"Do you love him?" Maria asked. Still hugging, Julia looked into her sister's eyes. "No," she said. Maria smiled, about to respond, but Julia continued, "Not yet. But I know I like him. If we keep seeing each other, I know I'll fall for him."
Maria was about to speak, but Julia continued:
"I understand why you're against my relationship with him, but I want you to trust me. He's a good guy, not a killer. Just unlucky. Sure, he's done bad things in life, but who hasn't? Please, give him a chance—for me," Julia said. Maria stayed silent, listening, sitting. Julia continued:
"In life, we're all held responsible for outcomes we didn't fully control. From our father's debts, mistakes our mother made before we were born, choices our sister makes, or falling for the wrong person. We've lived through all that, Maria, and I had a feeling bad things might happen, but this time I feel nothing but pure, misunderstood emotions. I'm sure I'm about to fall for him. I want you to trust me. And if it turns out he's not like I think, we'll end it."
"We're going to the party today. I hadn't planned to invite Brian, but I will. Today will determine everything. If you sense danger from him today, I swear I'll end it with him. I promise."
Maria thought for a moment, then said, "Fine, let's do as you say. But if I sense danger from him, you'll keep your promise, right?"
"Okay, I promise," Julia said, sending Maria to get ready and letting her know she'd arrive in a few minutes and update Brian.
Brian, finally coming down from crying, sat on the couch, listening to Julia explain the party over the phone. But a man with a corpse in his car and a restrained woman in his basement couldn't possibly go to a party—yet he wanted to, enjoying the connection with Julia. Life was about living, making mistakes, experiencing everything.
"Are you coming?" Julia asked, excitedly.
"Yes, I'll be there," Brian said and hung up.
"What the fuck! When was the last time I went to a party?" he muttered internally. Julia walked beside him, Maria following. Julia chatted, laughing lightly; Brian, nervous but trying not to show it, listened and smiled. Maria looked tense—she hadn't attended parties like this since high school.
Noticing this, Brian seated the girls at a table to warm the atmosphere. "Wait here, I'll be right back," he said and left.
"So, what do you think?" Julia asked, eyes wide, mouth open, looking at Maria, waiting eagerly for her answer.
"We just got here, dumbass, wait a little," Maria said.
"Ugh, fine," Julia replied.
Brian returned with drinks, trying to loosen things up. It was obvious Maria hated him. He wasn't particularly warm toward her either, but their common ground was Julia, so they had to get along. He asked Maria a question:
"You're twins, but why don't you look alike?" directing the question to Maria to keep her engaged. Julia laughed; Maria gave him a blank look.
"So? Waiting for an answer," Brian said, smiling. Maria still didn't respond.
"I asked you a fucking question, you fucking blonde dumbass," he muttered internally.
"Is she always like this? Like I'm her fan or something?" he continued internally.
"Fine, I'll answer," Maria said.
"We're fraternal twins. I'm three minutes older than Julia, so we don't look alike. We didn't develop in the same womb," Maria said. Julia nodded. Brian, surprised, asked another question: "Can fraternal twins look this different?" The girls looked at him like he was saying one was beautiful, the other ugly.
"Of course, why are you surprised?" Julia said. "I don't know, you just don't look alike. One's blonde, the other's dark—"
"My hair's dark, look at my body, I'm pale," Julia said, smiling.
"Was that what we said to you?" Brian asked, smiling.
"Anyway, back to what I was saying. From our last argument, I realized—and while we're on it, I apologize for my reaction," Brian said, pausing a few seconds, waiting for Maria to respond.
"Julia's calm, but you seem really angry," he continued.
"Yes, I am, but only at those who deserve it," Maria said, unapologetic and proud of her temperament.
"Those who deserve it?" Brian asked.
"If you make me angry, I get very angry; if not, I'm really nice," Maria said, constantly scanning the surroundings.
"She's throwing shade at me, damn," Brian thought but said nothing. He turned to Julia to chat, keeping Maria in the conversation by making jokes and including her.
After a while, the mood warmed, laughter started. Maria seemed to soften. "Now's the time," Brian thought and asked another question.
"Okay Maria, ready for a question?"
"Ready," she said. Brian took a sip of his whiskey as usual before asking:
"Have you ever fallen for the wrong person?" Brian asked. "Good question," Julia said, eyes squinting from mild drunkenness, smiling.
Maria was silent for a while, pursing her lips, thinking.
"What are you thinking, you blonde fuck?" Brian thought.
"Yes, I think everyone has, right?" Maria finally answered.
"I think so too," Brian said.
"Some things happen beyond our control, unfortunately," Brian said, sipping his whiskey. Maria studied him closely, seeming to understand him for the first time.
"How 'bout you?" Maria asked. "Did you fall for the wrong woman, or make wrong decisions while with her?"