Chapter 2 Between Drunkards and Love

-where do you think you're going? - A thunderous voice made the birds flee in terror in the middle of the forest, a stocky, but short man shouting at another uncontrollably.

A most curious scene, but typical in that supposedly archaeological excavation, carried out by a team of only two people, who, without state permission, or modesty of any kind, had declared that piece of land, the operations center of their research, if you could call it that, digging up the earth in an irresponsible and disorderly way, obviously without any academic objective.

It was not more than 10 am when the discussion took place, the stocky and short man who seemed to have been taken from a wrestling cage, stopped a tall and even more stocky character, the short one and an older man who was close to 60 years old, but with a body that any 20-year-old would envy, vigorous and with a marked athletic silhouette, dressed in pants and shirts that in the past were once a different shade than today.

His clothes completely stained by dirt and sweat, along with decaying hair with a large prominent bald spot, were dirty and untidy, his unkempt beard looked like he once tried to be a lock type, gray in tone, not because of the years, if not Because of how grimy it would be the only thing that would reveal his age, since his face showed almost no wrinkles and his eyes full of nobility and life made him look like a young man.

While the tall man of almost two meters with powerful arms that seemed to belong to a bear, and reminded of the stereotypical protagonists of the movies, stocky, with a strong jaw with his typical split which highlighted his masculinity, an unshaven beard of at least least 3 days without shaving, hair black as the mouth of a wolf, incredibly messy, just as dirty as the rest of his being, his eyes similar to two black holes that did not allow the pupil to be seen because of its color, which unlike His companion's were lifeless, as if the darkness in them had eaten any spark of joy, his clothes were just as dirty as the short man's, but his was even more gnawed and torn giving the image of a homeless man. Instead of a pseudo-archaeologist, he did not appear to be more than 30 years old, despite his appearance.

On his head he wore an iconic hat, perhaps the only thing that made him look halfway like an archaeologist from a movie, and the only immaculate garment in his wardrobe.

- Well - replied the tall one - taking into account that I haven't seen an alcoholic drink since we arrived at this place, I thought I'd have a few drinks - using his huge body he tried to intimidate the shorter one, but he, like an insurmountable wall, didn't even stand up. unfazed

"Tell me something," said the short man with a warm look, like that of a father who lovingly tries to return his son to the right path, "do you really understand the importance of what we do?"

-Come on Victor,-the huge man raised his eyes exasperatedly, like a son who is tired of listening to his father's sermons-I understand, but we've been here for 3 months! Locked in this place, I want to clear myself.

- is that you do not understand Albert! - Victor's calm and serene aura disappeared giving rise to a powerful presence that made even the nearby animals flee - If we don't hurry, they will arrive first and the same thing will happen as in that other place. Also- I look everywhere- do you know where we are? - making him notice that they were in the middle of nowhere

- Well, I really don't think so - Albert said with amazing calm - but I assume that if I follow the road I'll get somewhere, right? - The road in question was nothing more than a path formed by crushed plants left behind by them themselves

"Don't be too clever, with me" Víctor stuck his powerful index finger into Albert's abdomen, making him step back.

"No one is smart with you Victor, just let me go to town for a couple of days and I'll come to continue looking for relics" Albert, in an incredibly agile movement, stepped over Victor and climbed into a dilapidated jeep that seemed to be armed with parts of different vehicles, the most amazing thing about such a pileup was the one that was still running.

"Damn if you weren't my son-in-law I would fire you" he said desperately while he rubbed his eyes hard trying to keep his composure

"For what you pay me, father-in-law, I should resign," he replied as he started the beat-up car, and sped away from the disappointed old man who waved him off with a sigh as he scratched the back of his neck.

The destroyed jeep plowed through the place, threatening to fall apart with each stone or branch that it passed, but miraculously and against all odds, it showed that, even though it was about to fall apart, it was a great vehicle, enduring the inclement shape for more than 4 hours. Albert's driving, who didn't seem to have the slightest regard for the long-suffering car,

After more than four insufferable hours behind the wheel, he finally left the jungle for a kilometer later to arrive at a town that appeared to be of high stratum.

A quite pleasant place, one of those places that puritanical families long to inhabit, attracted by its peace and tranquility, which you could breathe as soon as you enter, with friendly and smiling people, who, despite the appearance of Albert and his dying jeep, did not seem to reject him. , not even looking at him in a derogatory way, which was quite strange, in fact, some even greeted him by saying good afternoon from other vehicles at traffic lights.

Something that couldn't interest him less, since he could only think of one thing, get drunk and fast, he needed alcohol and he needed it now, before the memories returned and plunged him into a hole from which it would take weeks to get out.

When Albert finally arrived at a place, something rustic that said "tavern soda fountain" at the entrance, he got off as if driven by lightning, although he didn't even feel his butt anymore, he didn't care in the slightest, he pounded the rear door and spare tire fell off, he cursed under his breath, but didn't even bother to look for it as he rolled down the road, until he crashed into a clueless cyclist who ended up kissing the pavement.

On the other side of the street, you could see a beautiful park with a huge school from which hundreds of young students dressed in impeccable uniforms came out.

- "adolescents" - his body trembled with disgust and turning quickly towards the "tavern" in front of him, but again he had to curse, it was not a tavern like the ones he knew, it was some kind of bizarre place, where the children of Some kindergarten, surely the school behind the park, would come to play mom and dad, while drinking chocolate bottles.

If there was something that he hated as much as snakes, cannibals, cave-ins, traps, thieves, dangerous women, and above all, damned relics, it was brats.

But of course there were things he hated so badly that weren't on that list, the image of an evil smile under a black hood flashed into his mind, accompanied by the memory of his late wife's soft, delicate hand caressing him. , while he used his last strength to tell him his last will, in a plea to him,

He had to contain himself so as not to fall into his hole right there in front of those brats, he turned around and just as he rushed towards the exit, he collided head-on with a boy, and one of those he hated the most, a completely immaculate boy. , of those who have never suffered in their life, of those who could not understand the pain of another.

- Watch where you're going! - Albert snapped at him with a bad face, while the boy writhed on the ground and tried to stand up awkwardly, however his expression changed when he saw him well, he was crying. - You won't tell me that you cry for a simple push?- Albert held out his hand to help him stop.

The boy finally stood up without shaking hands, because of his uniform he was a student from across the street, his elegant and fine clothes left no doubt that all the students in that place were rich children.

The uniform consisted of a black suit with the embroidered school shield, a tie and even a handkerchief in his pocket, his dark brown eyes and black hair were nothing special, his color was slightly brown and his body did not appear to be very athletic. , would be what could be called a boy below the average, his only physical virtue, if he could be called that, was his height, at his young age he was already over six feet, rivaling Albert's almost two meters.

The student tried to walk away from that horrible man who looked like something out of a bad movie about archaeologists and crystal skulls, but the man stopped him.

- When a man cries, it usually has to do with the death of someone or a woman, tell me, am I wrong? -the young man shook his head, still sobbing, the boy tried to walk away, the last thing he needed was to deal with a homeless bum who reeked of sweat and dirt.

- Did your parents or brother die? – The archaeologist insisted, pressing him to answer, the boy shook his head again, hoping that if he answered quickly he would let him go.

"Let me guess, it's a woman" Albert said completely sure that this was the real reason, and he was right, the boy nodded and tried to escape from the smelly man again.

"Come, I'll buy you a drink," said the stinky man who had pushed and yelled at him just a moment before, he tried to get away, but the homeless man grabbed him by the neck so hard that no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't get away, fighting like a poor rabbit that is captured by a tiger, the boy could not help but resign himself to his cruel fate and be dragged away by the man, not without trying to reason with him uselessly.

- but... but... I don't drink- stammered the boy who, in useless attempts, tried to make that man see that he couldn't drink.

"Stop nonsense," Albert scolded him, "nothing better for a disappointment in love than a good beer, walking.

- no but seriously! I don't drink I'm underage!...

Before they knew it, they were both under a tree, with their uniform tie on their heads and singing spiteful songs in chorus with their new friend, while the sun set in front of them.

- look son - said Albert- women are like drugs... you get addicted to them and zaz! they ruin your life.

- Yes sir... who needs them.

- hey hey hey... they are a necessary evil...

- the young man began to cry again... but I love her! why?

- have son tell me what happened.

- but I already told you...

-You told me while he was counting the coins to pay for the drink, do you think he listened to you?

-I ended up paying for the drink…- said the young man looking sideways at the man

-Well, well, that doesn't matter- Albert said finally smiling, waving his hand to play down that little detail- rather, tell me about your beloved

- She... is too popular, apparently she is the daughter of a billionaire or something like that, nobody knows her parents, she has an intimidating aura that makes no boy have the courage to talk to her, despite being highly admired by everyone , she's so lonely, you can always see her alone, like she's looking for something all over the city, I… I always follow her… it's not that I harass her or something like that, it's just that I don't want some lout to take advantage of her walking alone through these streets, today, it was a special day, today I finally got up the courage and I was going to declare myself...- the boy said quite blushing

- Shall I reject you? - Albert asked, then he took a big gulp of his beer

- I didn't even reach... I didn't even get close to him! - Said the boy who burst into tears, hiding his face in his hands, then he looked for a beer and drank a drink in the same way as his new friend, but he vomited everything and coughed uncontrollably, while the huge man patted his face. back and drank more.

"What happened then?" he said as he handed her a dirty and torn handkerchief to clean herself.

"She has a boyfriend..." he said while he wiped his mouth and tears with the same disgusting cloth, that was disgusting even for Albert.

"Did you see her kiss?" He said, receiving the handkerchief with two fingers and throwing it away.

-No, he was walking hand in hand with a guy.

- you are idiot? What if it was his brother, his cousin, his gay best friend? Well, that better not be, they always end up stealing your girlfriend, it's not that it happened to me, but the point is, you can't take something for granted without being sure.

"Well... I didn't think that..." he said looking up from him to Albert.

- And where did your sweetheart go?

- well I was going to the cemetery...

- There it is! - Albert patted his hands in a tone of victory - they were going to visit the grave of a dead relative.

-It's true, maybe she's an orphan!, but she waits… .- the boy fixed an inquisitive look on the older man- didn't you just say that she shouldn't take things for granted without being sure?

"That doesn't apply to my boy," Albert said seriously, "the important thing is that everything has a remedy."

The young man stood up, stumbled a few times and finally said

- I'll go for her!

"Go boy, run for your love," Albert encouraged him as he opened a new beer.

The young man began the run staggering, falling a couple of kisses but without stopping.

Albert took out his wallet and opening it unfolded an old photo, taken in a waterfall, he looked very different, he looked happy full of life, while he hugged a beautiful woman, Victor fished in the background and waved while a young man fanned the fire of a bonfire and an old man swam scaring the fish away from Víctor, he couldn't help but let out a couple of tears that wet the face of the woman in the photo, the man drank more beer and kept the photo,

-a cemetery? you better take a look.

The boy entered the central cemetery of the town, he felt very eloquent and self-confident, he looked everywhere expecting to see her crouched on a grave placing flowers next to her cousin, or brother, or gay best friend, or whatever. , he went a little further, it was incredible, he felt even braver than ever, in his 5 senses he would never have entered that horrifying place.

Then he saw her, a thin and elegant young woman with red hair, still in uniform, it seemed that she was looking for something lost, the boy walked with what he thought was a firm step towards her, the young woman turned and saw the thin and wobbly boy who, made a disaster and reeking of alcohol slowly approached her, without a doubt it was the young man who kept watching her at school, the same one who used to follow her everywhere.

He finally stood in front of her and told her with all his eloquence

-Diane, I want to confess that….

The boy's smell would have been unbearable for anyone, but the girl was unfazed, even though he spoke in a language intelligible to her, as if she couldn't vocalize her words and was unable to coordinate her own ideas, she gave the impression of that he would fall asleep at any moment.

Out of nowhere, a roar so fierce and thunderous that it brought the boy back to sobriety magically resounded behind him, as soon as he turned around, the monster responsible for that noise hit him with one of his hands, sending him flying through the air, on the tombstones, he felt his body to rise for a few moments and then crashing into a tombstone, feeling his spine break, he knew he would die, and with his last strength he mumbled his last word

Diane...