Chapter 29

GABRIELA

I was outside with the phone ringing. I knew it was Marcos, I had seen it on the screen, but I don't know what the purpose of the call was, if it was to fix the argument between me and Carlota or what. I decided it was better to answer, more than anything because I know he isn't going to stop calling and if necessary, he would come to look for me at home. 

"You finally answered, we already thought something had happened to you" Marcos said relieved, which made me regret I didn't at least tell him I'm fine "I'm fine, why are you calling?" I asked, pushing those thoughts out of my mind. " Gabriela, before you hang up, do me a favour and listen to what we're going to tell you." 

"I imagined Carlota would be there, but listen, if she's going to talk about Alex again, you better not put her on the phone." I assured, I didn't want to get angry with her again because of Alex "She's listening already, but she has something to tell you." 

"Let her speak then, because I only hear you speak." I answered " He's talking because we argued, I remind you" she pointed and I rolled my eyes "Whose fault would it be." I replied "From that asshole." Carlota answered quickly and without hesitation for a single second. 

I heard how Marcos scolded her from the other side of the line and the truth was if she continued like that, I was sure I would end up hanging up and I wouldn't listen to anything she was going to say, but I wasn't going to want to answer that right now. 

"That asshole as you call him, is the only one who really cares, and wants me to be happy, not like other people." I replied " Okay, sorry, I didn't mean that, but then don't come back to me saying he hurt you because I'll remind you, I told you." she affirmed and again, I rolled my eyes "Is why you wanted us to talk, Marcos? I won't talk to anyone like that." 

"It wasn't what you wanted to tell her, wasn't it Carlota?" Marcos pointed, and I'm pretty sure he had a death glare in her direction. "Right, it wasn't that. I want to ask you to forgive me, I really didn't mean to hurt you." 

"Well, if you don't want to do it again, don't get involved in my life, at least in that part, because I'll be with whoever I want." I assured " I understand, okay, I got it, I'll avoid it." Carlota replied, but I don't think she's completely convinced "Now that everything is resolved, where are you? We are going to look for you to take you home." 

"Don't worry, I'm at my grandparents' house." I said " How did you get there?" Marcos asked, suspicion evident in his voice. "A friend brought me, don't worry about it." I assured "What friend? You only knew us." Marcos countered, and to which I ended up rolling my eyes. 

"Was that boy you were with in the garden?" Carlota asked, probably with a big smile on her face, probably thinking she had achieved her goal of not having Alex in my head, but if she knew that friend had been him, she wouldn't be so happy "Wait, what are you talking about Carlota?" 

"Do you remember when Gabriela went to the garden to get some fresh air?" she asked and I could practically see Marcos's nod "Yeah, what about that?" Marcos asked confused "She was with a boy. You finally noticed a boy other than him; it was time you did." 

That was the last straw for the second time today. I didn't want her to talk about Alex, she always put him as the bad guy and he wasn't bad at all. "Look Carlota, I'm going to tell you something and you take it however you want." I said angrily " I hear you, but that doesn't mean I'm going to change my way of thinking and you know it." 

"WELL, I'M GLAD, BECAUSE THIS IS THE LAST THING, I'LL SAY TO YOU. KNOW THAT BOY YOU HATE SO MUCH DIDN'T HURT YOU, BUT HE DID IT TO ME. IF I WANT HIM, I WILL DO WHATEVER I HOPE WITH HIM, AS IF I WANT US TO BE WHAT WE WERE A LONG TIME AGO, I WILL DO IT. I CAN DO IT BECAUSE IT'S MY LIFE AND NOT YOURS. YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT YOU UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENED WHEN ALEX LEFT ME, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AND BASICALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T LIVED IT IN YOURSELF. THAT'S SOMETHING YOU UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU SUFFER, AND HONESTLY, I HOPE YOU DON'T GO THROUGH THAT, I DON'T WISH IT ON ANYONE. FURTHERMORE, HE'S THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN I NEED HIM AND DOESN'T STOP INSISTING ON EVERYTHING, HE LOVES ME AND I CANNOT DENY HIM BECAUSE WHAT HE SAYS IS TRUE. YOU DON'T KNOW BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HIM AT LEAST FOUR YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN SEEING HIM EVERYTHING WE HAVE TAKEN ON THE COURSE, EVEN MOMENTS WE PASSED AND WHEN WE WERE HAPPY COME TO MIND. ALEX HAS CHANGED, HE LOVES ME AND WILL DO EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO MAKE ME FORGIVE HIM. GOD, I HAVE ALREADY FORGIVEN HIM!!!!! AND I'M HAPPY TO GET TO FORGIVE HIM. I LOVE HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING AND AT SOME MOMENT I WILL BE ABLE TO BE HIS GIRLFRIEND, WE'LL BE HAPPY AND WHOEVER DOESN'T WANT TO SEE THAT, GO AND LET ME LIVE IN PEACE. FUCK, HE SAVED ME FROM GETTING RUN OVER, THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME AND HIM TO DO IT, BECAUSE IN CASE HE WANTED TO HURT ME, HE WOULD LET THAT STUPID CAR HURT ME AND THIS SHIT WOULD BE OVER, BESIDES HE WAS THERE WITH ME AFTER OUR DISCUSSION AND HE ASKED ME TO FORGIVE YOU, THAT HE UNDERSTANDS YOU. HE UNDERSTAND WHY YOU REACTED LIKE THAT, WHICH I DIDN'T, BUT EVEN THOUGH YOU WANT ME NOT TO BE WITH HIM AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS HIS INTERESTS, HE WANTS ME TO FORGIVE YOU. SO DON'T SAY YOU KNOW HIM WELL, BECAUSE NONE OF US KNOWS HIM AT ALL RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING ME." I yelled frustrated with everyone, but especially with Carlota. 

As soon as I finished saying that, I hung up, but before I could hear how they asked me about the near hit-and-run, but now they would be left with the doubt. I didn't want to talk to them, let alone keep getting angry with them, it was something I didn't like to do. 

"Is that boy the one I think?" I don't know when my grandmother actually showed up there, but the scare I got was quite big, I really didn't expect her there. I just hoped she didn't hear any of the conversation, I didn't want her to tell the others. 

"I don't know what you heard grandma." I said, playing dumb. "I heard Alex's name." she replied and I shrugged, looking for a way she wouldn't know it was the same Alex from years ago "But there are many Alex in the world, it doesn't have to be him." 

"Don't play dumb Gabriela, because we both know it's the Alex from eight years ago." She affirmed and I denied "I didn't say that." I replied "But I see it, Gabriela, I can tell to a certain extent. Also, it's not normal for you to argue with Marcos and Carlota." 

"Grandma, I don't want to talk about it, please." I asked and she agreed "You're right, we'd better go for a walk. We don't want the rest to hear it." She didn't even let me answer. Grandma took my arm and we started walking, away from the house. I don't know what exactly she heard, but I was going to find out. 

"Okay, now that we're not anywhere near the house, you're going to tell me what's going on with Alex." she repeated and I crossed my arms. "If you tell me first what you heard of the conversation." I replied "Something like he forgave Carlota even though it went against him interests, he loves you and what you would do whatever you wanted, but now tell me, is it the same Alex?" 

Something told me I could trust my grandmother. She would somehow understand me and could help me with everything I felt for Alex, because I would like to understand what was going on in my head. 

"Yes, it's him." I confirmed "I knew something happens to you with that boy. You never let them tell you about him. But to be honest, you hide it very well." she replied with a small smile on her face "That was the intention, no one will like it if they find out at home, you know." 

"Yeah, I know, no one likes him after what he did to you, but you have to understand." she answered and I nodded, because I wasn't going to lie to her, "I understand to a certain extent, Grandma, but you don't think the same way as they do." 

"No, if Alex is the person who makes you happy, then go with him. Find your own happiness." she said and I denied it, because I had so many things on my mind regarding Alex, I don't know what to think "But I don't understand what I feel for him. I'm afraid he'll hurt me again. I don't know what to do." 

"Tell me about him, maybe I can help you. What are you noticing?" she asked "He's the cutest guy I've ever met, still the same great guy who cares too much and overdoes everything. He hasn't changed at all, well, now his muscles are more marked and I would say his eyes are a little lighter than they were years ago. He has scars on his hands, I don't know how he got them. He got into a fight the other day so they'd stop messing with me. Grandma, he had never done that before, I can see he doesn't lie to me when he tells me he loves me." 

"And what do you feel for him? That's what you have to discover, well, rather let those feelings flow. What you tell me shows he really loves you; it can be said he loves you more than he has for a long time. If what you want is to be with Alex, be his partner, but don't let that fear stop you from being happy, you deserve it more than anyone." 

"Why do you understand it better than the rest will?" I asked curiously, "Because that feeling cannot be changed, I imagine you will know, but you can be sure if you get back together, they will understand it at some point, they will understand it because that way you will be happy. They will have to see for themselves. But do you want me to tell you something?" 

"Sure, what's up?" I asked "I knew Alex came back, that you saw him in college." she said and I frowned, because I had no idea how she knew "How? Since when do you know?" I questioned confused "Since I saw you. You can be sure he looks a bit like the boy from before, but he has changed enough the rest of us don't notice, I almost don't notice it myself." 

"Were you also looking out the window?" I asked surprised "Of course, but I didn't discover it that way." she assured "Then how did you find out?" I inquired "The jacket, it brought the smell of the cologne you had when you two were couple, even though it wasn't the one you used, you always brought some of that smell with you. It was at that moment everything clicked, but I think you should call him to return it to him." 

"I can give it to him on Monday." I replied even though I would love to see him now "But you can also return it to him today. You two have to talk about many things. The sooner you talk about them, the sooner everything will be solved." she assured "And what will they think at home?" I asked even though it wasn't what bothered me at all "Don't worry, I can say anything to cover you. It is clear I will not tell them you left with a boy; we know what Maria is like. You can stay here, so you have more time with him." 

"Yeah, just because he brought me, she already thinks we are together and everything." I huffed and rolled my eyes. "But you will be, I'm sure of that." grandma confirmed "Thank you grandma, I will return it to you today." I said, giving her a hug "So I'm leaving, I don't do anything here anymore. You'll tell me later." 

"I'll tell you, but don't tell anyone about Alex, they don't need to know we're seeing each other." I asked and she nodded with a smile planted on her face "Calm down, I won't tell anyone, don't worry anymore." 

"I won't do it." I confirmed "See you later then." And with that, she left. I don't know when she realized what was happening, I hadn't even realized the cologne was the same, I just knew I loved the scent of the jacket. I was going to listen to my grandmother and I was going to call her to tell him I had his jacket, I don't know if I would tell Alex I would return it to him today, because maybe he was busy. I didn't hesitate at any time, I picked up my mobile and dialled his number. To my astonishment I still remembered his number. He was taking a while to answer and was about to hang up when I heard his voice on the other end of the line. 

"Hi Gabriela, sorry for answering a little late." he said quickly and I couldn't stop my smile from widening "It's okay, just know I have your jacket." I answered and he was silent for a couple of seconds, probably looking it was true " I had forgotten." 

"When do I return it to you? On Monday?" I asked and I can almost assure he was nodding "Yes, if you want." At that moment I notice how he gets distracted by something and I imagine he frowned, he always did it when he was distracted by something and it was really funny. 

"Can you wait a minute while I have to look at something?" he asked and this time the one who nodded was me "If you want, I'll call you later." I assured, in the end, I would love to continue talking with him " No, it's not necessary, I won't be long." He confirmed "Okay, as you wish." 

Despite the fact he covered the microphone, I heard a few words that didn't make much sense, the only thing I knew for sure was he's with his grandmother and at that moment, I regretted having bothered him, he had to spend time with his grandmother, he loved her very much. It took him a couple of minutes to speak again, but it was a bit slow because I didn't understand anything they were talking about and I wish I could find out what they were talking about, because I know they were talking about me. 

"What do you think if you return it to me now in the afternoon? He asked and my smile widened until I remember I'm at my grandparents' house "I'm not at home, I'm still at my grandparents' house." I protested, " Okay Monday then." he confirmed, but I decided to put my thoughts out of my head at this point, because it was more than clear I wanted to see Alex and spend time with him. 

"But you can come, they won't mind if I go out with a friend." I said before he hung up, " Do you really want me go there?" he asked surprised "Well, not come here, but I'll send you the address of where I'll be. I don't want them to think something that isn't." 

"As you wish, I'll be there as soon as possible." he assured and my smile widened. "See you in a bit then." I said " See you in a while my queen." he replied, making my smile widen further. 

Right now, I was happy. I didn't need to tell him, he already told me to meet up today, but for me, something was happening here, something the two of us didn't know about, but I was going to find out, it would entertain me and help me avoid María. 

I had to think about where to go, because I didn't want him to come looking for me so they would look out the window again and I decided I wanted to go to the beach. It wasn't a hot day to bathe, but it had been a long time since I had walked along the shore and I generally relaxed me, which was what I needed at this moment because I was nervous, I didn't know what was going to happen or anything. Besides, I needed to clear my mind before Alex showed up, I didn't want him to find out I was a little upset because I'm sure he would. All I want was to spend a pleasant afternoon with him, I don't ask for nothing more. And with that, I started walking towards the beach that was no more than ten minutes from my grandparents' house.