Chapter 69 - Departure - mduno
I didn't understand why they were together. And my curiosity was growing. Why was he with Raúl?
"I'm actually with all of them, not just Cebolla... We got drunk last night."
"I don't want to know anything, and don't you dare give him my phone number, Flaco, I forbid it!"
"Vero... I'll call you when I'm home, okay?" I wanted to hear him again even though I said no.
"Fine."
I hung up. My heart was racing, my brother walked into my room, and I threw a pillow at him.
"What a habit of yours not to knock first!"
"I've seen you naked, since you were little. Who do you think changed your dirty diapers?"
"Idiot!"
He threw the pillow back at me, and I burst out laughing. The best therapy in times of sadness, depression, or confusion was being with your family or people who treated you like nothing bad was happening in your life.
They know what you're going through and have shown their support. They stay by your side, not rubbing your pain in your face, accompanying you as long as needed until you learn to move forward on your own, whether through resignation, acceptance of defeat, or forgiving yourself. Family sticks with you during those dark days. My brother was the best healer in my life.
"I adore you," I said as he sat on the bed.
"I know. We're leaving at seven."
"I don't want to go out," I pouted.
"Sorry, my girlfriend isn't in town and she only let me go out because I said you'd be my date. Imagine, little sister, dancing with this chest."
"I have no choice?"
"None. Well... Make yourself prettier." I rolled my eyes at him.
My dad lent him the Jeep, and he was happy because that car rarely went out, according to my dad, because it was too luxurious, and Santiago said it was to save gas since he was too stingy. I couldn't help but laugh. They always drove the truck.
"You look very pretty, daughter." He kissed my forehead.
"Thanks, Dad," I said as I got into the car. Santi, the show-off, took the wheel.
"Look at the conceited one."
I burst out laughing. These two men were an adorable pair. Since I turned fifteen, Dad hadn't called him that.
"Not a single drink, and if you do drink, give the keys to Vero. Aaayyy! If Ramona tells me something reckless tomorrow because, you know!"
"You realize how unbearable it is to live with him," he said, laughing. Santiago made a gesture of "as you command, captain," and smiled. Dad had no choice but to laugh while shaking his head.
"You sure have your mother's personality. Good thing she gave the looks to your sister."
"The women in town wouldn't agree with you, Dad. Don't wait up."
He started the car, and I laughed. Deep down, I felt like I had no right to celebrate anything. It had only been three months since Lorena's death and with Roland's absence... Roland, Roland, Roland. Raúl hadn't texted me. Was he still at his house and that's why he hadn't called?
"I'm not planning to stay long, so..."
"Vero, today we'll relax. I want to introduce you to some friends."
"I don't want to meet anyone."
"You need to make your own friends." It was impossible.
"Fine."
The place was outdoors, and with the heat of the region, it was the best option. My brother's friends were already waiting for us, and I was pleased to see that everyone arrived with their respective partners. That detail relaxed me, and I felt comfortable with the supposed outing.
The friends, eight in total, introduced themselves, and the names varied from Carlos, Alfredo, Gustavo, Rafa, and their girlfriends Ana, Sandra, Claudia, Susana. Lovely couples, though Alfredo's eyes showed otherwise. He was the only one not embracing his companion.
"So, you're Santiago Vásquez's little sister." I'd have to put up with the diminutive.
"Nice to meet you all."
"Have you met this jerk's girlfriend yet?" Alfredo commented.
"I haven't met Luz Marina yet. She's arriving next week." They don't stop talking on the phone.
"It's about time, he needs to let off some steam."
My brother threw a cube of ice from his beer, hitting him in the face while I unintentionally blushed.
The night was very entertaining, and I ended up dancing with everyone. Between jokes and anecdotes, the hours flew by. They insisted I drink, but without success. I didn't give in; I was the designated driver, and more than anything, if I had a drink, the barriers I've put up to avoid thinking about Roland would come crashing down. I didn't want to have a crying scene in front of people I barely knew. I took out my phone; it was almost eleven at night, and I sent a message to Raúl.
"Are you free now?"
I was dying to know why I wanted to know if he didn't want to know anything about me.
"I was just about to text you, we're at your apartment."
My heart raced, what are they doing... well, in the apartment under my name.
"And what are you doing? If I may ask."
"Is something wrong?" Santiago asked me. I shook my head and smiled at him. "Do you want to leave already? To be honest, without Luz Marina, it's not the same going out."
"Thanks for what I'm worth." We laughed, my phone vibrated again, and I wanted to lock myself in my room. "Let's go."
"Alright."
We got up from the table, and his friends teased him, saying goodbye with mock tears because he couldn't do anything without his girlfriend.
"See you another day, you bunch of idiots!" Santiago shouted at them. I said goodbye and headed towards the car. "You drive, Vero. If I get home drunk behind the wheel, they'll never give me the keys again."
"Sure." I wanted to check the message. "Your friends are nice."
I didn't want him to see me writing on my phone; he'd imagine I was trying to find out what was obvious. My phone vibrated again in my back pocket, but I was driving now.
My brother fell asleep in the passenger seat, and old Fausto was looking at the sky on the terrace. D'Artagnan was glued to my dad's feet. I hadn't told him it was a gift from Roland; I mentioned that after Timon's death, my friends gave it to me for my birthday to fill the void. His eyes lit up when he saw me arrive driving.
"Is he that drunk?"
I smiled; he wasn't very drunk, he just missed his girlfriend, but I wouldn't tell my father that.
"Not too much, Dad. He was tired, and so am I."
"How did it go?" He helped me wake him up.
"I'm fine, Dad."
Santi got out of the car, and I parked it in the garage. Before getting out, I checked my phone.
"It's our second drunken night."
"Your beloved narco has us getting drunk."
But Roland doesn't drink, what's happening to him?