthesakeof
ourfami l
y'ssurvi
val.
"Cel
ina"Rodr
iguezvoi
cec
oul
dbehe
ldf
roma
dis
tancetowhereIwasbe
ndi
ng.
"Howdidhef
indhe
re?
"Iwande
redr
ais
ingup
myhead.
Isawhimlook
ingatmeinaver
ymome ntous
way.Icoul
dn'
ttel
li
fhewasgoi
ngtobull
yme
agai
norlockmeupforgoi
ngoutwi
thouthis
conce
rn.
I
wasaf
rai
dof
whathewi
ll
doi
fhegotany
c
los
ert
owher
eIwas.
"
Comewithme"hesai
doffer
ingt
ohel
pme
s
tandupashe
'dse
nthishandfor
war
d.
Ibr
oughtoutmyhandwhic
hwasrappe
d
bel
owmyk neeandpl
aceditonhi
swhi
chwas
bef
oremyface.
Hee
manatedwi
thmeandwalkedawaywi
th
mewit
houts
ayi
ngawordbutc
ontinue
dto
hol
dmyhand.
Maybehewasangrytot
heexte
nthecoul
dn't
sayanyt
hingbutt
akemeawaytopuni
shme
ormaybehedidn'
twanttos
ayawordsti
ll
we
gothome.
Wegottowherehepark
edhiscarandhese
nt
meinandtookhisownsi
tandbegandri
vi
ng
home.
Withthewayhewass il
ent,
Ijus
tdidn'
twantt
o
sayanythi
ngthatwouldcausehi
mt ost
art
t
alkingorangri
lyl
ookatmes oIjus
tst
aredat
t
her oadwhilehedri
ves.
Hetookmes omewhereel
seot
herthanhome
.
Wehighl
ight
e ddownfr
omthecarwithhi
m
ope
ningmet hedoor.
"Whe
redidyoutakemeto?
,wher
eist
his
pl
ace?
"Iask
e dbutheke
ptqui
teands
eiz
ed
myhand.Pul
li
ngmewi
thhi
mtowar
dst
hebi
g
ol
dme nt
ion
Hetookmetothebac
kofthement
ioni
nst
ead
oft
akingmei
ntothement
ion.
WhatI s
awwasi ncr
edibl
e.Anamazingsmell
andar ef
res
hingbreez
eblowatthebac koft
he
me nt
ionasalli
tbackhadcolour
ful
flowers
plant
edallover
.
"
Doyouli
keit
?"Rodr
iguezs
aidf
ort
hes
econd
t
imesi
ncehemeetme .
"Ye
sIdo"Isai
d,movingawayfromhimand
goi
ngfur
the
rtolookatthebeauti
ful
flowe
rs.
JustwhenIpl
uggedof
foneandi
nhal
editI
fel
tahandsowarmmovingf
rommystomach,
downtomywaist.
I
twasRodri
guezl
eaningatmybac
kashedi
d
i
tfort
hefi
rstt
imesi
ncewegotmarri
ed.
"I'
ms orr
yIt r
eatedy oubadCe l
ina. I
wisht
o
seey ouhappye v
e r
ydaybuti tseems
whe ne ve
rI bri
ngbac kourpassitc ausi
ng
proble msforusbot h,soI'
vede cidednotto
tal
kaboutany thi
ngt hathastodowi t
hour
past"Rodr i
gue zsai
ds urpr
isi
ngmewi thhi
s
words .
I
twasthefi
rstt
imeIhe
ardhi
msays
orr
yandI
neverc
oul
dbe l
iev
eamanlik
ehi
mknowshow
toapol
ogi
ze.
"I
fitisgenuineandfromt hede pt
hof your
heartthenI amwil
lingtoforgetal
lthatyou'
ve
donet omeandf orgiveyou"I sai
dasI
swiveledaroundtolookathi m.
"
Ipromi
senottolookdownonyouorbull
y
y
ouandI,Rodri
guezwil
ltr
eaty
ouwit
ht he
l
ovi
ngheartof
howahus bandi
stot
reathi
s
wi
fe"hes
aidashel
ookedde
epi
ntomye
yes
wi
thaver
ytearf
ule
yes
.
"
Ilov
eyouCeli
na"Hes ai
dbringdownhisli
ps
t
omineandwepassionatel
yk i
sse
dshowing
l
oveandaf
fec
tiont
oe achother.
"
Ilovey
out
oo"I
sai
dhuggi
nghi
maf
tert
he
k
iss.
.
.
..
..
.
..
..
.
.
..
..
.
å
Cel
ine
•√
Look i
ngaroundandfeel
ingbor
edafte
r
wak i
ngupf r
omahot el
roomwhe r
eI s
pentt
he
nightwit
honer andomguyImetatthebar
l
as tni
ght.
"
Gosh,Li
fei
sf*
cki
ngGoodwhenyouhav
ethe
r
esour
cestoge
twhatyouwant
"Isai
dbr
ing
outmone
yIc
oll
ect
edf
romt
heguy
.
"I
'mdarngoings hoppingtodaywithallt
his
moneyIhavewi t
hme .Lif
eisJustsogood
whenyouhav ethetoolsandy oumak egood
useoft
hem"I saidspray i
ngmone yonthe
whit
eblanke
tont hebe d.
"L
etmet akeabat hf
ir
stthenheadoutforf
un"
Is
aidwalkingtothebathroomandtaki
ngoff
myclot
ht oenterandtr
ussdownt hewarm
waterf
romt heshower.
.
.
..
..
.
..
.
.
.
..
..
.
..
..
.
..
..
.
..
..
.
..
Cel
inaandRodr i
guezbothspe
ntthewhol
e
dayoutgoi
ngs hopping,
eat
ingouti
n
res
taur
antsandv is
iti
ngsomeamazings
iteas
twolov
elycouples.
Whi
let
heywe
regoi
ngs
hoppi
ngt
heyc
oll
ide
d
withCeli
neatthedoorbutdidn'
tseeeac
h
otherasCel
inewasaboutleavi
ngthe
shoppingmallwhi
letheywereenter
ingt
he
mall.
"Celi
naletgoin"Rodr
igue
zsai
dast
heybot
h
highl
ight
edfromt hec
ar.
"Youcangoahe adIfor
gots
omethi
ngi
nthe
car"Cel
inasay
st oRodri
gue
zandhenodes
andwalk si
n.
Celi
nathe ncoll
ectsherhandbagfrominsi
de
thecarandhe adsintotheshoppi
ngmal l
as
shebypass e
sCe l
inewhol ooksex
actl
yli
keher
thr
ought heglassspinni
ngdoor.Celi
nawalks
i
nnots eeingCeli
neandgoe st
ome tRodri
guez
whoawai tsher.
Cel
ineontheothe
rhandwal
ksoutoft
hehal
l
andkis
sesthenec
klac
eonhernec
kthatwas
give
nt oherbyRodr
igue
zwhi
let
heywe
re
together
.
"Youar
emyl uc
kychar
m"shesay
sandwal
ks
awaywitht
hebagsofi
temss
hecarr
ies
.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
Di
dyout
hinkCe
li
nes
awRodr
igue
zorCe
li
na?
Whe
nwi
ll
the
yfi
nal
lyge
ttok
nowt
het
rut
h?
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode1
0
une
dit
ed(e
xpe
cts
omee
rror
s)
^
°Ce
li
na°
^
"L
ookingar
oundt
heroomandhowithad
beendecor
ate
dmademesohappy,
final
lyI
waswi
ll
ingt
oacceptRodr
igue
zasmy
hus
bandandtos
pe ndmywholel
if
ewi
thhi
m..
.
Everywher
ehadbe e nde c
or at
edinredli
k ei
t
wasourwe ddingnightonc eagai
n,Rodrigue
z
hadmadear rangeme nt
sandal lI
'dtodowas
changeint
ot here
danc e s
tralweddi
nggr own
whichlook
e dsobeaut i
fulasitl
adont hebed.
Igotintothebathroom,dri
zzle
dmy se
lft
hen
woret heredancestr
alweddinggr
ownont he
bed.Sitt
ingdownont hebedI smi
ledwait
ing
forRodriguezt
oc omein.
Iknowhewi l
ldef
inite
lycomebec ausehe'
d
arr
angedforal
lofthis.May
beifIgivehi
mmy
bodytodayheisgoingtostopbe
ing
aggre
ssi
vetowardsme .
I
'msur
ehe'sgoi
ngtolov
eandcher
ishmeas
hi
swif
eandnotatoyhecant
ollwi
th
ev
eryt
ime"I
thoughtandbur
iedmyhe
adi
n-
bet
weenmythi
ghs.
Mome nt
slat
erI f
elts
omeoneope
ningthe
doorandIguestRodri
gue
zwasaroundsoI
di
dn'tbot
herraisi
ngupmyhead.
I
want edtos
eewhathe'l
ldowhe
nhewalke
d
i
ntotheroomandfoundmeswathe
dint
he
c
lothshe'
dkeptonthebed.
Hi
sfi
rstst
epwaswal k
ingt
owardsmeandI
di
dn'
tdaretorai
seupmyhe adeve
natthe
ve
ryi
ns t
anthesenthi
shandfor
wardt
ot ouc
h
me.
"
Mrs.Rodr
igue
z"I hear
danunknownvoi
ce,
a
v
oic
eI '
dnoideaaboutwhowascal
li
ng.
Ii
mme di
ate
lyr
ais
eupmyhe adandfoundout
anunk
nownpe r
sons
tandi
ngrightbe
foreme.
"
Whoar
eyou?
"Ias
ked.
"
Where
'sRodr
igue
z?"Ias
kedhi
mre
que
sti
ng
f
orani
mme di
ater
espons
e.
"youmustc
almdownMrs.Rodr
iguez
,I'
mhe r
e
toexami
neyou"hes
aidandanursewalke
din
aft
er.
"
Exami
neme
?"
"whyandwhe
re'
sRodr
igue
z?"I
ask
edonc
e
more.
"Rodr
iguezisbus
ywi t
hsomethi
ngsohesent
meheretodoav ir
gini
tyt
estonyou"hes
aid
andIscuf
fed.
"
Vir
gini
tyt
ext
?"
"Hemustbeoutof
hismi
nd"I
sai
dge
tti
ngal
l
angr
y.
"Pl
eas
ecal
mdownMrsRodri
guez"hesai
d
get
ti
ngmeeve
nmoreupsett
hatIwas.
"Sothi
siswhatRodr
iguezplannedforme.
FineI
'l
lobeyhi
sorder"I
saidallowi
nghimto
dowhate v
erhewants.
"I
'l
lshowhimwhatel
igi
blet
hingshewas
doi
ng"I s
aidf
eel
ings
opisse
dof f
.
Il
ethi
mcarr
youtt
heque r
ywhileI
thi
nkof
whatt
odotoRodr
iguezaf
ters
uchdis
grac
e
he'
dcaus
edmeheretoday.
Knowingful
lywellt
hatIcoul
dn'tdonothi
ng
toni
ghtbutcryoutmyeye ss
inc
eRodr i
guez
will
alwaysgetawaywit
hwhats oeverhedoes
tome .
Ijustcan'tsi
tbackthi
sti
meandwat chhi
m
ke e
ptr e
at i
ngmet hi
sway.I
'l
lst
andmygaud
andf i
ghtformyr i
ghtsev
enifIwasnomatch
foratigerli
kehim.
Rodr
igue
zhast
reat
edmewaybe
yondwhatI
t
houghttobeabrokenheart,
heissel
fi
shand
adevi
ltotre
atmeuptothisexte
nd.Iwon't
wantt
os eehime
v e
ragai
ni nmylif
e.
•
√Rodr
igue
z•√
Is
atatt hefr
ontoft
hetelev
isi
onathome,
watchinganadvent
urousmov i
ewhenCelina
walk
e dinlooki
ngsoangryandpis
sedoff
.s he
wasc ominginonmeforwhathappenedlas t
ni
ght.
Ipret
endednott
oseeheranddiv
ert
edall
my
att
enti
ononthetel
evi
si
ondramathatwas
dis
playi
ngonthete
lev
isi
onscr
een.
"
Rodri
guezhowcoul
dyou?
"shey
ell
ed
s
tandi
ngbefor
eme.
"whydidyouhavetodothi
st ome
Rodri
guez
? "s
heaskedbutIdidn'
tpay
att
enti
onoracknowle
dgehe rpre
senc
e.
"Rodri
guezI'
mt alk
ingt
oyousolookatme
whil
eI t
alk"s
hes ai
dtaki
nguptheremote
contr
ol,s
heturnedofft
hetel
evi
sion.
"
Howdareyou"Isai
dstandi
ngupand
s
hri
eki
ngatherf
ordoingsuch.
"
Whatar
eyougoi
ngt
odo?
"
"Goondoitjustdoi
t"s
hes
aidasI
rai
sedmy
handsathe
r...
"Justdoit,Ik
nowI '
mj ustat
ool
toyou.You
candoany thi
ngyoulikeandgosc
outfr
ee"
shel
e toutandIbroughtdownmyhand.
"Yesyouarer
ight
,Icandoany
thingI
want,
so
youshouldmineyourwor
ds"Isai
dands
he
giggl
ed.
"Y
ou'
reabl
underRodr
iguez"s
hes ai
dslappi
ng
meonmycheekandpoint
edafingeratme .
"Rodri
guezdon'tthinkI'
ll
washy oudoall
yourevi
ldeal
tonme .Howone arthcoul
dyou
sendsomeonetoe xamineme?. Don'
ti
deser
vesomeres pectandsel
fdignit
y?"she
sai
dandI s
nicke
re d.
"
What?,
youdidn'
tli
kemysurpr
ise
?"I
ask
ed
s
mil
ingathe
rasshefrowne
d.
"You'
retoocre
wt oevenbeahumanbe ing
Rodri
guez,y
ou'rehar
dless.I
madeami stak
e
everthi
nki
ngof l
ovi
ngyouinthef
ir
stplace
andIbeli
evedyoumightchangef
orgoodbut
no..
.
"Y
ou'
rej
ustawic
k e
ddevi
li
nhumanf
orm"s
he
muck
edbefor
eleavi
ngmysi
ght
.
Herwor
dsreal
lywe
ntdownmys pi
ne,l
eav
ing
memuteandunabl
etoyeas
tatherass
he
walk
edawayfr
omme .
She'dne v
ertalkedtomei nthatmat t
er
nei
therhasany onesai
ds uchhar shwordsto
mebe fore.I
fanyonediditwas n'tt
omy
heari
ngs .
May beshehasgots omegut sto
st
andi nmyf aceandsays uc
hwor dsandeven
daretos l
apmei nthefac
e .I
'dbe tt
erfi
nd
whe r
es hecameoutf r
omwi ths uchalt
it
ude.
^
•Rams
on•
^
"
Whathav
eyoudoneRams
on?
"
"
Howcoul
dyoudos
uchathi
ngt
oyours
ist
er-
i
n-l
aw?
"mymomasked.
"MomIdi
dn'
twantt
o,i
t'
sRodri
guezwho
f
orce
dme"Isai
dple
adi
ngforhert
ofor
giv
e
me.
"
Thatni
eceof
your
s"s
hes
lot
ted.
"Howoneart
hc oul
dheplansuc
hat
hingon
hisownwi
fe"shewande
re d.
"What'
sther
esul
t?"sheaske
ds t
il
lconcer
ned
aboutt
hepossi
bleoutcomebutI c
ouldn'
tte
ll
herbec
auseI
'dnottoldRodr
iguezeit
her.
"
Itnotouty
et.Whent
heyar
eoutI'
ll
lety
ou
k
nowt hemasap"I
sai
dandshenodded.
"
Ijustdon'tunde r
standwhyy ouc hoosetodo
t
hisdisputethelovey ouhav
ef orCe l
ina"she
s
aidremi ndi
ngmeof thoset
ime sI wantedto
t
akeawayCe li
nafromRodr i
gue zbe c
auseof
t
heways hetreat
edhe r
.
"MomcanI
tak
emyl
eav
e?"I
sai
dands
he
nodde
d.
Iwal
k e
doutofhersi
ghtt hi
nki
ngofwhatI'd
j
ustdone.Fors
omer easonIwant
edCe l
inato
le
avehimbutshe'dbecomemys i
ster
-i
n-law
andthere
'snot
hingtobedoneaboutit
.
å
Rodr
igue
z•√
Iwalk
edbackhomeafte
rr et
urni
ngf
rom
see
ingourheadofar
my" Commander"who
hadorder
edtoseeme.
"
Cel
ina,Cel
ina"is
tar
tedc
all
ingf
romdown
s
tai
rsasIheadedtol
ookf
orheri
ntheroom.
"Gree
tingsgene
ral
"Lauragree
tedmeasIwas
abouttowalkupthest
airst
otheroom.
"wher
e'sCel
ina?
"Ias
kedass
hebowe
dhe
r
headwhil
efaci
ngme.
"
Shewe
ntoutgene
ral"shesai
dandfors
ome
r
eas
onIcoul
dn'
tbel
ie
v eheratf
ir
stgl
anc
e.
Celi
naneverl
efthomeandnowt hatshe
's
angryatmeshewe ntout
.It
houghttomy s
elf
.
"Di
dyous
eehe
rleav
e?"I
ask
edands
he
nodde
dwit
hayes
.
"
Dids
hec
arr
yany
thi
ngwi
thhe
rwhi
les
he
le
ft?
"Ias
keds
uspe
cti
ngs
hemi
ghthav
eran
away.
"Yesgener
al,
ifI
remembercl
earl
yshewas
holdi
ngaredhandbag"shes
aidandmy
react
ionwassofl
inc
hed.
"Whydidn'ty
ous t
ophe r
"Iass
ert
edand
rushe
dbac koutofthehous
eandhas
til
y
headedformyc ar
.
Cel
inamus
tn'tgoany
wher
e,s
hei
smywi
fe
andmusts
taywithme.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
I
sCe
li
nar
eal
lygone
?
Ir
e al
lywantt
oknowwhatwi
ll
happenwhen
Rodrigue
zget
stoknowt
hetr
uthaboutwho
reall
yCeli
nai
s?
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
 •[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode1
2
^
°Ce
li
na°
^
"Rodr
iguezwhe
rear
eyout
aki
ngme
?"I
ask
ed
ashe'
dt i
edupmyeyes
.
.
.
"Rel
ax,don'tge
tscar
ed,y
ou'
ll
lik
ethepl
ace"
hesaysandwec onti
nuet
owalkwit
hmye y
es
crumpled.
.
.
"Ar
en'
twether
eyet?
"Ias
ke daf
terwal
ki
ngf
or
awhil
eandnothe
ari
ngasingl
esound.
.
.
"Wai
taminute,
Don'
ttakeof
fthebl
inds
til
lI
'm
back
"hesaysandmovesawayfr
ommeandI
st
oodbli
ndf
oldedwi
thnoonetohelpme
movefor
ward.
.
.
"Rodri
guezar
eyouthe
re?
"Iaskednotf
eel
ing
norheari
nganycl
amsvoi
cetal
kles
sofa
sound.
.
.
It
ri
edmov
ingf
orwar
dandRodr
igue
zst
oppe
d
me.
.
.
"Whatdoyout
hinky
ou'redoi
ng?"hes
aidand
pre
ventedmef
romfall
ing.
.
.
"I
cal
ledy
ourname
,whydi
dn'
tyouans
wer
?"I
as
ked.
.
.
"Ij
ustwentouttogets
omethi
ng,
youc an
openyoureyesnow"hesai
dashetookout
thebli
ndonmye yes
.
.
.
"
HappyBi
rt
hdayCe
li
na"hes
aidi
mme
diat
elyI
ope
nedupmye
yes
.
.
.
Iwassosur
pri
seathe
ari
ngt hi
sfr
omhimand
ext
remelye
xci
tedbywhathehasdes
igne
d
andprepar
edformybir
thday.
.
.
"
Howdidyouk nowtodayi
smybirt
hday?
,I'
d
e
venf
orgotaboutit
"Iaske
dlook
ingathi
m.
.
.
"Youdon'thavetoaskmesuchquest
ions
,
whatamI yourhusbandf
or"hesay
sandblus
h
i
namaz e
me nt
.
Kindl
yHiNovel
sRepubli
con+2
34805
5889183
onWhatsApptogetaddedt
oournovel
sgr
oup
andgetPDFli
nks
"Wow,di
dyouar
rangeal
lof
thi
s?"Ias
kedand
henodde
dwithasmil
eonhisf
ace
.
.
.
"
Comehaveasi
t"hesai
dtomeope
ningup
t
hechai
rsoIc
ouldsi
tdown.
.
.
I
wal k
edtowardshi
mandhugge
dhi
mbe
for
e
s
itt
ingdowntobeserv
ed.
.
.
Hewal
kedal
sot
ohi
sowns
itands
atdown.
.
.
"Ar
en'
tyougoi
ngtoser
vemes
ome
thi
ng?"I
ask
edandhechuc
k l
ed.
.
.
Hethenc l
appedhishandsandflunghis
f
ingersandashedidthistheli
ghtwentoff
and
acolourraysof
li
ghtshineatuswhileot
hers
wereglowingfr
omadi stanc
e.
.
.
"Todaythi
siswhatIprepar
edforyou"hesays
bri
ngingupabigtraycover
ed.
" Maybeitwas
chic
keninItors
ome thi
nghuge"Ithought
.
.
"
CanIopenItup?
"Ias
kedy e
arni
ngand
c
uri
oustose
ewhatsurpr
isehehaspr
epar
ed
f
orme.
.
.
"
Youarefreet
oopenIt
"hesayspl
aci
ngt
he
t
rayi
nfrontofmeandIsmi
rke
d.
.
.
Iopenedt
hetrayst
yli
shl
yasIsmi
le
dathim
butwhatIs
aws hoc
kedme .I
twasj
ustat
inny
l
itt
leboxi
nsi
dethebigtr
ay.
..
.
.
Rodr
iguezwentdownonhi
skne
esandt
ook
thet
innyli
tt
lebox.
.
.
Monthshavepass
edsincewegotmarri
edand
Inev
e rgott
odothef
or mal
it
iesasamanso
t
hisi
swhatI hav
etosaytoyoutoday
.
.
.
Pe oples ome t
imesmarrynotbe causethey
l
ov ee ac hotherbutbecausetheyareforcedto
i
nor de rtoarr
angeorpleaseothersbutthat
mar riageoutof wedloc
kc analsoturnedinto
some thingamaz i
ngandt hati
swhatI '
vegotto
l
e arn.
.
.
SoMr s.
Ce l
ina,wi f
eofGe ner
al Rodr
iguezwi
ll
youmarrymef ort hesecondt i
measI promi
se
tolov
eandc ar
ef oryoufromt oday
hencef
orth"hes aidallt
hisasheope nedup
theti
nnyboxandar i
ngeme rgetomyv i
e w.
.
.
Beingspeec
hlessasIwas.I
justs
howe dmy
handforwardandblushe
dt r
eme ndousl
y.
.
.
Hei
nsett
heri
ngi
ntomyhandands
toodupt
o
methe
nlook
edatmyfac
e.
.
.
"I
loveyouandt
hankyouformak
ingmesuch
ahappyman"hesay
staki
ngmyhandsand
ki
ssi
ngmeonmyf or
ehead.
.
.
AsIblushed,
Irepl
i
e dwi
ththesamewords"I
l
ovey outoo"hear
ingmesaythis
,hehugge
d
metightanddidn'
twanttole
tgo.
•
¶AWEEKL
ATER•
¶
å
Rodr
igue
z•√
"
Hel
loRamsoni
sev
ery
thi
ngs
et?
"Ias
kedov
er
t
hephone
.
.
.
"Ye
s,e
very
thingi
sre
ady
"hes
aidandI
smi
le
d
att
hehear
ingofi
t.
.
.
Ever
ythi
ngthatIwantedwasgoingaspl
anne
d
andnothi
ngwast ost
opt hi
sfant
ast
ic
pre
parati
onsIhaveconcoct
ed.
.
.
Movi
ngint
omywor erope,I
aimedatt he
whit
esi
ngl
etandredsuit
.Weari
ngt he
mon
mybodyandli
ft
ingupmyt i
e,Iwrappedit
ar
oundmyneckinane nt
ir
eminute.
.
.
Tak
ingmyc
las
sicandmos
tex
pens
ive
per
fume,Is
pray
editabov
emys houlde
rsand
smi
rkedasIl
ookedatmyref
lec
tiononthe
mir
ror.
.
.
Looki
ngatonesideofmyhai
rmess
edup,I
quic
klyarr
ange
di tandt
urnmybac
kagai
nst
themirr
or.
.
.
"Cel
inaar
eyounotfi
nis
hedye
t?"Iaskedt
he
conf
usedwif
eofminewhowassit
tingonher
makeupde s
kandunablet
odeci
deonwhatt o
usef
ortoday'
sout
ing.
".
.
.
.
"Justgi
vemefiv
emoremi
nutes
,I'
ll
soonbe
done "s
hesay
sandIc
huck
ledandwalked
towardshe
r.
.
.
"It
hinkfi
v eminuteswil
lnotbeenoughfory
ou
todothisall
byy oursel
f.
Letmeassis
tyou"I
sai
dturninghersitagai
nstmeandlooki
ngat
herdeepinthee yes.
.
.
"
Rodr i
guezdon'
ttr
ytodi
stur
bme,le
tme
f
inis
hwi t
hthi
ssowecangoout"s
hesay
sand
I
s mir
ked.
.
.
"
Whyar
eyous
mil
ing?
"sheas
ked.
.
.
"BecausewhenIlookaty
ou, y
ouremindme
ofaladyfr
omt hepast
,alonglos
tbeaut
if
ul"I
sai
dt ak
ingouthermakeupitems.
.
.
"Andwho'st
hisbeauti
ful
los
tladyf
romyour
past
?"sheaskedasIappl
ymak euponher
.
.
"
She'
snotf
r ommypast
,ev
ery
onek nowshe
r"
I
sai
dgri
zzl
ingathe
rst
unni
nglook
s.
.
.
"
Don'tbes i
ll
yRodr
igue
z,Iknowe ve
ni f
she'
s
f
romy ourpasty
ouwouldn'ts
til
lagr
ee"s he
s
aidandI pl
acedafi
ngeronhermont h.
"
Don'tt
alkagai
n,y
oumightr
uiny
ourmak
eup
i
fyougetangr
y"Is
aids
oothi
ngher
.
"
Whos
aidI
'mangr
y?"s
her
esponde
d.
.
.
"Szhshz
h,Ic
ans eei
tfr
omy ourfac
e ,i
fyouge
t
angryIwoul
d'beunablet
ofini
shy ourmake
upont i
me"Isai
dmak i
ngsurethatshewon't
res
pondortalkagai
nsti
ll
I'
mdone .
.
.
"Cl
oseyoure
yes"Is
aidandshedi
dexac
tly
whatIask
edofherwit
hgraz
ingl
ook.
.
.
I
lookedatmywatc
handitwasal
mostge
tti
ng
t
othetimeInee
dedtometRamsons
oasto
f
ini
shupwithmypl
ans.
.
.
IknowCe l
inamightnotli
kewhatIkepti
n
st
oreforherbutIhavetodothisi
notherf
or
hertogettoknowthetruthofwhatI
'vebeen
tr
yingtotell
her.
.
.
"Ce
linaIhopeyoudon'tgetmadatmebutI'
ll
bemor ethanmadift
hisplanofmi
nefai
lst
o
workout"I whi
spe
redwithinmeasIs
tar
eat
Celi
nac
ove
ringhe
rey
esandwai
ti
ngf
ormet
o
fi
nis
h.
.
.
.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
I
don'tk
nowwhathi
spl
anningorwhe
rehei
s
t
aki
nghert
osonobodyshoul
daskme.
Idon'
tev
enk
nowi
fhe
'sbe
ings
inc
eret
ohe
r
ornot
.
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode1
3
^
°Ce
li
na°
^
Welodgeint
oahot e
l t
ospendtheweek
end
the
resinc
eRodriguezwasplanni
ngt
oretur
n
backt
owor kfe
wwe e ksf
romnow.
"
Howdoyouseet
heroom?"heas
kedandI
s
mil
edwhi
lel
ooki
ngaround.
"
Itnice,Il
ikethedes
ignandt
hefr
eshair
,
i
ncludingtheoutsi
deview"I
sai
dlook
ingout
t
hegl asswindow.
"I
knowy ouaregoi
ngt
oli
keit
?"hesay
s
walk
ingpassmeint
othebat
hroom.
Aft
ersomeminut
eshewal
kedoutandf
ound
mesi
tt
ingont
hebe d.
"
Comelet
'sgooutandme
etmyc
ous
in"he
s
aidandI
nodded.
Fee
li
nge x
cit
edtoseehiscousinand
wander
ingwhyRodriguezhasbee nt
reat
ing
mesonicel
ylat
ely
.May beIshouldn'
tthi
nk
abouti
t,any
way
sIt
'sgoodhet
reat
smeni
cel
y.
Webothwalkeddownthehall
wayanddown
t
othehote
l'sbaronl
yforRodr
iguezt
o
i
ntr
oducemet othes
ameguyt hatwal
kedi
nto
t
heroomandas kedt
odoav ir
gini
tyte
ston
me.
"Rodr
iguezwhat
'st
his
?"I
askedl
ooki
ngatt
he
mansiteddownwit
hfewbot
tl
esofdr
ink
sin
f
rontofhim.
"Di
dyoubringmehe resohecoul
dcarr
yout
anot
hertes
tonme ?"venti
ngoutmyangerasI
watc
hedhimandr e
c all
edofwhathe
'ddone
tomethatnight
.
"I
t'
snotwhaty out
hinkCeli
na,he'
smyc ousi
n
andhewoul dn'
tdothatwit
houtmyapproval.
Justs
itdownandrelax"Rodri
gue
zs ai
dtryi
ng
tocomfortmebutIref
used.
"
Itseemsli
keyou'
rej
ustpre
tendi
ngtobenic
e
t
omei nothert
oachi
evesomethi
ng"Isai
d
y
e l
li
ngathim.
"Whatarey
outal
kingabout?"heaske
d
wanderi
ngandfe
elinggui
lt
yforheknowshe
hasof
fendedmeandI wastel
li
ngthetrut
h.
"Iheardyouclearandl
oudov e
rthephone"I
saidre
c al
li
ngonwhatjusthappenedbef
ore
wegott othebar.
"Celi
nawaitaminute"Rodriguezsaidand
walkedawayfromme .Beingc ur
iousasI
was..
.If
oll
owedhimtos eewhohewasgoi ng
t
ot al
kwiththathehadtomov eawayf r
ommy
si
de .
"Hopeyoupr
eparedevery
thingt
hewayI
aske
dyou,Cel
inamustnotknowaboutthi
s.
..
don'
tmakeanymistak
esorelseyou'
ll
rui
nall
myeff
ort
sthi
spassday
s"hesai
dtothecal
ler
onphoneandIhe
ardhimloudandc
lear
.
"SoRodr i
gue
zisbeingnicet omef orareas
on,
nowande rhedoesn'treactaggressi
ve
towardsmethisdays,sohehashad
every
thingpl
annedout .
"I thoughtbefor
eI
rushedbacktowaitforhim.
"L
etgoI'mdone"hes ayswal
kingtowardsme
whil
esmil
ingandIfak
e dmysmi l
etakingmy
ar
mi nt
ohisbefor
ewewal kdownt othebar
.
"
Soyouoverl
oppedonmycallCeli
na,don'
t
y
outrus
tmewhe nIsai
dIwasn'tgoi
ngtohurt
y
ouagai
n"hesai
dandI mov
edbac k.
"
Youli
edRodr
iguez,Rodr
igue
zyoul
ie
dtome
"
I
sai
dtaki
ngst
e psback.
..
"
Cel
inaletmeex
plai
nmysel
ftoyou,
yougot
e
ver
y t
hingal
lwr
ong"hes
aidtry
ingt
otouch
mebutI
didn'
tal
lowhi
mtodos
o.
"What'st
her
etoexpl
ainRodr
iguez
,You
al
r e
adybrok
eyourpromis
e"Isai
dsheddi
ng
tears
.
"Ist
il
lstandt hatIhave n'
tbrok enanyof my
promisetoy ouCe l
ina,ifyouc ouldc al
mdown
andhearmeoutt he nwec anfixthisbuti
fyou
thi
nkIhav ewr ongedy out hent hatwouldbe
met ol
e ave"Rodr i
gue zsaidashel ooksatme
withatreme ndousl ook .
"Ishouldn'thav etaughty ouc ouldloveme
bac kagainjustasbe f
or eCe l
ina,I'
ms uchan
i
di otforgivi
nguponourpas tandwant i
ngto
startafr
eshwi thyoubutI jus
tf oundoutthat
thingscan'twor koutt hewayi tus e
dt obein
thepas t
,Iams uchaf ooltohav ethought
the r
ewasanot herchanc eforus"Rodr i
guez
say
swi t
hav er
ysadlookonhisfac
eashe
walke
dhi swayoutofthepri
vat
eaudi
tor
ium
hehir
edforthethr
eeof us
.
Aft
erhewalkedaway,
I f
oll
owedwhi
lehi
sso
cal
ledcousi
ndidn'
theadout.
Iwal
kedoutof
thebarandfoundapl
aceoutsi
det
hebartos
it
downandc r
youtmye yes.
√•RAMSON•
√
Af
terwatc
hingt
hos etwoquarrelandwalkout
oneachri
ghtbeforeme ,Idi
dn'tknowwhatto
dowithal
lthes
ur pri
sesRodri
guezhad
pr
eparedandplannedfor,maybeifIhada
gi
rl
fri
endIwoul
di nvi
teherover.
Icoul
dn'
tstayins
idetheempt
yhal
lei
thers
oI
walke
dintothemai nf
all
wher
eeve
ryonewas
danci
ngandc e
lebrati
ng.
I
tookas
itandor
der
edf
oradr
inks
oIc
oul
d
cal
mdownmys e
lfali
tt
leormaybee nt
ert
ain
mysel
fbyl
ook
ingaroundatthebeauti
ful
gir
ls.
"Wait
er,
giv
emeaglassofic
e"Isai
dandhe
noddedtur
ningt
omixitupbef
oregi
vi
ngme.
It
urne
dt ol
ookaroundwhi
lehewasbus
y
pr
epari
ngmydrink.
"I
sn'tt
hatCe l
inaovert
her
eandwhat '
sshe
doingovertherewit
hanot
herguyjustaf
ter
fi
ghti
ngwi t
hRodr i
guez
?"Iwander
e d.
"
Siry
ourdr
inki
sready"thewai
ters
aysandI
t
urntoc
oll
ectt
hedrink.
"Thankyou"I
sai
dcol
lect
ingthedr
inkand
tur
ningbackt
oseewhatCeli
nawasreal
ly
goingt
odowitht
hatguy.
I
eve nmovedcl
osertowher
etheywher
e
s
itt
ingandsecr
etl
ytookapi
ctur
eofbot
hof
t
hembe ingi
nti
mate.
Iqui
ckl
ys entt
hephototoRodri
guezsohe
coul
dreturnbackandseewhathiss
oc al
led
wif
eisdoingwithanot
herman.
Aft
e rwatchi
ngt
hemforawhile,t
heyboth
decidedtomoveuptothe
irroomandI
fol
lowedthemincas
eRodriguezarr
iveI
'l
ltak
e
himt her
e.
Theygotpas
stwobodyguar
dsst
andingby
these
venthf
loorandI
als
otri
edkee
pingup.
"
He yMr.pl
easet
urnbackthi
sisapr
ivat
e
f
loor"oneoft
hemsaidblock
ingmyway.
"
Butthos
etwoj
ustgotpas
sedy
oubot
h"I
i
nqui
red.
"He'
saVI
Pme mberof
ourhotel
,pl
easet
urn
bac
knows i
r"hes
aidr
eques
tingIl
eav
e
i
mme di
ate
ly.
I
pre
tende
dtobel
eav
ingbutwhe
nIt
urne
d
mybackagai
nstt
hemI t
ryt
orunpassthe
mso
Ic
oul
dr e
achuptoCel
inabutt
hecaughtme.
"Ce
li
na,
Celi
na"I
kepts
hout
ingast
heyc
arr
ied
meaway.
Imadesurenott
oleav ethefl
oorbuttohi
de
andwaitf
orRodri
gue ztoarri
ve.I
sentmy
handsi
ntomypoc kettobringoutmyphone
andcal
lhi
mbutI couldn'tf
indit
.
"itmusthav
efall
enof
fwhil
eIwastr
yingt
o
beatmywaythrought
hos
eguards
"I
wander
ed..
.
.
.
.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
I
sRodr
igue
zgoi
ngt
ore
tur
naf
ters
eei
ngt
hos
e
pi
ctur
esorhedoe
sn'
tcar
eany
mor
e?
Whodi
dRams
ons
ee,
Cel
ineorCe
li
na?
I
st hetr
uthfi
nall
ygoi
ngtoberev
iewe
dgiv
ing
thatRodri
guezandCel
inaar
einbadt
erms
now?
Wil
lRodr
igue
zreuni
tewi
thhisl
ongl
ostl
ovei
f
t
heygettoseee
achothe
r?.
Kindl
yHiNovel
sRepubli
con+2
34805
5889183
onWhatsApptogetaddedt
oournovel
sgr
oup
andgetPDFli
nks
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode1
4
^
°Ce
li
na°
^
AsIwalkedtowardsthebackofthehote
land
foundaspottosi
tandc ryoutmye ye
s.j
ustas
Iremai
nedont heground,Ihear
dv oi
ces
mourningandtalki
ngbes i
deme.
.
.
WhenI l
if
tedupmyheadtolookatwhoitwas,
Isawagroupofmensmil
ingatmes t
yli
shl
y
andtheywe r
ewal
ki
ngtowardsmewhi chgot
mes c
ared.
.
.
"Whoarey
ouandwhatdoyouwant
?"I
ask
ed
st
andi
ngupandmovi
ngbac
k war
d.
.
.
"Heypr
etty
"Oneof
the
ms ai
dtouc
hingmy
hai
randthi
smademeswal
lowdownmy
sal
iv
a.
.
.
"
Comewi t
husbe auty,y
ouwouldn'thavet
o
c
ryagai
n"anothersai
dt hi
sbri
nghisfac
eri
ght
c
ome st
omi neandI c
ouldfee
lhisbreat
he.
.
.
Thi
sgotmeal
lfr
ight
ene
dast
heyk
epton
appr
oachi
ngme.
.
.
"
Leav
emeal
one
"Is
hout
edmov
ingawayf
rom
t
hem.
.
.
"Wher
edoy outhi
nkyou'
regoing?"anot
her
sai
dcrappingmyhandbutIhithimsohard
andst
artrunningaway.
.
.
Theyall
star
tedc
hasingmeandI kepton
runni
ngtoanunset
tl
ingdestinat
ion.They
keptonchasi
ngmeandwhe nIturnedbehi
nd
onlyt
woof t
hemwe r
es t
il
lfoll
owingme .
.
.
Itur
nedandlookedi
nfr
ontonlytoseet
he
other
sstandi
ngandwai
ti
ngtoc at
chme .
I
changedmydire
cti
onandtheyall
conti
nuet
o
f
oll
owme
.
.
.
Irantowardsthes
wimmingpool
sit
eandt
hey
alls
urroundedmeleav
ingmewit
hnowayto
runagain.
.
.
"Wheredidyouthi
nky
ouwer
er unni
ngto
pre
tty
? "oneoft
hemaske
dastheyal
lsmil
ed
atme.
.
.
"
pleas
eletmego?"Ibe
ggedthi
nki
ngof
what
t
heywill
doif
theygott
hei
rhandsonme.
.
.
Atthi
smome ntIprayedRodri
guezcouldj
ust
appearandsavemef r
omt hi
sroughens.
Looki
ngatthemallsmili
ngandmov ing
towardsme,Ihar
dnoot herchoi
cethanto
j
umpi ntot
hewat e
r .
.
.
Knowi ngful
lywel
lthatImi
ghtnotbeabl
eto
stayinthewaterf
orlongIs
til
lj
umped
be c
aus et
heywe r
enootheropti
onsl
eftf
orme
todo.
"
Whatawaste
"I he
ardoneof
the
msayasI
s
tay
edins
idethewate
r.
"
Letgo"anot
hers
aidandt
heyal
lwe
ntaway
.
Af
terthe
yhadwe
ntaway
,Ic
ameoutof
the
wateral
lwe
t.
å
Rodr
igue
z•√
Dri
vinghomewi thoutCeli
naandthi
nking
aboutwhatjusthappe ne
dmademel oss
control
.Ipar
kedt hecarbyther
oadsideand
angri
lyhitt
hewhe e
ls.
.
.
Amassagebi
ndint
omyphoneandwhenI
l
ooke
datwhatitwas,
Icoul
dn'
tbel
ie
vemy
ey
es.
.
.
If
eltl
ikes
omeonehadst
ampe dmebehi
ndmy
back,
itwasapi
ctur
eof
Ce l
inaf
li
rt
ingwi
th
anot
hermanr
ightaf
terI
jus
tle
fthe
rint
hebar
.
.
.
Thisgotmesoangryandj
eal
ousk
nowi
ngthat
Celi
nahadneverbeensoc
los
etomesi
ncewe
gotbacktoge
ther
.
.
.
It
urnedthecarandbe gandr
ivi
ngbac
ktothe
hotel
andthinki
ngof whatI
'l
ldoimmedi
atel
yI
setmyeyesonCe l
ina.
.
.
WhenI gotbac kthereI
start
edsearchingf
or
herandc ouldn'tf
indheranywhe
r e
.L ooki
ng
ar
oundi fIcouldatleas
ts eemycous i
nwho
sentmethosepi
ctur
esbutal
ltonoavai
l,he
toowasmissi
ngevenint
hepri
v at
ehall
I'
d
bookforus
.
.
.
I
thenwalke
dt ot
hebac kofthehote
land
f
oundite
mpt ywit
hnoonear ound.I
c
onti
nuedtolookaroundforCel
ina.
.
.
Fromadist
anc
eI f
oundhers
tandi
ngbythe
pools
ideandIi
mme di
ate
lyr
ushedove
rthere
.
.
.
"
Rodri
gue
z,youar
ehere
"shesai
dandIj
ust
c
rappe
dherhandanddi
dn'
tsayany
thi
ng.
.
.
If
oundoutt
hatshewaswetandthatdi
dn'
t
bot
hermeasIpull
edheral
ong.
.
.
"Rodr
iguezst
op,you'r
ehurt
ingme "shecri
ed
outbutIcont
inue
ds ti
ll
wereachedtheroom
i
'dbookforustospendthenight
.
.
.
Pul
li
ngherint
otherooms
hef
ell
ont
hebe
d
andIl
ock
e dthedoor.
.
.
"
Whatarey
oudoi
ngRodr
igue
z?"Sheas
kedas
I
remove
dmyshir
t.
.
.
Ii
mme di
atel
yheldhe
rfr
omstandi
ngby
pushingherbac
konthebedandtour
inghe
r
dre
s sinangr
y.
.
.
"Rodri
guezpl
eas
eno"Shepleade
dasI
openedherle
gsandwenti
ntoherands
tar
ti
ng
ri
dingher
.
.
.
Shecri
edout,
hit
ti
ngandscr
atc
hingmeal
l
overmybackbutIdi
dn'
tst
opasIwasnot
s
ati
sf
ied.
.
.
Icont
inue
dwithmyaggr
essi
onandshee
nded
bygiv
inguponhi
ti
ngmeass hes
taye
dsi
lent
ly
onthebedandIke
ptonri
dingher
.
.
.
Shecri
edoutinsi
le
ntasshehel
dtheblanket
fi
rmlyandti
ght.
.
.Ic
onti
nuedst
il
lIr
ele
as eout
my s
elfi
nsi
deofher
.
.
.
Imovedawayfr
omher,le
avingheral
lal
one
onthebedandwande
ringhows hewasst
il
la
vi
rgi
n.
.
.
Thisgotmet hi
nkingifal
lwhatIsawwasj
ust
fakeoranactbymyc ousi
n,Ik
eptwander
ing
howone ar
thwass hesti
ll
avir
ginand
regre
ttedmyac t
ions.
.
.
•
EARL
YMORNI
NG•
Cel
inahadsatonthechai
rthewhol
eni
ght,
cr
yingsi
le
ntlyass
herappedhers
elf
wit
hthe
bl
anket.
.
.
I
fel
tsogui
lt
ytogoc l
oset
oherandbegf
or
s
hemightgetangr
ythemorei
fIal
ter
eda
wor
d.
.
.
Iwalk
edi nt
othebat
hroomandche
cked
myselfonthemir
ror
,ther
ewer
ewoundsal
l
overmybac k.
.
.
.
.
Cel
inahadwoundedmes obadl
yovert
he
ni
ghtasshewastr
yingt
oresi
standpus
hme
away.
.
.
Looki
ngathowthi
ngshadtur
nedoutIdi
dn'
t
knowhowtofac
ehe rasI
wasmoreashameof
mysel
f.
.
.
Iwalke
doutofthebat
hroomandshewassti
ll
si
tt
ingonthechai
randcryi
ngwi
thoutmak
ing
anysounds.
.
.
JustwhenIwantedtosaysome
thi
ngtohera
knockcamefromthedoorandIwal
kedto
openitasCel
inadi
dn'teve
nrai
seupherhead
.
.
Iopenedt
hedoorandwassurpr
iset
ose
emy
cousi
nwhomI'dl
ookedfort
hewholeofl
ast
night
.
.
.
"Rodri
guez,
Ifoundy
ourwif
e,s
hewasfl
ir
ti
ng
withanot
herman"hesai
dpull
ingal
adyal
ong
withhim.
.
.
Irai
sedupmyhe adandl ookedatthel
ady,I
wass oshockandsurpri
seatwhatIsaw.I
couldn'
tbeli
evewhatmye yeswe r
eseei
ngsoI
tookbackmyhe adintotheroomandlooked
atthechair
.
.
.
Cel
inawassti
ll
sit
ti
ngtherei
nade v
astat
ed
st
atewhil
etheyoungladywasst
andingri
ght
att
hedoorlooki
ngexactl
ythes
ameasCe li
na.
.
.
Looki
ngathe rIgotc
onfusedonwhowas
Celi
naandwhowasnot .
..
IfI
'dmetanybythe
roadI'
ll
call
he rmywifebecaus
eIcouldn'
tte
ll
thedif
fer
ence.
.
.
Tobec
ont
inue
d.
Whatnow?
Whos
egoi
ngt
obehi
swi
fe,
Cel
ineorCe
li
na?
Rodri
guezhasjus
tmadet hebiggestmist
ake
ofhi
sli
feandIthi
nke venif
hec hoosesCel
ina,
shemightnotwanttobewi t
hhi many more
notaf
terwhatshejustwentthr
ough.
Ki
ndl
yHi
Nov
els
Republ
icon+
234
805
588
918
3
onWhats
Apptogetadde
dtoournov
elsgr
oup
andge
tPDFli
nks
∆ F
AKEBRI
DE ∆
•[L
OVEMENOT]
•
WRI
TTENBYWI
LSONL
IBRARY
Epi
sode1
5 &EPI
LOGUE
^
°Ce
li
na°
^
Wewe real
lsett
ledatt
hehot
elandRodr
igue
z
r
e que
stedtotal
ktoCeli
neal
one,s
oIandhis
cousi
nwalkedout.
I
twasshock
ingformet oseethatCeli
newasa
r
epli
cat
eofme .Iwascuri
oustok nowwhos he
wasandwhyshelookedli
k emes oIdidn'
tgo
f
arbutst
ayedtolis
tentothei
rconv e
rsati
on.
Rodr
igue
zs atdownont
hechairwhi
lecel
ine
st
oodupfrommyobs er
vat
ionandthey
weren'
tsayi
nganyt
hingt
oeachother
.Itwas
asi
ftheyknewsomeonewaswatc
hingov e
r
the
m.
"I
'mamaz edathowli
fehast
oil
edwit
hme "
Rodr
iguezbrokethes
il
encet
hathadbee
n
bet
we enthem.
"Ine
v e
rcouldi
maginethaty
ouwereasol
die
r
andnotjus
tthatbutagener
alf
ort
hatmatt
er"
shesai
dandhes mirk
ed.
"Idev
our edmy selfinfindingoutyour
whereaboutal lt
hisy earsyoulef
tmeand
whenI thoughtIfinallyfoundyou,thi
ski
ndof
thi
ngfinallyhappe ns"hes ai
dshakinghi
s
headinr egret
.
"Butit
'snott
oolat
e,wecangobacktot
he
wayweus edtobe,Ik
nowyousti
ll
loveme.
Let'
sretur
ntoourol
dlif
eandbehappy
t
oge
the
r"Shes
aidi
nsi
sti
ngandl
ook
ingathi
m.
I
letoutaheavybreat
hasIawai
thi
sre
spons
e
t
owhats hej
ustre
que s
tedf
or.
"Yeah,
the
nwhataboutmycur
rentwi
fe?
"he
as
ke dl
ooki
ngi
ntoherey
es.
"Youthoughtofhert
obemeRodr i
guezbut
nowI'mfinal
lyback,
youcansendherout
. I
'm
yourreall
ovetheoneyou'
vealwayshadi
n
yourheart
,I'
mhe r
enowRodriguez"shesays
andholdhishands.
I
feltl
ik
erunningawaybutij
usthadt
owaita
l
it
tl
ewhi l
etohearwhatRodr
iguezwi
ll
say
.
"Yeah,y
ou'reri
ght,s
he'snottheoneIlove"he
sai
dandt hisst
atementgotmes ohear
t
brokenthatIhadtorunoutwithoutev
e n
heari
ngallwhatthey'
ll
talkabout.
"
SoRodr
igue
zjus
tse
esmeashi
stoy
,
somethinghecanuseatanytimeands e
nd
out,
sohedoe sn'
thavetr
uefee l
ingsforme
buther"Isai
dasIranandstoodbyt hepool
si
de.
Cryi
ngandremembe r
ingallwhathad
happenedbetwee
nmeandRodr i
guezf
rom
thedaywefir
stmet.
Thissongc ameupinmy
headasIrememberedourjourneytoge
ther
.
I
NEEDTOKNOW
Whe
rei
sthel
andI
comeF
rom
Whol
iv
ewhe
nIwasbor
n
Whydidmymemor
yst
artwi
thas
tor
m..
.
.what
i
fIhav
eafami
ly
Some
whe
rebe
yondt
hes
ea.
.
.
Coul
dthe
rebes
ome
onet
her
emi
ssi
ngme
Te
llme
WhyI
'mnots
lee
pingmyhe
arti
sli
ki
ngi
nsi
de
me.
Coul
dbet
hiss
omeof
thos
eti
mest
hatwef
ell
besi
de
c
hor
us:
Ine
edt
oknowt
hisans
wer
s
I
nee
dtof
indmyway
s
eiz
emyt
omor
row.
.
.le
arnmyy
est
erday
I
nee
dtot
aket
hisc
hanc
es
L
etal
lmyf
eel
ingss
hou```
Can'
tte
llwhat
'swai
ti
ng
Ti
ll
Ine
edt
oknow
I
nee
dtok
now````````
AsIconti
nuedt
orememberallt
hatther
eis
bet
we enmeandRodr
iguezIpul
ledoutthe
weddingri
ngfr
ommyfingerandthr
owitaway
de
epdowni
ntot
hewat
er.
"NoCe li
na,don'
t"Rodri
guezs
houtedfr
om
be hi
ndasher us
hedtowardswher
eI was
standingandjumpedint
othewater
.
Hekepts
ear
chi
ngfort
her
ingbene
atht
he
wat
erandIwat
che
dhimascri
edoutmyey
es.
"Y
ou'rer
eal
lysomethi
ngmissCeli
naormaybe
Is
houldcal
lyouMrsRodr
iguez"Cel
ines
aid
walk
ingandstandi
ngbes
ideme .
"Di
sput
eal lmytrickstoconv i
ncehimtocome
backwit
hmehes ti
ll
choos esyou.
Congr
atulati
ons,youar ereall
ythewomanhe
l
ovesandI hopey outakec areofhi
mforthe
res
tofyourlives
.I wi
shy ouahappymar r
iage
l
ife
"shesay sandde ci
det owalkaway.
"Wai
t,wher
ear
eyouheadi
ngt
onow?
"Ias
ked
andt
he ns
hesmir
ked.
"Youdon'tneedtok noworwor ryaboutme .
Wearenots i
ster
snorar ewer elate
dbybl ood,
youmus tr
eme mbe rwej ustl
ookal i
ke.I
wouldn'
tcauseanyt roubleforyoubothand
youwon'tbese ei
ngmee veragain.I
'mmov i
ng
awaynowt hatI'
vefinall
yunde rst
oodwhat
lovei
str
ulyallabout,may bewhe reI'
mgoi ngI
canme e
ttheoneme tforme ,goodby eMrs
Rodri
guez"shesaysandwal ksawayafter
giv
ingmeas mile.
I
turnedandlooke
datRodri
gue
zwhowasst
il
l
s
earchi
ngforther
ingbe
neatht
hewat
ert
henI
s
aidtomy s
elf
"If
hes uc
cee
dt ofindtheringthenI'
llac
cept
himwholeheartedlyandwe 'l
lle
avetogethe
r
for
everbuti
fnotthe nI'
maf r
aid..
.I
'l
lj
usthave
togiv
eupallthatthereisbetweenus."
Her ai
seuphi sheadandl ook edatmeasI
star
e dathimt oo.Thelookonhi sfaceshowe d
thathehadn'ts eenthering.ThereIknewt hat
Godhasde cide dourfate.Wear en'
tme antfor
eachother.Hepul lbackbe neaththewater
andnotgi v
enupons ear
chinge venif
hewas
ti
red.
Hestaye
dunde rfortoolongwhichmademe
worr
ied.Imovedc l
osertothewaterandt
ri
ed
l
ooki
ngi nt
oitbutIcan'tseewhatwas
bene
athasi thadav er
yde epdepth.
Suddenl
y,hi
shandshoweduple
avinghi
s
enti
rebodyunderwat
er.
Heopenedhishand
hol
dingtheri
ngandwhenIsawi
t,Ile
douta
smil
eonmyf ace
.
"
Ifoundit,
Cel
inaI
foundtheri
ng"Heshout
ed
c
omi ngoutof
thewateral
lwhack
edandwe t
.
*
SIXMONTHSL
ATER*
Abe auti
fyyoungladywasint heki
tche
n
cookingwhe namani nmili
taryunif
ormst
ip
t
oe sintotheki
tchen.
..
sneakingasifhi
s
missionwastok i
llher
.
"HoneyI'
mback"Hesay
sdr
oppi
ngt
hebagon
hishandande
mbraci
ngher
.
"Whattookyousol
ong?,I
real
lymi
ssy
ou"she
sayss
howingheremoti
onsasshee
mbrac
es
himtoo.
"I
mis
syout
oosomuch"hesaysi
nhal
ingt
he
ar
omacomi
ngf
romthefoodshei
scooki
ng.
"
Youmissjus
tme ?
.Is
n'tt
heres
omeoneel
se
y
oushouldmiss
"sheaskedandhegav
eouta
s
mil
e.
"Imi
ssjus
tyou,y
ouandnoonee
lse
"Hes
ays
andshemovesawayf
romhi
m.
"You'
reareal
lybadhus bandRodriguez,Ican'
t
beli
eveaft
ers
pe ndi
ngmont hsinthec amp
youcamebackandf orgetsosoon"s hesays
showinghimthelev
e l
of how herange rhas
ri
sen.
"Di
dy outhinkI
'l
lfor
getMyLi
tt
lehappine
s s
"
hesaysgoingdownonhiskneesandtouchi
ng
herst
omac h.
"Imissyousomuc hMyli
ttl
ehappines
s "he
saysandk i
ssesherst
omachwhichhadj us
t
star
tedgrowingbig.s
hewasfewmont hs
pregnantandhepr e
sumethebabytobeagi r
l
andc al
ledherhisl
it
tl
ehappi
ness.
kindl
yhinovel
srepubli
conWhat s
Apponpl us
twothreef
oure i
ghtzerofi
vefi
veeighte
ight
nineoneri
ghtthreetogetaddedtothenovel
s
group
"
Ohnot
hepot"shesaysandmov
esawayt
o
c
hec
konwhatsheiscooki
ng.
"
Whyareyout
heonecooki
ng?,wherei
s
L
aur
a?"heask
edshout
ingLaur
a'sname.
"Don'tcallher,
Iaskedhertoar
rangethetabl
e
f
ordinne randbe s
idesIknowyoumus thave
missedmyc ooki
ngthispass
edmont hssoI
chosetoc ookforyou,hopeyouwon'tblame
me "shesaidandhes miled.
Howc anIbl
amey ouhoney,
Y oushoul
dk now
you'r
ethebestwi
feinthewholeunive
rse"he
saysandshechuc
k l
esandblushe
s .
"
Goupstai
rsandfr
eshi
ngupthencomedown
f
ordi
nner,
thefoodwil
lsoonbese
rved"s
he
s
aysandhenods.
"
Ohhone
y,Iwoul
dn'
thavetol
eaveagai
nfor
t
hec
amp.I'
vebee
ntrans
fer
redt
owor ki
nthe
mil
it
aryof
fi
cehe
rei
nourc
ity
"hes
aysands
he
smi
lestoi
t.
"That
'sgre
at"s
hes
aysandhenodsandpi
ck
uphisbag.
L
ook
ingatherf
romwherehest
ood,he
r
ememberedwhathet
oldce
li
neaboutce
li
na.
"Yeah,you'
rer
ight
,shenottheoneI
l
ove .
..
..
buthav
eiteveroccur
redtoy
outhatI
mus thavef
oundsome onemorebet
tert
han
youallthi
swhil
eyouleftme"
"Butyouneve
rdidRodr i
guez,
Youthoughtof
herasme,t
hat'
swhyy oumar r
iedherbutI
'm
backnow,I
'mtheoney oureal
lyl
ovenother"
shesai
dandhesmirk
edc r
ossi
ngshi
slegs.
"I'msor
ryCeli
nebutwecanneve
rgetback
toget
her
.I'
vefoundsomeonewhotr
ulyl
oves
meandwoul ddoevery
thi
ngtoseemehappy
andIdon'tt
hinkyoueve
rdidlovemeback
the
n,becauseify
oudid,youwon'thav
ele
ft
me"hesaidands t
oodup.
"I
hopewedon' tmetagaini
nfutur
e,I
'mnowa
marr
iedmanandI 'mhappywithmy
marr
iage.
..
Ilov
emywi fesomuchandIwon'
t
wanttobreakherhear
t"hesai
dand
at
temptedtowalkaway .
"Rodri
gue
z"shec
all
edaf
terhewal
kedaf
ew
dis
tancef
romher
.
"Ir
eal
lyl
ove
dy oubac
kthen.Iwasj
usts
o
nie
ceandwantedmoreof
lif
ethanl
ove"she
sai
dandhenodded.
"Youarefr
eenow,Ipr
omisenott
oe v
e rbot
her
youagain,
GoodbyeRodr
iguez"shesaysand
smil
esathimwhil
eheheadsouttogoc onf
ess
hisl
ovetoCel
ina.
"Youaremineandminefor
everCe
li
na,
nothi
ngisevergoi
ngtocomeinbet
we enus
e
hesaysashewat c
heshe
rintheki
tche
n.
Hewalk
edawayandc l
imbsupt
hes
tai
rs
smi
li
ngsodel
ight
ful
.
s
tor
ywr
it
tenbyWi
ls
onl
ibr
ary
.
F araheadinanot
herci
tyaladys
atatacoff
ee
shopl ooki
ngoutoft
heglas
sasshedindown
he rcoff
eesl
owly.
Amanwal
keduptohe
randathi
ssi
te,
she
st
oodupt
owelc
omehim.
"Pl
easehaveasi
t"s
hes
aidandhenodde
d
bef
oresi
tti
ngdown.
"I
'mCeli
ne,CEOof CI
CEDesign.Ibel
iev
eyou
musthavereadthedocumentssenttoyouby
myassi
stantear
lie
r"sheas
ke dandhenodded.
"Mis
sCe l
ine,Ididn'tcal
lyouheret
otal
k
aboutbusiness"hes aysmakinghe
rwande
r
whyhec all
edhe rifnottotal
kaboutt
he
contr
acttherewe retos i
gn.
"Whyt
hendi
dy ouask
edmeoutf
or?
"she
ask
edandhesmirk
ed.
"Justr
elaxandenjoy,
Iknowy
ou'r
ea
workaholi
csotodayyouwon'
thavet
ogo
backtotheoff
ice"hesays
.
"ButIst
il
lhavealotofworkathandandI
needtofi
nishtheprepar
ati
onforourcont
rac
t
si
gning"shesaysgi
vi
nghimane xcuse
.
"
LikeIsai
d, rel
ax.I
havede c
ide dtomergeour
t
woc ompani esandihopeyoudon' tworkout
y
ourself
,ac ontr
actwil
lbese ntbymyteamt o
y
out omor r
ows odon'tworryaboutanythi
ng,
I
'l
lshar
et hewor kwit
hy ouonc ewebecome
part
ner
s"Hes
aysands
het
ake
soutade
ep
bre
ath.
Be i
nge x
cite
donhe ar
ingt
hats
hewasgoi
ngto
bec ooperat
ingandworki
ngwi
thoneoft
he
biggestbusi
nessic
onsint
own,shes
mil
edso
happy .
Hethenst
areatherandsai
dinhismind"s
he
hasal
lwhatI'v
ebeenlooki
ngfori
nawoman
andIwon'tmindmakinghermywifei
nthe
nearf
utur
e .
TheEnd.
Kindl
yHiNovel
sRepubli
con+2
34805
5889183
onWhatsApptogetaddedt
oournovel
sgr
oup
andgetPDFli
nks