For The Stars Have Sinned

I didn’t say a word but Lyndon didn’t plan to let me off the hook. “She’s the girl I’m talking about,” he said.

Kervy was silent while my heart was beating loudly. I didn’t want to let Kervy know that Lyndon has something to do with me nor let Lyndon know that Kervy’s courting me. How I wish the two would never know each other because I’m ashamed. I was clearly taking advantage of Kervy and Lyndon’s smart enough to figure it out soon.

“I see,” Kervy said after a few minutes. He even glanced at the rearview mirror to check on me. “Rishel’s the girl I’m courting, cousin.”

Lyndon glanced at me and I looked away. I looked outside the window, overlooking the scenery while the car’s traveling towards North. I was just surprised when Lyndon suddenly brought his mouth close to my ear and whispered. “You dare to play with my cousin, Miss Larica?” he asked.

I bit my lower lip. I threw him a hateful glare which he generously accepted. My shame only deepened. “Shut up,” I warned him in a whisper.

“Why?” He smirked. “Are you afraid he’ll find out your secret soon?”

“Secret? What secret are you talking about?” I asked between gritted teeth.

Lyndon stared at me longer than usual, as if studying me. I was about to ask again when Kervy got ahead of me. “What are you two whispering about?”

But Lyndon didn’t even pay attention to Kervy and brought his mouth closer to my ear. I felt the blood rise to my cheeks because I knew, looking in the rearview mirror Lyndon might looked like he was kissing me behind the ear so I was even more ashamed knowing that Kervy was watching us.

“That’s between you and me, Miss Larica. Why don’t you cut ties with my cousin?” Lyndon asked teasingly.

My lips twitched with a smile and glared at him. “Why should I?” I ask carefully.

“You think I don’t know what game you are playing with Kervy?” He smirked. “Giving him false hope and milking him like a cow, do you think it’s alright to play with my cousin, Rishel?”

I was silent for a moment before I sighed. This was what my fear, right? Lyndon immediately knew that I was playing with Kervy because of what I’m doing with his cousin, but I really had no intention of answeing his cousin’s courtship. After all, I don’t love Kervy.

But Lyndon’s hobby to interfere my personal space is annoying!

So I glared at him for awhile before smirking at him. I also leaned my face close to his ear and breathe, whispering to him like what he was doing to me earlier. “If I don’t, is there anything you can do?”

I felt his hand holding my wrist tighten its hold, but it was just a little tight so I could tolerate it. “Listen to me, Rishel.” He took a breath. “You will cut ties with my cousin or I will punish you.”

“What right do you have to punish me, Mr. Engineer?” I raised my eyebrows. “You’re not my dad for pete’s sake.”

Lyndon’s eyes narrowed. “I have the right because you are my future fiancee, Rishel.”

His words made me blink my eyes for a couple of times, before bursting out laughing at his joke. There was no other noise in the car except the engine and my laughter. Even Kervy stole a glance at me in the rearview mirror.

“Seriously? Stop daydreaming, geez!” I said and shook my head, still laughing.

Is he high? Fiancee? For all I care, he is just Papa’s business partner and he never proposed marriage to me.

“Laugh all you want, little girl. The frog in the bottom of the well thinks the sky is small,” said Lyndon.

I rolled my eyes at him. I folded my arms and looked out the window again. But I was just surprised when Kervy suddenly spoke. “Rishel, I will bring gifts to your parents later. I will ask your hand in marriage.”

“W-What?”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Kervy smiled. “Lyndon told me he’ll propose marriage. I won’t be at a disadvantage, lady. Also, I talked with your mother and she agreed. I only have to ask your father and we’ll get married after you graduated college.”

It was like cold ice was poured on me when I heard it. I already admitted that I don’t love nor like Kervy and imagining myself marrying the man gave me goosebumps.

“What are you saying?” I asked, frowning at Kervy. “I never asked you to propose marriage to my mother!”

Kervy’s eyebrows met as he turned the steering wheel. “I’ve been courting you for several years, Rishel. Maybe it’s time for me to propose marriage.”

The corner of my mouth twitched. “What? Shouldn’t it be girlfriend after the courting? Why marriage?”

“Girlfriend or not, everything will still end at the church.”

I gave up contradicting Kervy’s beliefs but I wouldn’t let him do as he pleases. Frowning, I sighed. “No. I don’t want to marry you, Kervy.”

There was silence hovering inside the car for a few moments, before Kervy asked. “What do you mean, Rishel?”

I bit my lower lip. The car stopped at a red light and Kervy stared at me in the rearview mirror. I looked away and looked outside the window again. Both of my cheeks suddenly turned red, embarrassed.

“Tell me what you mean, Rishel!” Kervy asked between gritted teeth.

I saw how his eyes widened out of the corner of my eye. His shoulder moved up and down quickly due to suppressed emotions. Even if I don’t see him, I know that the vein is coming out at the back of his hands while tightly holding the steering wheel. I knew it because it’s Kervy’s state whenever he’s angry. We have been in the courtship stage for several years now so I distinguish his physical reactions whenever he is in a state of frenzy.

“I…” My lower lip trembled with fear. I never thought that one day, Kervy would be so mad at me. Even if he wasted money just to buy my luxury, he ddin’t get angry. He would always smile at me and said that he’s looking forward to the day we’ll become an official couple.

With that attitude of his, I thought he would not be angry with me. But looking at his bloodshot eyes, I knew that I hit a spot. I sighed. “I’m sorry, Kervy.”

He went silent for a moment. I saw that the light was green but Kervy still didn’t start the car. He was looking at me through the rearview mirror with disbelief in his eyes. Even with my attitude towards him, I felt heartache for his lost expression. But I can’t do anything. I couldn’t force myself to like nor love Kervy. Even when we first met, I didn’t feel spark for him.

“Kervy,” I softly called but he was not responding. It was like he froze in his seat.

The next car honked so loudly that my heart beat fast. If Kervy doesn’t start the car, the traffic officer will definitely come to this car. Although I’m not afraid of the officer, but I don’t want to get entangle for a mere traffic violation.

I looked at Lyndon when he got out of the car and walked beside the driver’s door. He opened it and let Kervy down. “I’ll drive,” said Lyndon.

Kervy got out of the car without saying a word and went around the front. He sat in the passenger seat while Lyndon was in the driver’s seat. The latter drove the car so fast because the following cars honked their horns as if it’s their last.

The ride was quiet after that. It’s an awkward silence on my part. I remembered the things Kervy gave me, especially the books and the cell phone. I couldn’t bring myself to return the books because those are my favorite, but I can return the phone to him.

So I cleared a throat. “Kervy, I’ll return the cell phone. I’ll just pay for the books.”

I was just surprised when he laughed. I froze in my seat when I heard his crazed laughter. There was no humor in it, but pure bitterness. After a while, Kervy’s laughter subsided and he said in a low voice, “I never imagined that you are this heartless, Rishel.”

“W-What do you mean?”

But he didn’t utter a word again after that. I didn’t ask anymore and let the car went silent. What I was thankful for was that Lyndon was also quiet. It’s a miracle because that man’s attitude was not like that but he just kept quiet on the side. I believed he respected Kervy so he didn’t joke.

After a while, the car stopped in front of El Grande. I glanced at Kervy but unlike before when he would always stepped out to open the door for me, this time he didn’t step down to open the back door for me nor moved a bit. He remained sitting in the passenger seat and looking outside the window.

“You can get out of the car, Miss Larica,” said Lyndon.

I scorned at him but I didn’t argue anymore. I got out of the car and was about to enter the gate when Lyndon suddenly called me. He was still sitting in the driver’s seat with the glass window down.

“Miss Larica, where’s the phone?” he asked with a small smile hanging on his lips, clearly teasing me.

I thought for a few seconds about what he meant and my eyes darkened when I realized his point. I quickly took the cell phone out of my pocket and handed it to him.

He extended a hand to take the cell phone from me, but suddenly his smile widened. I frowned. When our hands were just a hair’s breadth away, I let go of the phone in hope that he would catch it, but I guess his brain was working differently.

The car sped off as the phone fell on the paved road.