Chapter 71 - It hurt to see it again - mduno
We watched him speak. He looked happy, my brother truly was.
"She's a good girl."
"Because of what happened to her parents, she left for a month, thank God she's coming back tomorrow and I don't want to spend more time away from her. So get used to the idea, as soon as she graduates, I'm getting married." Old Fausto stood there with his mouth open, I got up and hugged Santiago.
"Well, son..." He had a lump in his throat. "What can I say? Congratulations, she's a good woman."
"And I love her with all my heart."
"That's the only thing that matters."
Santiago dropped me off at the terminal. I was on my way to Bogota once again, eager to see my Flaco. I had an appointment in the afternoon to get my passport and would pick it up tomorrow. They said they delivered them overnight, so I wouldn't stay a day longer than necessary.
I hoped he didn't have Raul under surveillance. I asked him not to say anything to Cebolla. I was still nervous, not going to see him... What if I ran into him? How would I act? I hoped it wouldn't happen. Universe, please don't let me run into him with her.
Raul came to pick me up at the terminal. I was only carrying a backpack, no need to wait for luggage. I threw myself into my friend's arms. I couldn't help but cry a little while laughing.
"You're thinner," he noted, looking me up and down.
"Hard work."
"For fun or to avoid thinking?"
"You know the answer." I stuck my tongue out.
"For both."
"Good thing you know me."
He took my hand, we left the terminal, he handed me the helmet, and we hugged tightly.
"What time is your appointment?"
"Two o'clock."
"We won't have time for lunch before, we'll have to eat after."
"You're right."
I checked my watch, got on the bike, the cold wind hit my face. How I missed it, the heat was unbearable in La Dorada. I arrived an hour early, we sat down to wait for my turn. I took out my makeup.
"And why the passport?" He looked at me. "I'm still mad at you for the way you cut me out of your life. You could have at least told me you were leaving. I looked like a fool texting you and calling you several times, you left everything in your apartment."
"In Roland's apartment," I clarified.
"He misses you and that's all I'll say, you need to talk to him."
"I didn't come to see him."
"Vero..."
"Nothing! If he's as sorry as you say, he can come find me." I saw the concern in Raul's eyes.
"He won't, and believe me when I say you need to find him." I was about to respond, but they called my name.
"Mrs. Veronica Vasquez."
"We'll talk later." Damn, I didn't put on my makeup.
"We won't talk about it anymore. I promised not to."
I rolled my eyes and walked over to the man waiting to take my information. I went through a brief interrogation, the photos. "I'll look lovely, I just got off a five-hour trip and rode a motorcycle at sixty kilometers per hour with a helmet that crushed any hairstyle I might have had, and I forgot to put on makeup because I was talking." Half an hour later, I came out looking for Raul.
"I'm hungry," I said.
"Did they give it to you?" he asked. I shook my head.
"I can pick it up tomorrow. How's it going with Cebolla?"
"Very well," he said, looking away, then smiled. "He's a great guy... it's just... with everything that's happened, we don't see each other much, in fact, almost never."
"And what's going on?" There it is, curiosity got the better of you.
"The organization. They're trying to recover after the attack and have a lot of work."
"Oh." I didn't say anything else, the words got stuck in my throat.
"Let's go eat."
"We're close to the mall."
I assured myself, it was a public place, he never goes into one of those, I won't run into him. We entered, it was one of the largest malls I had ever walked through, it was Lorena's favorite place.
"I miss her."
We hugged, we haven't cried enough over the absence of our friend. We sat at her favorite restaurant. I wanted to bombard him with questions, I know him and if he promised not to say anything, he’s a vault about it. A young man attended to us, took our order, I ordered a mixed grill, Raul got a pork chop. We can go out for drinks tonight if you want.
"Sure, I'll join you... Raul, is he okay?" I couldn't hold back anymore.
"No Vero, he's not, but he's too stubborn to admit it."
Our order arrived and I fell silent again. I was coming to terms with the fact that he might be sorry for what he did to me, if so, he should call me. We finished eating, it was already past three in the afternoon. I wrote a message to dad and another to Santiago to tell them that I would get my passport tomorrow.
"Well, now let's go to my place, we need to get ready."
We got up, Raul went to pay the bill and from the second floor, Roland was coming down with his two trusted men, laughing with Beatriz by his side. Our eyes met, I forgot to breathe for a moment, his gaze was a whirlwind of emotions and I saw Beatriz take his hand.
"Ready, my Vero..."
Everyone's reactions were in slow motion, thousands of memories flooded back, the day I met him, he reacted much faster than I did. El Flaco took my hand and we reached him.
"Roland."
Raul greeted, Cebolla looked at him like he wanted to kill him, so it really was a coincidence.
"Hello."
Beatriz approached and kissed me on the cheek. I felt like tearing her hair out, but I did nothing, just smiled at her.
"Hello."
I replied. He didn't answer, he was looking at Raul, my heart sank, I felt the pain again. I swallowed hard, approached Simon and Cebolla, greeted them with a kiss on the cheek, they froze.
"Sorry, can't I greet you either?"
"No, it's not that, miss." Simon hurried to say. "It's... we're surprised to see you."
"I'm glad to see you."
"I don't feel the same way."
Roland intervened, I bit my lip internally to stop the tears from falling.
"I thought we could be friends," I said, don't lower yourself anymore.
"Veronica, can I give your number to my brother?"
Roland looked at Simon, he bowed to me, then went to the cashier to pay, wow, we haven't seen each other in a month and he's in a hurry to leave. Another slap in the face, he was indeed an expert at delivering white-glove slaps. I laughed as I understood.
"Give me his number and I'll call him."
He moved closer to Beatriz, hugged her. My skin prickled, not from a draft. Beatriz handed me Juan's card, I tried to smile.
"Say hi to your mom for me."
"Of course."
"Have a good afternoon," I said without looking at him, Raul was red.
"You don't have to say that."
I bit my lip again, stepped aside to leave the restaurant, Raul was right behind me.
"What the hell is that son of a bitch doing?" I noted the anger in his voice.
"Can I ask you a favor?"
I said before my tears fell, I still love him, that hasn't changed and he looked so beautiful, devilishly handsome.
"Always." I felt eyes on me.
"I need to drink, today you take care of me and I get drunk." The tears came out uncontrollably.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?"
"I just want to get drunk."