Chapter 11 Doubts.
Chapter 11.
Doubts.
The desolation and the harsh reality of Alicia's words deeply affect Lucas. Although he feels he has crossed a line, he still can't quite grasp the idea that she could think of someone else; the idea is a cruel condemnation of reality.
“Lucas, what's wrong? You're so distracted.” Carolina kisses his neck, seeking intimacy in the privacy of the room, but Lucas rejects her.
“Go to sleep, I'm tired.”
Seeing him, Carolina feels a mixture of anger and resignation, as she idolizes him and, if she wants to be with him, knowing the character he has, it is best not to pressure things.
The hard agony.
For Alicia, the thought of Lucas and Carolina sharing the bed in Lucas's room as a couple is a harsh blow. All this time, he had respected the home, or at least had kept his intimate relationships away from her, but clearly Carolina is not just anyone, and she makes him aware of it. It’s a harsh blow that torments her, imagining they might be in the midst of intimacy right now.
“Come on, Alicia, cheer up and come with us, we're waiting for you, come to the party.”
The provocative, encouraging messages from her friends are a balm for Alicia. She has always been a reserved woman, who doesn't go to fraternity parties or anything like that, always maintaining certain limits, barriers she doesn't wish to cross, both in society and in love. But now, feeling her heart shattered, she doesn't think twice, wipes away her tears, and gets out of bed, looking for the best outfit. She takes out a tight-fitting honey-colored dress and her black ankle boots from the closet, matching a jacket of the same color. She grabs her crossbody bag and applies soft makeup; hair loose, smelling of intense, expensive perfume.
Looking at herself in the mirror, this new version of her is foreign to what she has always been. She takes the car keys and leaves, making the engine roar. The sound outside catches the attention of Lucas, who is still awake, feeling the weight, not only of Carolina's weak body, but of his decisions, of his desires.
Lucas notices a strange light reflecting in the windows and moving away, the noise of an engine leaving, and the strange sensation of guilt and remorse, accompanied by a premonition in his chest. He slowly tries to push Carolina away, who wakes up at his movements.
“What's wrong? Where are you going?”
“I’ll be right back,” he states, leaving the room without further explanation.
Carolina, sleepy, lies back down in bed, oblivious to the situation. Lucas, who comes every night to make sure Alicia is asleep, had decided to overlook it tonight, but seeing the room door ajar, the uncertainty got the better of him. He approaches the room, noticing that she is not in bed. The pajamas she wore at dinner are in a corner of the bed, her perfume is abundant, which tenses him, and he tries to enter the bathroom, confirming she is not there.
Lucas tenses up, looking around: makeup out, her clothes are gone, one of her bags and personal items. He turns around and goes out to look for her, encountering Carolina in the hallway.
“Where are you going? Come back to bed.”
Lucas ignores her, his heart pounding and his breath ragged, he runs downstairs looking for her: living room, dining room, kitchen, gym room, cinema, music room, lounge, even the garden, noticing that her Ferrari is missing.
“Where is she?” he asks his men, grabbing one by the shirt.
“Sir, she left, she didn't tell us where. She took the car, opened the gate with the manual control, and sped off at great speed, we didn't have time to follow her, my lord.”
“Idiot!” Lucas throws a punch, sending him to the floor. “You're useless, collect your things and leave, you two as well. The rest of you, get my car out.”
“Lucas? What's going on?” Carolina appears amidst the chaos.
“Gustavo, take her home,” he orders without looking at Carolina.
“What? Why? I thought we would spend the weekend together.”
“Because I order it, take her back to her house,” he orders once more.
Lucas loses control when Alicia doesn't answer her cell phone. She always, no matter what, always answers her phone, so he decides to bombard her with messages while trying to change clothes.
“She’s just a little girl, she’s a woman now, you should let her live her life.”
“Try to put your own life in order, before interfering in how I guide hers. She is my responsibility, being with me implies the complete package and she is part of the package. I'm not going to leave her to her fate, especially not because you ask me to, nor am I going to follow the same customs as your family and allow her to open her legs to anyone, just as you have done.”
“What did you say? You're an asshole.”
“Gustavo is taking you home.”
“Lucas, let me go with you, I'll help you look for her. Do you at least have an idea where she might be?”
“Go home, Carolina, I'll take care of this alone.”
Lucas grabs his car keys and leaves the house, calling her, but she doesn't answer, so he calls several friends to locate the vehicle. The rain makes everything a chaos. More than an hour and he can't find her. She is not at her nanny's house, and certainly not with Sofia, her roommate and closest friend, which makes him more tense and he tries to call her once more, until finally, he manages to connect.
“Hello, uncle, what's wrong? Can't you sleep without me? Oh, right, you have company in your bed.”
“Are you drunk?” he asks with a knot in his throat.
“No, I only had a tiny bit. I'm having the time of my life, the best party ever. Rogelio gave me some incredible gummies to try, I'm happy, uncle, my heart doesn't hurt anymore.”
Lucas closes his eyes, feeling a weight on his chest that torments him.
“Where are you, Alicia?”
“I can't tell you, it's a secret. Tonight, uncle, I'm going to stop being a little girl, Rogelio is going to turn me into a woman, after tonight, you won't see me the same way again, I'm going to erase you from my heart, just like you wanted. Uncle, Rogelio is going to help me forget about you… Ugh…” Glasses are heard falling and breaking on the floor and the communication stops.
“Alicia, Alicia…!” Lucas tries to call and the number is busy. Suddenly his cell phone rings once more, it's Sofia, Alicia's roommate.
“Sir, I know where Alicia is, at the university campus, Beta house, the campus fraternity.”
“Thank you, Sofia.”