CHAPTER 26

__ I'm hungry __ the interrupting voice startles me. Gabriella enters the kitchen dropping on a bench without looking up from the infernal pot, runs her fingers through it at an unrealistic speed.

__ Good morning how are you. Well, we are very good, how are you miss.

The girl raises her two hazelnuts in a clear look of: I don't give a shit about your direct indirect claim Esteffan, and then continue to do her thing ignoring us as if our existence was not worth enough.

The penguin squeezes his bird, I suppose to force himself to swallow the expletives he wants to say to him. As long as they have been working for them for years and make them feel like family, they are still their employers and there are days when it is better not to go beyond the limits that status imposes.

Matilda places a sandwich in front of her, watching her inquisitively. We both looked at each other strangely. The girl has a character of demons, but when she is with us she gives in to it. He has been more aware of his cell phone for days than usual, for his young age he frowns so that you can already see how an expression line is marked on him.

Something has her so upset, I tried to talk to her about it, but she just sent me to hell. Since then he hasn't come to my room to chat. He is avoiding me and that worries me, I used to do it when Caili asked me things that I could not answer him. I know it is not the same, I would recognize immediately if someone was harassing her, I know it is not that, but I am sure it is enough to have it like that.

Gabriella has a strong and imposing character by nature, few things take her out of her control, but without a doubt, this is one of them. Whatever it is, it's not doing you any good. Gabriella is too proud and independent a girl, I fear that when she asks for help it may be too late. But until there is some indication that I love her I can't do anything, otherwise I will push her away even more.

With her, the best thing is to respect her space, but that does not prevent me from being alert. Like someone who does not want the thing, I lean a little to his side, his fingers move over and over the keyboard, I can hardly see something, his responses and those of someone else arrive at a speed that makes them on the screen the texts scroll too fast and it doesn't allow me to distinguish anything.

On the upper side of the screen there is a name, José Ángel, it is a boy, it is written with a boy. Perhaps he is a boyfriend, although I imagine it must not be official if no one here knows of his existence. That worries me even more, there are many possibilities, if she is older than her, if they are in the same school. I'm worried she's so upset.

The little girl notices my approach and although I move away from her quickly, she realizes it. Gabriella gets up looking at me with a very clear desire to want to kill me and leaves, leaving her sandwich untouched. I watch her come out at full speed, almost piercing the tile of the floor with the strong impacts of her heels as she walks.

I don't know what to do with what I discovered, first, because I'm even sure that boy is the problem, second, because if I'm wrong and it reaches his brother's ears, trolla is going to burn here. But in the same way, I don't know what else to do with that information. Esteffan and Matilde have known him for years, I think that in the end they are the most indicated to know how to proceed in this.

It has been ten minutes since the girl left and no one utters a single syllable, they are immersed in their possible reasons for such behavior. I think about it a bit and let out all the air when making the decision. It only remains to find the best way to tell you what I discovered, a precise one, that does not lead to alteration or shocks, in an equanimous and sensible way.

__ She is writing to a boy __ I get out of the blue. Sometimes I feel like hitting myself.

Matilda drops the ladle, she puts her hands to her mouth, only one word escaping: My goodness.

__ That the father protect us __. Esteffan crosses himself taking out of his pocket the medal with the cross, it seems that in front of him was in maximum splendor someone possessed by the seven circles of hell.

__ That girl just lost her mind, if Mikael finds out ...

__ It will kill us all __ concludes the penguin sweating cold. He pulls a small silk scarf out of his suit and begins to gracefully wipe it across his forehead as he tries to sit up in a chair before collapsing to the ground.

__ It is not a big deal __. I go to the tap and fill two glasses with water __. After all they are just chatting.

__ Chatting? The talk is not the problem __. He brings the glass to his mouth, drinking a large quantity of crystalline liquid. He struggles with his free hand to get out of the bird, but the trembling in it makes his work difficult __. The point is, that girl loves to get in trouble. I don't think they'll settle for just chatting with a good boy who, incidentally, is nice, from a good family. By that I mean, that he is not a scoundrel who is up to his neck in shady deals believing himself The Modern Godfather.

__ God help us __. Matilda simply massages her forehead and names prayers to the heavenly father.

The girl is more troublesome than I thought, and this only seems to be the beginning of a long list. A few more months around here and I'll be known as a saint next to her.

I do not know what else to do or say, the truth is that there is not much we can do, not without earning his hatred and getting his brother into this. The truth is that neither of the two options seems very tempting and knowing her, will end up complicating the matter more.

It only remains to wait and pray that it does not get out of control. When I say getting out of control, I mean a mass murder by Mikael when he finds out.

I touch my pocket and feel the bulge in it, I watch Matilda and Esteffan who continue their chores immersed in their thoughts. I take advantage of his distraction and walk step by step to get there.

I look carefully at the set for a few more seconds, I hold the book with my other hand and take a great breath of air letting everything out. I reach for the cheekbone of the door and turn it, the gesture emits a small sound that is not alarming, even so, two heads look me up and down between exasperated and incredulous.

__ You again.

__ Why we are not surprised __. Rafael looks at Royers and denies filling his chest before letting him out in a huff.

__ I just want to sit for a while to read, I will not give problems I swear __. I pull out all my teeth in a sociable smile, I show my palms in a clear gesture of goodwill.

They both raise an eyebrow sarcastically __. With you that is unlikely __ they let loose in chorus with the daily life that would only be used by someone who already knows me thoroughly. That reminds me of Ali, without a doubt he would have said the same thing, only looking at the sky and at the faces of these two, they have little left to do it.

I decide to try again, this time pouting __. I know Triatos is in the stable, he can take care of me.

__ Rather watch you __ Royers rectifies feigning a sudden cough that he covers with his fist.

It costs me a bite of the tongue to contain myself from glaring at him, instead I give him an innocent smile that I don't even believe. I am nowhere to think that they will not let me go, from the receiver that hangs on their neck a clear voice is heard: It cannot be.

I look for the bearer of such a manly voice, his silhouette is drawn in the shadow of the stable with his hands crossed and one of his legs leaning against the wall.

Royers tries to take the device, but I launch at him with sharp claws before it even comes close __. Please, please, please, I promise to be good __. I bring the receiver closer to my lips, drag Royers' neck with me in the process, lean at the door so that Triatos will notice my despair and take pity on my soul.

A little touch clinks on my shoulder, I just ignore it __. I will be a good prisoner, I will not cause problems, I will not complain, I will be a statue __. Another blow, but this one louder followed by a strange sound behind me __. I swear I will not give cause for complaints, if you want or breathe, I will not blink __. Again the same strange sound is repeated, followed by a more intense touch, a giggle resounds from my back a little further away followed by a new touch.

It's frustrating, so no one can calmly pity when there is so much interruption. I turn a little to see what happens, now knowing why the touch, I turn and look at the sky __. God, how many did I kill in another life so that in this life everything turns out to be so shitty.

Another choked laugh resounds at my pleas, more like a constipated boar. I ignore him and with a slight apologetic smile untangling the cord of the earphone from Royers' neck, that allows the poor man to breathe again while the reddish color in his face is giving way and his sockets stop looking like they want to get out.

__ I'm sorry, I swear I'm sorry __. The man runs his hand over the area trying to ease it with his knees bent, fighting for air __. It was not my intention to hang you, I promise it was not intentional ... You will not let me go right? __ He ​​gives me a clear look back: Doubt offends. I seriously messed it up this time.

__ Let her out, shoot her, tie her to the bed, whatever, just make her shut her mouth. Some of us have to sleep __ a raspy, sleepy voice thunders through the communicator. Apparently more than one has listened to my show, because some heads are poking out from their surveillance areas in my direction half unscrewing with laughter.

__ Let her pass, I will take care of her __. The brunet's order stands out and without hesitation I give Royers an embarrassed smile before turning and running away before he decides to open fire.