I hugged my father as if I hadn’t seen him in years.
"Hello, Dad! You all right? How was your trip?"
"Great! It was quiet. And you? How was your stay at your grandfather’s?"
I wanted to denounce my grandfather for everything that had happened, but I held on, ‘cause I didn’t know how I could tell that. I figured my dad might be very tired, so I didn’t want to annoy him out on his first day back.
"It was all right. The trip was fast. I came by drone."
"Drone? Your grandfather has been sitting on money…," said my father, suspiciously.
"Dad, why don’t you get some rest? You must be tired," I offered, trying to change the subject.
"Yes, I’m tired, but I have some things to do. It will be 15 days at home. I think I can rest well."
"Ok, Dad. I’m already on vacation. Let’s have some fun."
"Good idea, son. I really need to go out and relax."
I received a message alert tone from Desirée:
Let me know when you arrive, so I can come see you and kiss you all over. I love you!
[10:32 AM]
I replied immediately, telling her I was home already.
"Dad, I’m going upstairs to take a shower. Desirée is coming."
"Ok, son."
I stopped by the kitchen to drink water.
"Where’s Clara?" I asked my father.
"She has a day off. She comes back on Sunday to make a special lunch for us and your brother, who has just left. He went to a friend’s house."
"Friend?" I wondered.
I hardly ever saw Romeo talking to anyone, let alone having friends, but since I wasn’t very interested in knowing about him, I didn’t even care. I drank my water and went upstairs to my bedroom. Halfway to the room, my father called me out.
"ROGER!"
"Yeah, Dad."
"I almost forgot. I arranged with your brother to go out for lunch. Come too, will you? Let’s catch up, you can take your girlfriend."
"Ok, Dad. I’ll see to it."
My brother was glum. I didn’t want to go, but I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to be in my father’s company either. I left it for later and went for my shower.
As I was getting dressed for Desirée, I looked at the bed and remembered the cut I made with that weapon. I pulled the sheet but couldn’t see the cut. I lifted the mattress and saw that the cut was underneath.
"Who entered my bedroom?" I wondered. "Was it Clara?" I thought suspiciously.
I grabbed the key chain from my backpack and stared at it for a few minutes, wondering at all the bullshit I’ve been told about being the chosen one.
"Damn you!" I muttered recalling my grandfather’s actions.
The doorbell rang and I received a message from Desirée at about the same time.
I’m here. ♥
[11:01 AM]
I left the key chain on the desk and ran downstairs. I opened the door and Desirée leapt at me with all arms around my neck.
"Calm down, my angel! We’re gonna fall!" I said, a little startled at her reaction, but very happy to have her in my arms.
"I love you! I love you! I love you! Forgive me!"
"Calm down, my angel! You don’t have to beg me for forgiveness of any kind. I’m the one to apologize."
Desirée began to cry and I held her tightly.
"Come. Let’s go to the kitchen for a drink."
Desirée followed me and I gave her a cold glass of water. We went upstairs to my bedroom. This Saturday promised to be very hot. A great day to enjoy the beach.
"Are you alone at home, Roger? The house is silent."
"No. My father’s in his bedroom."
"Oh! He’s back already."
"Yeah, he arrived yesterday."
"How nice! What are we doing today? Let’s go out, I’ve been missing you dearly."
"Yes! Yes, let’s go! But, my dad invited us out to lunch. I wasn’t in the mood, because my boring brother is going too."
"Oh, Roger! Stop being cruel to your brother. Why don’t you get along with him?"
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"Actually, I don’t even know that. What pisses me off is his way of being ‘Mr. Perfect’. Although I had always had many friends, at home I’ve always felt lonely. My father practically lives outside working, and I’ve had only Clara to stay with. When Romeo showed up, I thought we’d be great friends, but he was always reserved and didn’t talk much. He has always had some skills, which made dad pay more attention to him. I began to realize that for my father, Romeo was the perfect son and I was the rowdy boy, who just wanted to mess around."
"Looks like you’re jealous of him. And you hold a grudge against him for doing things you don’t do or have trouble doing. You are twins, but each has his special side. You, unlike your brother, can captivate people, make them laugh with your lame jokes."
"My jokes are lame?" I asked with a disappointed look.
"Just kidding, but the point is that these are qualities that make people want to be around you. That easygoing way that attracted me. You know very well that I was very reserved. I think I was even more than your brother, but you took that away from me. You’ve helped me get the best out of what the world can offer, and that’s why I’m crazy about you. You complete me."
Her words moved me deeply, and I stared at her and then kissed her as if I’d never kissed her before. It was a long 5-minute kiss... When I stopped kissing her, almost breathless, I looked at the clock and it was after 12:00 PM. When I thought of my father, he knocked on the door.
"Excuse me! Hello! Did I disturb something?"
"No, Dad. Come on in!"
"Hello, Mr. Fred Stan!" said Desirée.
"You Ok, Desirée? Are you two ready?"
"As ready as we get, Mr. Stan! Roger said we would all go out together."
"Yes! Just waiting for Romeo. I’ll text him."
Joyless, I stared at my father as he texted my annoying brother.
"Ok! Now let’s just wait for him," my father said, excited.
Not after two minutes he got a message. He looked at me with a disappointed look.
"Guys, I got two messages here. One is that Romeo replied telling me that he will not be able to go. On the one hand, it was even good because I won’t be able either, because of an unforeseen event that has come up just now. I think it will be good for both of you. You will be able to enjoy the rest of the day by yourselves."
"Too bad, Dad," I answered with an air of sarcasm.
I was happy, on the one hand, because it was a relief not to have to go out with my brother; on the other, I was sad because my father was once again acting like his work always came first, not the family. We have fought several times over this and it seemed that nothing had changed. Since I wasn’t in the mood to be upset, I let him be and invited Desirée out for lunch. My dad left and went to his bedroom to work and I took Desirée’s hand.
"Come on, my angel. Let’s go to the mall to grab a bite and enjoy our Saturday afternoon together."
"Yes, my love. Let’s go!"
"I’ve already called a fast shuttle. It’s almost here."
We got downstairs and the driver was already outside waiting for us. We got into the vehicle and arrived at the mall within minutes. Hungry, we headed straight for the food court. Upon entering, through my Tab P, which had already connected with the mall application, I was placing our orders so we didn’t waste any time. We chose a seat and sat down. I told them our table number and in no more than 2 minutes our orders were already coming.
"Wow, love! That’s a lot of food!"
"Yeah, I guess it’s a little oversized..."
We didn’t know where to start. I looked at all that food and started with the battered chicken wings. Desirée followed suit and we were silent for almost 5 minutes, just chewing.
"It’s somewhat uncrowded, even though it’s Saturday. When I came here with Romeo on Thursday, it was busier."
I immediately stopped eating and looked at Desirée, not believing what she had just said.
"What? What did you say?"
"That today the mall is more uncrowded."
"And then you said..."
"That on Thursday it was busier."
"Who did you come with?"
Desirée realized I was nervous and answered cautiously.
"With Romeo."
I punched at the table lightly. She gave me a shocked look.
"What is it, Roger? Didn’t you like me coming here with your brother?"
"What do you think, Desirée? DO YOU THINK I LIKE TO KNOW MY BROTHER WALKS WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AROUND?" I answered raising my voice.
"Forgive me, love! I meant no harm! We’ve had a fight, you and I. He was kind. We just went out to talk. He even helped me."
"HELPED YOU WITH WHAT?"
"To understand you better. He showed me that you, after all, always liked me."
I was flabbergasted!
"Romeo said that?" I wondered.
Even with all this, I couldn’t forgive my brother. I didn’t like it when he intruded on my life. I liked to work things out by myself.
"I see, but I don’t like you talking to anyone, especially my brother, about our intimate relationship."
"OK, Roger! Forgive me!"
"It’s all right! Let’s finish eating."
"One more thing, my love. Since you went to your grandfather’s, I’ve been out with your brother twice. Actually, the first one was on my birthday. When you texted that something strange was going on and you were going to your grandfather’s, I came running to your house. You had already left and your brother invited me out not to let my day go unnoticed. We just went out to eat something."
"JUST TO EAT SOMETHING? YOU CHEATED ON ME, DESIRÉE!"
"Stop it, Roger! I did not betray you! I would never betray you, especially with your brother!"
I got up furiously and decided to leave.
"ROGER! STOP THIS! COME BACK HERE!"
I left without looking back, and when I was about to leave the mall, Desirée pulled my arm:
"ROGER, LISTEN TO ME! I LOVE YOU!"
A teardrop trickled down my right cheek, but the anger was still great and I didn’t turn around to look at her. Desirée appeared in front of me, held my face and looked into my eyes.
"Roger! I love you and I will love you forever! It was you who I chose to have by my side for all eternity."
I couldn’t hold back, and kissed her.
"Sorry, my angel. So much has been going on for the last few days that my head is in turmoil."
"I love you, my love! Let’s go now!"
"Yeah! Yeah, let’s go! I’ll leave you at your place and will go home to cool down."
"Yes, my love. Let’s go!"
She held my hand tightly and we left the mall. I ordered a fast shuttle that took us to her house. We arrived and kissed our goodbyes.
I walked back home reflecting on my brother and Desirée. I had not yet accepted my brother’s situation with Desirée. Although nothing had happened, I was deeply annoyed to know they had been drawing closer. I couldn’t stop thinking that, as much as she loved me, Romeo was physically identical to me, and that could enable some intimate thoughts about him. I was still overcome by hatred. My desire was to settle the score with my nosy brother.
I got home and dad was on the couch working with his 18” Tab. I was even more upset because, even though he had been away for so long, he still had to work at home.
"Where is Romeo?" I asked dryly.
"Not back yet. Is everything all right? You look dispirited, son."
I didn’t answer my dad and went upstairs to my room. I took a shower and threw myself on the bed. I exchanged several love messages with Desirée while watching a comedy show on the Tab TV. The bedroom door opened very slowly.
"Excuse me, son. May I come in?"
"Sure, dad," I answered without taking my eyes off the Tab TV.
Father cautiously entered the room and sat on the desk chair. He said nothing and watched the program with me. After almost 10 minutes he commented:
"Well, after that show we could see a movie..."
"It would be nice, but I’m starting to get sleepy," I answered disinterestedly.
"What a pity! But it is still too early. It’s not even 5:00 PM. Not hungry, are you? Well, we could order a pizza..."
"I’m not hungry, Dad. I already ate at the mall with Desirée. I just want to rest."
"I understand. I’ll let you rest."
My father left the room and closed the door. As he was closing the door, he looked like having something else to say... It seemed like something very serious.
I finished watching the program and went online to play. I kept being interrupted to reply Desirée’s messages. Sometime later, I stopped replying to her by making up that I was going to get some shut-eye, but I kept playing for over 2 hours uninterruptedly.
Playing was making me real hungry, so I went downstairs to get some cookies. From the stairs, I saw my father watching a movie on the living room Tab TV. I went straight to the kitchen, grabbed two packets of cookies and went back to my bedroom. I kept playing while watching a football match and eating. It was about 10:00 PM and sleep was already creeping over me. I was going to send a goodnight message to my angel, saying that I’d just woken up to go to the bathroom and that I was going to rest, but I was lazy because I knew that if I started a conversation, it would take some time to finish it and, usually, when I’m sleepy I can’t be romantic.
I shut everything down, hugged the pillow, and fell asleep.