Dolores sat across the table from her cousin Isabela, a hard pain in her heart as she watched Mariano's mother fawn over her. She leaned closer, elbow on the table as her head rested on her hand. Isabela, the perfect golden child that she was, accepted the flattery and acted the part of a lovesick gracious host. It all made Dolores feel like she was the girl waiting in the wings. The worst part of it was that she knew Isabela did not like Mariano, she had spoken it aloud even if it was only to herself, one could say nothing, even in a whisper, for miles without Dolores hearing it.
Isabela's eyes flickered over momentarily, and she saw a flash of regret and apology hidden inside them. Tilting her head slightly she stared, unblinkingly at the exchange, only blinking in surprise when his mother suddenly turned to look at her sharply. Quickly she averted her gaze and returned her hand to rest on the table, only to find it meeting his own deep eyes which she found were looking intently at her. "Hm" a hum escaped her, and she immediately straightened her shoulders. Her lips parted and she blinked multiple times to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
Suddenly his expression turned embarrassed before becoming the composed and charming suitor once more, turning his gaze back to his mother and to Isabela. Surely, she was seeing things, his gaze had looked... dare she say admiring? That was silly, he had eyes for Isa. He was here for Isa.
"Dolores. Help me please." her mother tried to sound pleasant, even as her eye twitched and she swatted a cloud away from above her head. She had seen the exchange and she was none-too pleased about it. She let out a little "Hm." before whispering, "Yes mother." she lets out a peep before stiffly turning and following her out of the room. All the way she feels eyes on her and she risks a quick glance over her shoulder to see only his eyes looking even remotely in her direction. "Hm." she lets out a hum and shivers, knowing her mother will see the blush rising in her cheeks. Throat thick she meets her mother's gaze in the privacy of the kitchens. Casita could have provided them with the water they were fetching right now, but you did not have to always rely on Casita to do things for you.
Her shoulders curl inward and she keeps her arms pin straight while she wrings her hands low in front of her, waiting for her mother to speak. Her mother is trying to get a handle on her emotions and swats away a rain cloud forming, and Dolores looks down to the floor. "You will stop making eyes at Mariano. He is not yours to look at, he is Isabela's." she speaks low and rough, "You will not be ruining this engagement for the family tonight."
"Yes Mama." she agrees, nodding her head in small motions, "I am sorry Mama. I did not mean to Mama. I was just admiring how handsome he is, Mama.'' She pleads her case amongst the apologies and is rewarded with a water jug being shoved into her hands. "Now go." Following her mother back to the table she avoids looking in Mariano's and Isabela's direction at all, instead focussing strictly on the things she could hear.
Happy voices, families in the village all eating their own supper, steady heartbeats. Except one close to her was hammering in a way that the others didn't seem to be. "Hm." she hummed, trying not to pinpoint where the sound was coming from. Instead, she listened to the children's laughter and gossiping teenagers down in the village, letting it warm her heart and amuse her at the same time. It was distracting her well when the sound of a chair scraping roughly across the table from her jolted her back to what was in her own home. She was just in time to see Mariano excusing himself for a moment.
His movements seemed quieter than they usually were and she tried in vain to not pay him any mind, just like her Mama told her to. She froze, looking up into Isabela's face as she heard him speaking lowly. His voice was unhappy as he whispered to himself. "My mother wants this. Why do I not want this? Why do I not want her?"
