Guilty Souls

FAMILY DINNER

CHAPTER 10

DIMITRI

At exactly 7 pm, our family and Tomas were comfortably seated at a round table inside the private dining room. 

Two minutes later, we saw the family of Azalea entering the main dining area. I stood up immediately to greet them and escorted them to the private room. 

Dad, mom, and Tomas stood up too when we entered the private room. 

It was the first time the two families would share a meal, and I wanted it to be perfect.

Instantly I introduced my parents to Azalea's parents.

“Mr. and Mrs. Castro, thank you for accepting our invitation,” my father remarked gracefully. He also made sure the family of Azalea would be comfortable.

“It’s our pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Russo,” Mr. Castro responded, returning my father's warm remark. They shook hands, and the ladies kissed and hugged.

I wasn’t given a chance to introduce the rest of the people in the room as the parents jumped into a cordial conversation. 

“Just call us Ellie and Aaron and our nephew Tomas,” my mom said and patted Tomas on his back.

“Call us Daniel and Irma, and this is our son Ezekiel and, of course, Azah,” Azalea’s mom responded. 

The instant liking was evident in their conversation. I breathed lightly, relieved slightly.

I jittered whenever I brought Azalea home and didn't stay long most of the time. I never really had a chance to exchange long conversations with her family. I was still a nervous wreck. Was I supposed to feel this way whenever I formally needed to speak with her family?

“Of course, Azalea, we’ve heard so much about you! Congratulations. Top 5! Law firms will definitely crawl on your feet.” My dad spoke cordially and gave praise to Azalea. She was blushing. Both her cheeks turned crimson.

Even if she was uncomfortable, she replied humbly.“I was surprised myself,”

My parents laughed.

“Hija, when it comes to the BAR, it is always consequential. It’s the result of long hours spent memorizing, understanding, and the application of respective laws. It demands a brilliant as a sharp mind. You have it, Azah!  That's a top 5 position.” My Dad prepped for his offer later. I’m sure he'd try to convince Azalea to join our company. 

"That's true, hija." my mom seconded.

Azah smiled tentatively, very conscious of the obvious display of admiration of my Dad and Mom.

I just smirked while looking at them.

I was positioned next to Azah at the table. She was never comfortable with praises. I grabbed her hand under the table and pressed it to assure her it was alright.

She looked at me when I pressed her cold hand, and I gave her a wink. She shook her hand repeatedly and shyly smiled at me. 

It was delightful to see both families enjoying the presence of each other. Everyone had an easy and funny conversation like they knew each other for a long time. 

I couldn’t help but tease Azah. I tilted my head and whispered, “You know what?” 

She threw a curious side glance at me, but she didn’t utter a word.

I smirked, looking at her curious eyes, and I said, “I guess you will not have a problem with in-laws.” I teased her.

I saw her eyes open wide, and she was speechless. I chuckled when I saw her expression and the blush on her face.

“Agree now and be my girlfriend.” I teased further.

“Last I checked, we are still friends. Are you ending the friendship now?” She asked when she recovered. Masking a frigid expression on her face. 

Honestly, she looked chilling and intimidating, but I was not intimidated at all. 

Good luck to her opponents in the future. She would be a fierce lawyer for sure.

“We can still be friends or lovers or husband and wife. It's up to you.” I uttered cockily. I was just too happy I couldn't express it any better. 

“Boring!” She smirked. 

Tomas saw us, although he couldn’t hear what we were talking about. He mumbled, “Love birds, care to share with us what you are talking about?” 

I looked at him irritatedly and said, “Eat, Tom. Just eat!” 

Tomas chuckled and continued to talk with the rest. 

He just intruded into our conversation, and he knew I wasn't happy about it.

****

AZALEA

Dinner with the family of Dimitri went well. His Dad asked me earnestly to join their firm. It was hard to refuse him and his mom. I also saw the expression of my parents; without saying a word, I knew they favored the Russo’s offer.

I said I would decide next week. I remain hesitant if it was the best for all of us. 

Knowing Dimitri and I would be working on the same building every day would make it harder for me to avoid him. His presence was intoxicating, his unclear messages were confusing, and his disturbing glances made me so uncomfortable.  

I wondered if his type could really change? Could he manage to be faithful in a relationship? 

However, a playboy would always be a playboy. It was hard to bid if you had a losing card.

“Why don’t you try to breathe?” He smirked. 

His voice snapped me back to my senses.

He saw me containing my breath. His intoxicating presence was bad to my senses.“Is that how I affect you?” He said cockily.

“Dream on Dimitri, and don’t be so cocky,” I said. Rolling my eyes. 

We were on our way home. He asked my parents if he could bring me home, and my parents agreed. We’re alone in his car, and he was driving. I regret I allowed him to bring me home; I should have joined my parents instead.

It was not my first time riding his car. But lately, I avoided as much as possible being alone with him. A red light flashed whenever we were alone. He was getting more and more persuasive...and to be honest, I was afraid to be persuaded. 

“Puff some air, Azah!” He chuckled. 

He pulled the car into a gas station and brought it to a halt. He wasn’t loading gas. He just parked the car in front of a coffee shop. 

“I’m so full. I don’t think I could eat or drink anything. Please bring me home.” I uttered coldly.

“We will talk first,” He replied coldly too, which sent chills down my spine.

“Talk about what?” I asked as if innocent. "We’ve been talking since the early part of the evening. What else was there to talk about?"

“Are you avoiding me?” He stared blankly at the coffee shop before us. His voice tone wasn't threatening, but it still made me anxious.

“How can you say that when we just had dinner?” I responded ambiguously. Leaving him the interpretation of the words I said.

“Something changed in the way you treat me, Azah? You are uncomfortable most of the time." Dimitri sighed deeply. His gaze was still on the coffee shop in front of us. "Is it because I want to formalize our relationship?"

I was speechless. He was asking a direct question, and he deserved a direct answer. However, my mind was muddled. 

He threw me a smoldering gaze. The heat of his gaze seemed to penetrate inside of me.

“I like you, Azah!” He said when I didn’t answer.

I puffed a deep breath and looked him in the eye.

“Perhaps that was it, Dimitri. You only like me. And one day, you might not like me anymore.” There I finally said it. I was too emotionally unprepared to experience another loss. A relationship with someone with a reputation like his --was a guaranteed failure.

“I understand you, Azah.” He nodded. “But I want you to know that I like you more than a simple liking. In fact, I am just confirming if I have fallen for you." He was serious, more serious than before.

I was speechless again. 

My silence made him restless and edgy.“Damn it, Azah! I’ve never felt like this with anyone. I tried to court you, I googled it in my desperation to learn how to do it right, and I tried my best even if it's so damn hard.” He was breathless after he blurted out what he had been doing lately.

Most of the words came out of his mouth while his teeth were pressed against each other. He was wired and perhaps disappointed with himself. I could see the mix of impatience and disappointment in his eyes.

I just realized the craziness of the situation. The likes of him actually declared he was having a hard time convincing someone to like him back? What else could be crazier than that?

I placed my hand on my mouth, trying to stop myself from laughing loudly. For me, what he said was hilarious. But even though he managed to make me want to laugh. The fact remains that there was a lot more at stake if I allow our relationship to progress romantically. My heart couldn't handle another painful blow.

“You think it’s funny?” He said, gazing at me dangerously.

He might have taken the laughter in a different context. 

He took off his seatbelt and turned his body 45 degrees. He made the distance between us a few inches away. I stopped laughing instantly when I deciphered what he intended to do. He caged me on the seat with his arms and body.

I gasped, sensing danger, and I said, “Uh-ah! Wait, Dim…” I wasn’t able to finish what I wanted to say as his lips for the first time locked with mine. I was glued to the seat, completely shocked. His kiss was gentle at first, but it rendered my whole body incapable of movement already. Volts of current flowed in my veins as he deepened it, enticing my mouth to open to give way to his intruding tongue. 

When I finally gained strength to fight his seductive presence, I pushed him away with all my strength, but he was strong... the push barely moved him.

When his lips let go of mine. I softly uttered, “Dimitri...stop doing this.”

He cupped my face and stroked it tenderly. I gasped. The tingling sensation was still there.

“Azah, we're both adults. You know what just happened and our reaction to it." His face was so close to mine,  we were breathing the same air, and his intense gaze continued to stir up my senses.

I was speechless again.  

"I wouldn’t pressure you into admitting how you feel about me right now.” He declared seriously, “But, I won't allow you to avoid me either. Therefore, we will exclusively date until we're both sure about our feelings.”  He added straightforwardly. 

"Exclusive?" I echoed. Gosh, my brains failed to function whenever this man was around.

"Yes, we will both restrict ourselves from dating other people. As in both of us.." he kissed the tip of my nose.

My breathing became shallow, and my heart also throbbed loudly. I knew he heard the loud beating of my heart. However, I still have my apprehension.

“Can you comply with the rules of exclusivity? You might regret it later on.” I conveyed my thoughts partially. He was so near, and it made me so muddled, and I was also aware I couldn't refute his words.

“I know myself.” He said with a smirk. His eyes glared tantalizingly.

“The playboy that you are?” I huffed sarcastically.

He shook his head slowly and said: “The man that I am.” 

I have lots of questions, but I was having a hard time expressing them. But as long as he wouldn't ask me if I love him back, there wouldn't be a problem; anyway, what he was asking for was just to date him exclusively...I hope.