Chapter 80

ALEX

The days were passing and there were only two weeks left to finish classes. A couple of days ago we had started organizing everything for Gabriela's surprise. Carlota and I thought for a long time and agreed on what we could do to make Gabriela like it.

"Alex, I'm really telling you, sometimes you're a little unbearable. How many times do I have to tell you she would accept if you asked?" Carlota said exasperated "It's just when we talk about that…" I began "When you talked about that it doesn't count, okay? Now I understand why Gabriela adores you, you're just as stubborn as her." She said ironically "That's not true and you know it."

"Almost like her, but I'm really telling you for the fifty-eighth time today she'll accept. I know that what you are going to ask is something big, but you shouldn't be so nervous, it's Gabriela we're talking about, she loves you, you better than anyone can know what's going on in her head, you should know that. She changed her mind." My girlfriend best friend pointed out and I shrugged my shoulders, because even though I could sometimes sense what was going on in her head, it wasn't always like that. "It may be that at some moments I know what's going on in her head, and this topic is different from the others."

"It's not that different. Have you thought about where you are going to ask her?" asked Carlota with a smile on her face. "I was thinking about going out to dinner and asking her. Maybe go to the beach." I responded, even though I wasn't sure where I'm going to ask her. "That would be beautiful, and Gabriela loves the beach." She answered, nodding, "Well, that's why I thought about it." I noted "On a night with a full moon, with it reflected in the water, a warm night and Gabriela in a beautiful red dress."

"Gabriela isn't one to wear dresses and you know it." I said, "Sorry to tell you, but when she wants to dress up, I can assure you she does wear them, in summer of course, in winter no one can convince her to wear one." Carlota responded, "But you should know that, she gets cold quickly enough to put on a dress." I answered, knowing what my girlfriend was like when she has cold. "It's the same, the thing is, you can ask for it after we graduate, or before if you want, it's not so cold anymore."

"I don't care how she's dressed Carlota, honestly, she looks good in everything, I just want to surprise her." I protested, "And he'll be surprised, so don't worry, that's not the point, the point is that she doesn't suspect something is wrong with you, because if she does, she'll end up discovering what's wrong with you, and we don't want that to happens."

"Of course not." I quickly responded, "Well, that's it, be calm about that because as I already told you, she will accept." She answered and I frowned since before she had given me the impression she wasn't completely convinced. "Now do you think she will accept?" I asked and Carlota rolled her eyes. "I've had it clear since I talked to her."

"But you told me a while ago you were almost sure." I pointed out "Well, I was wrong, I meant she'll accept, stop being dramatic Alex." Carlota asked and just at that moment Carlota receives a call, which she lets ring until it ends, but the person calls again after a few seconds. "It seems important, you should answer." I said and Carlota just rolled her eyes and put her phone away. "It's Marcos." She responded as if that were less important. "Are you still mad at him?"

"Obviously I'm still mad with him, he practically insulted me that day." She snorts and I nodded, because even though it's true, at least what I had seen with Gabriela, I guess she didn't like whatever Marcos said to her "He might be calling you to apologize." I pointed out, "Well, let him do it in person, let him show his face for once."

"If he doesn't find you, it's logical he calls you." And at that moment my phone starts ringing, which I didn't take long to take out of my pocket, because it could have been Gabriela who was calling me, but when I see Marcos' name on the screen, I turn it so Carlota can see it. "Did anyone know we were going to meet?" Carlota asked with a frown. "I didn't tell Gabriela, so I don't think so."

"Then why is he calling you?" She asked confused, "I have no idea, but we'll clear up any doubts. Hi Marcos." I said quickly, hoping he wouldn't hang up. "Man, I thought you weren't going to answer anymore. It seems today is the day of not my answering calls." He protested and I denied even though he couldn't see me. "I was going to answer you, but I was finishing up something. What is your call about?"

"Are you at home?" He asked, and again I denied "No, why? Something happens?" I questioned curiously, "So you haven't heard about what happened at Gabriela's house?" He asked and I began to focus all my attention on him. "Did something happen to Gabriela? Is she okay?" At that moment Carlota approaches until she is close to my ear where I had the phone, but with that simple question from Marcos I already worried about Gabriela.

"No, she's fine, or so I think, she doesn't answer my calls." reported "What happened at Gabriela's house?" I asked, a little confused. "Rebeca died." He said and I heard how Carlota took a breath of air "What? And Gabriela doesn't answer you?" I questioned, "No, that's why I was calling you, to find out if she had called you."

"No, she hasn't, but I'm going to her house." I assured, starting to walk towards my car. "I'm going right now; I'll call you as soon as I know where she is and how." He said while I started to think about where Gabriela could be. "Okay, I'm waiting for your call, Marcos." I replied "See you in a while Alex." He said goodbye "See you in a while."

With that I ended the call and started half running towards the car to get to Gabriela's house as soon as possible and make sure she's okay, I had to see for myself, I wouldn't settle for someone else's word. "Alex, wait for me. What happened to Gabriela? Tell me something fucking hell." Carlota said in a raised tone. "Rebeca died." I reported even though I knew she heard it when I was talking to Marcos "What? Just like that, out of nowhere?"

"It seems so, but now I have to go see Gabriela, I have to make sure she's okay." I said "I'm going with you; can you take me?" She asked and I nodded, which made us start running to the car to go to Gabriela's house and see how she is, because even though she told me many times about the relationship she had with her grandmother, I know it's going to affect her to a certain extent and I wanted to be there with her for whatever she needed.