Chapter 5

Benja was in front of her. After that surprising evening three days ago, Cami hadn't seen it again. He was determined to deny the positive impression he had taken from him the previous Friday, but at that point, seeing him arriving after waiting for a half hour at the airport's arrivals hall, he realized he had not been misled.

As if he was impelled by a magnet, Cami approached Benja, constantly looking at him in his face, which prevented him from seeing the bouquet of orange roses he held.

-I know that by tradition they should be red," he said, extending his arm to offer the flowers. But this color reminded me a lot of your skin and...

-They are beautiful. Thank you.

Cami grabbed the bouquet and sank his head between the flowers to suck up his fragrance. Only when he raised his head and looked at him again did he begin to wonder: Would he have had that polite gesture because he offered both an excuse not to touch himself? As if it were a defensive barrier?

Even in such a case, she thought, she should also be grateful to her, right? He could still feel his lips after the kiss they had been given the previous Friday, and therefore the mere fact of rubbing could be dangerous.

He took the flowers to the breast, bringing them in as he walked, and warned Benja's steady, athletic step. He didn't think of anything to say to cut the silence.

-Are you tired? -he asked.

-No. I'm pretty good. Marcia lets me do almost nothing,- Cami replied.

-Perfect. I ordered him not to let you make efforts. Do you feel like vomiting again?, are you eating well?, do you take vitamins?

For some reason, his concern seemed insulting to him. Perhaps if they had touched them when they met, it would not have been offensive to him. But I felt again that Benja had used those flowers as a parapet to keep them away.

-Tranquízate -Cami said-. I'm incubating your baby as best I can. Regarding the roses…

-A moment! -Benja interrupted her and forced her to stop. He rolled her shoulder and turned her to look at her face. I didn't say it for the baby. I was worried about you. I don't want you to miss two more months feeling as bad as Friday. I want you to take care of yourself and your baby. And what the hell does it happen with the flowers?

-Have you not given them to me to use them as a barrier? -Cami accused him-. Why not... So we didn't have to touch us?

-That's absurd, Cami!

-Perdona, but I had given that impression- she insisted.

-I'm going to show you how absurd it is! -Benja announced. A second later, she narrowed her between her arms and lowered her mouth to one centimeter from Cami's. Do you think we should have kissed us?, what should have set the flowers aside to cover your lips with mine? Anything like that?

-No, Benja. Me…

-Yes, yes, if you are right. You are absolutely right. We had to have kissed us and I am going to amend my mistake right now - he murmured in a threatening tone. He separated his lips and pressed Cami's mouth.

This had believed that the memory of the previous kiss had been as intense as the kiss itself. She had revealed her in the evenings and abstracted during the day; but now that she was testing her lips again, she realized that the memory was much weaker than reality.

Was it just because Benja was acting? She was squeezing her with one arm down her back, while the other hand had lowered too much and stroked her between her legs. After tasting her a few seconds, the kiss intensified and Benja's noises of satisfaction revealed that Benja had waited for that moment as long as she did.

-Benja, no! -Cami balbuked, trying to separate his hips from his thighs... with which he only noticed the firm and hard extension of his erection. He threw his head back and fled the glory of his lips, but Benja pursued her with his mouth and slid her fingers through her hair until she achieved her surrender... a few seconds.

Because, what was he trying to prove?, he wondered as he threw his head back to separate his lips. However, Benja took advantage of the movement to descend toward his neck.

-Benja...-She whispered.

-I suppose this is enough- he said with a hoarse voice, distracted, as if he himself had lost control of the situation. But it didn't take long to regain composure and then released it-. I wanted to have saved us this; but since the flowers had seemed inappropriate... He had planned to wait, but perhaps he should give it to him already- he added with an enigmatic smile.

He put a hand into a cowboy pocket, pulled out a velvet box and opened it. Cami was breathless.

-No... I cannot accept it - he said, stunned, after seeing the diamond ring in the box. How will I accept something so nice? -he whispered.

But Benja pulled the ring out of the box and put it into Cami's finger. It fit perfectly, as if the same ring knew it belonged to that hand.

-I'm not very original, -he said as Cami stared at the diamond's shine. It is almost the same color as roses; I find it a color so appropriate for you... -he added while stroking his hand with the softness of a feather.

-Benja, I can't...

-Don't say it! My parents expect you to have a request ring, okay? Do you want everyone to distrust us?

-No, of course not.

Then he had only done so to content his parents. You should have imagined it. He removed his hand and felt an overwhelming disappointment.

How had it been allowed to be excited when it was obvious that that was all a farce?

-Then put it -Benja ordered, irritated. He was right. Cami knew he was right: It didn't make sense to go ahead with that plan if they didn't do it properly. So why did you feel so upset and angry?

-Sorry, heaven. I picked up these flowers before someone stepped on them - suddenly, an elderly canosa intervened. They're yours, are they?

-Eh... yes -Cami answered while he was taking the bouquet of roses. Thank you very much.

-They are very nice. That ring has to be very special for you to drop them -said the old woman, eager to see the ring.

Cami extended her left hand and heard the old woman's admired exclamations as Benja surrounded her shoulders with an arm, like a possessive boyfriend.

There was a silence in which Cami warned that the old woman had not been the only person who had witnessed the scene. He saw disguised smiles, stargazing and even a girl with her hands stuck, as willing to break to applaud.

-I'm sorry, but you're going to have to get used to it -Benja said, who had also repaired others' attention. Walk, let's pick up the luggage, fondness.

Cami could only settle in silence. He stopped protesting, already calm, partially vanished the burning of his lips after the kiss.

Benja placed her hand on her back and guided her toward the baggage-collection tape. His touch raised his hair and he thought it was a luck that he didn't want to protest any more, because he wasn't sure if he would have found the voice to do so.

Benja came to the tape a few steps ahead of her and was stacking her bags in a cart as they arrived.

Cami could not help to observe Benja's powerful biceps, which captured the looks of both women and men. What I didn't miss: He wore blue jeans, a white shirt and a brown boot; but something in him emanated strength, confidence, success, and aroused the interest of others wherever he was.

The efficiency with which he placed his bags on the cart suggested that he had done that countless times before, at many other airports around the world.

«I hope I get used to it», Cami thought. Then he realized that was just what Benja had told him minutes before.

-Is it all? -he asked him, finally. -What did you refer To when you said that I would have to get used to? - Cami replied, after settling.

-To arouse interest -Benja said-. When people think they are in front of a couple of lovers, I have realized that they are dedicated to watching the show. Mum dissipates well, but I have a couple of bonuses that when they see you on wedding day...

-Premiums?

-I know that neither of us want a pompous act--Benja shrugged on her shoulders in an apology sign--but mum and dad have relatives to those who want a lot. I know that as soon as you learn about the wedding, you will want to participate and help us.

-Help us?

-I made a couple of calls, -Benja acknowledged-. At this time of year there are many weddings, Cami. Almost all decent restaurants are already booked, which leaves only two options: To get married and get married in secret, which would hurt my parents' feelings, or to have a family party at home.

-Do you say it seriously? -Cami laughed." If you are...

-What?

-Rich -She completed, despite how bad she sounded.

- And so do we have to spend a fortune? Do you like that kind of life? -Benja asked, upset.

-No -Cami answered honestly. The truth is, not too much. I would feel uncomfortable in a luxurious social act; but I thought your family…

-My father is a family doctor and doesn't make much money. My mother was a nurse, but she stopped working thirty years ago, when my older brother was born, -Benja explained-. Yes, it is true that the company I have with Felipe is generating a lot of profits. My whole family has actions in it and my brother Coco works full time with us. But you'll have noticed that I don't wear Armani costumes or gold watches. If that bothers you…

-I tell you not,- Cami insisted calmly. Forgive. I was taking a lot of things for granted and I shouldn't have done it. I love the idea that each guest will provide something to eat for the wedding banquet... The only thing that frightens me is that your whole family notices something strange and suspects... and our relationship breaks down before we even begin, -he concluded.