52

I was sitting in the living room of an unfamiliar house, with my heart racing and an anxiety that seemed to consume every cell in my body. My hands shook as I desperately waited for some news from Ravi. He still hadn't given me any news since I left the clinic hours ago amidst gunfire. At least, that's what José told me every time I asked about him.

I stared at José in the corner of the room, waiting for a message or a call that could bring some relief to my agony. Time passed slowly, each minute feeling like an eternity. Meanwhile, dark thoughts and worries crept into my mind. Was he okay? Had something terrible happened? I needed answers, but they seemed unobtainable.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door to the house opened, and my heart leapt into my chest. Ravi entered accompanied by a very familiar man, with bright eyes and a captivating smile. I watched him for a moment, trying to understand what was happening there and what his relationship was with Ravi.

My eyes filled with tears as I stood up and ran into his arms. The joy of seeing him safe was overwhelming.

- Ravi! Oh, my God, how worried I was - I whisper, hugging him tightly.

He held me tenderly for a moment and then pulled away a little, a mysterious gleam in his eyes. -Mariana, I would like you to meet someone. This is Gael, my father - he says, indicating the man next to him, who was avoiding eye contact.

My eyes widened in surprise and confusion. I never imagined that Ravi's father was Gael. For a moment, my mind tried to process this newfound information. I looked at Gael, studying every feature of his face, looking for similarities to Ravi, then remembering that Ravi was the adopted son he had mentioned before. There was an obvious connection between them, but I just couldn't believe that I had never known about Gael as his father.

- Gael? It's a pleasure to meet you - I managed to say, my voice shaking with emotion. I reached out my hand towards him, and he shook it gently.

- The pleasure is all mine, Mariana - replied Gael, with a friendly smile - I've heard a lot about you.

As Ravi explained how he had saved him at the last minute in the middle of the firefight and how he had decided to bring Gael to spend time with us, my mind was in a whirl. I wondered why Ravi had never mentioned his father enough, with the characteristics he linked to Gael, so that he wouldn't end up in a situation like that, without even knowing how to act. Feelings of surprise, curiosity and uncertainty mixed inside me.

However, when I looked at Ravi and Gael together, I saw the happiness in both of their eyes. There was a complicity, an undeniable love that overflowed between them. It was evident that they cared deeply for each other. And then I realized that, regardless of the circumstances, Ravi was still the man I loved, and Gael was part of his story.

I never thought I would find myself in this situation, caught between conflicting feelings and the fear of losing everything I know. That tense scene between Mariana and Gael was about to reach its peak, and I found myself in the middle, trying to be the mediator between the two.

Everything had to get worse a few days ago when I allowed Gael to kiss me. It was an intense and unexpected moment, filled with a passion that seemed to have been kept for years. But the problem was that we couldn't be together, first because I believed I was in love with Ravi and now because I knew he was Ravi's father. I believed that with so many problems I already had, I didn't need to get into a love triangle of that magnitude.

The atmosphere between the two was full of tension and secrets. I was especially worried about keeping what happened from Ravi, worried that the truth would ruin what we had. And Gael, well, he seemed to be in an internal struggle between his feelings for me and his desire to protect his son.

I found myself in the middle of this story, because I am close to both of them. The pressure to keep this secret was almost unbearable. That afternoon, we were all gathered in a small room in the house. The silence was heavy and the words seemed to have dissipated. It was as if everyone knew what was happening, but no one had the courage to bring it up.

Our eyes met, and there, in those moments of silence, there was an exchange of emotions so intense that I could feel the weight of the situation. Ravi, on the other hand, was oblivious to everything, focused on his phone, completely unaware of what was happening around him.

The cold air from the hallway touched my face as I walked out of the room, leaving Gael and Ravi behind. My steps were quick, but I tried to keep them steady, as if I were confident and unsure. concerns. Ravi followed closely behind me, his eyes filled with apprehension as he asked how I was feeling and how the baby was doing.

I tried to hide my restlessness and concern with Gael's presence. I knew I couldn't let on how much he moved me, how much my soul twisted when he was around. I needed to maintain a calm and collected facade.

“I'm fine,” I murmur, my voice soft and controlled. -I was just a little worried about you, Ravi. I wanted to make sure you were okay.

Ravi looked at me tenderly, his face reflecting the genuine concern he felt for me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled softly.

- I'm fine, Mariana. Do not worry about me. The important thing now is you and the baby.

His words brought a small comfort, but I couldn't completely escape the tension that was consuming me. My heart was beating faster than normal, and every thought was a rollercoaster of conflicting emotions.

We continued walking down the hallway, my arm linked with Ravi's. He tried to distract me by talking about trivial, everyday things. He knew I needed a distraction, something to take me away from the whirlwind of thoughts that enveloped me.

But despite his efforts, my mind was still fixed on Gael. I could feel his presence like an invisible thread that connected us, even when we were apart. I wondered what he was doing at that moment, if he was thinking of me the way I thought of him.

Ravi stopped suddenly and hugged me, his strong arms wrapping around my body. His affectionate gesture brought a little calm to my distressed soul. I allowed myself to close my eyes and sink into that embrace, knowing that for a moment, I could feel safe and protected.

He whispers softly in my ear:

-It's going to be okay, Mariana. We are in this together. I am here for you.

I felt tears forming in my eyes, but I tried hard not to let them fall. This was not the time to surrender to vulnerability. I needed to be strong and resist.

- Thank you, Ravi - I managed to say with a choked voice. - You have no idea how much this means to me."

He tightened the hug for a few more moments and then we slowly separated. Our eyes met and I could see the understanding and love in his eyes. Ravi has always been an unconditional support, a true friend.

We continued walking down the hallway, this time in silence. I felt calmer now, more centered. Ravi had this power over me, to bring peace in the midst of chaos.

As we approached the end of the hallway, a sense of determination began to bloom in my chest. I couldn't let Gael and everything he represented dominate me. I had Ravi by my side, and together we could overcome any obstacle.

Then, with a deep sigh, I decided I was ready to face whatever lay ahead. With Ravi by my side, I could be strong and courageous.

And so, as I opened the door at the end of the hallway, I left behind the apprehension and worry that Gael had brought. Instead, I chose to embrace Ravi's love and support, allowing him to guide me through this turbulent time.

I was ready to face the future, knowing that no matter what happened, I wasn't alone.