Chapter 3: The confusion
Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. -Khalil Gibran
Gisella’s pov
"I didn't push her," I yelled, crying.
"You're just too much." from the door, Pietro ran down to where Viola was lying ass-Flat on the floor. Everyone was staring in shock. Pietro helped Viola up, my mamma's hand clenched in anger.
"I...I...I didn't push her." I repeat, crying. But I stopped crying when I heard my name from a familiar accent.
"Gisella Molinero..." I turned around, and so did every eye in the room;
It was Signore Nicolo Caruso. He walked closer to me with a walking stick in his hand, and a lady wearing a maid outfit supported him. He got to where I was and walked past me again.
I was so capable, but now I've become different because of what has happened, although I know deep inside me that I've been framed and forced, and no matter what, I will seek justice for myself and my family.
"Come with me," he gestures calmly with his walking stick and the maid directing him. The helper smiled and motioned to me with her hand to follow them. I turned to look at my mamma and the others with confusing faces, then my mamma and papà nodded in approval.
"Bu-but... what happened last night to Piet-" I paused as Viola and Pietro smirked at me. It made me so frustrated at how Pietro held Viola closer to his body.
"Okay, I will go with you." a grasp lets Signora. Caterina Mouth as I followed him.
A black Benz was parked outside the hotel, and Signore Nicolo was already sitting inside as the driver stood by the door and gestured me to go in. "Signorina Molinero, please," he said smiling.
with a worried face. "I'm Sorry, I would like to walk home myself." I object.
"Get in!" A familiar accent inquires, "Things between us haven't been settled yet." he added calmly. I sighed and entered as told.
The driver started the car. I sat at the back closer to Signore Nicolo because the driver and the maid had occupied the fronts seats. Signore Nicolo looked at a particular place without blinking his eyes;
I took a deep breath and rested my hand on my lap. His soft emerald eyes, killer jawline, and perfect dark coffee brown hair messed up in a bedhead style while still looking simple, just like an angel sent from heaven.
Sitting calmly, I noticed he twisted his eyebrow and turned his head looking at the glass. Quickly I rearranged my shirt feeling nervous, forgetting for a second that he was blind. How could someone look so fine? he isn't anything like what I had imagined him to look like. Where is the unshaved face, dirty tanned skin, beards, short legs, groveling ugly eyes, and unshaved underarm?
"Stop staring at me." Turning around to the window, I look at him in surprise.
"Um, excuse me, Signore?" I furrow my confused brow at how he caught me staring at him. I thought that he was supposed to be blind, right?.
"Are you deaf? I thought I told you to stop staring at me." he winces like a child with his Italian accent, making it odder.
Did he call me deaf? How on earth did he know that I was looking at him? He's fucking blind for chrissake. Still trying to remain polite, I smile kindly and not like I wanted to boil him alive with my anger.
"Signore, I wasn't looking at you." feeling more stupid and insulted, I glare at him while his small plump lips curl into a frown showing a little of his jawline.
"I know you're looking at me now, Signorina Molinero. I can feel you staring at me, I might be blind, but I can handle it."
Can he feel me? This man is not just rude but strange. With the last confidence remaining in me, I cleared my throat.
" I want to clear my conscience. I don't know what happened yesterday, not alone knew how I arrived at your hotel room, Signore, but don't worry, I will not care about what happened, sir, I'll put it in the past." I pull the hem of my blouse nervously that maybe he won't even reply to me; his eyes are just starting at the glass.
But I was shocked when he replied. "You want to repudiate after sleep, Signorina?" The last word came out very slutty and cheap. I turned to look at him again.
"I-" My words were nowhere to be heard, and I was speechless.
"I might be blind, Signorina Molinero. I might have been away from the spotlight for long, but I bet you, Signorina Molinero. I'm not an irresistible person, and it's better to get married to you than to your gold digger best friend." He spat out of resentment, and the word came out harsh.
"I know they framed you, Signorina Molinero, but you were not smart enough to get to know what is happening. Just imagine you were fooled by two persons who you consider worthy. All thanks to them, you belong to me, and it doesn't matter if you were framed, but at least you are saved and in good hands." He rests his hand on his lap.
What an obnoxious and rude man.
"You..." I clench my teeth in anger. "You're just a lewd blind man, we don't even know each other not to talk about catching the feeling for each other, you can't even see me see how miserable I look, you're here talking about me being yours, I belong to nobody Signore Caruso and I will not marry you, never." My breath came out rapidly.
"Signorina Molinero, do you think you're doing me a favor? If I were not blind, I would never choose a middle-class girl like you, and you think the media will believe you? The only people who know the truth that you are innocent are your parents, your so-called ex-boyfriend, and your girlfriend. I'll give you a chance to think about it." He folds his arms to his chest.
This is too much for a day and a half. "Dream on! I won't marry you, Signore Nicolo Caruso. You're just too much." I yelled furiously with acrimony dyed between my tongue, not caring to know if the maid and the driver were in the car with us.
"Stop! the car." He ordered. With a screech, the car stopped, the driver got down and opened the back door.
"Signorina Molinero! Please." He gestures for me to get out of the car.
I got out, and he closed the door. The maid rewinds down the vehicle's shield so that Signore Nicolo could give me a card which I snatched from him instantly. It was written on it 'Nicolo Caruso, with his cell phone number.
"I can wait for your reply. However, your parents can't wait that long, Signorina." With a frown, he made a hand gesture for the driver to pull to the road, and they drove away, leaving me in the middle of an empty street; how inhuman, I looked at the black Benz as it disappeared with no sign.
Ring!!! Ring!!! Ring!!!
My phone vibrates in my bag, and I bring it out to see Viola Moretti's name pops on the screen. Immediately I declined the call; a message came in from Viola, I opened it.
Giselle Molinero, if you don't want the media to get hold of what you did last night, you better come to the Villa instantly.
My heart came to be heavy; I dialed her number; it rang once, then she picked up.
PHONE CONVERSATION
"hey viola, what are you trying to do?" I yelled over the phone. She started laughing, making me feel irritated; what have I ever done to Viola to receive such treatment from her? is it because she wants Pietro?
"Gisella, I told you already, if you don't want to get married to Nicolo Caruso, you are left with no choice about it! Because Pietro and I recorded what you two did last night, if you don't want me to leak out the video, you better listen to me. Can't you sacrifice your love for Pietro and your happiness for your best friend?" she spat out mockingly, trying to hold in her laugh.
"VIOLA! Cosa c'è di sbagliato in te? " I screamed out in frustration.
but she continued. "It's for your good if you don't want to get married, so be it. Anyway, know that your parents will be more affected by this too because they will be the ones to pay dearly for it. Just make this sacrifice, or else Mr. Giuseppe will ensure your family's small business will surely go bankrupt. Just get married to Nicolo, the blind man, and I'll marry Pietro, the love of my life, Il Mio bel Principe" she ended the call with a short laugh.
Why is Viola treating me like this? What have I done? Is it because of Pietro? Standing in the middle of the empty street feeling weak, betrayed, and frustrated, I've always been the satisfactory one. I looked up to the clear blue sky and again, down to my feet. I grasped my phone tightly and wiped away my disappointing tears; I took out the card and dialed; on the second ring, someone picked.
"Hello, Sir Nicolo Caruso, I agree to marry you." I spout out in defeat.
WORLD TRANSLATION
Il Mio bel Principe
my handsome prince
Cosa c'è di sbagliato in te?
What is wrong with you?