Chapter 8

The most exciting part of any wedding is when the bouquet is thrown. The bouquet, made of beautiful lilies and lavender, was held close by the bride throughout the ceremony. However, the time had come to pass it on to someone else.

But the bride couldn't bear to part with it and see it damaged on its way. So, she decided to blindfold herself with a ribbon and spin around three times. The single ladies gathered around her, eagerly waiting for Maya to make her way towards them.

With her head spinning, Maya walked towards the circle, still clutching the bouquet dearly. She found herself standing in the middle of two girls, and her intuition told her to choose the one on her left. Everyone cheered and clapped as Maya, filled with curiosity, opened her eyes.

"Thank you, Maya! I never expected to have this opportunity," Maribel said, but deep down, she was hoping for a sign to follow her heart. On the right stood Calypso, who didn't appear disappointed at all. In fact, she was attentively observing her brother, who couldn't take his eyes off the girl in the beautiful green dress.

"Maribel, this dress really brings out your gorgeous green eyes," Maya complimented, but Maribel was too captivated by the man with jet black hair and deep blue eyes to pay attention.

The sky above resembles his eyes, and for the first time, she has immense confidence in herself to look up to a man who has captivated her mind.

"Go ask her for a dance," Calypso advises her brother, who hasn't moved his eyes from the enchantress across the room.

"She is elite, hermana, and I am just a bodyguard," he cuts the eye contact and turns to face his sister.

"I admit she is ethereal, but she isn't meant for someone like me. I have nothing to offer a woman like her, accustomed to having everything, and I don't even have a place to rest my head. If it weren't for your generosity, I would be sleeping under a bridge," he continues, shutting his heart, pleading to go to her.

"You will never truly understand us. All you think about is material possessions in a relationship. Women don't need that; they need a hand to hold as they walk, a shoulder to lean on when the world becomes too heavy for them, an embrace to remind them that whatever problems they face will pass." Calypso has witnessed numerous broken women, seeking hope in her sessions, hoping that their lovers truly love and care for them, or perhaps, that they haven't been deceived despite the evidence. These women come from different parts of society, but in deep conversation, she understands that all they truly need is love and care, not money.

And this is how she came to that conclusion.

Yet, Robert turned to see the girl in the enchanting green dress, the girl who possesses the most exquisite smile in the entire world, especially when she becomes bashful in his presence. However, Maribel was nowhere to be found. His heart scolded his mind for being so callous.

"Catch the ball," Calypso exclaimed, demanding his attention as she threw the ball into the air.

Bewildered, he looked at her and attempted to catch it, only to stumble and appear rather foolish in the eyes of others. A man with the physique of a bodybuilder clumsily chasing after a simple ball.

He pursued it stubbornly until the ball began to spin uncontrollably. Losing his patience, he bent down to retrieve it, but another hand was quicker.

"Here is your ball," she said shyly, batting her long eyelashes, causing his heart to race with fervor.

"This isn't my ball. Last time I checked, they were still attached to me," Robert playfully teased. However, his jest did not resonate well with the girl. Her emerald eyes failed to conceal the disappointment his words had left behind.

"Alright," she turned to leave, but his hand caught hers a bit harder than he intended.

"I am deeply sorry for my disrespectful words. I struggle to find the right words when I am in this state of overwhelming emotions," his grip softened as he tenderly held her fingers, seeking forgiveness.

"What state are you referring to?" she asked, feeling both curious and unsettled.

"Oh, mi hada (my fairy), you have no concept of the effect you have on me," he thought, his thoughts getting lost in the depth of her mesmerizing eyes.

"Maestra, dance with me, for my uncle lacks the courage to ask you himself," came the charming Jeremiah, gracefully bowing before Maribel and extending his hand to take hers away from his uncle's grasp. He placed her hand delicately on his shoulder, one hand resting on her waist, the other tenderly clasping her other hand. Slowly, he led her in a gentle dance, guiding her movements with subtle gestures. She couldn't help but smile at his chivalry.

Flashbacks

Robert's POV

Being the bodyguard of Maya has been tough since day one, as the princess loves to break the rules. But I don't really mind her carefree attitude, and I've used everything I've got to teach her respect and humility. And you know what? She turned out just fine!

The mistakes she made were because she trusted the wrong person. But when she announced her engagement with someone who isn't very popular in the media, it somehow put my mind at ease. Although I will never let her be alone, as I see it as my responsibility to take care of her until the end. 

You might think that I am in love with her, and yes, I am. But not in the romantic kind of way between a man and a woman. My love for her is more like that of a protector, a big brother. This stems from a past experience where I had a girl die in my arms, despite my best efforts to save her. I should have protected her better, but unfortunately, I was too late and the damage had already been done. 

Ever since that moment, I have made a promise to myself to save every girl who finds herself in difficulties.

Knowing that my bird was in safe hands, for the moment, I stepped outside the building just as the gala turned into a dance fight. It was quite a scene!

 I noticed two men trying to forcefully put a girl into their car. She was screaming for help, but everyone else seemed too busy to do anything. 

Those cowards may have been big and strong, but they were no match for me. I quickly grabbed one of them and threw him to the ground, only to find out that they were actually twins. The one on the ground had a striking resemblance to the other one! 

The poor girl sat on the ground, holding her knees and crying. It made me so angry to see the monsters who had hurt her. I felt an intense rage and knew that only bloody Mary could save them from my wrath. Thankfully, the loud classic music was playing, drowning out the commotion and ensuring that nobody inside witnessed what I did to those guys.

Once I was sure that they were incapacitated, I gently picked up the girl who seemed like an angel curled up on the pavement. I carried her inside and my heart ached as I heard her painful whispers. I found a room and settled her on the sofa without caring who lived there. Determined to help her, I went to a small fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, and kneeled before her. She was still quite shaken and closed off from the world, like a turtle in its shell.

"Señorita, please take a sip of water," I softly implored, yet she persisted in her chanting.

"I apologize, but I cannot comprehend your words. Are you perhaps from a distant land? From Europe, perchance? Maybe from enchanting France?

Mademoiselle, est-ce que tu parles français? (Miss, do you speak French?)" I inquired longingly, but her chants continued, drawing me closer to hear.

"I didn't instigate them. I haven't committed any wrongdoing. Please, trust me," she repeated endlessly, igniting a furious storm within me, longing to seek vengeance against those who had harmed her.

"Señorita, cease these words. You have done nothing wrong," I cried out, though she persisted in her chant.

Growing impatient, I guided her back onto her feet, clutching her delicate arms with fervor.

Heavens above!

She is my ethereal muse.

Mi hada (my fairy), who has captured my heart since the very first moment I laid eyes on her in the schoolyard while fetching Jeremiah.

Her tears had caused her mascara to streak, painting dark rivers beneath her captivating eyes. Her button-like nose had turned crimson from weeping, and her trembling lips betrayed the immense tension she carried within.

I hugged her, taking her tension with me, but I felt that she was too hot, too hot to be precise. She seemed to be going through a shock that could potentially turn into something worse. So, I grabbed her once again in my arms and led her to the bathroom. I placed her under the cold shower so that she could regain her senses. She thrashed at me for exposing her to the cold water.

Her fiery green eyes were intertwined with my soul like ivy.

"Relax, my fairy!" I whispered, and she calmed down her fury.

"Please don't hurt me! I can't handle any more abuse. Please have mercy on me," she cried, collapsing onto my chest.

"I'll take care of them, I promise, my fairy."

That night, I held her close to my chest after helping her change into something else that I found in the wardrobe.

It turned out that the room belonged to my understanding employers, who thought she was my girlfriend.

But as soon as she regained her senses, she changed her dress with another one she found in the wardrobe.

"I hope you can keep this between us. Let people say what they want," she said as Maya approached us at the door.

She looked bewildered and afraid, waiting for my answer.

"This silly girl lost her balance due to too many shots and decided to take a dip in the indoor pool. No room for doubt," I explained, yet I think the vixen princess caught me glaring at her.

That's why she provoked me the other day.

And I know how much it hurt when I called her stupid.

I don't understand what's going on in the minds of these rich people, always rushing everything. From knowing each other to getting engaged, and now a wedding in just two weeks.

I spent a year sending my nephew to school only to find out that she, my angel with green eyes, was the one being mistreated and almost kidnapped.

And there goes the rich people sacrificing everything in the name of money.

I thought they cared about their princess, but in the end, it's just their reputation they crave to save.

Big deal, she made some wrong decisions in her past. My sister did too, but my father didn't send her out of the home. He opened his arms and welcomed her and Jeremy too. My case is different. I was the black sheep that my father didn't want at all, but when I went to the army 10 years ago, the old man opened a room for me in his heart and was there every time I came home from the military. Calypso got pregnant when I was on my last mission, and father didn't abandon her. He offered her a home and stood by her side. Jeremiah was the joy of the house. Calypso dropped out of university and focused on self-studying the art curator with our father as her mentor.

We lost the old man last year in August, and that's why La dia de Los muertos isn't the same without him. He loved to decorate the house and tell stories about our mama, so we could remember her.

Although I would have loved to be with Calypso and Jeremy, I am happy that I stayed because who knows what would have happened to my fairy girl.

I have to admit, I was a little annoyed with how things were going between Maya and the other person. They didn't need to rush things and I understand why she was mad at me for saying too much.

But everything dark has a bright side, and for me, it was her who hopped into the car.

"Can you give me a ride to school? I have to catch the last two hours, otherwise, I'll lose my job. And I don't want to leave my little angel. Don't worry, I talked to Maya. It was okay to borrow you for a while."

"Buckle up, miss. You'll be just in time for school. And you didn't need to ask anyone's permission for me to take you where you want. I may work for Maya, but she's not my boss. Nobody is. I control my own destiny," I said, looking ahead but my heart was turned to look at her.

"Call me Maribel," she smiled, and I could hardly feel my fingers.

I drive safely, with my fairy by my side.

"Just as I promised, I brought you on time," I said as she stood at my car window.

"Thank you, mister," she said, and I stepped out of the car.

"No need for formalities, Maribel. Just call me Robert. I'm not the 'mister' type."

"Thank you for saving me that night and for keeping it discreet too."

"No worries, but stay alert. Those punks have gone underground, otherwise I would know exactly what to do with them."

"They'll leave me alone for a while..." Her hand trembled.

"I'll make sure they don't bother you anymore." I held her hand to assure her that I would keep my promise.

She kissed me on the cheek before disappearing inside the school.

That day, I forgot everything, even why I had fought with Maya.

Now, I have the chance to experience those feelings again and again, as the sensation of her finger against mine is etched into my skin.

I'm not stupid enough to let her go, especially to a boy who isn't even one meter tall.

"If you can't make a girl spin, it means she's not for you yet," I advised my nephew, and I stole his partner. Then, I made her spin, so she ended up in my arms.

Still continues…