Yufa

The ride had been nothing but awkward. An Aston Martin should be an exquisite vehicle but the feeling of uneasiness is still there. The beauty of this car or even the marvelous city of Madrid cannot quell that feeling inside me. Rucio by my side seemed to enjoy this ride. He cannot wipe off the smile he wore since I accepted his offer back in the little shop. I also catched him stealing glances at me while I he thought I wasn't paying attention to his every move. Little did he know, I'm watching him from my periphery; observing his every move.

Why am I doing this?

So far, he hadn't attempted anything. He simply drive smoothly and well, smiling to himself like a teenage boy who got his first date from his school's campus' crush, minus the blushing. I forced myself to relax and lower my guard at a minimum. I'm being paranoid. I should be ashamed of myself thinking the danger that wasn't there in the first place. Rucio is a nice, decent man. Besides, it's just a friendly lunch. Once I thanked him properly and satisfied his guilt over the incident weeks ago, I could avoid him. Who knows, this would be the last time we'll ever see each other.

The car stopped in a parking lot. Rucio vacated his seat and went to open the door for me. He held out his hand and I took it, helping myself out of his car.

"I'm sorry, we'll be walking from here." He said.

"It's okay. Where are we going by the way?" I never got the chance to ask him about our destination since my mind is too occupied about my uneasiness. Now that we are out, only then that it came into my mind.

"You'll see. But my bet is that you will like it there." He smiled. "Shall we?"

He motioned me forward and we fall into a decent pace. I cannot help but be amazed at how this city looked so old yet modernized. The old infrastructure seemed to blend with technologies this current century is offering and it was wonderful. My eyes roamed from establishment to establishment wondering how old are they exactly considering this country was previously one of the world's most powerful and influential country along with it's neighboring country, Portugal.

I was too occupied with the world history that I haven't noticed that we stopped in front of a restaurant that looked like any other establishment in Madrid. Old but elegant.

Sobrino de Botin; the big sign greeted me like an old friend. The wooden doors wasn't anything like the usual restaurant. Most establishment have transparent walls and window, allowing the costumers to peek through the inside. This resaturant only offered a transparent glass on their doors. The aura outside told me it was old but I don't know how old this restaurant is.

"This is Sobrino de Botín, the oldest restaurant in the whole world, according to the Guiness World Book of Record, founded in 1725." Rucio proudly introduced.

My eyes went saucers as I finally fathomed the weight of Rucio's facts. This restaurant isn't just old. It's the oldest. In the whole wide world.

"Come, I'll show you inside." He beckoned me.

I followed him without saying anything. I was still in awe. If the outside left me speechless, the inside took me to other era. The walls were old, while the tables were wearing white table cloths which added more to it's elegance.

"It's beautiful." I breathed.

"I know." He said. "Are you up for a small tour? I'll show you around."

"I would love to." I agreed.

I let him guide me into a narrow door and led me downstairs. The sight of the space downstairs left me breathless. The pillars that supports the entire building has seen better days but they stood proud and strong. It's old appearance has looked brittle but when I touched them, the strength seemed to flow through my veins; screaming the hundreds of years they stood here that even wars couldn't break them.

"This room here was once a storage room, yet they converted it into a space that offered the customers privacy." He said. "Hollywood actors such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had dined in this very room."

My jaw dropped at the mention of my most favorite couple in hollywood. Angelina and Bradd must be amazed just like anyone who has dined in here. Rucio continued on with his trivia but my mind is too busy thinking of where could possibly the controversial couple sat so I could also sit on that chair and admire this place.

"Are you ready for the next room?"

"There's still another room?" I gawked at him.

"Of course, my lady. This tour doesn't stop right here." He smiled.

Again, he led me into another narrow door and guided my steps as I descended the stairs. Upon reaching the ground, I was surprised to see a very old wine cellar that still contains wine bottles in them.

"This place here is older than the restaurant itself." He said. He stepped aside, unblocking my view and opened into a series of passage ways that leds to different directions. "This, I think was used as an alternative road for those who avoided the streets, hundreds of years ago. They say that when you followed this, you can reach different places within the city. Who knows? Maybe some of the soldiers and refugees had used this passage ways to escape Spain back when wars was still inevitable. Can you believe it? This place has always been here long before everything above it existed."

I'm left speechless. I don't know what to say. These facts has left my mind in awe. I've always been fascinated with history, but I wasn't given an opportunity to explore given that China had way too many ancient cities and infrastructure that dated thousands of years ago. The only place I had ever visited that left me in awe was The Great Wall of China.

Rucio continued chatting, informing me about some of Spain's history but I wasn't paying too much attention. I'm still amazed by this place.

"You must be hungry, my lady. Come now, let's gobget us something to eat. The food here is great."

Reluctantly, I followed Rucio. I don't want to part with this place anytime soon, yet he was right. I'm hungry, almost starving. Let's see if this place is as grand as it's rich history.

By the time we reached the first floor, I'm already panting and desperate to take a seat. Rucio guided me into our reserved seat, pulled a chair for me, like the gentleman he always was. A waiter came to give us the menu and waited for our orders.

I stared at the menu and found it was all written in spanish. I should probably learn spanish from now on, otherwise I would always be stuck in places like this staring at this menus and wondering what could this dishes look like. I'm glad Rucio is here to help me with this.

"What do you want, my lady?" Rucio asked.

"I don't understand spanish." I blurted out. Rucio quickly averted his gaze towards me, disbelief is written all over his handsome face. But he smiled, like he always did. Like he understands everything I'm trying to say without any more arguments.

"Alright, let's try their specialty dish, Roast Suckling Pig. What would you like for dessert, my lady?"

I studied the menu, carefully choosing between the desserts which were all written in spanish.

"Hmmm. I'd like some chocolate."

"I see. Let's get you the, Tarta de Chocolate con Salsa de Frutos del Bosque."

The waiter happily listed the orders and left us to wait.

"You seemed to know much about Spain huh? This place is wonderful." I said.

"Spain fascinates me. Even when I'm still in the embraces of school. Thanks to my father, I got this chance to explore Spain myself and not just relying on books and internet." He said. "Lux Jewels made it possible."

"Lux Jewels?" I frowned. "That's the shop earlier. Am I right? You mean..."

"Yes. My father owns Lux Jewels, he sent me here to look after that branch." He smiled.

"Oh! That's great! You should have told me earlier." So this man isn't just an ordinary passer by. Come to think of it, he was in the event that means he is a potential investor or maybe he could be one of my father's competetors.

"So Lux Jewels have many branch, then?"

"Not really, but we have branches in New Delhi, Istanbul and France."

"Oh, Asia. I thought it was just coincidence. You buying something for your girlfriend and me, uh, just someone who likes jewelries." I said mostly to myself.

His laugh echoed inside. As if I had touched his humor and found my comment hilarious.

"My father wants me see his branch stable so he could gain a good start in Spain. And no, I don't have a girlfriend."

His eyes settled on me. It lingered, it softens and I swear they seem to change, as if the last statement was meant for me. I don't know but the uneasiness came like rolling waves. Am I assuming? Surely, that statement was a fact, he just answered me honestly. Here I am, assuming everything is meant for me.

He continued to stare at me with his brown eyes and in return I stared back at him. The atmosphere seemed to shift.

The waiter came with our orders. I quickly averted my sight on the foods that he laid in our table, one by one. Once he was finished, he muttered something in spanish and left. We were left to ourselves. The food is ready and all that's left is for us to enjoy.

"Shall we?"

We start digging into our foods and I must admit, it was heavenly. The roasted pig taste almost the same as lechon in the Philippines. It's so delicious I could almost moan.

"This is so good." I said in between every bite I take.

"I told you, you will like it here."

We continued with our lunch before we dig in into the dessert which is divine. Rucio said it was chocolate mousse with red fruit sauce and honestly its the best tasting dessert so far for me. When we were finished, we sat woth our bellies full of delight.

"Thank you, Rucio. Not just for taking me into this lovely place, but for everything you did for me." I said sincerely.

"No, don't thank me, my lady. I felt guilty over what happened." He said.  He reached into his pocket and placed a block rectangular box adorned with silver ribbon. "Take this."

"What is this?"

"Open it."

I carefully reaches for the box and opened it slowly. I was surprises to see the necklace I was looking at at the shop.

"Rucio.... This is too much. I-I cant accept it." I closes the lid and pushed back the box towards him. I cannot accept this. Its true, I owed him one. But giving me something like this isn't right. There is no nees for gifts.

"Please, my lady. It's a gift." He pushed back the box. All while he held my hand that sits atop the box. I flinched at the touch. It felt worse than electricity itself. I quickly withdrew my hand, tucking it between my chest. Bile rose to my throat. All of this gift thing felt wrong.

"No, Rucio. That's not it. There's no need for any of this." I said, quickly avoiding his gaze. "And please, stop calling me 'my lady'. This is the 21st century and no one calls anyone with such formalities. I'm a married woman, Rucio. I shouldn't be accepting any gifts from any man." Let alone being touched, I wanted to add but kept it within me.

Probably, this is why I felt uneasy around him. Because I'm married and I'm guilty about doing this. The very thing that I hate about Nathan, is what I am doing right now. I'm being unfaithful to my vows, to my husband and to my child. This must be normal to anyone but not for me. Rucio fell silent on his seat, his jaw twitched lightly. For that split second, I saw something in him other than his cool demeanor. Something that cracked in his personality and it chilled me. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished when he smile.

"It's alright, Miss Yufa. I'm sorry. I understand you situation."

"This was lovely though. Thank you for everything Rucio, but I really have to go. I'm sorry." He nodded.

After I gather all my bearings, I pulled up myself and bowed to him. I do hope that this will be the last time that I will see him. I lefr him in his seat and head towarda the door.

As much as I am proud that I cut my ties with Rucio, that feeling vanished as quickly as it appeared. I saw Nathan by the door, looking grim, his eyes trained upon me.

******

A/n

My phone is playing games with me, it unsaved the last part and I swear, I'm gonna throw it once I publish this.

Sorry for the grammatical errors.

----Maiah 😢