Chapter 7 - love or lust

Alex felt happy when he finally heard his father's voice. On the other hand, the doctor had some kind of weird feeling - he somehow felt that he had heard that voice before but he could not remember when and where. Nonetheless, after the young man returned his phone and after thanking him endlessly, he started to go back to the topic that he wanted to discuss with the young man - his relationship with his only daughter - Katerina.

"You see Alex, I don't want to beat against the bush, so I'd like to ask you frankly...Did you and Katerina slept together while I was away?" the doctor's brows furrowed and his eyes grew bigger. His hands were clenched ready to throw a punch at the young man in front him if his answer would not satisfy him.

The young man saw the anger at the doctor's countenance but he was not bothered by it. He knows deep inside that he loves his daughter and he had no intention of fooling him. "Yes, doc, something happened between us when you were away." he said calmly, trying to see if he will be punched or not by the father of his beloved.

Without any hesitation, the doctor threw a punch on his face which made the young man fell down on his knees. He tried getting up but the doctor punched him again. This time he landed on some branches of trees that were scattered on the ground creating a loud noise that was heard by the doctor's daughter. Katerina immediately ran when she heard the sound coming from outside. On the ground, she saw her lover struggling to get up but every time he does, her father kept on punching him, even hitting his nose.

"Father, please stop!" she yelled, then came to hold the young man and helped him got up. "Please father...don't hurt him! Ple...ase...huhuhu!" her tears were already flowing on her cheeks and she could not help but felt pity at the sight of the young man whose nose was bleeding from the her father's assault, aside from the whack he had received from other parts of his body.

"Bring him in so I could clean his wound!" the doctor said coldly at his daughter who could not help but hugged her lover even when they were in front her father.

After applying some ointment at the young man's face and also on his chest, the doctor sat on the chair, his hands folded on his chest, looking intently at the lovers. The couple were holding their hands as they sat together on the bed. Both were protecting each other from the anger of the doctor which they thought was the best thing that they could do. Joshua stood up, still folding his arms on his chest and walked slowly, encircling the room, then stopped in front of the young man. "You have to explain to me young man clearly on what you are going to do with my daughter. Are you planning to marry her or what?" his voice was very high, as if he was shouting.

"I will marry her, doc. I...I love your daughter! I'm not going to go away without her!"

"Are you sure that it is love and not lust, eh? How are you going to prove to me that you have a good intention towards my child? If you really love her then you should have waited until the time that you are both married! Alex, you can never fool me! You don't love my daughter...you...you lusted on her! You son of a bit*ch! When your father comes here then go, okay? Never show yourself again on this island! You...you....you ruined my daughter, my dear sweet innocent child! How could you do such thing to her, eh? Do you think that she is like one of your whores that you could take to bed anytime you want!"

"Father, please! Listen to me! Why are you so mad at Alex? Nothing would happen between us if I did not agree with it. I love him father and I will marry him, with or without your consent..."

Doctor Joshua's anger came back again. He tried not to punch the young man again but he landed his fist on the table instead, near them, making a loud noise. "So, you will marry him, even if I will not allow you, is that it, dear?"

"Yes father. If you do not accept him as my husband, what else could I do?" his daughter reasoned out.

"You are not even sure that his family will receive you, then here you are telling me that you will marry that man, eh? Listen to me, dear, that man will leave you on this island when his father comes here, okay? He has no use of a wife who lives her life entirely on the island. He wants someone like him who thrives in the society that he belongs. Aside from the fact that his father would not accept you."

The couple did not reply again. Both their heads were bowed down. Doc Joshua started walking again, the silent room was deafening to everyone that he started to check the topic of their conversation. "Tomorrow, you are coming with me to the clinic after breakfast, Kate! I will not leave you alone with that man again. And you young man, make sure that your father will come here this week or else, I would have to take you the city and bring you to him just to separate you with my daughter. I am tired from traveling, Kate, please prepare my bedding on the living room. I want to sleep early."

Katerina immediately got up and followed her father's command, leaving the two men behind. The doctor's eyes were lingering on the young man's face, noting the similarities between him and his former rival from a long time ago but he only shrugged his shoulders and started talking to him again. "By the way, your father sent a message on my phone, telling you that he will come tomorrow. I did not reply and did not answer his calls. Here is my phone, you can either send a message or call him." the doctor gave his phone to the young man who immediately sent a message to his father informing him that he will come and pick him up at the port. The chairman replied that he missed his son and would like to bring him to the city as soon as possible. After the last message of his father, Alex smiled and texted that he missed him too and that he will be waiting for him tomorrow. When he was done texting, he gave the phone back to the owner and thanked him back sincerely. The doctor left him alone without saying anything and went to the living room.

He approached his daughter quietly and hugged her tight. "I'm sorry Kate for the harsh words that I've told you! I know that I have hurt you but it is the truth. I don't trust him! Your life with him would be miserable, dear, so please think twice before coming to a decision that would affect your life dearly!"

"Oh, father! Please give him a chance...he loves me and I love him too! I could not live without him! I know that he is a good person and that he won't take back his words when he told me that he will marry me! Father, please allow us to get married, please!"

The doctor kissed his daughter on her forehead and smiled. How could a parent like him try to stop the happiness of his daughter? This thought had hit his brain making him confused. He loves his daughter and her happiness is his happiness too! "Well, dear, when his father comes here and agreed on your marriage, then I would grant you my blessings. You know that I love you more than I love myself! You are the reason why I always had to wake up, to live throughout the day! Kate, dear, I am going to accept him as your husband as long as his father would receive you too!"

"Thank you, father! I know that you love me and you would never hurt me! I know his father would like me, I assured you!" Katerina kissed her father on his cheeks and stayed with him until he slept.

The following morning, Katerina woke up early and found her father already preparing breakfast in the kitchen. She smiled at him and greeted him warmly. He told her that Alex borrowed his phone to track him down. "I'm nervous dad! What if his father won't like me? What if he likes another woman for his son? What if..."

"Kate! You don't have to say anything okay? No matter what happens, I will always be here with you..." the doctor embraced his daughter to calm her down. He knows that she is feeling nervous, thinking that the father of her lover would not like her because she grew up on an island and she was shy and don't like to socialize with other people especially those who belong in the upper society. While they were on the kitchen conversing, footsteps were heard coming into their direction - those were from the young man himself who was smiling to both the doctor and his daughter.

"Good morning Kate! Good morning doc! Dad is sure to come this afternoon! He said that he would be glad to see the people that helped me survived the violence that someone did on me! I even told him that I am going to marry you, Kate!"

Katerina bit her lips. Her hands were trembling. She does not want to hear anything more from her lover. "So, what was the opinion of your dad regarding it, Alex?" asked the doctor, he too was anxious to know if the chairman would agree at his daughter and the young man's union.

"Well, dad told me that he wanted to see my future bride before he decides. Don't worry Kate! He will agree for there is no reason why he shouldn't. You are kind and pretty and also a good cook! What else do I want?" he chuckled a bit, looking at the nervous Katerina, who also grinned when she saw her lover complimenting her.

"Since he is coming, you might as well go to the supermarket and buy some chicken and meat. I don't want Alex's father think that people on the island could not afford good food, okay, Kate? Here take this money! I think that is enough to purchase some ingredients for a special menu."

The doctor handed his daughter some paper bills and his daughter went to the supermarket together with her boyfriend. Along the way, many people were whispering behind their backs. Katerina even heard one woman commented that the young man was too handsome for her and that she was lucky enough that she was a woman, if not, her beauty was no match for him. Alex also heard that comment but he only laughed. "Don't listen to her, okay? You are pretty enough for me! She doesn't know how gorgeous you are especially when you are so close to my face!" after saying those words, he kissed her on the lips, never minding if there were people around them.

Other comments they heard were compliments for the young woman for being such a beauty and lucky on having a handsome guy walking alongside her but most of the comments irritated her especially when some of them have the guts to say that she had Alex just because she was the daughter of the only doctor on the island even though her beauty was not exceptionally enough to match those of the young man. Reaching the supermarket, more and more people have seen the couple. Some of them asked them whether they have been together for a long or who the handsome man beside the doctor's daughter. Alex replied to all their questions and was proud to tell them that they were a new couple and they loved each other so dearly. Katerina blushed every time Alex replies to all the people that are curious to know them. The residents were glad that one of them had found someone that does not live on the island. Most of them, especially the women, chose to marry the men who were also living on the island and lived their whole lives without going anywhere.

After finishing their task, the couple went home and rested a bit. The doctor came home and blurted out to the young man, "I received a message from your dad, Alex! He is now on the port! Go to that place now and pick him up!"