C1 Chapter 1

It was thirteen years ago when Ruben left his childhood home. He remembered it as if it was just yesterday. He was about to turn eighteen when the news about his departure came. As Ruben had approached the living room after being called by his father, the stern look on his father’s face had portrayed the serious news that was to follow.

“Your mother and I have decided to send you to the overseas to further your education. You will continue your schooling in the United States, " Mr. Saviola had said.

Ruben prayed to the heavens that his father was joking. He looked to his mother's side to confirm his prayers. Unfortunately, her expression told him otherwise.

“But why?" Ruben asked, his eyes shifting back to his father. "How? I am in my second year already. Why do you want me to abandon my studies here to go to U.S.A?”

Ruben hardly questioned his father’s decision. The ageing billionaire and chairman of Savi Technologies was always right. He never steered away from errors. He was the walking personification of perfection. He was a beacon of righteousness and the god in his life. But that morning, Ruben could not help but wonder why his father, who had always spoken about how the devil has possessed the americans and how any parents who allowed their children to go to their country was as good as losing their children, would suddenly come up with such decision. It did not sound right.

However, Mr. Saviola wasn't keen on easing his confusion.

“You will go to to stay with your Mother’s sister. You will start your University over again," He said.

“I don’t understand, Father."

“You don’t have to understand. It is for your own good. Get ready.You are leaving first week in next month. Everything has been arranged.”

"So I'm going to stay with my aunt?"

"Yes."

Ruben stared at his father, hoping for a split second that something would just possess him and quickly change his mind. A long silence filled the living room. A long uncomfortable silence. Seeing as nothing was going to come out of his fruitless waiting, Ruben gave up.

"Alright, Father." He stood up and made his way out of the living room with a defeated sigh.

Ruben smiled as his mind brought him back to the present. His dark green eyes squinted when he shielded his face from the sun. That was years ago.Thirteen years was long enough to forget how it felt to breath in the dusty air in a sunny afternoon. As Ruben stepped down from the plane, the wheezing sound of the dry wind hit him and he covered his face with the newspaper he was holding while walking towards the arrival hall for his luggage. He spat out dusts that flew into his mouth.

"For crying out loud," he muttered under his breath.

“Ruben!”

He heard his name but had no time to react. He did not see his mother racing towards him until she screamed his name the second time and enveloped him in a very tight hug.

“Hello, mother." He returned her embrace, smiling warmly.

“I have missed you,my child. How are you? I sincerely hope the country was good to you?” Mrs. Saviola turned her son from side to side and gave him a thorough examination. Her eyes narrowed and a small frown twisted her lips.

“Ah! You have lost some weight!" she cried, cupping his face. "Just look at your cheeks. What happened to my once chubby boy? You are now bones."

"Mother, you are overreacting." Ruben shook his head in an amused fashion.

"No,I'm not!"

Ruben's eyes darted to his father was approaching them, shaking his head at the small drama before him.

“Dear,” Mr. Saviola admonished his wife.“Leave the young man alone. He is just coming in now.”

Mrs. Saviola grumbled a bit, but obliged and gave Ruben some space.

Mr. Saviola gave Ruben a bear hug, took his hands and placed it on his forehead.

“Welcome, my son," he said. "I have waited for this day to come.”

“It’s good to see you again,Father," Ruben said, smiling softly. "You're look good. I'm almost tempted to say you're looking younger."

Mr. Saviola let out a loud laugh.

"You flatter me,young man," he said. “Come. Everyone is waiting for you at home.”

********

“Father,” Ruben said.

“Yes?" Mr. Saviola replied.

They were in his father’s study. Friends and various family members had all retired to their homes after a huge gathering and a long party. Ruben could hear his mother’s voice singing loudly in her room.

“Why do you want me back?” Ruben asked for the third time.

Mr. Saviola sighed and leaned back into his seat. His eyes stared into space and his forehead wrinkled in thought. It may have been more than a decade of years apart but Ruben never got tired of seeing that iconic posture from the billionaire. When his father struck that pose, it somehow made him look even more powerful.

“I am getting old, my son." Mr. Saviola focused his eyes on his son. "Someone has to take over the company and grow the family legacy.”

That statement would have been a source of joy for any heir to a powerful empire. Ruben, however, had other thoughts.

“Father, I can’t.”

Mr. Saviola sighed and shook his head wryly.

“You have told me that earlier but I believe that you don’t know what you are saying. I wanted you to come back to see where how high I've taken the company to. I want you to take it to greater heights and...” He began.

“Father!" Ruben cut him short,shaking his head in disapproval. "I am a Lawyer now. I am doing well for myself. I have a life in America. I can’t take over from you. I'm sorry, but I just can't."

“I am not asking you to." Mr Saviola was calm. "I am giving you the opportunity to do create your own legacy and make our company the best in Colombia and then the whole of South America."

"Father.."Ruben made to protest but his father cut him short.

“No, son, go to bed. Think about it. By the time two months elapses, you must have been seen the light.”

Ruben sat confused for a while, then he stood up and walked towards the door.

“May an epiphany reach you tonight, my son," Mr.Saviola spoke.

“I pray so,” Ruben muttered.

But there was no epiphany that reached him that night. There was no shining light. The only epiphany that reached him was the guilt that followed him to U.S.A and had burdened him for the past thirteen years. The guilt that had eaten him up for years and showed him the reason why he was an unworthy heir to his father’s company.

Juanita.

Juanita, the naive new girl that was the daughter of one of their house maids. The young and buxom woman whom he slept with thirteen years ago. The betrayal and denial when she got pregnant and accused him of being responsible.

“It is best you say nothing concerning that pregnancy, son. You cannot own responsibility to that girl’s pregnancy. It is not good for our family's reputation,” His mother had told him.

And he listened to his mother. When Juanita came with her mother, he had said nothing, but his parents had sent them out of the house, calling them daughters of Lilith who had come to taint the family.

He wondered what had become of Juanita and what happened to the pregnancy.

********

The music was too loud even from the outside of the popular Quindo night club. Juanita threw her cloak over her shoulder as the night cold hit her and made her shiver.

“See you tomorrow, girlfriend!” Her colleague shouted from the entrance.

“I am not coming tomorrow! My son is coming back and I need to be home!” Juanita shouted back.

She bent to zip her boot and walked rapidly to the side of the road to wait for a taxi. As the chilly wind caressed her skin and occasionally stung her, her teeth clattered and she occasionally let out some curses.

“Hi lady, how much for the night?” A car slowed in front of her and a man peered from the window.

“I am not for sale, mister,” she snapped and walked towards the other side.

The driver brought the car to a halt, stepped out and followed her. Juanita hastened her footsteps but it was fruitless. The man was just as fast.

“Hey, I know you. You're the girl that shakes her naked butt cheeks in that club over there.” He grinned and pointed to the popular building.

Juanita picked her pace and kept walking but the driver held her by the shoulder and turned her roughly.

“Leave me alone, mister!” she growled.

“Shut your mouth, young lady. I finished my money on you tonight while you shook that thing.” He slapped her butt.

“Leave me alone, you pig!” she cried out loudly this time.

"Pig?" The man laughed out. "That's a real joke coming from a lady who does all kind of vile things in the dark."

Juanita's intense glare did nothing to deter him.

"Speaking of vile things." The man licked his lips. “I deserve some of you, don’t you think? At least a good time for the night.” He tried pulling her towards his car.

“Help! Someone please help me!” Juanita screamed as loud as her lungs could allow her.

The intruder got scared and left her. She took her cloak from the ground and ran as far away from him as she could.

That was not the first time she was experiencing such molestation from men after her pole dance. It probably won’t be the last.