Chapter 77

CARLOTA

Today was the day of Gabriela's exhibition, and I think you could say we were all excited by her achievement. It's not something we didn't expect would happen, because at least I'm more than clear she would become someone important in art.

I had gone to Marcos' house because we had agreed the three of us would go together, his brother of course, because Gabriela had to be there first, what I don't know is if Ana would also be there since they never separated.

When I arrived, I didn't even have to ring because Marcos was at the door waiting for me and suddenly Ana appears behind him and comes running to hug me. "Aunt!" Ana exclaimed when she saw me at the door. "Hello little one, haven't you gone with Gabriela?"

"I wanted too, but she didn't wake me up" the little girl said pouting "Come on Ana, don't be mad, you know she doesn't like waking you up, that's why she left you at home." Marcos pointed out "Your brother is right, she wouldn't wake you up unless it's too late, but you'll be with her soon, don't worry."

"Why don't you go play guitar for a while, Ana?" Marcos asked, and the girl smiled and ran towards the house, leaving me with a big smile on my face. It is at that moment I notice Marcos is serious, which is weird, because he should be happy for Gabriela, for his sister who was happy again.

"What's wrong, Marcos?" I asked raising an eyebrow. "That's what I should ask you and Gabriela, don't you think?" He asked, crossing his arms. "What are you talking about?" I asked, frowning. "You know very well, I don't understand how you do that to poor Clara, she didn't do anything to you. I thought you were better people."

"I don't understand anything, what are we doing now?" I protested, because at this moment I'm lost. "Don't be stupid because you're not, she didn't do anything to treat her like you're doing. Oh my God, she's Gabriela's best friend!" he exclaimed, "Forgive me for breaking it to you, but she deserves that and so much more. You don't know what they've been doing."

"No, don't come and tell me she did something because she couldn't do anything, she told me that herself." Marcos pointed and snorted, because it's clear they were going to say something like this "And you believe what she tells you? That's not true." I told him "It's not. You shouldn't be jealous, because you know she won't be able to take your place with Gabriela, I can't understand how you don't see that."

"Marcos, don't talk about what you don't know." I said, containing my anger "Of course I know, I'm not stupid, what I don't understand is how Gabriela plays along with you" He responded, and with each thing he said, it's harder for me to control the anger growing inside me "Gabriela doesn't follow me at all, and it's better you stay silent because if you knew what's happening, you would be on Gabriela's side, no matter how much the truth hurts you."

"Now you're telling me Clara is a bad person?" my best friend asked in disbelief. "Basically, and if you didn't realize it, you're stupid, I'm telling you. Do you think Gabriela just gets anxiety attacks like that? You're wrong, friend, if that's what you think." I informed him "And what does Clara have to do with all this?" He asked in a confused tone, "Everything, her and her whore sister have to do with everything that happens to Gabriela."

At that moment Carlos appears and stands between us, I suppose to prevent us from killing each other, because at that moment I would punch Marcos in the face. I can understand that he doesn't know anything about what's happening, what doesn't bother me is he doesn't realize this girl hates Gabriela.

"Can you tell what's wrong with you two that you're arguing?" Carlos asked, crossing his arms. "Why don't you ask them what problem they have with Clara?" Marcos said, rolling his eyes, "I don't understand. But weren't you friends?" Carlos asked with a frown, "We were, in past tense, I would kill her for everything she's doing."

"Well, you should know I won't let you do anything to her, I'm sick of you doing whatever you want. This time Gabriela is going too far." Marcos said angrily "What does Gabriela have to do with all this?" Carlos asked, even more confused if that's possible. "She let Carlota act like a bitch to Clara and her sister" His little brother told him "Look guys, open your ears and listen very well to what I'm going to tell you. You're going to stop what you're discussing because today is Gabriela's day and I'm not going let you two ruin it, understood?"

"Well, I'm not going." Marcos reported and Carlos turned in his direction "You're going because I told you." He ordered "You can't make me go." His brother protested "You don't want me to put you in the car, move your ass, Marcos." He insisted in a serious tone "You're a shit, brother." Marcos said with quite a bit of venom in his voice, "I'm glad you know that."

With that Marcos went to their house I don't know where, but I didn't care either, this had gone too far. I would tell him, I'm not sure he believed me, but I had to tell him because now it seems like the others are eating this useless man's brain, and I'm not going to let them ruin the friendship between Marcos and Gabriela.

"You and I will talk after the exhibition and you'll explain to me what the hell is going on with you three. Understood?" Carlos said still in a serious tone "I have to talk to Gabriela." I reported, calming down a bit now that Marcos wasn't talking stupid things, "Well, after you talk to her." He insisted "As you wish, but it should not be me who explains it to you, but Gabriela."

"Well, now you'll be the one to explain what's happening." He replied "As you wish." A couple of minutes later we left the house and headed towards where Gabriela's exhibition would be. I changed my face because I didn't want her to know something was wrong with me. I didn't want to ruin her day like I'm sure I would by telling her about Marcos, like Carlos said, today is her day and deserves to enjoy it.

I went with the boys to where she was and as soon as Ana saw her, she ran in her direction. Gabriela takes the little girl in her arms and says something I can't understand, but I could see the smile that both had. "At least you don't seem nervous, that's progress." I said with a smile on my face, "Well, I'm nervous, this is too much." My best friend responded, "Come on, little sister, it's the least you deserve for your art."

"You're exaggerating, that's why you say it. Sometimes I wonder how I surround myself with so much exaggeration." Gabriela said with a small smile on her face and calming down a little bit, "It's not that, we just love you little sister, you should know that." Carlos said with a big smile on his face, "And I know that, but that doesn't mean I'd like you to exaggerate."

"Who's the one trying to take away my hype spot with Gabriela?" I could see Gabriela's smile widen and we all turned to look at Alex. Maybe at first, I didn't like him at all, but after realizing how happy Alex makes my best friend and realizing he's a great person, I ended up becoming his friend too.

We talked for a while until Gabriela's representative arrived saying that it was time to open to the public, that's when she got even more nervous. The day went by quickly and I was able to hear some people's opinions, and they were good, I'm sure Gabriela will like it.

During a time, Gabriela was free, I talked to her to calm her down a bit and told her the opinions I had heard. She also asked me about Marcos, who apparently, she hadn't seen all day after our arrival, but I didn't tell her, I still thought she should enjoy her day, tomorrow I would tell her what's happening with Marcos.

When the exhibition ended, we were all together for a while until Gabriela and I decided to go to a cafeteria to talk like we used to do. More than anything, I have to investigate and discover her possible answer so Alex would have peace of mind. I'm pretty sure she'll agree, but Alex not that convinced, so I'm was going to talk to her and see what I find out.

We went to a cafeteria near the place where she was exhibiting, we sat at the first table we saw and ordered some coffees. "Well, what's that important thing we need to talk about?" she asked, calmer than she had been all day. "It's nothing important, I just missed those moments when we talked and everything."

"We talk every day" she replied laughing, "I know, but you're always with someone, I wanted to spend a girl's afternoon." I said, "Well, you got it. Now tell me what's wrong with Marcos because I haven't seen him all day." She took note and I started to look the other way "He wasn't feeling well in the morning, maybe that's why you didn't see him all day."

"Ana told me he was fine until you got to their house. Did you argue again?" My best friend asked. The best thing at this moment wasn't to say anything to him. "Don't worry, it's nothing. Now tell me something I should know." I asked, radically changing the subject: "What exactly?"

"Have you had sex with...?" I started to ask, but she raised her stopping what I was going to say, "Don't even think about finishing the question because I'll kill you. I know about the bet and I think they said you should win." Gabriela reported "Have we won? Angela was right." I muttered, but probably not quietly enough that she wouldn't hear me, "Wait, wait, wait. Is my grandmother involved in all this?"

"Yeah, she helped me get it right. Do you really think I would have guessed it on my own?" I asked laughing. "I'll kill you all" She said seriously "Well, you can do it with everyone, because there was Carlos, Marcos, your grandmother, me, the twins and your mother." I reported and I could see her eyes increase to their normal size "Them too?" She asked and I nodded. "Yes, we're happy for you."

"Why did you decide to make bets with me and Alex?" Gabriela protested, "I honestly don't know, I think it started as a joke and ended up being serious." I said with a shrug, "Well, don't do it. Don't even think about coming back. to make bets with me, because I'll kill you all, and it's no joke." she said seriously "Ok, ok, now let's talk about something more serious."

"Would it be? I can't believe it, really." She joked "Well, this time it's true." I assured her with a small smile on my face, "Well, what's so serious you want to talk about?" Gabriela asked, settling into the chair, "What do you think about getting married?" I asked directly "What is that question about?" she returned the question with a frown, "Just answer."

"You know what I think about getting married." She informed and I nodded, because we had talked about it so many times that I knew "I know what you think about getting married, what I don't know is what you think about marrying Alex." I told her, "It's too early for that to happen, Carlota."

"You've been together for months, it's not early at all. Besides, you love each other more than anything in the world, what's stopping you from marrying him?" I asked, "Nothing." Gabriela said, shrugging, "So what would you say if he asks you?" I insisted, "Well, considering what I think about that and that I love Alex..."

"What?" I asked her when she fell silent "Well, I don't know, Carlota. I don't know what I would do if Alex asked me. First I would have a heart attack, but I don't know what I would say." My best friend said, looking out the window "Did you ever think that could happen?" I asked curiously, because that would say a lot about what I was unconsciously thinking. "Honestly?" she asked, focusing her gaze on mine and I nodded.

"I have thought about it, but what I think about getting married remains the same." She said, "That doesn't mean you would agree to marry him." I pointed and this time, she nodded, "I know, but I'm scared, you know?" She mumbled and frowned, not understanding what she's afraid of now, "Why are you afraid of Alex proposing to you?"

"What if I say no? I'm pretty sure he'll leave me; I'll break his heart and I'll end up in shit again and I don't want either of us to suffer again. I don't want to. I don't want Alex to suffer for me again. " It's my fault, Carlota." She said stressed, so I took her hand and gave it a squeeze, making her focus her gaze on me again "I can assure you if you say no, he won't leave you. Come on Gabriela, he loves you more than anything in life, and if you tell him everything you think about getting married, he won't break up with you. I don't know exactly what's worrying you, really."

"I don't even know Carlota. Since I've been with Alex, what I thought about getting married is changing." She said, "And that means..." I insisted, "I'm more or less convinced if Alex asked me, I'd say yes. I love him so much. I don't want to lose him for anything in the world, after all it was difficult for me to regain my happiness."

"And I'm sure you'll never lose him again, my friend." I said with a big smile on my face, "I hope so." She murmured and after that conversation we talked for another hour until Gabriela wanted to go home and spend some time with Ana, which I'm more than sure she would enjoy, and I would go with her because I agreed with Carlos, I would tell him what's happening between Marcos and with us. Nothing happened until now, I'm pretty sure Clara is filling his head with nonsense and lies, but I wouldn't let that happen, he's my friend and I wouldn't let anyone put false ideas in his head.