My Sister's Boyfriend
65

"It's none of my business. I'm not going to answer.

- Oh, come on, Malu! What does it cost you?

"Why are you asking these questions?" I began to breathe painfully, irritated and hurt. I asked the question I knew I shouldn't have asked. "Do you like her?"

He didn't answer. He just kept staring at me. I felt almost like I was betrayed. Feeling the outrage coursing through my veins.

"I want to remember my life. I need help.

"Am I not helping you enough?"

"Of course. Of course it helps. He put his hand over mine and I pulled it quickly. Hugging my knees. "Just, that... This story with Ceci confuses me. More than the rest of the stuff. "I don't want to talk about it. -But...

"I'm not going to talk about it. I got up from the couch. Walking to the bathroom and slamming the door shut. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Pathetic. A thousand times pathetic. Everything seemed so good... The way it should be. But it was all going wrong. Igor fell in love with Ceci and she had forgotten him for good. And here I am, still attached to it. Being hurt again and again. And worse, the fool had promised not to give up. I took a deep breath, promising myself not to take this any more personally. He was my friend, after all. And I had to hold on to that.

I wet the back of my neck and wrists, calming down. I returned to the room and found him sitting with his hands on his head. Without noticing my presence. I bit my lip.

"Igor..." He looked at me, waiting. "I want to leave.

We decided, in silence, to walk back to Igor's apartment. We didn't talk, we just walked. I looked at the sky, which was absolutely dark at one hour. I squinted at Igor, who didn't look the least bit cold in his white flannel blouse. He stopped me in front of a diner.

"Let's go for a bite to eat."

-No. It's already going to start raining. We have to get to your house soon.

"I still have the taste of mush in my mouth. Just a sandwich and a soft drink. Please. I snorted, entering the diner. Igor followed me and placed the orders. I rested my elbows on the table counter closest to the door. Confused and still upset. Igor drummed his fingers on the table. It was different and strange. Looking at me more closely than before. As if analyzing me. I looked down, hating the feeling.

- You have long eyelashes. He whispered softly, I looked up at him. Confused. Before I could ask him why he had made that comment, the waiter served us. I tried to occupy myself with eating, trying to clear my mind. Which was in vain. I finished, miraculously, before Igor. And I drank my coke seeing that he didn't really take his eyes off me.

- Damn it, Igor... Stop looking at me like that! -Complained.

"How?"

As though... Like he doesn't know me. I grumbled. Feeling the icy liquid run down my throat. "What nonsense. I'm just... noticing the details. Again.

"Then stop it.

- Do you really have a hard time accepting that genetics has been generous to you? Don't be silly.

"I'm not being. The good side of genetics was all on Ceci's side. - I replied, sullenly. "You have to say so.

"Ceci is really beautiful..." He murmurs, waiting for my reaction. I take a deep breath. And I avert my eyes, looking at the movement of the street. It was already raining, a light drizzle. "Will it take long to finish this?" I say, grumpy.

"You pout... It always did, didn't it? - The eye confused. "The only skater I know who does a gig so... feminine and sly. Do you still skateboard? Of course it does...

-Eeyore. I never told you I skateboard. Not after... - From the accident. I stared at him, confused. My throat is drying up and suddenly I start to feel a weird fear go through my bones. "Let's go."

I fumbled up from the table and started walking. Going out into the rain. Which increased significantly when I set foot on the sidewalk. I hugged myself, feeling the hem of my jeans weigh me down. "Are we really leaving?" I ignored Igor's question. Now by my side. "I want to do something.

"We have to leave. It's raining. "I'm still walking.

"I noticed. But so what? Since when have you been so worried about rain? He stopped in front of me, smiling.

"Let's go, Igor. -Whimper. A little scared by the way he looked at me... I walk hurriedly, until we reach a busy street. I probably left Igor behind, as he shouted:

- Mary of Lourdes! "He was closer than I thought. He yelled to get my attention. Holding my arms, making me turn to him.

"I'm getting soaked!" And so do you. You're going to get sick.

"Who cares?"