Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Mom puts her hands to her mouth, while the members of the other family whose daughter is absent only whisper. My father remains in the same position, stunned, his eyes fixed on the interior of the garage where two cars are parked: one blue and one white. When he turns around, I don't know what expression to expect on his face. Looking at him, he is too relaxed, which I must admit makes me even more uneasy. This is the complete opposite of what I expected. Take a breath and sigh, looking at me.

Thomas: Good. I'm going to ask you only once. Where is the car?

He says separating the words as if I were six years old and were teaching me the letters of the alphabet. I feel everyone's gaze on me, even the sturdy guy and his cold wife. So many eyes make me uncomfortable.

May: Can we talk in private?

He raises his eyebrows, ironic and I hope I hear him scream, tired of hiding his anger, but he only limited himself to letting out a second sigh, following me.

I walk towards the front door where no one can see us.

Tomás: I hear you (he exclaims, putting his hands on his waist).

May: Don't look at me like that, you make me nervous.

Tomás: YOU HAVE TO BE NERVOUS!

May: Don't yell.

Tomás: Talk once if you are not going to see me screaming seriously.

May: Well… Samuel took it to him.

Thomas: WHAT?

May: Yes.

Tomás: It's a joke.

May (bufo): Do you see the car ...

Tomás (interrupts me): ARE YOU CRAZY?

Scream again, but the tone of this occasion already scares me.

Tomás: Do you have the slightest idea what that car comes out of? The life of that boy's entire family is not worth it.

May: Stop, calm down ...

Tomás (he interrupts me again): I DON'T CALM ANYTHING, MAY.

He says advancing towards me and I back up until my back collides with the wall of bushes that surround the house, tracing its perimeter.

Tomás: If we go back and that car doesn't show up ...

May: He's going to show up, calm down!

I raise my voice and I think I notice him surprised.

May: Her mom is on the verge of death, what did you expect? What will let him travel more than two days and when he arrives he will find his body?

He opens his mouth to speak, but continues, shutting him up.

May: And I'm not saying this because I have something with him, which is just what you were going to say. I don't need to be in a relationship with someone to care. I am not as selfish as you.

Tomás: At least people respect me and don't use me.

May: Tell your dear partner to take us if you are so respected then.

I add proudly and start walking in the direction of the garage, bumping my shoulder with his as I pass.

When the door opens and I notice that the occupant of the seat is my brother I let out a snort, thinking that I will have to endure it for more than 18 hours. I quickly put the headphones on, but he laughs, convincing me that he didn't believe that story. Our parents are still outside, exchanging a few last words with the gray-bearded man and his wife.

May: May I know why you did that?

Oliver: Why did I do what?

May (sigh): What do you get from those stupid things?

He laughs again and looks at me with a somewhat deep gaze.

Oliver: I just want to make sure you know what I'm capable of and deliver on what you promised me.

May: No ... (he lowered his voice when he saw Mom and Dad getting into the vehicle), it's not so easy to accomplish that and you know it.

Oliver (shrugs): All I know is that I wouldn't want to be in your place if not.

May: What an idiot you are.

I look at it in the worst way and I go back up the headphones that until that moment rested on my shoulders, this time taking the volume of the music to the maximum to escape into my world for a long time.

I do not receive messages or calls from Samuel, although I suppose it must be due to the lack of signal on these routes. Luckily for me, I manage to sleep for several hours, which makes everything go faster and when I least expect it, we are already entering the house.

The first thing I do after opening the front door is run upstairs to my room, where I lock myself in and Oliver his number in a hurry. One tone, two, three ... nothing. I try again and find the answering machine. Having lost hope, I dial a third time again and am about to hang up when he answers. I recognize him at that very moment, although I am concerned about that cold tone that is not very typical of him.