Chapter 64

GABRIELA

The weeks went by and every day I'm more in love with Alex. Since the day we went to dinner at his grandmother's house and asked him about Paula, he helped me calm down about some things.

He told me all about the rumors weren't so rumors since he did have sex with all the girls he came across, until according to him, he met me. The truth is it didn't bother me he slept with all those girls, but I felt a huge relief when he told me he didn't have sex with Paula, now I'm more than convinced she told me so I would hit her first or something.

My father is starting to get used to the idea that I would be with Alex, and even though he sometimes blurted out something about what he had done to me, he behaved around him and that is what mattered to me.

My siblings apparently appreciated him and spoke to him normally, without that remorse almost all my family did, at least those who were here, of course, the news had already reached Holland and my cousin Kevin didn't like it. He took it not too good that he even told me he would come to prevent that, luckily for me and my family there were able to avoid it, at least until the summer when they came.

When we told Marcos about his mother and why they had left them, he didn't take it as badly as we expected, apparently his father already told him, which didn't make sense because according to his mother, Marcos had no idea. Things were going well now. Of course, I still worried about Paula and the rest were too calm, but I didn't care so much at this moment, my siblings would know how to defend themselves in case someone wanted to do something to them, we trained every day so they wouldn't miss practice.

I also started to make more drawings on canvas because a couple of weeks ago they had offered me to do an exhibition, they wanted that exhibition to include one of the drawings they saw at the college apparently and if I could do some more. I was happy, but at the same time I'm nervous because it's a big step to take.

Right now, my siblings and I were going to Marcos' house to pick up both him and Ana, we were taking her to school and then we were going to the university. Carlos had given me the keys to his house, not that I wanted them, but you can say he almost glued them to my hand so I wouldn't give them back. According to him, I had to have some keys since I'm Ana's 'mother', so I didn't complain anymore.

When I entered the house, Ana is already in the living room putting on her jacket to go out and Marcos, as always, was running around the house to get his things. As soon as he finished collecting everything we went to the car and headed towards the college parking since Ana's school is near college.

It didn't take us long to arrive, my siblings headed towards college and Marcos, Ana and I headed towards Ana's school. Before entering, she gave me a kiss on the cheek and I on the forehead and ran towards her friends who were waiting for her near the door.

"Hey Gabriela, I know I tell you this a lot, but you will be a great mother." Marcos said next to me, "It's true, you say it a lot, so you'll know what I'm going to tell you, I don't think I even need to repeat it." I responded, "No, it's not necessary, but everyone sees that, no matter how much you try not to believe it."

"As you wish, now let's go to university, I have things to do." I replied calmly, "Making out with your boyfriend isn't an important thing to do, mostly because it's what you do all the time, I still don't understand how you're still a virgin." He said laughing and I rolled my eyes "First of all, the issue of my virginity is mine and no one else's, I don't want to talk about it, much less in public, second, making out with my boyfriend as you say IS important and third but not least important I didn't mean that, stupid, I have more things to do."

"So, what's the most important thing to do if not make out with Alex?" He asked curiously. "I have to meet my brother-in-law." I just said "Wait, what? Does María have a boyfriend? How did you not say it before?" He asked surprised, "First, María doesn't have a boyfriend but Mario, and second, because I found out recently. I have to know everything about that guy, I don't want him to do anything to my brother."

"I had no idea your brother liked men." He responded and I nodded, because neither did I, but it's not that I cared about it honestly. "Neither do I, but that doesn't matter, I have to find out who he is and his intentions with my brother."

"The overprotective Gabriela is out." Marcos said, laughing. "I'm not overprotective, I just worry about what they might do to my brother. Can't I do it?" I asked, even though whatever he said, I wasn't going to care, and I would do whatever I want. "I'm not telling you that you can't do it, I'm just saying you shouldn't protect the ones you love so much."

"Why? And I tell you again I don't think I'm so overprotective of anyone." Just at that moment we arrived next to Carlota who was talking animatedly with Alex, but they turned around as soon as Marcos and I arrived.

"Why are you arguing so early?" Alex asked, giving me a small kiss and hug. "We're not arguing, I'm just trying to defend myself from what Marcos tells me, because it's not true." I assured, "Can be known?"

"I told her she's overprotective." Marcos said simply "I'm sorry Gabriela, but Marcos is right, you are overprotective, especially with your siblings and Ana." Carlota said quickly. "I'm not." I denied "Beautiful, you are."

"You too? You should support me on this." I said, turning in his direction. "And I support you, but it's the truth." He replied, shrugging his shoulders, "Well, this overprotective sister is going to meet her brother-in-law and look for María, she had to know something about this." I said, moving away from my boyfriend. "I don't understand what you're talking about Gabriela, I got lost."

"It's nothing, just that Mario has a boyfriend, and as you know Gabriela wants to know everything about him, that's all it is." Marcos responded to me, "Hey, don't harm the boy, he's my cousin." Carlota asked, and that makes me look at her trying to understand what was happening. "You knew and you didn't tell me anything, Carlota?"

"I wasn't the one who had to tell you, you know that." she said, "I know, but you could have at least given me a clue." I protested, "I'm sorry, it didn't occur to me."

"Well, see you later." I said, turning around to go in search of my brother. "Aren't you going to give me my good morning kiss, beautiful?" He asked, "Of course, love." I approached him and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, I didn't want to go too deep, because then I wouldn't leave him, and I wanted to know who that boy really was.

"That's not a real kiss my queen." He protested, pouting. "I know, but I promise I'll make it up to you later, ok?" I responded with a big smile on my face, and a few seconds later, one appears on his too, "I'll remind you."

"Well, that's it, I love you." I said "I love you." I said goodbye to them and headed towards the college. Before entering, I called María to find out where she is and told her to come to the entrance that together we would look for Mario.

While we were looking for my brother, I asked María why she hadn't told me that Mario had a boyfriend, but she didn't even know, she was more surprised than I expected, which assured me she didn't know anything. When we found it we headed towards them and stood in front. Mario's face already said he didn't want to see us there.

"You shouldn't be here." our brother protested, and we both rolled our eyes "Well, hello I think would be nice, we're your sisters Mario." María said, crossing her arms. "Why did you come? From your face, María, I can get an idea." our brother snorted. "I don't know what you're thinking, really, Mario, I'm a good girl."

"You're my twin and we spent almost the entire day together, I know you and that face too, it's the same one you made when you found out about Gabriela." Mario pointed out "Well, if you already know what we're here for, why are you asking?" Our sister asked, a little annoyed. "No, I know why you're here, Gabriela, I have no idea."

I didn't say anything, I kept looking at the boy who was next to Mario, he didn't seem like a bad guy, and he made a good couple with my brother, maybe I liked him, but before giving my opinion, I would wait to get to know him a little.

"Are they your sisters, Mario?" asked the boy next to him "Yes, they are my sisters, she's María, my twin sister, and this is Gabriela, our older sister." He responded, pointing to each of us, "Nice to meet you girls." his boyfriend responded with a big smile on his face. "Same here."

"Gabriela, out of curiosity you're not doing Fine Arts." The boy asked and what makes me frown "Yes, why?" I asked, "It can't be." he responded with a glow that wasn't there a couple of seconds ago.

I wasn't understanding anything, the boy looked at me for a while and I'm starting to feel a little uncomfortable. "Excuse me, I'm Miguel, is it true you're going to do an exhibition?" He asked, excited. "Yes, they offered it to me a couple of weeks ago." I responded, still confused. "So, the rumors are true."

"What rumors?" I asked, even more confused. "The drawing teacher told us we should follow your example, that a month or so ago, art critics were at here and were impressed with your work, she said that she was sure that you would end up being famous and you would soon have an art exhibition."

"What I do isn't that big of a deal, everyone draws well if they want to." I said honestly, "It's hard for me, it doesn't come as natural to me as it does to you." He responded, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, it's nothing out of this world." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "And it didn't occur to you to say it at home?" my sister asked, now focusing all her attention on me.

"No, it didn't cross my mind." I said sincerely "Wait when they find out at home. Are you going to tell me neither Marcos, Carlota, Alex nor anyone else knows? Because let me tell you, Gabriela, I don't believe it." my sister responded, with a final snort, "No one knows, I forgot to say it. You know I'm busy studying and spending time with Ana."

"Who is Ana?" asked the boy next to my brother. "Ana is her daughter, you could say." responded this "How did you not tell me you had a niece?" He asked, surprised, looking at him "Because it's not really, Ana is her best friend's sister and she calls her mom, I still don't know why, but that's what she calls her, hence Ana is her daughter."

"I love her very much, what's the problem?" Just then the bell rang, and I was going to go to class when my phone starts ringing. It's not I'm going to answer, but I did it when I saw the name of Jack, the guys father on the screen.

"Hello Gabriela." He said, more subdued than normal, "Hello Jack." I responded confused, "Are you busy?" He asked, "I was going to college right now, but tell me what you need. Are you going to come home to your children?"

"No, we're not going to do it, I was wondering if you could meet me for coffee, I have to talk to you about something and give you some papers." He said simply and I frowned "I can do it, tell me when and I will be there." I also responded, "I was hoping it could be now, at later, it's urgent."

"Everything is alright?" I asked, worried something would happen to him. "More or less, but I need to talk to you, seriously." He insisted, "Ok, tell me where we are, and I'll come after class." I said, "Can you do me a favor?" He asked and I nodded until I realized he couldn't see me. "Sure."

"Don't tell the kids, I don't want them to find out what we talked about, much less what we talked about that afternoon." He asked, "They're like my brothers Jack, you can't ask me to do that." I said, "I'm just asking you, please." He insisted, "I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything." I said sincerely, "I'll settle for that." He told me to go to the apartment they apparently had near the university, which I had no idea they had, but he seemed a little upset and worried about something.

The day passed a little slowly for my liking, I kept thinking about what he wanted and had him so worried, because it's obvious things were not going well as he had told me. I didn't talk much at recess, which worried everyone, but I couldn't stop thinking about what Jack told me, I worried about what could be happening.

When it was time to leave, I quickly headed towards the class that Marcos now had to give him the car keys and he could leave. At first, he looked at me and asked me what I was going to do. I didn't tell him I was going to see his father. I convinced him to take the keys and when he did, I went directly to the address he had told me. It took me about an hour to get to the apartment, and as soon as I got to the door where he told me he would be there.

It didn't take long to open and as soon as I saw his face, I knew nothing was right, that something bad is happening. He ushered me in and told me to sit on the couch. "I know you're wondering what I want to talk to you about so my kids can't find out, and you must be angry for leaving them without an explanation, but everything has an explanation." He assured and I crossed my arms. "Well, explain it to them, I have nothing to do with this."

"You have, more than you think. Before telling you the reason why we left our children, I want to give you these papers, it's important that you keep them. Everything is done, you just must take care of Ana." He said and I stared at them for a couple of seconds. "What are these papers?" I asked, "These are the papers with which I make you Ana's legal guardian."

"What?" I asked, surprised. "Yes, you will take care of her. By that I don't mean my children are not capable, but since I'm not sure Carlos will stay at home and Marcos is too absent-minded, I will leave our daughter to you." reported "But what are you and Monica going to do?" I asked, "I will have to take care of Monica, and that has to be away from our children."

"What's wrong with Monica?" I questioned, trying to find out what was happening. "A long time ago she was diagnosed with a mental illness I never remember the name of that basically makes her go crazy. She was fine with the pills, but she stopped taking them and there's no way for her to take them, I trust that with a little time she'll take them again, but I don't know how long it will take me, from there to the fact that I want you to take care of my children, especially Ana."

"Do they know this?" I asked and he denied "No, and I want it to stay that way, I don't want them to think their mother is crazy, no one should have that image of a mother." He responded, "But what do I have to do with all this?" I questioned, still not really understanding what's happening, "I know you won't tell them anything and you will do whatever is possible to make sure they are ok. They will end up getting used to our absence and you will help with that, even if you don't know it, you always do."

"But can't you put Monica in a residence specialized in her illness?" I asked, trying to find solutions. "I could, but they wouldn't treat her well there and what she needs is peace of mind." He assured, "You could get that peace of mind with your children nearby."

"No, right now it's like I want to kill everyone, especially Marcos, I don't want her to do anything to any of them, I won't risk that happening." He informed and I nodded, because that being the case, I understood. "Ok, I won't tell them, but if you need help, you can call me, ok?"

"I would love to do it." He said sighing "You can do it; it doesn't bother me." I assured, "I know, and that's why I love you like a daughter, but she hates you the most, she knows Ana adores you and thinks you want to take her away from her." He says sadly, "But that's not true."

"I know, that's the disease's fault. You should leave before she gets home from visiting her parents." He said, "Will you let her go alone?" I asked surprised "No, there is always someone with her, I'm not crazy enough to let her go around alone being like she is."

"Ok, then I'm leaving, but I tell you again that if you need anything you just have to call me, ok?" I asked and he denied "It won't be necessary, don't worry, you just worry about taking care of them."

"I'll do that." I got up to give her a hug and when I separated, Monica entered through the door with Ana holding one arm. I could see she's angry, that she didn't want to be with her mother, but I soon started to notice Monica, I noticed she's getting angrier and angrier.

"Now she's your lover too?" Monica asked, starting to get angry. "Monica, it's not what you think." said her husband, "Of course it is, first you cheat on me with someone, and then with the neighbor's daughter? With the same girl who wants to take my little one away from me?" She said, increasingly angry, "Mónica, I don't want to take anything from anyone, Ana is still your daughter."

"I don't want mom; I want you mommy." Ana responded and internally I cursed on everything, because at this moment, it's not what she needed to know "Hey tadpole, she's not your mother, I'm the one who gave birth to you, she's just a stranger."

"You're the strange one, and you are hurting me." Ana protested with tears beginning to gather in her eyes. "Monica let go of Ana and let them go." Jack asked, "I'm not going to let anyone go, she's my daughter and I can do whatever I want, and she's your new lover and daughter thief."

Jack was slowly approaching Monica. Ana was about to start crying and I didn't know what to do to stop Monica from continuing to hurt Ana, so I ended up slowly approaching myself until Jack told me to stop. I don't know how long she was trying to get Mónica to let go of Ana, but when she succeeded, she slowly approached me with Ana holding one hand.

As soon as they reach my side, Ana hugs me and starts to cry and I don't hesitate to hug her to calm down, she didn't have to see this, so I grabbed her in the back so she could leave her head on my shoulder and She could bend her face between my neck and this as she always did when I held her in my arms.

"DON'T TREAT MY DAUGHTER LIKE THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO KILL HER!!!" Monica quickly went to what looked like the kitchen and started opening drawers. Before running after Monica, Jack told me to go with Ana, but I wasn't going to leave him with this problem alone, so I took Ana down and told her to go crouch in one of the rooms.

At first, she didn't want to leave, but I convinced her that I would come for her soon and that we would get out of here. When he left, I went to where the two of them were arguing. Jack was holding his wife's hand in which she had a knife. I don't know what he intended to do with it, but things were getting very ugly, very fast.

"Monica, I really don't want to take your daughter away from you. "She is still your daughter." I said, trying to get him to calm down, "WHAT YOU WANT IS TO TAKE AWAY ALL THE LOVE OF MY CHILDREN, YOU'VE ALREADY DONE IT WITH TWO, I'M NOT INTENDING TO ALLOW YOU TO TAKE ANA'S LOVE AWAY FROM ME, I'LL KILL YOU BEFORE." he yelled and Jack turns in my direction "Gabriela, get out of here."

"I'm not going to leave you to this alone, Jack." I assured, "Nothing will happen to me, just go." He asked, "I'm not going to do it." At that moment Mónica lunges in my direction and tries to hit him, and although it took her a while to react, I move away before she touches me. He was about to lunge at me again when Jack steps in front of me. The knife hits his abdomen and as soon as Mónica realizes what she did, she drops the knife, leaving it in his abdomen, which doesn't take long for him to fall to the ground. It is also at that moment I notice Ana is behind a wall and she saw everything, and it doesn't take long for her to head in our direction.

Monica ran out the door while I got on my knees to prevent Jack from bleeding like he's doing, and it didn't take long for Ana to do the same next to me. "Mommy, is daddy going to die?" Ana asked next to me, "No, I'm going to avoid it no matter what it costs me."