We're in the car, drowning in an awkward silence. — What was that? — I ask — Has he always been like this?
— It's something I'm ashamed of — she says — I don't want to talk about it.
— Okay, I'm only saying this because you didn't seem comfortable — I say. She looks out the window, and we don't speak again until we arrive at the ice rink.
She puts on her ice skates and starts skating around the rink. For the moment, I glide close to the edges to avoid falling until Amelia comes over and guides me closer to the center of the ice — I think I'm about to fall — I say, trying to keep my balance.
— Just put one foot in front of the other — she says — bend your knees slightly; that will help you keep your balance.
— Well... I'm trying — I say. I glide a few meters forward, and then Amelia lets go of my hands to let me skate on my own. There are moments when I feel like I'm going to fall, but I manage to stay steady.
— Have you never skated before?
— It's not a very common sport where I live.
— I used to compete in skating competitions when I was a kid, but it got too expensive — she says — I come here to relax every now and then.
After skating, I drop her off at her house and head back to mine. Adrián isn't home, but the next morning we meet in the kitchen and I see him washing some glass tupperware — Have you eaten anything yet? — I ask — I'm planning to make noodles.
— Don't bother — he says.
— Thanks for lending me your car. I'd like to repay you somehow.
— Come with me, I need to return some things to my mom's house. It won't take long.
I nod at his request. After showering and having breakfast, we head in his car to his mother's house. A house in the suburbs.
— Come on, now — Adrián says when he sees I'm not getting out of the car. We both go inside, and an older woman greets us. — Hello, Nana. This is my friend Farley — Adrián says.
— Good morning — I greet her with a subtle smile.
— Welcome — she says — Would you like something to drink?
— No, I just came to give you this — Adrián says, holding up the bag. She takes them and heads to the kitchen.
I look around and see that the house has a large dining room and a fairly spacious living room. When the woman comes out of the kitchen, she passes through another small furnished area. — Thank you so much for the food, Nana — Adrián says and gives her a hug.
I assume we're about to leave, but I hear footsteps coming down the stairs until a man appears — Is that you, son? — he asks, approaching — Have you thought about what I told you?
— I have to go — Adrián says and takes my arm to lead me after him.
— Don't be rude — the man says.
— My name is Farley Ishikawa. I'm Adrián's classmate from the university — I say — Nice to meet you, sir.
— I'm Samuel Salamanca — he says, as if I was supposed to recognize his name from somewhere. I smile politely and shake his hand.
— Well, you've met now, let's go — Adrián says.
— May I speak with my son for a moment? — Mr. Samuel asks with his gaze on me. Adrián sighs in annoyance and follows his father to a room with a sliding door next to the grand staircase.
— Come, sit down — the nanny says. I follow her into the living room and soon realize I can hear the conversation between Adrián and his father.
— As if you ever cared what happened to me — I hear Adrian's voice.
— You're so inconsiderate! — Samuel argues — Everything I've done has been for you, so you can carry on the family legacy!
— May I offer you something to eat, boy? — the nanny in front of me asks, extending a glass of juice.
— No, thank you — I say, trying to ignore the background voices — You're very kind.
— Okay — she says and walks away.
— Why can't you accept that I don't have to live after your steps?! — Adrian says. His voice sounds different, choked — Could you support me… — he says, barely audible. Then I hear what sounds like a slap and almost spit out my juice. — I don't want to be like you! — I hear Adrian shout. I cough as quietly as I can as I go to the corner of the living room and peek into the study where they are.
— You're nothing but a mediocre wretch! — Samuel shouts. His silhouette is visible through the frosted glass as he raises an arm that lands squarely on Adrián's face. Adrián jumps up from his chair and takes a few steps back. — How dare you despise this family's efforts to give you the best?! — the man yells, seemingly hitting him again. Samuel shoves him to the ground and begins to beat him with what appears to be an encyclopedia. — You're nothing but an ungrateful brat who spends my money like a rat!
— That's enough! — I demand, opening the sliding door, but it doesn't work. The man continues to beat his son until he's cornered against the wall. I step between them and push Samuel. — That's enough, I said! — I shout. I breathe heavily, trying to control my nerves — This is no way to treat your son.
— Who do you think you are? — he says, approaching me. I remain silent, but maintain my composure. — Adrián, are you sure about going down this path? — the man asks, trying to ignore my presence — Are you going to destroy your mother's legacy! — he says, getting even closer, so I push him away — Know your limits, kid — he says, pointing at me as if I were a threat.
— It should have been you… not her — Adrián says and leaves the studio.
I follow Adrián out of the house — Let me drive — I say, and he hands me the keys. I tried to talk to him during the drive, but he simply didn't say anything, as if he couldn't hear me.
We went through the kitchen and downstairs to his room — If you need anything, just tell me — I said, standing at his door. Then I heard his voice, but I couldn't understand what he was saying — What did you say? — I asked, turning back to him. When he looked up, his dark eyes met mine, and I saw tears streaming down his cheeks. I didn't need words to understand what he meant. I sat down beside him and hugged him.
|°|°|°|
We're lying on the lawn in the backyard, looking up at the night sky — It's about the law firm — Adrián says, breaking the silence — He wants me to study law so I can take over the office he founded with my mom.
— Was your dad always this violent? — I ask.
— Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to be like them, so it wasn't an obligation. After my mom died, he turned to alcohol — he says and sighs — Every time he took me to the office, he humiliated himself, and when I started university, he was too disconnected from reality to even notice me, but I still always admired him. I wanted him to recover and be sober so he could be proud of me — Adrián says. I notice his voice falters. He takes a deep breath and continues — Between his drunken stupors and delusions, he always asked me to take his place, to run the company. He wasn't so insistent until a couple of years ago when he decided to get sober. It's like he's got all this anger and grief directed at me now that he's sober — Adrián says — I thought it'd pass, but he started yelling at me and then throwing things in his fits of rage. He's a damn maniac — He says this last part with a sigh and a smile, as if trying to lighten his pain with humor.
— That day of the fight, it was with him, wasn't it?
— It was the first time the bastard dared to hit me. He went completely crazy when I defended myself — he says — Sometimes I feel like it's my fault for going back to that house.
— It's okay to be disappointed in him — I say, trying to understand the situation. Adrián looks at me, perplexed, but he seems moved by my words because he can't stop his tears from welling up when he looks back up at the sky. From that moment on, I decided to stay with him in silence.
— Hey, wake up! — I hear Adrian's voice — We have to go inside or we'll get sick — he says. Once I look at my wrist, I see it's almost midnight and I get up.
After that day, I felt that Adrián gradually returned to normal. He was more energetic at the gym, and we continued eating together every night. Sometimes I find myself excited to see him home again after going out with Amelia — What do you want to eat tonight? — I hear Adrián's voice as I come downstairs because he's already memorized my arrival time. He's lying on the sofa — Are they coming?
— Only Amelia. Camile can't come this time — I say.
— Maybe a pizza? — he asks. I nod and head to my room to change into something more comfortable. When I finish taking off my shirt, I see Adrián standing in the doorway, which makes me feel a little uneasy. I feel a warmth spreading from my chest to my extremities — With cheese crust? — he asks.
— Yes — I say. He nods and goes into the living room.
When Amelia arrives and we get the pizza, we watch the series we started a couple of weeks ago. Every time I blink, I remember the hug Adrián and I shared that day. The memory makes me feel warm, like I didn't have to worry about anything else now that I know he's okay. — What's wrong? — I ask Adrián when I notice him watching me.
— Your mind's elsewhere — Amelia says and laughs softly — I was asking if you want the last slice of pepperoni or if you're going to have the jalapeño one.
— Pepperoni — I reply.
— If you're tired, you can go to sleep — Adrián says.
— Yes, I think I'm really tired — I say and stand up. I see Amelia take the slice of pepperoni and take a bite.
— Hey, I was going to eat it! — Adrian complains.
— I promise not to moan too loud — Amelia says, following me to the bedroom.
— Aren't you a shameless bitch! — Adrian yells.
After taking a shower and lying on the bed for a while, I remember that day at his nephew's birthday party and how his dad behaved — Are you sure everything is okay with your dad? — I ask Amelia in the dark.
— He just likes to show off. I don't have any idea of what — she says — he's not always like this.
— If something bad happens, you have to tell me — I say, turning onto my side in bed to face her — We're together — I say and kiss her.
— Yes, I know — she says with a slight smile.
|°|°|°|
After the final exams, the holidays arrive, and with them, a new year in which I'll be taking my last semester of university. Returning to that basement feels more exciting than I remember, for some reason. It must be the excitement of completing one of the most important achievements of my life.
— We're back! — Adrián says, hugging me enthusiastically as soon as he sees me. As if we hadn't spent part of the vacations together.
— Where have you been these last few days? — I ask as soon as he lets go.
— I've been looking for a job — he says.
— Oh, really? — I ask, incredulous.
— I went to some of the firms that attended the architecture fair last year and managed to get us an interview — Adrián says — It turns out the man who praised us that day is an acquaintance of my dad's.
— I'm not so sure about that — I comment.
— We have to take advantage of this opportunity. With our lack of experience, it's unlikely we'll get hired anywhere — he says — We just have to develop the plans for a shopping center; that's the test. The rest will be a piece of cake."
— Okay — I say. If we have to do a test, surely the job is a good fit for our skills — What's the deadline?
— We have a month — he says.
— A month? That's not nearly enough time! — I protest.
— We'll make it — he says with a confident smile.