My Sister's Boyfriend
50

"It's okay. I cut him, tired. "But I have my reasons for not wanting to be with him right now. -Now? Do you mean you still have a chance of wanting to be with him?

"He doesn't even remember my name. I whimpered, covering my face. It felt like a nightmare. It had to be a nightmare. I opened and closed my eyes, but I was still in the hospital and I could feel Pablo's look on my face. "Won't you see him now?"

"Better take it easy. No panic. We don't want to make him more scared, right? "I was scared. That's what I wanted to say. It still felt too unreal and I didn't know how it was still so cold. I didn't know if I could face him now. "Talk to him, I'll come later." Let him get used to you, again.

He nodded and laid his head on my shoulder for a few moments. I stroked her hair, controlling my tears. It still didn't seem true. I fought against it. He would always wait for me, he had said. But now he didn't know who I am? Where is the justice? Worst... Where am I? Beyond a terrible nightmare? I wanted certain arms hugging me and whispering my name. I had never wished for this so strongly.

I didn't want to go into the house. I just wanted to collapse to the ground and disappear into the asphalt. The sun was beginning to set and I felt the heat of the late afternoon suffocating me. I could feel my shoulders stiff and my head throbbing. There were too many things to take in, too many things to deal with. I didn't feel strong enough.

I had talked to Pablo, trying to stand my ground and not show panic. I knew he was scared and lost, so I did everything I could to keep my cool, or at least, a little calm. It was hard. It was still hard to keep myself calm and whole. It would be more of a challenge at the end of the day, to go into the house and not collapse. I took a deep breath, stepping in.

Cecilia, Alexander, and my mother were in the room. Watching TV and laughing. Cecilia and Alexander were holding hands, carefree and happy. A beautiful happy couple. Seeing the two of them together made me feel a thud in my heart. It was still weird. I closed the door, trying not to make a sound. They looked at me curiously, I saw the scolding in my mother's eyes. I tried to walk past them, but my mother wouldn't let me. "Where were you, young lady?" I stopped, leaning against the wall.

- Did something happen, Malu? Alexander's voice was worried. Why did he have to ask that question? I was so good, so controlled. Now I could feel the tears flooding my eyes.

"I was in the hospital. I was with Pablo, he and Igor had an accident. I forgot to call. I murmured weakly, turning my face towards my mother. Cecilia looked at me in alarm and Alexander came to me, holding my arm. I let go with aplomb. "What happened to Igor?" Cecilia said, too loudly.

"What difference does it make to you?" You never cared about him, only about you. He's the most selfish person I know. What do you want to know for? It doesn't matter. He's happy now, having someone to step on again. So stop pretending that Igor makes a difference in your life. You know you never loved him. Never. It only hurt him, it hurt me.

I shouldn't have said that. In fact, I didn't even filter the words. They just left, on impulse.

I waited for Cecilia to yell at me, but her expression was still worried. It conveyed pity. I wondered how badly I was. I felt a tear run down my cheek. And I cleaned it quickly, as if it hurt. "Malu, you know I care...

-Shut up, Cecilia. But if you really want to know, call Pablo and he'll explain. I hurried upstairs to my room, not bothering to lock the door. I sat up in bed, feeling my head spin. So... I burst into tears. Feeling stupid, feeling stupid, feeling abandoned. Feeling terrible. Terribly awful. I was drowning in my tears and regrets. Not knowing what to think or feel. I was just in despair.

I didn't hear the door being opened, I only realized there was someone in the room when Alexander pulled me into his lap. Making me lie on your chest. He stroked my hair, saying nothing. I tried to pull away, but he held me tightly.

-Please... Let me go. I said, trying to get up.

-No. I'm still your best friend, remember?

"No, you're not," I grumbled, trying to let go. "I want to be alone.

- Malu, you don't want to be alone.

"I want to, I want to.

"I'm your best friend, I'll never leave you alone." I sat on the bed, hurt, looking him in the eyes.

"Of course you will. She'll leave me alone when she asks. Just like everyone does and always has. It's going to leave me and satisfy one more whim of hers. It's always like that, you know? Everyone does it and you do it too, you know it. If you had normal, you would have talked to me before. He said that I disappeared in your messages, but I never saw, in any of the times that I was here in my room, you came to talk to me. You didn't even look for me, you just left me. It was more convenient for you, I bet. You are not the same. And neither am I the same.

"I didn't know you were feeling that way, if I did..." His expression was haggard now, it didn't move me.

"Would you have done it differently?" I don't want your pity. I think you'd better go back, to Ceci. Before she asks you to leave me again.

- Cecilia didn't ask me for anything, she's not as bad as you paint her...

-Shut up, Alexander. Stop being blind. She's disgusting. It's my sister, but it's disgusting.

"She's changed.

"Nobody changes that fast. It's a matter of character.

"Malu..." I heard a voice at the door, Cecilia was standing still and her eyes were red.

-Leaves. Of. My. Room! She ignored me, sitting next to Alexander.

"Pablo told me what happened, I'm sorry...

"You don't have to pretend to be sorry. You're happy. What is my importance in your fairy tale? Or what do I feel or go through? Shut up, Ceci. I gasped as I spoke. Annoyed to see her living all happy, while at the end of the day I always smiled. "I'm done with you. Don't come with that little look, trying to convince me that you're sorry, that you feel or care. No one cares. Get out, everyone. Leave me alone.

"Igor is important to me. After all, I dated him.

-Dated. But she never loved him. Dating was just a status to inflate her ego and improve her self-esteem. Things are only good when you're happy. It's always been like that, even with Igor. Don't worry about it. I'll take care of him. Because I... I love him.