Chapter VII: Bubble.

A slight intermittent sound, hitting the porcelain surface splashing all over. The water faucet in the bathroom of Emilio's room dropped countless drops that played a monotonous symphony that continued incessantly day and night.

First it was a day, then the day, the week came and with it another week. That Monday that Esther took the young man's heart and ripped it from his chest, time began to stop for Emilio.

Lying on the bed, looking disheveled, his eyes full of indifference. The young man remained prostrate like a corpse on the sheets, covering himself with the bedspread to avoid the rays of sunlight that entered through the window.

- "Son, I have to go to open the flower shop. I'll leave the tray with breakfast at the door, please you have to eat something." – The afternoon that Emilio returned from school, the lost look on his son's face made the poor woman mortified to the point of questioning him firmly, but no words came from the young man's lips at that moment.

Accompanied by Ricardo, the young man was escorted to his room and as soon as he reached the bed, his body collapsed as if it were a rock. That spectacle in Ágata's eyes made her chest clench when she heard what had happened from her friend.

Being her only son, that overprotective mother didn't care that she missed a few days of school; but given the proximity of the dates of the final exams, the mortification that had remained restrained, overwhelmed her at the thought of how diligent her son was in his studies.

- "Emilio, you know very well that I would never force you to do something you don't want. You are my most precious treasure and I know very well how much you came to love that girl. But don't throw your future overboard for someone who isn't worth it" – Getting up from the ground, Ágata went down the stairs to the main entrance and closed the door of the house. Heading off to attend to his business, barely with the thoughts inside his head in one piece.

When Emilio heard the sound of the door closing, he got up little by little from his bed and running his hands over his face to wipe his eyelids, he took a few steps to the door of his bedroom to put the tray with breakfast.

Sitting on the floor of the room, the young man took small bites from those dishes, feeling a lump in his throat that seemed to cause him a slight sensation of disgust. The hormonal change in her body was something that wouldn't stop, but due to the stress she experienced with the sudden breakup with Esther, the metamorphosis accelerated wreaking havoc on her body's biochemistry.

The first nights that he secluded himself in his bedroom were the most painful for him; while on the one hand his thoughts were in total confusion, the physiological changes caused him fevers and joint pains. Even taking the painkillers as if they were sweets, the medicine seemed to do little to ease her pain. Seeing himself forced at times to bury his face in the pillow to drown out the screams of agony at the intense torture suffered by his battered body.

- " Bluargh " – With the last bite of breakfast, Emilio felt how the acidity in his stomach hit him like a kick in the belly. Making him run to the toilet to return the food he had consumed. Feeling his legs weakened and cramps in his abdomen, the young man leaned against the sink to rinse his mouth and remove his shirt that had been stained by traces of vomit.

When he raised his face to see his reflection, the image in front of him made him take a few steps back as he kept his eyes fixed on the mirror. Hair that had barely reached her shoulders a few weeks ago had grown past her shoulders and was slightly down her upper back. His lips, which still bore the traces of his masculinity, had been replaced by a more robust pair in comparison.

Her chest hadn't changed from its previous size, but the breast bud stood out significantly. Making her bring her fingers to the tips out of mere curiosity, causing a discharge to run from her lower part to her chest.

Leaning his hand against the wall as he panted, Emilio looked once more into the mirror with a hateful expression in his eyes. Cursing himself until his throat was sore, leaving him almost hoarse.

- "Give me back my life, give me back what you have taken from me" - Collapsing on the bathroom floor, Emilio cried desperately, holding in his right hand the snapshots of that day at the amusement park.

While that young man was collapsing locked in his room, the atmosphere in the high school barely noticed his absence, except for some acquaintances who wondered what had happened to him.

Like a lion that has slaughtered its rival to stay with the pack, Rubén walked through the corridors of the school hugging Esther firmly. While the young woman tried to hide her contempt, giving a smile when someone asked her about her courtship.

- "Hey Ricardo, I think I'm a little confused. Isn't Esther supposed to be Emilio's girlfriend? – Sitting on the benches in the patio near the cafeteria, two young men discreetly contemplated the couple in the distance.

Giving a sip of his can of soda, Damián Alcocer, Ricardo's close friend, launched that scathing question seeking to see the young man's reaction.

- "What are you trying to do Damien? Do you want me to go claim that dead fly for breaking my friend's heart?"

- "Oh, hohoho . Easy old man, save your spirits. If you faced Ruben's mastodon I would have to drag your fragile body back to the infirmary." – The day after Emilio stopped attending high school, Ricardo decided to confront Rubén when he saw that he was gloating about crushing Emilio for taking away his girlfriend.

Despite his unmanly appearance, that young man was not intimidated by Rubén's despicable attitude. Punching him on the chin, which did little to hurt him. Causing that boy to respond with fury, attacking Ricardo with a knee on Ricardo's belly to leave him unconscious.

- "Seriously man, I know that Emilio is a friend of yours since you were children. I barely knew you in high school last year, but I care about you too much for you to expose yourself to having that bastard clean the floor with you" - Placing his hand on Ricardo's shoulder, Damián maintained his composure while experiencing how His companion's body trembled with rage, feeling how Rubén's mocking gaze fixed on him.

- "Hello fagot! Are you already feeling better after the last time I put you in your place?"

- "Yes, thanks Ruben. I already feel better, but I see that you still haven't gotten rid of your stupidity since the last time we talked" - With a challenging look, Ricardo was taken by the collar of his shirt while Rubén snorted like a bull upon hearing the laughter concealed from his friends who accompanied him.

- "I see that you want me to use you again as a punching bag Richi."

- "Only my friends call me Richi and as far as I remember, I was only your brother's friend. You were just a snuggle who joined us when we went out to play "

- "I'm going to fix your character at the point of beating you damn fagot" - When Rubén raised his fist to hit the young man in the face, the director of the school appeared unexpectedly when he was doing his surveillance rounds.

- "Young Balbuena! What do you think you are doing with your partner? Let him go immediately, I remind you that despite the fact that your family is a great benefactor of this school, you are just another student and must obey the discipline of this campus" - With the sober appearance of a middle-aged man, bald The crown of the head and with a somewhat square face, director Eusebio was a man from a distinguished family of educators.

Of a kind and calm character, that gentleman who was barely over fifty years old had a strong character when it came to the education of young people.

- "Calm down, Mr. Director, we were just playing a little. It's just a joke between friends, right Richi?" – Although it was true that at that moment Ricardo could tell the director everything to end the harassment he received from Rubén, the young man also kept in mind that the Balbuena family was a stone in his shoe due to an indirect family connection.

After his parents were killed in a car accident when he was in high school, Ricardo was taken in by an aunt on his mother's side. Despite not having sufficient means to provide him with everything he needed, being the only direct family the young man had left, the woman named Sara welcomed him into her home without the slightest doubt about it.

Working as a secretary for one of the Balbuena family companies for some years, Sara made use of the benefits of that business and enrolled her nephew in the private high school thanks to a student scholarship.

- "That's right, Mr. Director, we were just joking" - Biting his lips, looking away, Ricardo felt Rubén's hand lean hard on his right shoulder while they rested their arm against his neck.

- "Are you sure young Ricardo?"

- "Yes sir, there is no problem"

- "Well, then I will continue with my tour. But I remind you that the doors of my office will always be open for any student who needs help" – Adjusting his glasses, throwing a reproachful look at Rubén, Principal Eusebio turned around leaving the pair of young people alone once more.

- "You did well to remember your place Richi. It would be a shame if your poor aunt ended up out of a job now that she's in her forties. Single and raising a nephew as her son. Is it hard enough to imagine her on the street?" – Clenching his fists importantly, Ricardo remained silent before his executioner, who laughed in the young man's face whose expression of fury he barely managed to hide.

- "Ruben, please. Just leave him alone. What if the director comes again?" - With a dismayed look, Esther took the young man's arm trying to restrain him from his behavior. With that fragile thin body that seemed to collapse before that mass, the young woman kept her voice firm even when her legs seemed to shake a little.

- "You should just keep your mouth shut and not meddle in men's business."

- "Sorry, but remember that your father told you to keep a low profile until the elections were held." – Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Rubén turned around and began to walk with his friends, leaving Ricardo behind. Who was briefly stopped by Esther, who left him a small note in the palm of his hand and then left.

- "Old man, that was intense! I almost freaked out when I saw that his fist was going to slam into your face. Which would be a shame since you're so handsome."

- "Stop bullshit Damián, I'm not in the mood for that"

- "OK, boy. But after all this, aren't you going to check the note that the stray kitten who hangs out with Mr. Orangutan gave you?" – For a brief moment Ricardo took the folded paper of the note and pointed to the trash can to throw it in the container. But motivated by curiosity about Esther's attitude, the young man opened the note and read the brief lines that asked him to meet at the small kiosk in the square near the school at dismissal time.

By the time the school clock chimed for departure at 3 pm Ricardo resisted for a few moments to go to the agreed appointment; but wanting to know why the sudden change in Esther's behavior towards Emilio, the young man took his backpack and went to the kiosk where the young woman was already waiting for him sitting on a bench under the shade of the trees.

- "Thanks for coming. For a moment I thought you were going to leave me standing here."

- "And you're right, honestly seeing your face makes my stomach turn. After what you did to Emilio, I really started to hate you."

- "I know I deserve it! I deserve your contempt, I know I hurt Emilio a lot with all those things I said to him that day. But believe me I didn't do it because I hated it! I love him, I love Emilio, but if I continued with him, I would only hurt him more" - Crying while clinging to Ricardo's shirt, Esther trembled with fear at the thought of the threats that Rubén yelled at her the night she returned to your house the day of the appointment to the amusement park.

- "Do more damage? Don't make me laugh, so what you did to him that day you broke up with him, was it a light caress?"

- "You do not understand! He would only be unhappy if we stayed together."

- "Together? I think you've crossed your wires trying to justify yourself." – Realizing the slip of her tongue, Esther raised her hands to her mouth with her eyelids open from shock. Getting more nervous to the point that she tried to leave the place running. Being taken by the arm by Ricardo, who, confused by her behavior, tackled her with force.

- "Esther! What did you mean by together? What are you hiding from me about Emilio?"

- "I can't, I shouldn't tell you. Please don't make me hurt him anymore."

- "How could I hurt him? Don't be stupid, he's my friend" -Squeezing his hands on Esther's slender arms, Ricardo received a stomp on the foot causing him to let go of the young woman, who fled leaving him behind. Filled with more doubts than answers, the young man raised his hands to his head, grunting with courage as he picked up his backpack from the ground and began to walk towards Emilio's house.

After two weeks of not attending school and not answering messages, Emilio's attitude had undermined Ricardo's patience. Who saw in that furtive encounter the trigger to go in search of his friend, regardless of the fact that with this he could invade his space.

Trying to calm his impetus, the young man decided to go first in search of Emilio's mother at the flower shop to find out how his friend was. Staying for a few seconds at the door of the premises, while taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.

- "Oh, Richard. Nice to see you. What brings you here? Are you coming to visit Emilio?" – As the flower shop was located just a few steps from the Montague family's house, Ágata felt a little calmer about leaving her son at home despite being confined to her room. But unable to leave the business at peak hours, the woman felt anxious until closing time.

- "Hello Mrs. Montague. Yes, I have come to see Emilio. Is he home?"

- "Yes sweetness, he is still locked in his room. As much as I have tried to get him to leave his room, it is as if he were talking to the wall."

- "My, if it is difficult for you"

- "Yes a bit. But he is my little boy and I don't want him to get hurt by anything in this world."

- "Yes, he is lucky. If my mother had been half as good as you" – Saying those words between his teeth, Ricardo felt a tightness in his chest when he remembered his late mother. With memories that were difficult to digest, reflecting that annoyance on his face.

- "Ricardo, are you alright?"

- "Yes Mrs. Montague, I'm just a little hungry. That's all, by the way, I bring some notes for Emilio. As you know, it is already pre-exam season and the teachers have become very energetic."

- "Oh, thank you very much for worrying about my son! Both you and Tomas are very precious to me, I hope you have more luck than me with Emilio" – Giving him a copy of the house keys, Ágata fired Ricardo; who when taking that cold metal slightly warm by the touch of the woman, bowed his face with reverence and said goodbye.

Being at the front door of the house, the young man sighed briefly as he inserted the key into the handle and turned the cylinders of the lock. As she crossed the threshold of the door, the aroma of the food sitting on the stove caressed her nose making her stomach growl with hunger.

- " Hehehehe , I told him that he had this face because of hunger and just look. My body betrays me as soon as I smell some food" – Taking off his shoes to grab some slippers, Ricardo walked on the first floor floor to enter the kitchen.

Placing his face on the steam from the pot where the lamb stew was found, the young man took a ladle and just when he was about to take a taste of the food, a noise of breaking glass on the second floor made him run down the stairs with direction to Emilio's room.

- "Emilio! Emily, do you hear me? Open the door, Emilio!" – Struggling with the doorknob, hitting the wood, Ricardo despaired when he did not get a response from his friend. Making him back up, taking momentum, throwing his body against the door breaking the pin in the frame.

- "Emilio, where are you?" – Looking around the room, the young man saw a lot of torn papers lying everywhere. Textbooks and notebooks, family photos where Emilio was torn in half. That scenario made Ricardo's heart begin to beat harder as a sudden fear came over him as he remembered moments from his past.

Suddenly, among the silence that overwhelmed the room, the sound of sobs coming from the bathroom made Ricardo rush to enter suddenly. And when her eyes saw him, she had finally realized when Esther referred to Emilio as feminine.

Lying on the rug near the tub, with his arm extended over the water that was slightly dyed with a crimson hue, Emilio's eyes were red from crying with barely open eyelids.

Barely dressed in boxers, the white skin of the young man's body highlighted his feminine silhouette that contrasted with his slightly disheveled hair and dehydrated lips.

- "Emilio, perhaps you?"

- "Richi, help me Richi. I thought I wanted to, but I'm afraid. I'm very scared Richi! I don't want to die" – Upon hearing those gloomy words, Ricardo saw Emilio's left hand holding a knife, realizing that until a few moments ago the young man was looking to commit suicide.

- "Emilio, resist! I'm going to call an ambulance."

- "I'm scared and very cold Richi." - Clinging with his little strength to Ricardo's shirt, Emilio rested his head on the young man's chest. Who was desperately trying to contact the emergency number.