Please forgive my neglect. I was truly having a difficult time finishing this chapter. I always have the same problems as usual: the ideas are there but I have a hard time putting them into words. Anyway this story is just getting started and for those of you still here, thank you for your feedback from last time. Please enjoy this chapter and I will try my best not to neglect it for SEVEN months. Ugh, that's bad. Anyway thank you for tuning back in.
Chapter 12: Resolutions
Raquél
Enriqué was not a man who scared very easily, but I knew that he was terrified of disappointing those who were close to him. So I trusted that whatever present he had for me that Christmas morning would exceed my expectations like they always did.
Streaks of sunlight beamed across my face, causing me to blink once I stirred. I was not a morning person, and I hauled the duvet over my head without opening my eyes. The edge of my bed sunk beside me, weighed down by the person who drew the blinds apart.
I'd sought to spend my entire day catching up on sleep, until the duvet was peeled back and I found Enriqué smiling down at me. That smile never failed to make my heart race.
"Do you always get up this early?" I moaned groggily.
"Only on special occasions, and for school. How did you sleep?" I sat up in bed as he lovingly smoothed my curls back.
"Pretty well... I miss you, though."
"I miss you, too. If only those termites would come back," he chuckled softly.
Sadness slowly crept up on me once I mentally counted the days before he would have to return to Miami.
"Please sleep over more often. You're going to be back in Miami in less than a week," I pouted.
"I'll stay for three more nights, okay?" he promised.
"Okay. And I'll come over and stay at your house for the rest of the week."
"Nothing would make me happier. Actually, my mom would be pretty excited, too. Probably more than me, if you can imagine. She absolutely loves you."
I managed a slight laugh with him, but then glanced down at my lap self-consciously. Without a word, Enriqué wrapped his arms around me and brought my head against his chest. He understood my dismay.
"Keep it up, Sweetheart. You're doing great," he whispered.
"You think so?" I could sense his faith in me once he gazed into my eyes and firmly nodded his head.
"I know so."
His smile only grew larger once I leaned in and eagerly pecked his lips. Now fully awake, I got out of bed and stepped into the bathroom to brush my teeth. He leaned against the door frame, watching me as if he were contemplating to tell me something.
"You know, I've been thinking about moving out of my apartment for now. I think I'm going to stay at Mario and Nikita's for a year or two," he said decisively.
"You are? Why?"
"Well, as much as I like having my independence, I like being with my family even more. Also, their wedding planning has made me think about the plans that we'll have to make for our wedding, starting with the budget. If I live with them for at least two years, then I'll be able to save enough money to cover the basics. We have enough time to save. Why not start now?"
I found it precious that my boyfriend was eager to start plans for our wedding in the future. That only meant that he wanted nothing more than to make me his wife, which made me feel special in ways he would never comprehend.
After brushing my teeth, I spoiled him with another kiss before searching my closet for something to wear.
"That sounds like a great plan. Maybe we can create a bank account together and put away about half of the money that we make. I think I should start looking for a job," I said.
"Are you sure? You don't have to get a job right now. I can take care of it until you're ready to get a job."
"Yes, I'm sure. Besides, I'm fifteen. I should be making my own money by now, not getting an allowance from my parents anymore."
As much as I liked the idea of having a boyfriend who took the lead in our relationship, I wasn't going to let him do it all by himself. A marriage involved two people, therefore, we would have to share the responsibilities to maintain a healthy and fair relationship.
"I'll support whatever decision you decide to make," he promised gently.
His face broke into a smile as I took his arms and wrapped them around my waist.
"I know that you will. You are going to make an amazing husband."
"And you're going to make an incredible wife."
We soon became caught up in a cute game while we exchanged relentless pecks and kisses. Enriqué allowed me to stand on top of his own feet before shuffling me across the bedroom. That was when I made a humorous yet truthful observation.
"Is it me or are we stuck in the honeymoon stage?"
"I'm pretty sure we are, but I won't question it. I hope we never leave this stage," he chuckled, planting a firm kiss at the crown of my head.
Eager to open my gifts, I soon led my boyfriend downstairs and into the living room, where both of our families gathered around the Christmas tree. Breakfast was the last thing on my mind knowing that Enriqué had a surprise waiting for me. I began by opening the gifts that I received from my parents, grandparents, aunts, cousins and friends.
Once I hastily, tore through each gift, I turned towards Enriqué while he took a seat beside me.
"Merry Christmas, Sweetheart. I hope you like it," he said before reaching behind his back.
Although I had expected to receive a large box, I grew slightly confused once he placed a single envelope into my hands. I convinced myself that there was more to that envelope, and quietly opened it to see what was inside.
"Did you get me money or something?" I questioned.
He didn't answer, but patiently waited for me to extract the contents of the envelope. I soon discovered how I would be spending my summer once I pulled out a plane ticket.
"Enriqué, what...?"
"Remember when you told me that you couldn't spend another summer away from me? Well, you are going to be spending the whole summer with me in Miami. Just like you wanted."
My jaw remained wide open for a moment, until reality set in and I let out a deafening shriek of excitement.
"Is this true? Am I really going to Miami this summer?" I questioned just to be sure.
"Would I lie to you?"
A squeal then emerged from my lips as I hooked my arms around his shoulders.
"I wasn't expecting you to do this for me. Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome, baby. Anything for you."
"Can you believe it, Mom? I'm so excited! This is going to be the best summer ever!" I exclaimed cheerfully.
"I can't believe it either, honey."
That was when I noticed the tight line that had formed across her lips. She looked uptight no matter how much she tried to smile.
"What's the matter, Mami? Aren't you happy for me?"
"Well," she began, and I sat back down to brace myself for a lecture.
"There's something about letting my fifteen year old daughter spend the summer in a city like Miami that makes me slightly concerned."
"What is there to be concerned about? Enriqué won't let anything happen to me."
"I forgot to mention, 'supervised only by her adult boyfriend,'" she added.
"What's so bad about that?"
"Nothing. But let's be honest: you two can't keep your hands off each other. I'm afraid that if I let you go to Miami, you'll come back..."
"Pregnant, right? Wow, Mom. Is that what you think we do all the time?"
"Well, no, but need I remind you that you're fifteen, he's twenty and you two haven't been taking the proper precautions. You got lucky the first time, when you weren't on a birth control plan and Enriqué wasn't prepared with a condom. If that one major fluke hadn't occurred, you would be 3 1/2 months pregnant right now. Even though you are on one of the most effective birth control plans, you still need to take that extra step and use a condom."
"Oh, my God, Mama! I'm not a little girl, you know. Do you have any idea how much you're embarrassing me right now?"
As our conversation slowly began to escalate, both families grew increasingly uneasy.
"This doesn't have to turn into an argument. I'm just telling you how I feel about Enriqué's invitation. I trust him, I really do."
"Then why are you making such a big deal out of it?" I asked.
My mother opened her mouth to retaliate before glancing around the room at the audience that sat around, and she quickly stopped herself.
"Fine, Raquél. You can go. Let's just try to get through this holiday without another disagreement, okay?" she sighed.
At that moment I also took in my surroundings, only to realize that I had made everyone uncomfortable. No one spoke. They only watched me in silence.
My face growing hot, I murmured, "I'm sorry, Mama. I didn't mean to embarrass you."
Suddenly, I wanted to disappear. Enriqué sensed my urge to dart upstairs, and he locked his arms around my waist.
"You need to stop that habit of running away. Relax. Take a deep breath, okay?" he whispered gently.
Without a word, I tried my best to breathe, fearing that I would cry if I tried to speak. But as my family continued to open their presents, I began to feel even worse once I realized that I could not take back the things I said. The burning sensation that simmered in my chest soon moved up my throat and into my head, where the pressure began to accumulate. That pressure caused the first few tears to escape.
"No crying, Raquél," he reminded me as I whimpered in distress.
The more he tried to comfort me, the more I feared that someone else would notice me crying and ask me if I was okay. I hated when people asked me if I was okay, because it only made me cry more.
That was when I locked eyes with Enriqué's mother. Before she could say anything, however, he quickly put his finger to his lips and shook his head. She understood his gesture, to my relief, and discreetly rose from her seat.
As she made a beeline for the hallway, Enriqué took my hand and also led me there. Once the three of us were alone, Stella gently took me into her arms and allowed me to cry in silence.
"I know that you hate crying, but no one's watching right now. Just let it out; all of it," she whispered.
I took her advice, and cried for as long as she allowed me to. After what seemed like hours, she moved the hair away from my eyes and kissed my forehead.
"See? Don't you feel a little better?"
"Yes," I sniffled.
"And I didn't mean to cause trouble, I was just—"
"It's okay, mi amor. I understand. Please don't be upset, Raquél. It hurts me to see you this way."
"Thank you for understanding. Sometimes I think people outside of my family understand me better. You guys are like my second family and I love you just like my own family," I said earnestly.
I knew that my words meant a lot to Stella. She would have adopted me if I had no parents.
"Ohh, we love you, too, Dulcita. You are so precious," she crooned, smoothing my curls back.
Suddenly, I wanted to know how she felt about me spending the summer in Miami with her son. Stella was a very understanding person, and I hoped that her opinion would prove to be the same.
"Please, tell me the truth. What do you think about Enriqué and I spending the summer together on our own?" I asked.
"Well, I think I'll have to agree with your mother's concerns. I trust you and my son, but what makes me nervous is that you're so young and innocent. It would break my heart if something were to happen to you, especially while you're so far away from the rest of us. Don't think that I'm steering you away from going to Miami, but if you do decide to go, please be careful. Okay?"
"Yes, Stella."
My spirits were only lifted higher by another warm hug, and I soon felt confident enough to return to the family room. Stella seemed to read my thoughts.
"Why don't we head back to the living room and continue to enjoy Christmas with our family? I'm sure everyone is missing you by now. Come on, Sweetie," she encouraged before leading me back towards the living room.
That was when Enriqué reminded me to talk to my mother in private when I had the chance. As uneasy as I felt about talking to her, I was determined to spend the summer with my boyfriend. I was not about to miss out on what would undoubtedly be the greatest summer of my life.
~RMCR~
One Week Later
My silence hadn't gone by unnoticed by Enriqué as I rode with him and his family to the airport. Occasionally, he would reach out to stroke my hand or smooth my hair just to remind me that everything was going to be all right. At the same time, I fought with everything I had to keep the tears from falling.
"Your mother called me this morning. She said that you can come home whenever you're ready," Enriqué's father said.
I nodded my head without speaking, and managed a smile once Stella insisted that I visit their house more often. Again, I didn't respond with words in fear of breaking into tears. My brief show of emotion did not last long, however. I sighed once we began to approach the airport. After Hector dropped us off on the curb and left to find parking, we entered the terminal with Enriqué.
Before approaching the check-in desk, he placed his luggage aside and engulfed me in his arms. Savoring the warmth of his body, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and shut my eyes tightly. At that moment I tried with all my heart to keep the feeling of his embrace ingrained in my memory. That way, whenever I felt alone or scared, I could imagine him comforting me; protecting me. But I knew that my memory would never compare to the real thing.
"I'm so proud of you, Sweetheart. You're doing great," he whispered to me.
"I am?" I finally spoke, as he tucked a curl behind my ear.
"Of course. You've been so calm and collected all morning, and you haven't cried once."
"Not yet, at least."
"Don't worry, okay? Summer is going to be here before you know it, and I'll be waiting for you right outside those gates in Miami. I'm going to make sure that you have the best summer of your life," he promised gently.
"You don't have to do anything, as long as I'm with you."
"Oh, baby girl. I'm going to miss you so much. I love you, Raquél."
"I love you, too, Enriqué. I love you so much," my voice broke.
As I gazed at my feet insecurely, Enriqué tilted my chin up and wiped my tears away.
"I love you more... Cheer up, okay? We got to spend the holidays with each other and we had a great time."
Remarkably, I managed a fleeting grin once he pecked my lips and hugged me once more.
"Call me as soon as you land, okay?"
"You know I will, Sweetheart. And I promise not to disappoint you like I did last year. You were hurt and I didn't realize how much I had neglected you. But that's not going to happen this time, because I'm not going to lose you. I refuse to let that happen. I refuse to hurt you again," he said firmly.
"I trust you, Enriqué. I know that you won't hurt me."
Seemingly not wanting to let go, Enriqué tightened his grip around me and held me just a little bit longer.
That was when I did something I never thought I'd do. I bravely unhooked his arms from my waist and gave him a gentle peck on the lips.
"Go ahead, Enriqué, before you miss your flight," I then whispered into his ear.
Pulling away with an incredulous laugh, my boyfriend watched me from head to toe.
"Who are you?" he joked.
"I'm your girlfriend, that's who. Go catch your flight, okay?"
Enriqué kept his fingers intertwined with mine as he reached down to grab his bags, but not without leaving me with a long, departing kiss.
"You have no idea how much I cried when I first left your side. I think I cried all the way to Miami," he confessed.
"I should leave before it happens again. I'll talk to you later, Sweetheart. Bye."
"Bye, Enriqué. I can't wait to see you in Miami," I replied as he slowly gathered the rest of his bags.
After saying his goodbyes to his family, Enriqué approached me again and indulged in one last peck from me.
"I can't wait either. I love you."
"I love you, too."
I could only maintain my brave front for so much longer, and I left with Hector, Stella and Fátima before my emotions could gain dominance over me. On the way out of the terminal, Stella took my hand and planted a kiss on my cheek.
"We are so proud of you, Raquél. You handled that very well, mija," she praised gently.
"Thank you."
"If you want you can call your mother now. I'm sure you're ready to head home."
"Well, actually, I was hoping to spend the rest of the day with you guys. Would that be okay?" I asked.
The smile on Stella's face only grew bigger.
Meanwhile, Enriqué's sister pumped her fist and whispered to herself, "Yes!"
"Great! We can do anything you want to do. Anything at all."
"Please pick shopping," Fátima pleaded.
"Sure. Why not?"
"As much as I would love to join you girls, I do have to get to work today," Hector replied while adjusting his business suit.
Because the subway station was a few minutes away from his job, he handed Stella the keys to the car before kissing all three of us on the forehead.
"I'll see you later, okay? Bye, Raquél."
"Okay, Hector. Have a nice day at work, Sweetie," Stella called before sending her husband off with a wave.
"Are we ready, girls?"
Still amazed by the generosity of my boyfriend's family, I could only respond with an eager nod without growing emotional. The past three days I had spent with them were nothing short of surreal to me. They welcomed me into their home and treated me as if I was their own family. Perhaps they loved me not simply because I was going to marry Enriqué, but rather because for the first time in his life, he was truly content with his life.
Because of me, their son was happy.
~RMCR~
Enriqué
It was early in the evening by the time I arrived back at my apartment, and I had just finished speaking to Raquél from over the phone.
Once I opened the front door and peered into the dark, empty space, I remembered why I wanted to move in with my cousins. As much as I liked my privacy, I hated living on my own, especially knowing that I had family close by. I still had no desire to live on-campus, and I probably never would. If I could pack all my belongings and move in with Mario and Nikita the following day, I really would. But I hated to impede on them while they were still planning their wedding. I feared that I would only interfere with their plans, so I came to the decision that I would move in with them at the end of my Freshman year.
Eager to get to bed, I ignored the urge to take a shower and dropped my bags at the front door. The mattress groaned as I collapsed onto it, and I released a sigh of relief.
On the following day I would have to return to my regular, busy schedule. Classes would not resume for another week, but I was expected to show up at the football field every morning at 7:00 a.m. Going to school, football practice and work every day was extremely difficult, and it sometimes was enough to make me think about giving up. However, I often reminded myself who I was doing all this for, and what I would get out of my hard work.
Because of my family's hard work and dedication, they were able to leave Cuba behind and become successful in America. But what did I receive from hard work and dedication? A full football scholarship to the University of Miami, a 4.0 G.P.A average, and most importantly, an incredible girl who I never thought I was worthy of. At that point, giving up would hold me back from receiving the great opportunities and rewards that were to come in the future, and I was determined not to miss out on them.
Just like my parents worked hard to give me the life I never thought I deserved, I would passionately do the same for Raquél.
~RMCR~
"I'm glad you got to spend the holidays with your family. You deserve it after all the hard work you put in last season."
"Thank you, Coach, but I'm never done working. I'm going to work even harder this year. You can count on that," I said.
"That's great to hear, Sanchez. You have a good afternoon, all right?"
"I will, Coach. See you at practice tomorrow."
I exchanged a final handshake with my coach before gathering my belongings to head to the gym. Morning practices always left me feeling drained whenever I had to work on the same day, but I continued to keep a smile on my face whenever I entered the building.
The Miami strip seemed barren compared to several days before I left. The slew of people who had flocked to South Florida for the holidays returned to their homes, leaving the city looking slightly deserted.
I greeted the regulars as I entered the gym, and I immediately received a warm welcome from my coworkers.
"It's great to have you back, Sanchez. How was New York?" my manager, Liam, asked.
"It was the best so far. Being surrounded by family is what makes the holidays even better. How was everything on your end?"
"It was good. I spent at least half of those days here but I still had a great time with my family. By the way, we received a ton of new memberships after the weekend, so expect this place to be packed. You're going to have your hands full for a while, but I know that you can handle it," he said.
"Of course. All right, I'm going to get myself changed and punch in. See you at lunch, Liam."
"Have a good one, Sanchez."
Upon changing into my uniform, I returned from the employee locker rooms only to remember how flexible I had to be when dealing with members. If there was one thing about being a personal trainer, it was that no person was ever the same.
Common visitors at the gym included the chauvinistic jerks who spend half of their workout session showing off and flirting with the women, that petite but intimidating woman who can be heard grunting throughout the room as her foot collides with a punching bag, the women who head straight to the yoga classes, and the ones who just don't know what they are doing. Whoever I was assigned to train, I had to adjust my methods according to their level of experience and endurance.
Most of the people I trained were women. It was clear that they were not serious about getting into shape. They were simply trying to get closer to me. It was a hands-on job, after all. At often times, I spoke about my relationship with Raquél to turn them off, and it always seemed to work. Sometimes, that resulted in them pursuing another trainer simply because I refused to make a move on them. I couldn't escape those situations altogether. Our gym received new members just about every week.
I flashed a polite smile at the few female members who gawked at me from the opposite side of the room. Almost immediately, they raced for the sign-up sheet in which my picture hung above.
"Here we go," I sighed to myself.
I turned my attention towards my side of the gym, where I spotted a woman sitting patiently on the weightlifting bench. She was looking down as if she was texting or browsing the internet. After clocking in, I approached the woman as she continued to use her phone.
"Hey, there. New member?" I asked to break the ice.
When the woman spun around to face me, I was surprised to discover that it was Gisele.
"Gisele?"
"Enriqué!" she exclaimed before launching to her feet to hug me.
"What a surprise! I didn't know that this was the gym you worked at."
"Yeah. But what are you doing here? I thought you 'despised' public gyms."
"Well, my treadmill died on me and I almost stopped working out completely. But it is a new year and I am sticking to my resolution to become a better person, starting with getting more exercise," she said.
"That's great to hear. How's everything been since I last spoke to you?"
"Better. I spoke to my parents and they felt awful for leaving me out, but they totally came through for me when they sent me to Las Vegas for New Year's Eve. It was amazing! I must go back as soon as possible."
"I told you things will get better. Just keep that positive attitude and everything will work out the way you want them to. So, are you ready to start?"
"Sure. What kinds of weights do you want to start me on?" she questioned while reaching for a dumbbell.
"Whoa, hold on. Before you start exercising, you need to stretch to protect yourself from injury. Always stretch before you exercise."
"Is that what stretching is for?"
"Well, it's also good for warming up your muscles, which is also important," I replied.
Gisele followed my lead as I showed her different types of stretches that she could do before working out. Sometimes, I had to help her get into a stretch that she found difficult to complete on her own. She often reminded me when she reached her limit by releasing a strained groan.
Once I thought that she was ready to begin, I placed a pair of weights into her hands and guided her while she exercised. Gisele seemed to stay focused for most of the session, and I wondered if she was no longer trying to get my attention. Even when she noticed the group of women I acknowledged earlier glaring her down, she ignored them instead of boasting. Perhaps she really was changing.
"Why do women get jealous over the stupidest things? It's not like you're in a relationship with any of them. Have you told them about Raquél?"
"Not yet. They're new here. But I'm going to burst their bubbles when I'm done with you."
"Please let them down gently. It's hard for some women to accept the fact that they will never get a gorgeous man like you," she said, and her eyes immediately grew wide with embarrassment.
"Um, I-I mean..."
"It's okay. I know what you mean," I chuckled.
After my session with Gisele was over, we agreed to meet after my shift to catch up with each other. I hoped that I could uncover the reason she ran out on me the day I showed her that picture of my girlfriend. Her reason could have been completely unrelated, but I wanted to know either way.
At the same time, I needed to avoid giving all of my attention to her like I'd done the year before. Showing Raquél that I was dedicated only to her was imperative to keeping our relationship strong. History would not repeat itself as long as I was in control of my own decisions. It was a promise that I vowed not to break, and I would surely let nothing change the fate of it.
Thank you so much for reading. So, what do you think about Gisele? Do you think that she has changed? Do you think Enriqué will start to trust her even more? Please leave your thoughts and I will hopefully return soon. Thanks for reading guys!