Chapter 30

Chapter 30

MARCOS

When I got home, I told my siblings we're going to spend the afternoon at Gabriela's house. Ana seemed delighted and so did Carlos, but he asked me if everything is ok with her, to which I answered what her siblings told me and what I could see.

Before leaving we ate and picked up a little so when our parents arrive wouldn't have to do anything, they must be tired from. When we finished, we grabbed our coats, went out and into the car. It took us a little less than five minutes to get to Gabriela's house and as soon as we were about to ring, María opened the door for us and we entered. We went to the dining room and saw Lara with feeding her mother-in-law, what's weird is that Gabriela isn't helping her, normally she's the one who did it.

"Hello Lara." I greeted my best friend's mother, "Hello guys, it's a pleasure to have you home." She responded with a big smile on her face "And it's a pleasure for us to be here. Where's Gabriela?" I asked "She's in the bathroom upstairs, can you go check if she's, ok?" Lara asked and I frowned. "Is she feeling unwell?"

"No, her ear just started bleeding." She answered, concern evident on her face "We'll see if she's ok" I answered "Thanks, if you want you can stay with Mario and María, Ana." Lara said and our sister denied, "No, I want to go to Gabriela." She said and I laughed "Then let's go. See you later."

"I hope you come down for snack." She said and the three of us nodded. "We will" We went up the stairs, more than anything because we no longer needed to be taken anywhere in this house, we knew it perfectly just like Gabriela knew ours. Since we were little, we used to always be together and if it wasn't at Gabriela's house it was at ours. We headed to the bathroom and we could see Gabriela in front of the sink with a wet towel in her ear.

"Are you ok?" I asked and quickly, Gabriela turns in our direction "Guys, yeah, I'm fine, my ear is just bleeding, it's nothing." My best friend assured even though I'm not so sure it's true, "Well, your mother thinks something is wrong with you." I admitted, "No, I'm fine, that's just it, but it's already stopping."

"What's wrong with your ear, Gabriela?" Ana asked next to me, starting to go in her direction. "It's nothing Ana, she's just sick in one ear." I said, trying to make her not worry so much about her, and I'm not sure if she heard me or not, because she didn't turn in my direction. "Are you ok?"

"Yes princess, it's nothing, don't worry. Better tell me what you want to do." Gabriela said, throwing the towel into the dirty clothes bucket. "I would like you to continue teaching me how to draw." She asked "Then come on, let's not waste any more time. We'll look at the drawing you want to make, what do you think?"

With that, we headed to the study that was attached to her room. Before there was a wall that separated them until they knocked it down after a long time studying it.

The truth is I loved her room and the study and if it was big before, it's twice as big now. Her room is light gray and on one wall she had a drawing that took up the entire wall. It had taken Gabriela months to do it, I think two to be exact, but it's worth it all the time. On another wall she had many photos pasted in which you could see how she was growing. She had photos from the day she was born until now and it was truly beautiful.

In the studio she had some canvases with drawings, many of them with landscapes of beaches or the sea, Gabriela became better and better at it. There're also drawings on the walls. Sometimes I'm a little impressed because when we were little Gabriela hated the most drawing and now, she adored it and is great at it. I'm sure she'll become important; in her college degree she already had a certain fame.

Me and Carlos sat on the couch, while Ana and Gabriela sat at the desk to look for a drawing Ana could make. While they were printing, my sister started looking at all the drawings she had in sight and I could see in awe in her eyes. Until she turns completely towards Gabriela.

"Do you have more drawings?" My sister asked and Gabriela nodded. "Of course, why do you ask?" she questioned "Can I see them?" Ana asked, and Gabriela nodded once again, "Of course, tell Marcos to get that folder that's on the shelf." My best friend said, pointing in the direction of said folder, "Marcos, please."

"Alright." I got up and handed it over. She sat in the chair and looked at the drawings. Apparently, we had quite a while because my sister is observing it, so Gabriela started to draw.

"Have you seen Alex at college today?" Gabriela asked, with a somewhat worried tone. "Yes, he was worried when he didn't see you and even more so when I told him you had to go to the emergency room. He told me he would call you, hasn't he?" I asked, surprised he hadn't already done it. "No, not really. He has more things to do than keep an eye on what happens to me."

"It may be, but for him you're the most important thing, so he will give up anything so you're well." Carlos assured, because it's something more than clear to him and something that she must have been clear about. "Now are you defending him, brother?" I asked ironically, because honestly, I didn't expect it. "Yes, because I realized what you were saying is true. He loves her more than before. Besides, he's my friend, I will have to say something in his favor, right?"

"Right now, anyone can't say things in his favor." I assured "And have you seen her?" Gabriela asked interrupting our conversation. She didn't need to tell me her name, I know who she's referring to. "Yeah, she wanted to get closer to Alex, but he told her to go to hell. I was with him all the time. I can assure you nothing can happen between them; he hates her guts, more than any of us do."

"Wait, wait. I'm not understanding. What are you talking about?" my brother asked, straightening up in the chair he had sat in. "Ah, we didn't tell you. Paula is in our college. You can suppose the intentions she has." I huffed "What? Is that crazy woman back?"

"Yes, she's coming to screw up my life like she always did." Gabriela responded, rolling her eyes, "Do me the favor of not forgiving her. Don't believe anything she tells you; it won't be true." Carlos asked "I'm not stupid Carlos, I know he won't really say it. "She already made clear to me her intentions."

"The worst thing about it, bro is she told Gabriela she's with Alex. Of course, I had no idea she's at the same college we are at." I responded, "Do the problems in your life never end, sis?" He asked and all Gabriela did was shrug her shoulders. "That's what I'm starting to think." She admitted "Well, you know you can count on us. If you need us for anything, call us and we will go wherever you are. We're not going to let that crazy woman hurt you again."

"Carlos is right, we won't allow the depressed Gabriela come back. Plus, this time you have Alex, he won't let her hurt you" I said, "Who's Paula?" asked my sister, who apparently had finished looking at all the drawings and is now looking in our direction.

"She's a girl who goes to our college" Gabriela responded after hesitating for a few seconds. "And why don't my brothers like her?" She asked, focusing her gaze on our best friend. "Well, because they are spiteful." Gabriela said, "Maybe, but after everything that happened because of her, she deserves it."

"Did she hurt you?" my sister asked, ignoring us completely "Yes, she did a lot." Both Carlos and I said at the same time, "That girl is very bad then, I don't like her." Ana responded "Princess, don't say that, people can change." Gabriela tried, but now there's nothing going to change Ana's mind. "I don't like people who hurt you, you're very good."

"Thank you, princess, but you shouldn't hold a grudge against anyone. That makes you a good person." Gabriela insisted, "If I do it, will I be as good as you?" She asked curiously. "You will be nicer." Gabriela answered, "Then I'll do it, I won't hold a grudge against that witch, but that doesn't mean I'll like her."

"Forget about it princess, I'm fine now and she won't do anything to me." The girl assured, even though the three of us knew that isn't true. "We'll take care of that, the two of us, don't worry, little one." Carlos said with a small smile on his face. "So, when are you going to marry that guy?"

At that moment it's a miracle Gabriela didn't spit out the water she was drinking. We looked stupid faced, not knowing what to say. Sometimes my sister is a little overly curious. Gabriela had turned red as a tomato and swallowed the water before spiting it out while Ana is waiting for a response and looking at us.

"Little one, what questions are those?" Carlos asked, since apparently Gabriela is in shock. "Carlos, they are a couple, and couples get married." my sister answered, "But it's too early for that, Ana." I insisted, trying to give Gabriela time to compose herself. "If they love each other, I don't know how soon is"

"It's complicated Ana." I said "Why?" she asked again. Gabriela hadn't spoken since Ana asked that question. She looked surprised, which is the most normal thing in the world, we knew she had no intention of marrying anyone, she believed it's not necessary to get married to show how much you loved someone.

"Because they're still too young to do it Ana." Carlos tried "When you get married, you'll tell me, right Gabriela?" Ana asked her directly, and she nods, still a little in shok, I would say.

Apparently, Gabriela is in shock. I'm starting to worry about her, but soon she's back to her usual self and started teaching Ana how to draw. An hour later Lara comes to ask us if we wanted to have a snack so we went down to have a snack. When we finished, we went back up and after a while, Ana fell asleep in Gabriela's bed, she covered her and sat in the chair turned towards us.

"Are you ok?" I asked and she nodded "Yeah, why?" She questioned even though she knew why we're asking. "You looked like you were about to collapse when Ana said when you and Alex were going to get married."

"I wasn't expecting the question at all. You have an intelligent sister." She admitted, "I know, she's the smartest of the three, but I know she left you thinking. What was going through your head?" Carlos asked "What if Alex wants to get married?" She asked and Carlos frowned, not knowing where she's going, but I had an idea of where, since it wasn't the first time Gabriela said she had no intention of doing it. "What's going to happen?"

"You know what I think about getting married, what happens if he wants to do it?" She asked, fear starting to wash over her. "Hey, don't stress about it, it's too far away for that to happen." I tried before she panics "But what if it happens? I don't want to get married; I see it as an unnecessary expense Marcos. What happens if that's why he breaks up with me?" she asked, getting more nervous as time went by.

", knowing Alex like I do, you can be sure he would like to marry you." Carlos said and I rolled my eyes, because that wasn't exactly going to help our best friend to relax. "Carlos, you're not helping." I blurted out, "I just didn't finish saying what Marcos I'm going to say."

"Then say it." I said "That's what I was going for. Are you going to stop interrupting me?" He asked and I pointed him to continue "Well, I'm sure he likes the idea of marrying you, but I'm sure if you refuse, he will still be with you. The only person who can separate him from you will be you, Gabriela. Alex loves you too much and if you put your mind to it, you can do whatever you want with him."

"I do not want that. Besides, I would feel terrible for refusing." She assured, "You shouldn't feel bad about that. If you explain it to him, I'm sure he'll understand and whatever is going on in your crazy little head, won't happen" my brother said with a small smile on his face "Do you think?" Gabriela whispered and we both nodded, even though I'm doing it to calm her down "Yes, I can assure you. But you should talk to him about it."

"I'm not going to do it. We have been together for two months Carlos." She protested, "To be exact, you can say you have been together... like ten months?" He asked and both Gabriela and I frowned. "What are you saying?" We both asked at the same time "What you hear, how long were you together before you broke up?"

"Eight months, what does that have to do with now?" Gabriela questioned without understanding, "Well, as far as I know, eight and two make ten." He said ironically, "But that was a long time ago, we've been in a relationship for two months." Gabriela insisted, "Look, these eight years can be said to have been a break for the couple. Maybe you both had a bad time and all, but now you love each other more than before, you wouldn't let anything happen to the other, you've been together for ten months."

"You're exaggerating, Carlos." I said, rolling my eyes "Think about it carefully. They never stopped loving each other, now they love each other more. The two suffered during these years they were separated. Now they don't separate at all, it's as if what happened between them never happened. Things are better between them now than before, that's why they've been together for ten months."

"Well, maybe what you're saying makes some sense" At that moment Carlos's phone started ringing, he looks at it and it doesn't take him long to answer. Gabriela and I remained silent so he could hear better.

"Hello Alex... She's fine, why?... Wait, wait, calm down and explain slowly please..." I don't know what Alex is telling him, but apparently Alex is upset and I could see how Gabriela became more and more tense. Carlos passes the cell phone to Gabriela, but she doesn't take it, she stays looking at Carlos.

"Take it Gabriela, he's about to do something stupid." Carlos said, seriously. "I can't answer it." Gabriela answered, concern washing over her. "Why not?" I asked, frowning. "Because I wouldn't hear him, tell me what's going on."

"Wait, how would you wouldn't hear him?" I asked, frowning even more. "I'm practically deaf enough right now." She admitted, "But you hear to us." Carlos said confused, "Not everything, I don't do most of the things, I read your lips. Tell me what's happening."

"Alex is coming." Carlos answered "Coming to where?" Gabriela asked even though I'm completely sure she knows what Carlos was referring to. "Here, he thinks you're angry with him and that's why you don't answer his calls." At that moment Gabriela looks and takes her cell phone out of her pocket and when she sees I don't know what on the screen she's shocked and upset more than what she is.

"Tell him not to do it, please don't come." He asked, "No Alex... Alex... Damn, look how stubborn the man is." my brother protested. "What's wrong?" I asked "He hung up on me, it looks like you will have him home in a couple of minutes."

"This can't be happening to me." Gabriela protested, "Hey, relax, at some point they were going to find out you were with him." Carlos said, "I'm not going to let them find out like that." Our best friend responded, standing up. "But you can't go out." Gabriela started pacing back and forth in the room until he stopped in front of Carlos.

"Leand me your jacket Carlos." She said and we both frowned again. "What do you want it for?" Carlos asked "Leand it to me, I have to stop Alex from doing something stupid." asked "What are you planning to do?" I asked "Leave before he comes home, what do you think I'm going to do?"

"But you can't leave the house, the doctor told you." I pointed out and she denied, "I don't care what the doctor said, I can't let Alex get close." She countered, "But Gabriela, Marcos is right." Carlos supported "You're not going to convince me this time. Are you going to leave me the jacket or do I have to get one of my brother?"

"No, I'll lend it to you." He said, passing the jacket to Gabriela. "But don't lend it to her, man." I protested "We won't be able to avoid it, she'll do it and you know" and even though I knew he's right, there's no need to make it even easier for her. "Let at least one of us accompany you."

"No Marcos, you will stay so my mother doesn't suspect I left." She responded, pointing to me "And how do you plan to do it? You have to pass in front of the dining room or the living room to go out to the street." I pointed out and she rolled her eyes. "I know what I'm doing, why do you think I'll take Carlos's jacket?"

"I don't know what plan you have in your head Gabriela, but I think you shouldn't do it." I insisted, "I'm going to do it, period. Carlos, could you stay here so they don't discover it was you who left for a bit and so if Ana wakes up, she doesn't go down?"

"Sure, but be careful and cover your ears, it's not good for you to catch cold." He asked and she nodded "I know, and I will do it, don't worry. I'll be fine." Our best friend assured. With that she put on Carlos's jacket and hood and left the room. I followed her and as soon as she's leaving through the door, I entered in the living room where her siblings were.

"Where is your mother?" I asked "She's in the bathroom, do you need her for something?" Maria questioned and I denied "No, I was just asking." I assured "Where did your brother go?" she asked, and I don't have the slightest idea if she suspected something or not. "He has to go out and get some air, that's what the doctor told him to do."

"And Gabriela?" She asked, "Sleeping with Ana in the room." I made up "At least she can sleep apparently. That's good." If they knew she's the one who left instead of my brother, I'm sure they wouldn't hesitate to go after her, but apparently Gabriela's plan is working, I would have to stay here until she arrived, I just hoped it wouldn't take long in case they started to get suspicious, I didn't want her to get into trouble.