CHAPTER 26: FOOLISH HEART

CHAPTER 26: FOOLISH HEART
HARRY:

"Valentina told me that you two had a nice weekend together as a couple," Imanol says, breaking the uncomfortable silence and making the moment even more awkward than before.

"Imanol, let me explain..."

"Ali..." I interrupt Allison as she walks toward my brother. "Do you want to go for a walk, bro?" I ask, staring directly at Imanol.

"Of course. Goodbye, Ali," he says, looking at her with pain and leaving the apartment.

"What are you going to do?" Allison asks with concern.

"Don't worry, we're just going to talk," I look at her and kiss her forehead before leaving the apartment.

The truth is, I don't know what to say to Imanol. This isn't the first time we've had these kinds of problems, and we always end up choosing brotherhood over everything else. However, in this case, I'm not willing to give up Allison, and I'm not sure if he will give up either.

I reach the parking lot and see Imanol sitting on his motorcycle. I approach him and look into his eyes.

"I'll meet you at our spot, little brother," he says, emphasizing the last word, and then speeds off, disappearing into the streetlights.

I get into my car and start driving towards the pier. When I arrive, I see Imanol's motorcycle parked next to the pier, and him leaning against it.

"Marco!" I say, raising my voice slightly.

"Polo," he replies, turning to look at me.

"I missed you, bro," I say, putting my arm around his neck and messing up his hair.

"I'm not a kid anymore for you to keep doing that," he responds seriously.

"To me, you'll always be a baby," I say, letting go and making him laugh.

"Do you remember the last time we came here?" he asks, looking into my eyes. "It was for something similar. It seems like these kinds of issues are best resolved at the pier."

"Imanol..." he interrupts me with a hand gesture and a deep sigh.

"It's so peaceful here," he says, closing his eyes and sighing again. "It's inevitable, isn't it?"

"What?" I respond, confused.

"To love her," he says, opening his eyes and looking towards the sea. "I knew it from the first day I saw her. At that time, I didn't know she was your fiancée, nor did I know it was all a business deal."

"Who told you?" I ask, curious.

"No one, I found out by accident, overhearing a conversation between our parents. Then I confirmed it when she tried to kiss me in this very place," he says, and I feel my body burning upon hearing the last sentence.

"Yes, it started as a business deal, but now..."

"But now?" he interrupts me and then laughs. "Now you're in love?"

"Yes," I answer without hesitation, taking a step towards him. "I know she likes you, I know what happened between you two, but it's better if you stay away. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Stay away? Are you afraid of me? Or that she realizes she wants me and not you?" he says, laughing arrogantly.

"Imanol..."

"I'll tell you this once. I'm not giving up on her that easily. I'm going to fight for her, and may the best man win," he says, walking past me and bumping his shoulder against mine.

I hear the roar of his motorcycle engine, and then I see him speed past me on it, disappearing into the vast road.

I'm extremely angry and also very sad.

ALLISON:

I'm in the apartment, and nervousness has taken over me. I'm also scared of what's going to happen. I know it's my fault; I should have clarified things with Imanol, but instead, I just ignored his messages.

"I'm such a stupid coward," I say aloud, and Valentina clears her throat uncomfortably.

I'm pacing back and forth like a caged lion. I don't know what to do; I don't even know why I'm here, wandering around like a crazy person.

I hear the sound of my phone indicating that a message has arrived, and I immediately pick it up.

"Imanol:

Let's talk. I'll be waiting at the place of our first kiss."

Our first kiss? Ugh, why did you have to remind me of that?

"Me:

I'll be there in twenty minutes."

I reply to the message and rush out of the apartment.

I arrive at the location, and at the same table as the first time, I see Imanol sitting. His hair is disheveled; when he was at the apartment, it was neatly styled.

I approach the table, and he stands up with a big smile on his face. I can't deny it; he's very handsome, and when he smiles like that, he looks so cute and innocent.

"You look beautiful," he says, looking into my eyes.

"Thank you," I respond, sitting in the chair across from him. "Imanol... I need to clarify things with you."

"Don't worry, I already know," he replies, stirring his coffee with a spoon.

"What do you know?" I ask, curious.

"That you like me," he looks into my eyes and places his hand on mine. "But I also like you." I look at him and see something different in him, his gaze is not as sweet and innocent as last time, and it makes me feel uncomfortable and nervous.

In a quick movement, I pull my hand out from under his, causing his hand to fall heavily on the table.

"But from what I see, you like him more than me," he says with a pained expression on his face.

"I should have talked to you some time ago. I'm sorry," I say, lowering my head, and he clicks his tongue.

"And what were you going to say? That you were confused?" he asks sarcastically.

"Yes, I was," I reply, raising my head to look at him. He leans in, resting his elbows on the table and staring at me intently.

"Don't you like me anymore?" he asks, and I freeze, realizing that I hadn't reconsidered that question.

"I don't know," I reply, lowering my gaze.

"Since you don't know, I'll fight for you until you figure out what you feel," he says, touching my chin with the tip of his fingers. "I'm not a bad person, I won't hurt you or him. I just refuse to lose you before having you."

"Imanol..." I say, and he puts his index finger on my lips, silencing me.

"It's better if you go for now. I don't know how much longer I can resist the urge to kiss you," he looks at my lips, and I immediately stand up.

"I'm sorry," I say before quickly leaving the place.

As I exit, I come face to face with Amanda, who looks at me curiously.

"My dear, how nice to see you," she says, feigning kindness and forcing a big smile on her face.

"Likewise," I reply, pretending just like her.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, getting closer to me.

I'm about to respond, but before I can, I feel someone standing behind me, placing their hand on my shoulder.

"Hi, Mom," I hear Imanol's voice, and I turn my head to see him.

"When did you come back?" Amanda asks, surprised.

"Hello, son. How are you? I missed you so much, it's great that you're back," Imanol says sarcastically.

"Stop joking," Amanda says, and then she looks at both of us. "Were you having breakfast together?"

"Yes," Imanol replies, and I become very nervous. "Your favorite son was here too, but he just left for the office. He was getting late because of me."

"I see, and Allison is also leaving," Amanda says, and I feel my heart race. "Yes, I have some things to do. I'm sorry, I'll leave first," I say, walking quickly towards the car where Luck is waiting for me.

I arrive at Ana's house, and before entering, I instruct Luck to leave because I'll probably be here for a long time. He obeys and leaves.

I enter Ana's house, and before I can take a step inside, I hear Ana clumsily coming down the stairs to stand in front of me.

"I prepared popcorn, cookies, and coffee. Just focus on telling me everything in detail,"

she says excitedly, and I simply shake my head while placing a hand on my face.

I don't feel like talking, but I'm sure she can help me find a solution to this mess I'm in.

Several hours later, I finish telling Ana everything, and she's genuinely surprised. It's as if the cat got her tongue. She furrows her brow and stares into space for several minutes.

"So... do you think it's a good idea just because you didn't tell that witch of a mother-in-law?" she says without changing her expression, and it's scary.

"It's not just because of that..."

"Then why else?" she questions, looking at me like a madwoman, and I simply shrug. "Do you still have feelings for him?"

She asks, widening her eyes to the maximum and gripping my legs tightly with her hands.

Do I still have feelings for him? I repeat that question in my head several times, and I say, it should be easy to answer if the answer were "No." But why can't I answer it?

"Because deep down, you still like him, you idiot," my conscience answers the question for me.