When We Were Young

Chapter 24

Six years ago (Flashback)

Rafael woke up that morning feeling unusually happy. After all it was a weekend and his day off. It also meant that he didn’t have to see Paula’s face for three blessed days or bear her recent mischievous and seductive antics. Recently she had been playing tricks on him, trying to achieve his attention. Her gaze was always following him around.

Every time he was in the garden tending to Mrs Solano’s treasured flowers, she was there by the balcony of her room, sipping her chilled juice and smiling down at him. She would be wearing a short morning gown that displayed her long slender legs. If he happens to look up from below, she would blow him a kiss and laugh as he swiftly look away.

One time he had almost lost it when she showed up at the swimming pool where he was cleaning, clad in a bikini. She had lowered her dark sunglasses and winked at him before proceeding to sit at one of the lounge chairs. In that moment he had known that it was not a mere coincidence but Paula’s well planned ploys. He had to endure a whole hour of pretending to clean the pool while stealing covert glances at her tanned body sprawled on the lounge chair.

Blood had fired up in his body and rushed to a certain part of his anatomy at the sight of her long slender legs. Ashamed of his reaction to a half-naked Paula, he had abandoned his cleaning half-way and fled through the French doors leading outside. Her hilarious laughter had followed him all the way to the cottage. She was clearly enjoying tormenting him until he submitted to her. Rafael knew that he was barely hanging onto his self-control by mere thread.

So that’s why the weekend was so important to him. He needed some free space to think and remind himself of all the reasons why he should ignore the temptation in the form of Paula. He needed to remind himself of the reason he was at the Solano mansion in the first place. He needed all the reinforcements he could get against her.

The entire Solano family had gone to one of their beach houses for a weekend. Her absence meant that he got to spend the weekend peacefully without trying to avoid her at every turn. Rafael thrust his hands deep into his drawstring pyjamas pants and whistled to himself as he entered the small cozy kitchen room. Hazel looked up from her mug of steaming coffee and smiled at him.

“What’s the good news, nephew? You seem so happy,” she asked him curiously.

“Nothing special, dear Aunt.  It’s my day off and that’s means l don’t have to see Andre’s scowling face or bear Mrs Solano’s tauntings. Of course l would be happy.”

Hazel cocked an eyebrow at him, showing that she wasn’t buying any of it.

“Why do l feel like there is more to this than you are letting on. You have been acting weird recently.”

“Don’t be delusional, tio,” he brushed off her words with the flick of his hand, laughing awkwardly.

“Are you sure that there is nothing bothering you? You can talk to me you know.”

“Aunt! I am perfectly fine,” Rafael convinced her, striding towards her.

He took the coffee mug from her hands and set it on the table. He took her hands and pulled her to her feet.

“Today is the day l get to spend with my lovely Aunt. It’s my payday and l am taking you shopping.”

“No, Rafael. I won’t allow you to spoil me like that. Save the money for your future plans,” she protested and he laid a finger on her lips shushing her.