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“Well,” Noelle wet her lips, excitement shining in her eyes as she was ready to spout all of Rafaelo’s attributes. Not that Lucero hadn’t already heard everything multiple times, but she indulged Noelle because she knew how happy it made her to speak of her crush.
“Even in this situation, he’s so kind. He’s been saving the extra lunch he got for one of the older slaves. He’s been helping those not physically able, doubling his work. I mean… I knew he was a decent man before, but it had been only via our conversations, you know? This time I’m actually witnessing his behavior and my God, Lucero… How can anyone be so perfect?”
Noelle gushed as she clasped her hands in front of her. “Everyone already respects and defers to him and he rightfully earned it. Where others only look out for their own interests, he’s the opposite, helping anyone in need. Of course, that’s not entirely a good thing as I wish he were a little more selfish. After all, he’s going without food and increasing his workload to help others. But I can’t very well march to him and tell him I’ve been studying him for close to two weeks now, can I?”
“Is this the part where I’m to understand you haven’t washed your hair in two weeks?” Lucero asked, her lips trembling as she tried not to smile.
“Is that all you got from what I just said?”
“Your boyfriend istooperfect. So why do you keep on watching him?”
“Because,” Noelle paused as her lips tightened, her entire face enveloped in a scowl. “The men and women are not segregated anymore.”
“So?” Lucero tilted her head, looking mightily confused.
In the past, the women and men had been segregated, living and working in different areas of the hacienda. Lucero had been lucky she’d been allowed quarters in the women-only dorms, but she’d been one of the few who’d been sent to do hard labor with the men—her punishment for disobeying el señor.
“So?” Noelle repeated, her eyes wide with outrage. “I’ve told you. This girl keeps on giving him sweet eyes and I don’t like it.”
“Noelle,” Lucero sighed. “He’s probably the nicest man she’s met in a long time. Don’t read too much into it.”
“But that’s exactly the thing, Lulu.Becausehe is the nicest guy, she might fall for him. And what if… What if…” Her lip trembled. “What if he falls for her, too? I’m not there to intervene, I can only watch from afar.”
“Nothing like that is going to happen. The last thing on his mind should be to get with one of the girls, especially since everyone knows they are off limits and belong to the señor.”
“Do they? Look,” Noelle pointed to the monitor.
The lunch break had just started and everyone had been handed their portion.
Rafaelo took his, putting aside the extra bit and giving it to the old man he’d taken under his wing. He gave the old man a small smile, shaking his head when he wanted to return the food. After exchanging a few words, Rafaelo went on his way.
He usually preferred to spend his breaks on his own. Despite being so popular among the workers, he needed some time to himself.
At the same time, on another monitor, Noelle pointed to the slave girl who’d been following Raf around with her eyes.
“She’s half in love with him,” Noelle gritted out.
“What’s a little crush? It’s not as if she’s going to act on it…”
Yet Lucero barely spoke the words as the girl took her food and headed in Rafaelo’s direction, taking a seat by his side.
“You were saying?” Noelle raised a brow, her mouth flattening in annoyance.
Rafaelo gave a girl a small smile, and it was obvious from the video footage that she was trying to engage him in conversation.
“Noelle… Don’t do something crazy,” Lucero warned, already used to Noelle’s antics.
“Crazy? Like what?” Noelle asked innocently, though, her eyes gleamed mischievously.
In the beginning Lucero might have thought Noelle planned to play with the girl, but when Rafaelo extended his hand and gave her what was left of his food, she knew the girl had just signed her death warrant.
“He’s just being kind. You’ve seen he’s like this with everyone.”
Rafaelo gave the girl a smile and a nod as he got up to stretch his limbs before going back to work. What he didn’t see, however, was the way the girl was admiring him, that one smile she’d received from him the highlight of her day.
But Noelle saw.
She’d been noticing it for a while now, and she could usually read people well. But who in their right minds wouldn’t admire Raf? He was a paragon of virtue in a world of vice. It was as simple as that.
