Chapter 27 - My brother must know - mduno
I turned red upon hearing him say that word, but what do they gain from speaking that way?
"Don't talk like that!" I scolded him, and he burst into laughter.
"Come on, Mom's not here with us, don't start with those lectures!"
"Say whatever you want when I'm not around, but in front of me, you behave properly!" He raised his hands as if to say he got the message.
"What's his name?" There was a mischievous look on his face. "Have you slept with him yet, Vero?"
"No!"
He laughed again. Our order arrived, and I took a long sip of juice, needing time to gather my thoughts and find the right way to start talking.
"It's complicated."
"You're good at summarizing and condensing a thousand-page book. I don't think summarizing your last few months will be too hard for you."
"Santiago, listen to me first, then you can share your opinion." He raised an eyebrow, and his expression changed to serious.
"Is it that bad?" He drank half a glass of beer and signaled the waitress to bring another. "This is going to take a while; you'll have to drive." I half-smiled, my hands sweating.
"His name is Roland Sandoval, and he is Don Roland Sandoval! The current kingpin of kingpins."
"I've never heard that name, not even on the news." It was more of a statement than a question. He looked at me with a furrowed brow. "You mean he's like a modern-day Pablo Escobar."
"I suppose so, but it's much more complicated."
"Is he old?"
"Santiago, let me talk!"
He raised his hands again without saying anything. I began to tell my story, and Santiago didn't open his mouth again, only raising an eyebrow or taking a big gulp of beer. I told him about the moment I met Roland, what happened in my life, my experiences in Santa Marta, and everything I felt for him.
By the time I finished talking, my brother had drunk four beers, and I had two blackberry juices. He pondered for a while, making faces, sometimes looking at me and other times staring into space.
"When I meet him, I'll thank him for saving you from that assault, Vero."
"Don't you find it repulsive?" He took another sip of beer, shaking his head.
"I would never think that! Especially since it's not his fault. An angel appeared to him and is turning his life upside down, one he thought he had all figured out." I was stunned by his comment.
"Vero, since you were born, you've been an angel trapped in a human body. I say this because being near you inspires a desire to care for and protect you, and it makes one hesitant to do anything wrong. However, you are the one who cares for and protects us in some way." He sighed. "He must be a very special person to awaken in you the desire to be a woman."
I blushed. I shouldn't have told him that. I should have kept that part a secret; what happened with Roland in Santa Marta belonged to me alone.
"Vero, I can only tell you one thing. Are you willing to live in that world? I know you can do it, but don't lose your essence and especially not your soul. If he pushed you away, it's because he cares about you. Use that to your advantage and see if you can get him out of that world."
"That's impossible, Santi. In that world, you only leave feet first."
I suppose all those Colombian novels certify that you don't leave that world alive.
"Then see if he's important enough for you to enter his world. Their lives are different; they are 'different worlds,' but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Are you still going to Mass?"
"Yes. I never miss Sunday Mass, it's sacred." I shrugged. "I drag my friends along whenever I can."
"You've always done that, which is why our mother called you an angel, and for a while, we thought you might become a nun."
I laughed. I never thought about becoming a nun. I believe in a Higher Being, call it what you will. Some are skeptical, but everyone is free to create their own spiritual concept. The important thing is to do good. Every human being came into this world for a reason.
"You know God moves His pieces, and we almost never understand it. He has His reasons. For now, don't tell Dad he's a drug lord."
"Never, over my dead body!" We high-fived, our way of sealing a promise. "Thanks, I love you so much."
"And I love you more, my Vero." He signaled the waitress. "The check, please."
"I'll pay," I said, pulling out my debit card.
"Never!" He looked at me with narrowed eyes. I raised my hands. "Is Dad arriving tomorrow?" I nodded as I finished my second glass of juice.
"I need to use the bathroom." He burst out laughing.
"Never change! Never do it, and I hope to meet your torment." I stuck my tongue out at him, then headed to the bathroom.
Lorena seemed like a butterfly fluttering around the apartment, unsure of how to sit in front of Santiago. He, on the other hand, was trying to hide his eagerness to woo her from me.
I couldn't deny they liked each other. They had known each other for years. The only problem was that my friend wasn't honest. The woman she had built was a lie in the eyes of the townspeople, and she had sentenced herself with me. They tried to include me in their conversation, but it was in vain; it was difficult for them. "I felt like the real intruder, the kid who ruins plans." They were older, but it bothered me that their relationship, or whatever it was, was based on lies from Lorena.
"Vero, which bed will I sleep in?" Santi asked.
"In my bed," I replied with a hint of irony. "I'll sleep with Lorena."
Neither of them liked that. She lowered her gaze, and he tried not to laugh. After a moment, he asked.
"With me?" She opened her mouth, and I glared at her.
"Yes, with me. Dad arrives tomorrow. He'll sleep in my bed, and Santiago will sleep on the cot underneath. There are only two rooms. I'll sleep in your big bed." I made it clear that I didn't want any nighttime mischief.
"Whatever you say."
He muttered under his breath. It was already past midnight. I went into my room, took out my pajamas, and kissed Santiago on the forehead.
"Sometimes I think you're the older one. I'm not a child; I'm quite grown up, Vero. This is ridiculous!"
"I know why I'm doing it." I kissed him again and headed to the bedroom.
"What the hell was that, Vero?" Lorena was quite angry. "You know I like him, and your dad is coming tomorrow..."
"Does my brother know what you do for a living?" She averted her gaze, reluctantly took off her clothes, and put on her pajamas. "I have nothing against you, Lorena. It's just that if he accepts you as... you know, I won't have a problem."
"I feel like a little girl," she muttered. "And the worst part is, I can't argue with you."
"Go to sleep."
I got under the covers and soon fell asleep. When I woke up, she wasn't in bed. I heard laughter in the living room. When I went out, they were chatting happily on the couch.
"Good morning, Vero." I smiled. Lorena had a mischievous look. "We were waiting for you to go out for breakfast together. I just heard that today is a spa day."
"What time is Dad arriving?"
"In the afternoon."
I was very sleepy. I locked myself in my room and threw myself on the bed. After a while, I heard someone calling me. I was quite groggy from sleep.
"Vero, we need to have breakfast. We're going to be late for the appointment."
"It's too early," I told Lorena.
"Get up, or I'll throw a pitcher of water on you!"
I groaned through clenched teeth and gathered the strength to get into the bathroom. The water managed to wake me up. I let the warm liquid clear my head. After a few minutes, I was wide awake. I put on comfortable exercise pants and a sky-blue jacket. My brother was waiting in the living room.
"Finally, you're out! It's a hassle to get you in the shower and another to get you out." I rolled my eyes at him. He smiled at my childishness. "I'm starving! Have some consideration for me."
"And Lorena?"
"She's waiting for you at the spa." He waved his hands, showing me the car keys. I raised an eyebrow again. "I'm starving, Vero."
"There's a restaurant nearby. Let's wait for it to open."
I hugged Santi as we headed to the parking lot. The entire trip from the house to the restaurant and then to the spa, I felt watched. I looked around but didn't see anything noteworthy.
"Vero..." I looked at him, and he averted his gaze. "It's about your friend." He sighed, shifting in his seat. "Is she really an escort?"
I was stunned. I never imagined Lorena would tell Santiago about her real job.
"Yes, that's her job."
"Incredible! That's why you don't have to control me. I know how things are."
"I just wanted you to know what you were getting into. I don't care if you end up having something serious. For me, it's important that if it happens, it's based on the truth."
"I appreciate your concern."
"You know I love you." We had already arrived at the spa. My phone rang; it was Lorena.
"Are you taking long? I don't see you." I smiled.
"I'm getting out of your car." I heard her smile through the phone.
"I already told him, and he knows what to expect with me."
"So, you're dying for a night with my brother?" I said, walking towards the spa.
"Maybe several," I laughed.
"Well, let's get to it, making myself beautiful in case he comes to visit me."