The b***h Mafia:Another Chapter

Chapter 15: Claudia

15

[A.N: If you haven't read the 'The Bachelor Mafia' please do so. There are spoilers in this chapter.]

Inigo's POV

"I want to know everything. I want to know your story. How did you meet her? How did you feel for her? Just everything love," 

She suddenly asked. She's still crying and I just couldn't calm her. My words are not enough to soothe her. 

To be honest, I just don't see the point of revisiting the past. She would just hurt herself. 

Jasmine's eyes were just too eager to know Hera. I pulled away for a bit and held her hand. We sat on the edge of the fountain so I could tell her the story. 

"I was 21 back then, when Anton informed me about a spy in the Red Mafia. It was a huge crisis for me. No one would dare to send a spy to me, yet Anton caught one. The spy told us that it was Omega who sent him." I paused a bit before I continued again. 

"I found out that the Santiago's were the current leaders that time. Claudia was supposed to be the heir." 

"So her name is Claudia," Jasmine nodded while mentioning her name. 

"Yes. Initially, I only wanted to use her. But then I fell in love. Again, our lives aren't fairytales. She pushed me away while saying she didn't love me. I was hurt. Badly hurt and ruined." 

She's Claudia Santiago, the first woman I ever loved, aside from my mother, sister, and Ariadne(my cousin).

She's a great person and easy to fall in love with. She's not the usual type of woman I've dated before. She's easy to be with. She somehow taught me how to be brave, how to show affection, and how to express myself.

We were so in love with each other. Even though we started in a very unusual way, however I was still caught off guard. 

She's so beautiful. I was so damn happy that I was willing to protect her. I was willing to risk my life for her.

I thought we would spend the rest of our lives together. I thought I'll spend the rest of my life with her, only her. Then, one day, she asked me to leave her. 

She left without telling me any other reason but she did not love me. She broke up with me. I tried to look for her and tried to rekindle her love for me. But I found out that she's already here, in Labyrinth. Until now, I still don't know why she left. 

"Since the day she broke up with me, I have been devastated. I tried to look for her and I ended up seeing her here."

Jasmine was just silent the whole time she was listening. 

"Aren't you going to finish your story?" She asked when she noticed I'm not continuing anymore. 

"Next time baby. But for now, let's go back inside." She sighed but still agreed to come with me. 

We were a bit awkward when we went back. 

When we sat back on our table, the auction was just about to start. Margarett and Xian joined the auction. Xian was the only one who was able to win a bid. 

"Hey, I'll just go to the washroom." I whispered in Jasmine's ears.

"Do you want me to accompany you?" She asked. She seems worried. I haven't fully recovered yet. It's understandable. 

"I can manage, babe." I kissed the top of her head before I left the table. 

I started looking for the washroom and I just can't seem to find one. 

"Excuse me, where's the washroom?" I asked the guy that was serving drinks. 

"The end of the hallway sir," He said while pointing to the end of the hallway we were in. 

"Thank you," He just nodded and I left. 

I walked towards the direction he mentioned and saw the washroom. I did what I had to do. I washed my hand before I went out of the washroom. 

But I stopped when I bumped into her. She looked shocked as her eyes widened.

Suddenly, I didn't know how to move. I didn't know what to do. 

She still smells the same. 

Fuck Inigo. 

I stopped myself from exchanging eye contact with her. I nodded a bit to show that I acknowledge her. She seemed shocked when I did that. 

I hid my hand inside my pocket and turned around to go back to our table. 

"Hey," 

I felt my heart skip a beat when she followed me and stopped me by grabbing my arm. I turn around to see her. My eyes went down to her hand that was grabbing my arm.

"Sorry," She said when she noticed that my eyes were eyeing her hand. 

"Do you need anything?" I casually asked. She stared at me for a bit before she looked away. 

"Uhh---I was wondering if we can talk?" She said and stared at my eyes again.

Her face has matured. But her eyes were still the same. Her hair was shorter than it was ten years ago. I don't know but she seems taller too.

"We have nothing to talk about," 

I sounded emotionless and probably cold to her but it was her words back then. She didn't want me in her life. 

Her eyes were wide open and her jaw dropped when I said that. Suddenly, I felt guilty when a hint of pain was expressed in her eyes. 

I immediately looked away to stop myself from feeling any guilt towards her. I saw her gulped through my peripheral vision.

"I just--- I have something to say," 

I turned my head and stared straight in her eyes. 

"To me? Why?" She started playing her nails with her nails.

"Just give me a bit of your time," Her eyes started glistening as tears started to form on her eyes.

"Fine. Say it now, I need to go back to my fiance." 

She nodded thrice and a small smile formed in her lips. 

"I'm sorry that I pushed you away that day," She started. 

Then, I remember the exact day. The day she told me that she didn't love me.

"I just want you to know, I never meant any of the words I threw you that day." A tear fell on her cheek when she said that. Her eyes were bloodshot. I can see that she's stopping herself from crying hard. "God knows how---how much I loved you." She continued. 

When she said the last three words, her tears started flowing with no control. 

"I promised myself that if we happen to meet again, I will try to win you back." She stopped and chuckled. "But how can I do that when another woman already owns you." She wiped her tears away before she continued. "And right now, all I ever wanted is for you to be happy just like how you wanted me back then, to be happy." 

She wiped her tears again when someone was about to pass us through. I remained silent until the woman left. 

"Claudia," I have never called his name in ten years. Calling her name again feels different. "The god also knew how much I have loved you. Right now, the only thing I wanted to say to you is thank you. If you did not let me go, I wouldn't have a chance to meet her. You see Claudia, she did not throw our relationship away in our hardest time. She used it rather to strengthen our love for each other. She made me feel alive again. And it all thanks to you," 

Her tears kept on falling and falling as I said those words. 

"I know. I know Inigo," 

"So thank you for letting me go Claudia. Believe me, you have been a great part of my life. You have been," 

She bit her lower lips and nodded. 

"Can I-- can I hug you? For the last time?" 

I sighed and just nodded. She walked closer to me and extended her arms to me. She buried her face on my chest. I just caressed her back and then she let go. 

"Thank you Inigo. I sincerely wish you all the happiness in the world."

She said before she left me there standing. 

Just like back then, I still wish your happiness Claudia.