Her Glamorous Beauty

“Why didn’t you take that money, Dad?” Rebecca asked.

“It was because Emerson needed them more than us. Look at him. Didn’t you see that he can’t even buy new clothes?” Elfedio explained, as if he wanted his daughter to realize that Emerson was just a poor man-that his status was nothing compared to theirs.

Rebecca turned her gaze to the passageway where Emerson stood and seemed to be talking with someone on his phone. She noticed that her father was right; he was wearing an old, dirty-white shirt and ragged pants. But his features didn’t change. He was still perfect in her eyes and no one could change that, whatever they would say.

“Please give me more time; it’s not the deadline yet,” Emerson said.

“Okay, we will give you more time, but don’t forget that you’re already paid. I guess you know what will happen if you don’t follow what we’ve discussed,” the man’s voice replied from the other line.

“Don’t worry, I’m not someone who makes promises without fulfilling them,” Emerson replied, then he stared back and forth. “I need to turn this off now.” When he saw Rebecca approaching him, he ended the call and slid his phone back into his pants pocket.

“Who was that person you were talking with?” She halted in front of him.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“It was just, my mother, yeah,” Emerson lied, and he couldn’t even look directly at the curiosity on Rebecca’s face. “Where’s your father, by the way?”

“He got inside the mansion, why?” Rebecca asked.

“I’m just curious what he would say if he saw us.” Emerson scratched his head as Rebecca pressed her face against his, forcing him to look into her eyes.

“Are you ashamed to have me as your girlfriend?” The seriousness could be heard in her voice, like she didn’t want him to tell lies.

“What? Of course not, you’re too beautiful to be ashamed of.” Emerson smiled and attempted to kiss her, but she unexpectedly shunned him.

Rebecca turned around and asked him why they wouldn’t tell her parents about their relationship. She knew she seemed to be a broken plaque who was repeating her speech every day, but she’d never lost hope that Emerson might change his mind, and that even in silence she waited for his answer.

Meanwhile, Emerson couldn’t stop himself from sighing. He felt so uncomfortable that someone wouldn’t stop convincing him to do something he couldn’t. If he had no patience, there’d probably be no them anymore.

“I’m sorry, Rebecca, if I can’t tell your parents about us right now,” Emerson apologized in a very low voice. “But I know how they would look at me.” The grimace of worry appeared on his forehead.

As he attempted to embrace her from the back, and she shunned again by stepping forward, Emerson knew that Rebecca’s lips pouted in sulking, but he didn’t know what to do anymore in order to give her solace, because the thing she wanted him to do was so difficult for him.

“You’re handsome, you’re look like not an ogre,” Rebecca reminded, faced him and looked directly into his eyes. “Don’t use that as a reason to leave me again.”

Emerson was still looking at the ground in shame that he couldn’t fight for their love like a hero in a movie. He felt so sorry that Rebecca seemed to be the only one who cared about them.

“I would be happy if you decided to publicize our relationship.” She whispered enough for him to hear while taking some steps away.

“I’ll think about that!” Emerson half-shouted. “I’m just collecting some strength for what can happen,” he mumbled before leaving the passageway.

Rebecca didn’t know when Emerson could tell her parents about their relationship. However, she didn’t want to lose hope by making herself believe that it was still early and he would probably change his mind.

“Are you sure about that?” Bernadette asked with curiosity.

“Do you think Mario would lie to me? We both knew him since he was little.

“Yup, you have a point. But please, let’s not talk about someone who’s already resting in peace,” Bernadette complained.

“And if he wasn’t telling the truth, we would still know that.” Elfedio was surprised when a light hand suddenly held his shoulder.

“Hi Dad, Mom,” Rebecca greeted them. “Are you talking about Mario again?”

“And where you have been, huh?” Bernadette asked.

“Where must I’ve been?” Rebecca inquired, then consolingly patted her mother’s shoulder. “Of course, from my beloved parents.”

“Naughty girl; you might be going somewhere without telling us.”

“Do I really need your permission? I’m of age to decide for myself, Mom,” Rebecca reminded as she took the winding stairs.

Elfedio sighed. “A lot of things have really changed.” He sat down on the couch. “And your daughter wants to be on her own now.”

“Don’t be so worried, darling; we can still make another one if you want.” Bernadette held Elfedio’s shoulders and slightly massaged them.

He was there, watering the plants, Rebecca remembered, as she stared down at the lawn. From the window of her bedroom, she realized a lot of things. As if it were just yesterday when he kissed her, but now those thrills were scattered with the wind of misunderstanding.

Rebecca thought if what would happen to their relationship, they couldn’t even fight for it. She knew they wouldn’t last longer. However, she didn’t want to lose hope that everything would be alright.

What she heard from her parents, she remembered and was bemused. Rebecca noticed how they became more strict and inquisitive with each passing day.

“Is there something we need to know from you?” Elfedio would ask whenever he met Rebecca; in the living room, dining room, bathroom, passageway, garden, etcetera.

About what? What does she need to tell them? Do they already know about their relationship? Rebecca would look at the floor, at the ground, at the wall, at her feet, etcetera, pretending not to know what they were talking about, although sometimes she seemed to burst.

In the middle of the cold night, Emerson couldn’t fall asleep thinking about Rebecca, about his task, about his family, about his love life, and everything that could be affected if he didn’t do his task.

He suddenly sprang out of his bed and wore his black and hooded jacket. The door cried out, but didn’t boom as he slammed it, as he was observing every sound he made, so that he couldn’t arouse anyone. He silently walked towards the mansion with his cork-soled boots.

A shadow of him appeared on the ground, blocking the moonlight as he walked on the roof towards Rebecca’s bedroom. Some cracks accidentally broke the silence as he entered the closed window.

“Who are you? What are you doing in my room?” Rebecca inquired as the man in a black suit insisted on entering the window.

She slowly moved backward as he got near, step-by-step, until she touched the wall. She knew there was no other way to escape but by jumping down through the crystal window, and she didn’t know what could happen to her. Her heartbeats were so loud that she could also hear them.