“I’LL asks Mario if I can stay in his room,” Benjamin said when they entered the single room Nanay Dolor reserved for them. “It’s my fault, and I forgot to tell them that—”
“It’s okay, Benjamin,” Caroline said with a smile. “And, besides, there are two beds. You don’t have to transfer to a different room.”
Benjamin hesitated. It’s not right to share a room with her. He doesn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. “Maybe there are outgoing guests—”
“Benjamin, I told you it’s okay,” she said while she’s arranging her things on the bedside table. “I was also wondering if you booked me a separate room because if you do, I might ask the girls to sleep in my room every night.” She stopped what she’s doing and looked up at him. “I can’t sleep alone. You might find me weird, but I felt relieved when Nanay Dolor said that she booked us only two rooms.”
Benjamin knotted his forehead. “You can’t sleep alone? Why? Are you afraid in the dark?”
“I have nightmares,” she said in a casual tone. “And, they haunt me every time I feel alone in my sleep.”
Benjamin doesn’t know why he felt like he wanted to approach her, to wrap his arms around her and make her feel secure. Even if she did not show any signs of fear when she said she has nightmares, Benjamin could feel that something is bothering her. He can see it in her eyes.
“Is that the reason why you’re still living with Hyacinth even you already have your own house?” he asked, hoping that she’ll open herself again to him. But why does he want her to be open to him?
“I hate to admit it, but, yes. And, I still don’t know why I bought a house when I knew it in myself that I couldn’t live in there alone.” She turned and faced him. “It’s kinda frustrating sometimes,” she said and laughed. “Because I know that Hyacinth will have to leave me soon when she gets married.”
“Why? You don’t have plans on getting married?” Benjamin asked. He sat on the foot of his bed and watched her organized her things, which were unnecessary because they were only three days here.
Caroline took moments before she answered. It seemed like she thought about it first in a moment before she decided to give him answers. “I don’t know…”
Benjamin's brows raised, confused, and surprised by her short answer. “Maybe you got too attached to your best friend.”
She heaved a sigh, and Benjamin felt guilty for asking her personal things. “Hyacinth was the only person that chose to stay when everybody turned their backs on me. And, I’m still hoping that she would choose me over that useless marriage.”
Benjamin doesn’t know if what she said is a joke. “Then, maybe you have to start finding your life partner. She can’t give you company for the rest of your life because that’s a husband’s duty.”
Caroline laughed. She zipped her bag, sat on the bed, and faced him. “Really? Was it also their duty to give company to other women while their wives were busy taking care of their children at home?”
Benjamin shrugged his shoulders. He lay on the bed and felt his eyelids became heavy. “I don’t know; I never tried that before.”
She heard Caroline chuckled. “You know what, if Hyacinth is going to marry Lucas, I plan to live in their house too.”
Benjamin’s brows furrowed, he looked at Caroline in disbelief. “Seriously?”
“Actually, yes…” she said and laughed. “It’s just Lucas, anyway.”
The lines in his forehead deepened. He remembered what his friend told him about her and the rumors about her when he went to their building. “I don’t understand. Why you wanted your best friend to marry your ex-boyfriend?”
“Because why not?” she asked matter-of-factly. “I can see that they’re attracted to each other. And, it happened spontaneously, not like how Lucas and I met, just a whirlwind romance.”
He studied her beautiful face. Benjamin finds her attractive and innocent. How a soft woman like Caroline be the center of those kinds of rumors? She looked so vulnerable but gorgeous…
“And, I know that Lucas will take care of her,” Caroline said and smiled. “Just like how he took care of me.”
“Then, why did you break up with him?” Benjamin asked. He sat up and looked into her eyes.
Caroline didn’t expect that question from him. It’s apparent in the sparkle of her eyes that she’s hesitating to answer him. Benjamin knew that he’s in no position to ask her this, but he felt like he needed to know the answers. And, it frustrates him that he doesn’t know why he’s doing this.
Benjamin noticed that her breathing became heavier, and her hands trembled in her lap. “I… I…” she stuttered and looked away from him.
Benjamin reached to touch her hands and caressed them until the trembling lessen. “You don’t have to answer me, Caroline. I’m sorry…”
Her head remained low. Benjamin continued to massage her hand until her breathing came back to normal. When she’s still not looking up at him, he cupped her face and made their eyes met. Benjamin’s chest tightened when he saw the corner of her eyes wet in tears.
“I’m sorry… I won’t ask you that again. I’m sorry, Caroline…” he murmured and gave her lips a comforting and gentle kiss.
From the moment their lips met, Benjamin knew that he didn’t need to know the answers. He just wanted to be with her and be the person she will turn to when everything went not okay. He wanted to protect her from those nightmares that he knew where it came from.
Caroline clutched on his shirt as she kissed him back passionately. Thousands of volts rushed through his veins down to its nerve endings. In a split second, Benjamin yearned to touch her, hold her and feel her warm flesh against his skin. Their kisses became wilder, and they both know that it’s not enough.
Benjamin’s hands ran down her back and found the hook of her bra. His hand slip under her shirt and undo it. A moan escaped in Caroline’s mouth that he shut with a deeper kiss as he struggled to remove her clothes.
“Oh, Benjamin…” Caroline murmured. “Touch me—”
“Dad? Aunt Caroline?” Anastacia’s voice roared from the outside of their room, followed by loud knocks. “Dad? Let’s go to the beach! Is Aunt Caroline’s with you?”
***