Chapter 26

GABRIELA

We were in Marcos' car going home and I could notice my sister's eyes looking towards me. I know very well she wants to know who my boyfriend is and I'm going to tell everyone on Saturday since we're going to my grandparents' house. I would take advantage of that opportunity, they had to know.

When we got to my house I'm about to get out of the car when Marcos stops me and makes me turn towards him. "What's wrong with your sister?" Marcos asked, with a frown. "She wants to know if I have a boyfriend or not," I responded simply. "And what's the point of that now? Do you think she's starting to get suspicious?" He asked, "She's not, they saw me kissing Alex."

"What?" He practically squealed, which made me roll my eyes. "Yes, Marcos, they saw me, both of them." I stated "What are you going to do now?" he questioned, "I'm determined to tell them. It's time for they have to know." I assured. Alex and I had already been together for two months. I didn't intend to keep Alex in the shadows for eternity. "Do you want me to stay?"

"No, I won't tell them today, but I will tell you tomorrow. "I'll take advantage of the fact we're going to my grandparents' house." I said, "Well, good luck friend, you're going to have to gather all your courage." He assured, "I know, it will be complicated, but not impossible. At some point they understand it, right?" I asked even though I knew the answer "Yeah, they will do, they love you too much."

"I hope so, although if they don't agree I don't care, I love Alex and I will be with him." I stated, because not even for my family would I break up with the boy I love most in the world. "I don't think I've ever seen you so determined to do something like now." Marcos said with a smile on his face. "I think I'm more determined when I decided to hate Alex."

"Believe me, you weren't." He laughed "I think so, but in this case, I have no other option. "I can't allow them to find out from someone else." I responded, "Well, it's strange they haven't done it, people don't stop talking about it." He assured, "People are sometimes too gossipy for my taste."

"But you knew that for a long time, they did the same thing when you broke up or are you going to tell me you don't remember all the assumptions made about the reason for your breakup?" He asked and I denied, because I did remember what was said, "Of course I remember, no one came close to what really happened."

"That's why I tell you that." At that moment Marcos's phone started ringing and he quickly answered it. "Are you home yet?... How glad I am to hear that... I'm going to go right now, I'm with Gabriela... Of course, I'll ask her," he said, looking in my direction. "What's the matter?" What do you have to ask me?"

"Do you want to come spend the afternoon at our house?" my best friend asked, "You know I would love to go, but I have a paper to hand in tomorrow." I responded "You already heard it... But... Ok, I'll give it to her ...." He brings the phone to me and I stare at it, because I wasn't understanding anything what's happening, honestly, but it didn't take long to pick up the phone, I'm curious what Carlos wants.

"Hi Carlos." I greeted him, "Tell me you're coming, please." He asked, "Marcos already told you I have to hand in a job tomorrow." I repeated in case he didn't hear it. "You're avoiding me, right?" He asked and I took a deep breath, because I'm not doing it. "I'm not doing it, it's true."

"You can do the work here, I promise I'll control Ana so she doesn't bother you, I won't bother you." He assured, "But…" I started, but it didn't take long for me to stop. "If you don't accept, I'll think you're avoiding me. I want to talk to you about what happened the last time we saw each other outside the hospital."

"There's no need to talk about that Carlos, really, everything is fine with that." I assured him I don't know how many times, "But I would feel better being able to tell you what was going through my head." He asked, "Ok, I'll go." I finally said, "Come with Marcos."

"I'll go, but first I have to get the things." I said "Thank you Gabriela." He thanked "See you in a bit Carlos." I passed it to Marcos who kept it in his pocket. From his face, he didn't understand why Carlos wanted to talk to me, and honestly, I don't understand it either.

"How did he convince you?" He asked surprised. "You can say he did emotional blackmail on me." I admitted, because that's what he had done, but it doesn't bother me too much he did it. "I really don't understand my brother sometimes. You don't have to go."

"I know, but I'll go. He wants to talk about what happened the last few times I saw him outside the hospital." I said, "My brother feels really bad about that, honestly." He assured, and I nodded, because I already knew that. "But I told him everything is fine, it's the truth. I understand why he did it, he wasn't himself."

"I know you told him, but you know Carlos is stubborn. It would be good for him to tell you everything he feels about it, the doctor said that worries could make it take longer to heal, I don't really understand why, but that's what he said" He responded "You are giving me more reasons to go, he has to heal."

"But you can do that any other day, it doesn't have to be today." He insisted and I denied, "But it's going to be today, Marcos, we want Carlos to be cured soon, right?" I asked and he nodded. "Well, that's it, wait for me here, I'll go get the things and we'll leave."

"Alright. Why are all you older siblings stubborn?" he asked "Not all of us are, Roberta isn't." I said, "I think your cousin is the only person who deviates from that norm." I started to laugh, because it could be true, although I don't think all older siblings are stubborn. I got out of the car and as soon as I entered the house, I went to get my things to go with Marcos. As I was going out the door, I stopped at the door to the dining room.

"Mom, I'm going to Marcos' house." I said "Why?" She asked, frowning. "Carlos is coming home from the hospital today and I'm going to spend the afternoon with them." I responded "Yes, of course, that's it." my sister protested. "What are you talking about, Maria?" My mother asked, turning in her direction. "Don't worry. I hope you have a good time with your "friend" Gabriela."

"Marcos was always her friend. Do you know something that we don't?" mom questioned and she denied, "Not right now, but as soon as I discover something I'll tell you, I'm not like other people." she assured and I rolled my eyes "Look, I don't understand what you're talking about. I hope you have a good time Gabriela and that Carlos gets better. Tell him hi for me."

"I will, see you later mom." I said goodbye "See you later." I left the house and headed to the car with Marcos. It didn't take us too long to get to his house, it must have been just over five minutes away. When we enter the house Ana comes running and hugs me, of course I return it.

"Gabriela!" the little girl squealed excitedly and had a big smile on her face. "Hello princess, how are you?" I asked "Well, Carlos is home." She answered with a big smile on her face "Oh yeah? I didn't know."

"So, I'm the first one to tell you?" Ana asked and I nodded even though it wasn't entirely true. "Of course, Marcos has me very uninformed." I joked. He started to laugh, mostly because he told me, but I know Ana likes to be the first to say things, that's why I had told her I didn't know. I loved seeing her this happy.

"Come, let's go to him. He's in the kitchen making food. Will you stay to eat?" the little girl asked, jumping in place. "Of course, princess." I stated "And we will play?" she asked and I nodded. "Yes, as soon as I finish some work I have to do."

It's as if at that moment she realizes I have the folder in my hand, staring at it for a couple of seconds. "Why do you have such a big folder?" Ana finally questioned, "To put my drawings in it."

"Will you show them to me?" She asked and I nodded. "I'll show you after eating." I stated and she started jumping more until she decided to run to the kitchen while the two of us stayed at the door. Marcos looking at me with a stupid face that made me laugh.

"Change that face if you don't want me to laugh in your face." I said even though I'm already doing it. "How not to have it." He answered seriously "Why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "The way you treat my sister, that tells me you'll be a great mother." He stated and I rolled my eyes. "I don't think it's that big of a deal."

"Yes, it will be, I assure you." He insisted with a big smile on his face. "Let's go to the kitchen before Ana comes for us again." We started to walk towards the kitchen, but before entering I left the things in the living room, I didn't want them to get stained with anything. As soon as we enter the kitchen Carlos turns around and as soon as he notices me, his smile widens. At least I could see he's ok and that's the most important thing.