Chapter 6

GABRIELA

Days went by and every week he tried to talk to me and I refused. Marcos always helped me with that. Carlota ended up finding out he was at the same college we were at and she didn't take it very well. Since she found out, she calls me every day so we can talk, which I don't understand because I'm fine, just angry at having to see his face. She told me because Marcos told her how I was and all, for her, I wasn't very well. Of course, I'm fine, just angry, but nothing more. My hatred wasn't like the beginning, although I still didn't like him, with each passing day I was further away from the hatred I had at first. 

A month after we started college, I still remembered what he said to me, but they were no as often as they had been at the beginning. Right now, I'm going to a technical drawing class, the class I hate the most because it was where I had to see his face and notice how he kept looking at me. That's the most stressful thing he can do, and when the class ended, I'm more irritated than when I entered. Also, to my misfortune, that was the class that passed the slowest, but finally, class was over and I could go out for fresh air, I needed it. I didn't even wait for Sara, Marcos and Clara inside college anymore. I sent them a message so they wouldn't worry. 

When they arrive, we begin to go to the area where we always were. It was sunny and not many people to bother me. We were a few steps away when some guys who always try to mess with me stopped in front of us, but it isn't something really bothered me, their attempts to try were pathetic. 

"My god. Look who we have here. The one who isn't bothered by anything." Said the stupid man who I had no idea what his name was "If I have to get upset about something you said... You aren't witty with what you say." 

"Don't worry, one day I'll find something it bothers you, but get out of my way." He said and I rolled my eyes. "There's more room for you to get through, so I'm not going to get out of the way." 

"Do you deny passage to authority? That's not good for you." He said with a smile "And what are you going to do to me? Oh, I know. Are you trying to make me laugh at your face? Because if that's what you want, give me a few seconds and I'll do it." I assured "Do you want to laugh at me?" he asked "If that's what you want, of course I'll do it. Everything to satisfy the needs of the "authority"" 

I saw how they were getting more and more angry, and the truth was I didn't care at all, I knew what to do in case they hit me and it was something I wasn't going to allow. Marcos was already at my side with his arms ready to stop me, if necessary, but I wouldn't do anything unless they started, which seemed to happen at any moment. 

"You don't want to live, do you?" he asked and I shrugged. "Well, that depends on whether you're fast enough to catch me." I replied "Now you want to escape?" he asked, a smile forming on his face again "I didn't say I was going to escape, that's for the record. If that's what you want to do, you can start now." 

"You asked for it, idiot." At that point I dropped my backpack and started doing what I was taught when I went to self-defense classes after I decided to change schools. It doesn't take long for me to hit some of the guys who were coming after me a couple of times until they stop and move away from me. 

"Where are you going? Are you tired of trying to fight me yet?" I asked "We're leaving because it seems another new protector came out, but don't worry, we'll come for you." he assured and I couldn't help but laugh "I'll be waiting for you." 

As soon as they started to leave, I realized in the part they said "new protector". It's at that moment I turn to look in the direction they were looking and when I realize he's there looking at me, I start to walk away. 

"I know you've seen me Gabriela, can you stop for a bit so we can talk?" he asked. "I'm not going to talk to you." I answered taking my things "Of course you are going to do it. Can you explain to me why you were fighting with those guys? You aren't like that." 

"Of course, I am, there is no doubt. And leave me alone, I don't want to talk to you." I said again "But we have to talk Gabriela." he insisted. "Of what exactly?" I asked irritably. Marcos and Sara stand behind me on each side, I think to prevent me from going after him, which would happen if he didn't leave me alone and stopped talking to me. 

"I'd like to know why you're fighting with them." He said and I denied "Do you want me to explain why I do it?" I asked ironically "Yeah." He responded quickly, "Well, I do it to defend myself. I wasn't going to let them mess with me again after you. Did you really expect me to stay the same? If that's what you thought, you're wrong." 

"Is this all because of what we did to you?" he asked I would say surprised, which made me snort "Of course, I don't know what he was thinking and I don't care. But now leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you." 

"But I want to ask you to forgive me." he insisted "You've been doing it for a month and it's not having an effect, so I don't know what you expect of me." I replied, crossing my arms, "I hope you forgive me and we can be friends at least." 

"You're kidding right? Do you expect me to be your friend after what you've done to me? Your head isn't working right, is it?" I asked ironically, because I had no idea what was going through his head "I'm not kidding. It's the truth." 

"And I'm supposed to believe everything you say? Really? Do you think I'm capable of believing you after everything you did?" I asked laughing ironically, because I haven't the slightest idea what was going through his head "I just don't know what to tell you to forgive me, Gabriela. I am telling you the truth when I tell you I love you, but you insist on not believing what I tell you. 

"Of course, I do, do you expect me to run into your arms or something? Because you can be clear I'm not going to do it." I assured her, "It's not what I'm trying to do, Gabriela. I want you to believe me and love me like I do. I want to see Gabriela from before." 

"You already took care of killing that Gabriela and burying her, so don't look, because you won't find her." I said abruptly, because I was starting to get fed up, he wouldn't stop insisting "It's not my fault, Gabriela. Now you are crueler than you were before. It's you who has locked up the Gabriela from before and now you're merciless with me. I accept I was partly to blame, but in case you had said the truth, that wouldn't have happened. You are also partly to blame for what happened." 

"And what would have told you things would be different from what they were?" I asked and he nodded "Of course." he assured "They wouldn't be, YOU DIDN'T TRUST ME FOR FUCK'S SAKE. And now you expect me to believe you? If you don't trust a person, things don't work out." 

"Now you are the one who doesn't trust." He replied "You can be clear I won't do it. I hate you, Alex." I said "You know? I think you're actually still in love with me." At that moment I started laughing because I thought it was very funny, he said it to me. If he really expected me to be in love with him, he could wait sitting there because it wasn't true. I couldn't love him after what he did to me. 

"Do you really find this funny?" he asked, crossing her arms over his chest. "Yeah, I think so. What's going through your head? What are we going to do to get stupid Gabriela back?" I said ironically, but I really thought it "It's not what I think, I've never thought that." 

"Oh, of course you have. I know it well, but now don't pretend you didn't think about it because that's what you all did." I said "That's not true. I love you, Gabriela." he assured "You love me and that's why you think I'm in love with you?" 

"It's not because of that. I think you're in love with me because of the way you act." He said "I can't see you and you think I love you, great joke." I laugh "It may seem like a joke to you, but you didn't deny it once." 

"Well, that's not true. I hate you, Alex." I said "I don't believe you. That's not what your look says." he assured once more and I rolled my eyes. "And what does it say?" I asked to follow the game "You love me, I already told you." 

"Don't keep saying it, I'm running out of what little patience I have." I mumbled "You're in love with my Gabriela." answered. I was so angry at what he was saying that I went over to him with the intention of hitting him, but when I raise my hand, he grabs it and pulls me closer to him. 

"Let go of me." I said containing my anger as best I could "No." he replied in a whisper. In his eyes I could see something I once saw, but there was something else I didn't know it was until everything clicked and I didn't like what he wanted to do at all. 

"Don't ever do that. I'll kill you." I said despite the fact the last thing wasn't so true "No, you won't and yes, yes, I plan to do it." At that moment he brings me closer to him and he starts giving me a kiss I didn't want. I was doing everything I could to stop it. I didn't want him near me, let alone kiss me, but he was doing it. At one point I don't know what's wrong with me that I stop fighting to separate myself from him. It doesn't take much longer for him to get away from me, but he has me close and he starts talking to me without anyone else being able to hear him. 

"I was right, you're still in love." He said with a big smile on his face "Don't even dream about it." I affirmed. I push him, I take a step back and I give him the blow I was going to give him before he kissed me, I wasn't going to stay with the desire to give it to him and as soon as I do I leave college with Marcos comes behind me because apparently it had already rung the bell and had to go to class, but it was clear to me I wasn't going to go to those classes.