Happy weekend, Amores! Enjoy. ❤️

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SABINA's POV

I reluctantly smiled when the door opened and my mother came into view. She was looking at me seriously, wasn't sure if she was mad at me or not with that serious face.

"I'm sorry for not coming home right away when Henry came to call me. S-Something just came up." I said guiltily.

"You know that I hate it when you don't eat on time. I made a snack, expecting that you'd come home but it's the same. You didn't come right away. What were you doing in the three house anyway?" She was staring at me like a hawk and for some reason, I got uncomfortable that she might see telltales of what just happened between me and Xzavier a while ago.

Well, I fixed myself before coming home but for some reason, I felt like she would discover about it even without me saying anything about it. I bit my lip and was about to answer when I noticed her look past me as if she saw someone behind.

"Mr. Montaño? You're still here? I thought, you already went home?" My body went still. Why the heck did he follow me home?! This guy!

"I was about to, Mrs. Martins, but something happened that changed my mind. I'm here for—"

"—He's here to get the book that he lent me before he left the ranch." I interrupted like an idiot and when I realized how lame I sounded, I almost hit my own head. I mean, why would he come all the way here just for a book, right?

"Book?" My mom parroted confusedly.

"She's just messing around, Mrs. Martins. To be honest, Sabina didn't want me coming to your house but I just wanted to make sure that she would be safe until she gets home." I bit my lower lip and had the urge to tell him not to say anything about what happened in the tree house but I knew that I couldn't do that.

I turned around and faced him.

"Are you crazy?! The tree house is just a couple of meters away from our house!" I hissed; a little bit embarrassed. Everyone who was present when we were at the waterfalls heard his confession including my parents and I knew that mom already knew that he didn't come for any book.

Xzavier didn't even blink an eye of my loud voice and seemed so serious about what he just said.

"That's so thoughtful of you, Mr. Montaño. Thank you for making sure that Sabina would be safe."

"I love your daughter, Mrs. Martins, that's why I'll do everything to protect her from any harm." My cheeks went red like tomatoes. I didn't expect that he would actually say that to my mother. Well, he even declared his love for me in front of everyone during my birthday.

I gave him a look, silently telling him to just go home but he just smiled at me. I sneered at him. He's so persistent! Before I came home, I already told him to go home but he said that he wouldn't go home because we had to talk but I refused. Not because I didn't want to but because I had to go home because I knew that my mother was already pissed at me for not going home right away.

I left him there but didn't expect that he would actually follow me home.

"Do what you want!" I snapped at him and then went inside the house.

"She seems to be in a bad mood again." I overheard my mom say and my steps came to a halt. I thought, she would tell Xzavier to go home now since it was already getting late but the next thing she said surprised me.

"Why don't you come in? I made a snack. You should have some."

"Mom!"

"What, my dear? Why do you seem so upset? Anyway, you should go to the dining room. I already prepared your snack." She then looked at Xzavier. "Come on in, Mr. Montaño." Instead of declining, Xzavier came inside with a smile on his face while thanking my mom. When he looked past my mom and our gazes met, I leered at him and then went to the dining room.

When I got there, my mood lifted up when I saw the tacos in the plate. I suddenly got hungry. I sat and immediately took one and was about to start digging in when I saw Xzavier and my mom entering the dining room.

"Sit down, Mr. Montaño. I'll just get yours."

"You don't have to, Mrs. Martins. Just a glass of water will do."

"Oh, that's nonsense. I'm sure, you'll regret it if you won't eat the snack I made. It's actually Sabina's favorite."

He smiled. "Is that so? Wow, these tacos are indeed look good. I think, I'll have some." He answered and then sat on the chair next to me. My mother left us there to get more tacos and probably drinks.

"I didn't know that you love tacos. I'm happy that I learned something new about you today." Then to my surprise, he held my hand that was still holding the taco and guided it to his mouth.

"Xzav!" I hissed in disbelief when he took a bite.

"Wow. This is indeed delicious. Just like you." He said playfully and I felt like blood rush to my face as I remembered what just transpired between us earlier.

"Don't make me remember about it!" I whisper-yelled at him.

"Why not?" He then took another bite from my taco.

"Hey! That's mine!" I then quickly took a bite before he would finish it all. He laughed because of what I did.

"You seem to be hungry. I'm sorry that I tired you out and forgot about food."

"Stop saying about that, will you?!"

"Why not?" He was feigning ignorance and that ticked me off. I pinched him on the side of his abdomen.

"Ouch! You're really violent when it comes to me." He even pouted and I rolled my eyes. I was about to respond when he took one taco from my plate and took a bite.

"Hmmm. This is really delicious. I'm out of energy because of you so I have to recharge." He took another bite but before he could eat it all, I was the one who ate it from his hand.

"That's mine so you should wait for yours." He laughed.

"You seem to be having fun." I almost jumped when I heard my mom's voice. She just came back and now, holding a tray with a plate full of tacos and a pitcher of pineapple juice on it.

"We're not." I answered and continued eating, trying my best to act normal. My mom then placed the tray in front of Xzavier and I. I groaned inwardly when I noticed how she was staring at the two of us like a hawk.

"Thank you, Mrs. Martins."

"You're welcome, Mr. Montaño. C'mon, dig in." Xzavier did as he was told and judging by the way he was eating with gusto; I could tell that he really liked it.

"Where are dad and Henry, mom?" I then asked to divert her attention.

"They went to the Novell's mansion." I glanced at the wall clock with furrowed eyebrows.

"Why, mom? Did something happen? It's already getting late so why did they have to go there?"

"I don't know about the exact details either, my dear. Mr. Novell called up your dad a while ago so they went to the mansion. Anyway, do you like the tacos, Mr. Montaño?" Xzavier smiled.

"It's very delicious. You make the best tacos, Mrs. Martins. I'm sure, whatever you cook, it will be delicious. Thankfully, I came over. I was actually hungry because I didn't eat lunch that's why I was planning to go home after I get the book from Sabina." Well, Xzavier was right. My mother's cooking is the best.

"Aw, thank you for the compliment. Anyway, why didn't you eat lunch? You and Sab are the same. She didn't eat lunch either that's why I scolded her a while ago. It's not good for the health if you don't eat on time that's why I always get mad everything she forgets to eat on time."

"Ina is so lucky to have a loving and caring mother like you, Mrs. Martins, not to mention that you're a good cook." That made my mother smile.

"Oh, my. Thank you, Mr. Montaño. You're not only handsome. You're also sweet."

"Mom!" I said in disbelief and she laughed.

"Oh, dear. Looks like my daughter is jealous. Okay, I'll leave you two here. I have to fold clothes upstairs before I cook our dinner. Enjoy your snack." I looked at my mom in the eyes, silently begging her not to leave us two alone but she looked like she didn't get it.

"Anyway, why don't you stay for dinner, Mr. Montaño? We will be eating an the patio tonight because it's a barbecue night tonight." I almost spit the food that I was chewing in my mouth upon hearing my mom said that.

"Sure, Mrs. Martins. I'd love to."

"Good." She then left us alone.

"Why did you say yes?!" I hissed at Xzavier after that and he smirked naughtily at me.

"Do you still need to ask me that question? Of course, I said yes because I wanted to be with you more. Besides, I want to get to know your parents more."

"And why would you do that?"

He turned serious. "Because they're the parents of the love of my life." My heart thumped and I didn't know how to react.

"J-Just eat your snack a-already. Looks like you're too h-hungry that you start blabbering nonsense." I almost hit my own head because I stuttered. To my surprise, he kissed me on the cheek.

"You know that I'm serious, my Ina. Honestly, I'm so happy right now. You don't know how much I've been dreaming about this. Being with you is really the best." The beating of my heart was like a drum. Argh! Traitor heart! Why do you only beat like this for him?!

After we ate our snack, he insisted to wash the dishes and I could control the smile that appeared on my face while watching him.

"Fùck!" I was pulled out of my reverie when I heard him swear.

"Your tongue, mister! I'm going to cut that out!" I hissed with a matching glare while my arms were crossed across my chest. He scratched the back of his head and turned around to look at me. Then, my eyes widened when he suddenly started taking off his shirt.

"What do you think you're doing?!" I asked in disbelief as I looked around, getting paranoid that someone might come in and see what he was doing.

"Sorry, Ina. My shirt got wet because I accidentally turned the faucet open all the way."

"But it doesn't mean you can just take your short off like that in here!" But he didn't listen to me and removed his shirt anyway. My eyes automatically raked his muscled body a stare and I swallowed hard because I suddenly felt thirsty. Sabina, your eyes! Stop it!

I mentally shook my head and averted my gaze from him so that I wouldn't get distracted.

"You're really unbelievable." My voice mellowed.

"I don't want to catch a cold. Look at my shirt. It's soaking wet." He answered and I huffed.

"Fine. Wait here." I then exited the kitchen and went upstairs, to my parents' room. The door was open so I entered without knocking.

"Mom, can I borrow one of dad's shirt?" She looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. She's currently putting the newly folded clothes in their closet.

"Huh? Why? What happened?"

"That guy was being klutz that's why he got his shirt wet." I answered and even rolled my eyes.

"That guy? You mean, Mr. Montaño?"

I sighed and nodded my head. She shook her head and then took one of dad's shirt and then handed it to me.

"Here. Your dad hasn't used this one yet because he didn't like the color." It was a pink sleeveless shirt. That almost made me laugh. Dad never wears pink and I'm guessing that Xzavier would be the same. Well, men always say that pink is too girly.

"Thanks, mom." I was about to walk out of there when she spoke.

"Your mood is different today, my dear. Is this about him?"

"What do you mean, mom?"

She sighed. "Don't feign ignorance, Sab. I'm talking about Mr. Montaño."

"Mom! What are you saying?"

"Don't give me that reaction. You're forgetting that I'm your mom so you can never lie to me even if you wanted to." I bit my lower lip and couldn't answer right away.

"Mom..." I tried to say something but that was the only word that came out of my mouth. She sighed.

"You still love him. It's written all over your face clearly." I looked down as I suddenly felt my eyes water. It's really useless to deny now.

"I'm scared, mom." I admitted with a small voice.

"You're afraid because you don't know what exactly happened in the past. You have a lot of questions and yet, you don't have any answers because you never tried to listen. Even if you're afraid, isn't it better to know the truth rather than to stay hurting over something that you don't understand?

"I don't know if your dad already informed you about it but we already talked with Mr. Montaño this morning and he explained his side. Yes, we were furious when we learned about the truth but at least, we finally became at ease of his presence here.

"If you're not ready to listen to him, then when? I think, you would even help yourself if you finally give him the chance to tell you his side of the story. After knowing the truth, you could finally make your decision whether you will totally remove him out of your life or make him stay." She then placed a finger under my chin and made me look at her.

I thought, she was mad but no. All I saw from her face was understanding. I threw my arms around her for comfort.

Maybe, my mother was right. How would I totally move on from all of this when deep inside of me, my heart kept on asking for explanation? My anger and fear were the things that has been keeping me from listening all this time because I was afraid to hurt even more than I already had.

"Where is the brave, strong-willed and loving Sabina that I know? When we escaped Safe Haven, I felt like I left my daughter in those mountains. Now, I understand why. Your heart hasn't come back yet. I hope, you find the missing pieces of your heart because I can see that they're still shattered until now."

"You're right, mom. I don't want to run away any longer. Whether I get hurt of his revelation or not, I have to hear it once and for all."

She smiled. "That's my girl." She then kissed my forehead.

After about five more minutes, I went back downstairs but then, my forehead crinkled when I didn't see Xzavier in the kitchen. I looked for him everywhere until I finally saw him at the patio, sitting on the chair as if waiting for someone.

When he saw me, he stood up with a serious face as our gazes locked. I gulped inaudibly. Looked like the proper time for us to talk about our past has finally come.

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The next chapters will be about the past so brace yourselves, Amores! 

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