Chapter 23

GABRIELA

The days passed slowly. I spent a large part of the vacation in the hospital with Carlos or Alex, the latter didn't take long to get out of there and stayed with me in the hospital.

Carlos's surgery went well from what the doctors said and it could be seen as soon as he woke up. At first, it's a little difficult for him to remember things, but little by little he remembered everything and I don't know how many times he asked Alex for forgiveness. Apparently, they were going to be the friends they were before again and that made me happy. He also promised me he wouldn't walk away from me like he had done and he would make it up to me for his attitude when he found out I was with Alex, to which it wasn't necessary, but he insisted so I ended up accepting.

Today is the first day of college and I didn't really want to go, and the feeling I had something was going to happen to me and Alex grew stronger and stronger. I woke up a little worried about what that feeling could be, but I soon put it out of my head so I wouldn't be worried all day and not worry others. When it's time, my siblings and I headed to the car to go look for Marcos and he looked happy because apparently Carlos would return home today.

As soon as we arrived at college, to my surprise, Sara and Clara were already there, and it's weird because Sara is one of those people who came a couple of minutes before the bell rang. My siblings went inside college and we stayed outside, mostly me to wait for Alex.

"Hey guys, how long. We thought you were going to the New Year's Eve party." Sara said excitedly. "And we were going to go, but problems arose and didn't let us." Marcos responded, "What happened?" Sara asked, "Family things that Marcos will tell you at recess if he wants."

"Sure, better, because right now I'm half asleep." Marcos affirmed with me by his side laughing, "Well, you look happy for being half asleep." She observed, "I'm happy, my brother is coming home." He answered smiling, "But wasn't he already at home?"

"That's why what Gabriela said about it being a long story." He repeated, "And can we know what happened to your nose?" The moment Sara says that, I turn to see Alex is almost next to me, which made me smile. "Thank you for spoiling the scare for Gabriela, Sara."

"Sorry, I had no idea what you're going to do. Now can you tell me what happened to you?" Sara asked, raising an eyebrow. "It's a long story." my boyfriend simply said to which I laughed, because I'm sure that's going to be something Sara wouldn't like too much "All three of you say the same thing. From what I can see you had a busy vacation."

"That couldn't be truer." The bell just rang and we went to class. Alex's habit of accompanying me wasn't lost or anything, and as soon as we got to my class, we said goodbye and left for his class. Classes passed considerably quickly and when I was going to leave class to get some fresh air, Alex is already outside waiting for me.

"Hello, my queen." He said with a big smile on his face, automatically making a smile appear on mine "Hello love" We gave each other a kiss and started walking towards the place where we would meet Marcos and the girls. "Hey, do you want something from the cafeteria?"

"No." I responded, "Well, I'm going to go get a coffee and look for Dani. You don't mind if I take him with us, right?" He asked and I nodded, because it's something that made me happy. "Of course not, I'm delighted you're doing it. At some point you were going to have to spend time with your friends."

"I don't care about friends if I can be with you." He assured and I rolled my eyes "But it does matter to me, you have to spend time with your friends too." I answered, "Ok, I'll try to do it, but I can't guarantee anything."

"You will, I'll make sure of that." We laughed and kissed. We separated and as I was walking to meet the others, a chill came over me, which made me tense and look around.

"Gabriela, are you ok?" I hadn't realized Marcos and the girls were around. As soon as Marcos approaches me, he puts his arm over my shoulders. "Hey, are you ok?" He asked again "Something bad is going to happen to us." I stated, even though I have no idea what "What are you talking about? I don't understand you."

"The feeling something bad is going to happen to me and Alex is stronger now." I assured, "Nothing is going to happen to you, I'll take care of that, Gabriela. Now relax and let's go wait for Alex, ok?" He didn't even let me say yes or no, he just took me there and we sat down. Marcos sat next to me and brought me closer to him. They were talking when I noticed a person, I hoped I would never see for the rest of my life, it couldn't be she's at this college. How the hell did she find out I was here? What is she doing here? Without realizing it, I squeezed Marcos's hand which made him look at me.

"Gabriela, calm down, nothing is going to happen to you." Marcos insisted "With Paula around you can be sure something is going to happen." I assured, clenching my jaw. "What are you talking about?" He asked, but before I could answer him, she reached us.

"Gabriela? It's a pleasure to meet you again. I didn't know you were at this college." I had noticed she's approaching us and when Marcos hears those words, he turns towards the direction in which he heard it and from the way he stood, I know he didn't like her presence here at all.

I'm angry at the way she had come, as if she's pleased to find me, which I'm sure I'm not, and if she was pleased, I suppose it's because she's going to do something. "I can't say the same." I said coldly, "Are you still angry about what happened years ago with Alex?" He asked ironically, "I have reasons, right?"

"I already told you it's not my fault he's with me, it was him who decided." She assured, "If you hadn't told him the lies you told him, we wouldn't break up" I countered, "They weren't lies if you're together now."

"That's none of your business," I replied. "It could be, but honestly, it's something I'm interested in knowing," she said. "Why don't you mind your own business and leave me alone once and for all?" I said, tired of everything at this moment, "You don't need to get like that Gabriela, I'm just coming as a friend."

"You're wasting your time; I'm not going to fall into your trap again." I assured, "You're jealous because I'm with Alex, I can understand it, but resentment is bad, you know?" She laughed I rolled my eyes "Oh, so you're still with Alex?" I asked ironically "Well of course, even though I had to leave we're still together, bad luck I can't be at the same college as him, that way we could spend more time together."

With those words somewhere in my heart it hurt me, something similar to that of a long time ago. I know Alex isn't with her, he had shown me he loves me, but what this girl said, it hurt me, I would break her face if it weren't for Marcos holding me, something stronger since he said that.

"My love, I brought you a coffee because it's cold and I know you hate it." With those words we all turn in the direction of Alex who, not receiving any answer, looks up from the coffee. It's at that moment he notices who's there next to us and it doesn't take long for him to approach me, standing in front of me.

"What the hell are you doing here? Can't you leave her alone or what?" He asked angrily "It's a pleasure to see you my dear, I didn't know you were at this college." She said, looking somewhere behind us, "Don't even think about approaching me, much less calling me that."

"Of course, we are, don't deny it in front of them." Paula protested "No, I left you eight years ago. I only loved Gabriela and I will for the rest of my days." my boyfriend responded, "Are you going to tell me you're with her?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, and I could almost guarantee she's angry. "Well, of course, she forgave me for everything I did to her, she's a better person than you are."

"So, you're going to tell me you're happy and all, right?" She ironized, "Yeah, and we always will be." He assured, "We'll see about that, but now I'm leaving because I have to know what classes to go to. Nice to see you guys."

And with that she left, leaving us all with our mouths open and without understanding anything. I already said something was going to happen, everything isn't going to be as easy as it was. When we made sure she was away from us Alex turns to look at me. Right now, I'm angry and didn't want to talk to anyone, I needed my time to assimilate what had just happened, I needed to be alone.