You Belong To Me (A Spin-Off To Avenge Marriage Series)

Chapter #6 Vera's Spontaneity

                                                                            Enrique

Enrique watched amusingly as Vera sat on the bed, sprawled around all sorts of maps and catalogues and brochures, her laptop and iPad, he had no idea why she needs both. What amused him even more was the big glasses she wore. They almost changed her looks. She was thoroughly preoccupied with whatever it was that she was doing. He was trying to work but every ten seconds Vera would groan in irritation or squeal in excitement and he would have to start all over again. 

"What exactly are you doing, may I know?" Enrique couldn't help it anymore. "It's been an hour of sitting in this mess that you are sitting in," Vera looked up, removed her glasses and scowled. 

"I am trying to chart out our personal itinerary," She muttered, stretching and Enrique tried not to notice how lithe and beautiful her body was.

 She wore denim shorts, her long legs in for a show with an intricate diamond anklet glittering on her slim right ankle adding to their beauty along with a purple crop top. Enrique averted eyes away from her bare stomach and focused on all the crap spread around the bed. Vera was messy. No matter how desperately she tries to hide that, it gives away regardless. 

"So how is it Moscow and then Cape Town?" He inquired instead as he reached for a brochure. Cape Town was stunning. He has always wanted to visit but somehow the trip never happened. The colorful pictures on the brochure with the long list of THINGS TO DO made him actually feel enthusiastic and excited for this whole rendezvous. 

"I don't know...it's pre-decided," She answered. "Who cares, Cape Town is f*****g awesome! Ooh, beaches and cocktails...we can go shark cage tours there too and cliff diving. It's going to be so much fun," 

"You want to go cliff diving?" Enrique demanded and he was suddenly worried about his safety with this woman. Vera grinned at him and nodded. 

"I have got it all covered," She waved. "All you need to do is put on your swimming trunks, smoother some sunscreen and have fun," 

"I haven't brought swimming trunks," Enrique answered. Vera gazed at him with a disdained look and nodded her head. She scampered down the bed like a lightening bolt and shuffled into her wardrobe, pulling out her purse. Enrique watched cluelessly as she stacked stuff into her purse, pulled her hairs up in a messy ponytail, pulled on her shoes and finally looking satisfied, held out her hand for him. 

"What's happening?" Enrique asked. "Are you going somewhere?" 

"No...we are," She smiled, pulling him up forcefully. "We need to go shopping. Don't forget we are going on a world tour. And absolutely don't forget we don't have time. The trip has been enough delayed already," 

"Okay...wait a second," Enrique grabbed her waist, halting the freight train and blinked at her. "If you had this planned out since the morning, why didn't you tell me earlier. At least, let me get changed," 

"I haven't had anything planned. It just suddenly occurred to me and you are perfect, let's go," She took his arm, barely giving him time to put on his shoes and grab his wallet as she dragged him out. Enrique was speechless. She was crazy, hands down. There were no other words for her behavior. Absolutely not. 

"Are you always like this?" Enrique demanded as they climbed into the cab. Vera stared up from her phone and frowned. 

"Like what?" She inquired, looking lost. 

"So spontaneous. You just act...do you even process your actions?" He asked and Vera shook her head in response. 

"Nope. Life happens when you sit and plan, Enrique," She answered. "And honestly, you can never plan your life. How the f**k would you ever know what happens tomorrow? You sit and make all these great big plans for your future. Buying a car at twenty-four, your own apartment at twenty-eight, getting married at thirty...everything planned to the T. But what if you die tomorrow? All your plans will go into the coffin with you," 

"But planning things out give you a foundation...sense of security," Enrique answered and Vera made a face in return. 

"It holds you back. That is all it does," She replied. "You never know what can happen the next second so what's even the point of fretting over things that might not even pan out. It's always better to find a middle way, especially for someone like you," Enrique frowned at her. 

"And what is that supposed to mean?" He demanded, feeling a little insulted. He does every time when she says especially for someone like you. 

"Means someone who is so calculated," She answered. "You can always plan but that doesn't have to so be so uptight. Leave some space for changes so that you can shift them as and when time demands and you will be good to go," 

"You don't seem to think very highly of me, do you?" Enrique grumbled. Vera turned her blue eyes to him and made an are-you-stupid face. 

"You wouldn't be sitting here if I haven't," Vera answered, entangling her arm with his. "It's not like that, Enrique...what I mean is that you take life and everyone way too seriously than they need to be. Than they deserve to be. This is your life, you paint it the way you like. You only get one after all...you have every right to be crazy happy. You don't have to worry all the time. Take it easy," 

"It's easier for you to say," Enrique answered. "You are not like me after all. You can do whatever you want...it comes naturally to you," Vera smiled in response and gave his hand a squeeze. 

"Well, than trust me and let me take charge, okay?" She answered softly. "Let me show you...what you  are missing out," 

"It seems like you are the one between us who just keeps giving all the time," Enrique grimaced. And this was true indeed. She was the one who kept giving here. From the very start. From holding him that night to letting him stay at her place, Vera has always been the one who went out of her way for him. He has given her nothing in return. Hell, he wasn't even capable of saying I love you to her. He needed more time. But this equation between them was also off balance. And no relationship can sustain that way. 

"What you gave me...nobody else ever did, Enrique," Vera answered softly. "You made me a better person. You made me feel wanted...I have told you this before and I will keep repeating it, nobody ever made me feel the way you did. I am blessed that you at least considered me worth trying. And you can trust me, I am not one of those girls who stick around even when unwanted. I love you but I respect myself too so be assured if I feel like I am the one putting in all the efforts and we are not getting anywhere, I won't even think for a second before walking away. So...ease up now because it's shopping time," She winked at him and Enrique managed a smile. He can't say shopping was even one of his least liked outdoor activities. 

"What are you going to buy?" He demanded, curious for no reasons. Vera shot him a sideways look and grinned as the cab came to a halt. 

"Bikinis," She answered, climbing out.

 Enrique was blank for a moment as the image of Vera Vazquez in bikini unbidden popped into his head. He shook his head and stifled his smile as he followed her. He could never imagine Amber saying that so blatantly, seductive and yet playfully at the same time. He was again reminded of how different the two sisters were and how different he and she were. But yet, Vera was like a doze of much needed fresh air in his life. She kept him guessing which was why he never knows what absurd stuff will pop out of her mouth next. And she wasn't even ashamed of it. Only a few people can muster that kind of courage up. 

Vera spend the next three hours dragging him around the mall. Enrique was baffled at how many stuff just one person can need. She would try out a dress and walk out, waiting for his opinion. His head was starting to hurt with all the nodding. She tried every dress she brought and showed him except for the swim suits. Not that he was complaining but it meant she was going to baffle him out later on. Once she was done, she made him go through the same process of trying and showing. And unlike him, Vera was very nit-picky, she needed the shirts to be perfect fit, the trunks to be...god knows, he can't even remember the word she used. 

"How many more left to try?" She asked, popping into the dressing room and shutting the door behind her. Enrique blinked at her, of course, startled. It was a good thing he was just shirtless and not completely naked. 

"I am pretty sure you are not allowed in here," He mumbled. Vera scoffed, walking towards him. There was barely enough space for him to stand, together...they were squeezed. 

"Say's who?" She demanded, grabbing the lapels of his unbuttoned shirt and pulling him closer. Her blue eyes roamed over his body and the appreciation in them did please him incredibly. 

"Damn, Enrique...you sure you don't want to be a model?" She whispered, dragging her eyes back to his face. 

"Yeah...I will pass," His voice came out all husky even if he didn't intend it to. Vera smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned in to kiss him. She was an insanely good kisser and Enrique could soon feel his control slipping away as her tongue coaxed his, caressing and teasing and definitely managing to evoke the man in him. 

"Damn Vera..." Enrique hissed, all breathless and she chuckled, pulling away. She smiled and placed a kiss at the base of his throat before moving away. 

"What did I say about taking charge?" She winked, while he stared bewildered at her. "I will wait outside," She waved and stalked out and Enrique caught a glimpse of the shocked salesgirl. He had no idea whether to be mad at her or laugh. 

"Oh God...I am tired," Vera flopped down on the bed and closed her eyes. Enrique watched her for a moment before heading for the shower but before he could take another step, Vera grabbed his hand and pulled him down beside her, resting her head on his chest. 

"You must think I am clingy, don't you?" She mumbled, turning over to face him. "And I am pretty sure you must be thinking I am insatiable or something..." Enrique stared down at her and shook his head. 

"I think...you are very bold," Enrique answered. "And you are not afraid to go for what you want or who for the matter. I also think you are bossy, if I were being honest. But as I said, you don't try to hide anything. Not the good and neither the bad," 

"Is that a bad thing?" Vera asked, sitting up, her face serious and Enrique shook his head, perching up on his elbows. 

"No, I don't think so. There's balance which we all need in our lives," He answered. "Why are you suddenly asking me all these questions?" Vera stared at him and shrugged. 

"I just felt like I overwhelm you or something," She replied, staring down at her hands. "You...well, I have seen you with Amber...you seem so laid back and comfortable around her. Not so much around me. You just seem so...nervous. Trust me, I don't want to change you or anything, Enrique. I just want you to ease up a bit. To me and to yourself. But if you don't want to do anything...all you need to do is tell me and I promise I will understand. I can't help it, I am always used to taking charge so it kinda seeps out but..." She trailed off, absent-mindedly pulling at the bedsheet. Enrique tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him and gave her an assuring smile. 

"You are not Amber, are you?" Enrique asked. "I haven't...well Amber is my best friend too and to be honest, we are just so similar. With her, it's like I am with myself, on the other hand you...you are just so different that I am just, yes, I get a bit baffled time and again but it's new too. So I need more time to get a hang of it. Of you, I mean. You are different, Vera...how many times do I need to keep repeating that?" 

"Good different or bad different?" Vera mumbled. 

"Different different," Enrique chuckled. "Don't question yourself, Vera. You are not the one to do that, are you? And neither do I want you to feel insecure of anyone. You are different. Yes, Amber means a lot to me. She does and she always will but what you and I have...you know it's something that neither of us understands completely, don't you? What we shared...well, it means something otherwise I wouldn't be sitting here. Is that enough of a confirmation or do you need something in written?" Vera's lips twitched in a small smile and she threw her arms around him, crawling up on his lap.

"Why are you so nice, Enrique? You shouldn't be so nice. People will take advantage of you," She whispered. "Like your shitty brother," 

"Well, I am sure you will keep them in check as you did with him," Enrique answered, hugging her back. "You are an incredible woman. Thank you so much...for everything," Vera pulled away and gazed at him lovingly, her expression soft. 

"I love you," She smiled, chastely kissing him. "And yes, you don't have to say it until you mean it. I will still love you. But yeah...there's something you can do for sure in return," Enrique blinked at her and he can tell from her expression...he wasn't going to like whatever she has to say. 

"And that would be?" He asked, cautiously. Vera stared at him and bit her lips. 

"Er, I need you to take a quick shower and pull on a fresh shirt," She whispered, drawing circles on his chest. 

"Why?" Enrique narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you up to?" 

"My...well my crew wanted to meet my boyfriend...because obviously, they don't believe I have one. They wanted to meet us for dinner before we leave day after tomorrow and..." Vera glanced at him and gave him a small smile. "And I might have said yes," Enrique blinked at her before his eyes narrowed. An evening with Vera's friends...

Now how the f**k will that turn out?