My Sister's Boyfriend

We stopped in front of a snack bar and Cecilia went to order with Eduardo while I looked for a table, Igor carrying the bags. I stopped at one that looked good and put the bag on the table.

"You look beautiful today. Igor said, breaking the silence. I got scared, I looked around but no one seemed to notice what Igor said. Only I had been affected. Obviously. "Thank you, I think.

"We didn't have time to finish that conversation.

- That conversation is over.

- I don't know what to do, Malu.

"Then don't do anything. It's over, well. He sat down in his chair, looking tired. "Do you know, Igor? Want to hear what I really think?

"I'm listening.

"You must know someone..." A pretty nice girl, you know? It would do you good. I smiled at him, and he became serious.

"I don't want another girl.

"A woman, perhaps.

"Like you?"

- Igor, you're not helping. I sat down at the table, he in front of me. He folded his arms across the table.

"What do you mean by this conversation, Malu?"

"I just meant that you must know someone, Igor..." You're wasting your time with me.

- I know how to manage my time well, thank you.

"Have you ever stopped to think that you might be wasting mine?"

"You take care of your time and I take care of mine. He looked annoyed and I almost regretted my comment.

"I didn't mean to offend.

- But offended! It's as if my loving you is an aberration, a heartbreak to you. Just because it's not what you want...

"It's not a matter of being what I want. It's the right one!

"You can't stop me from loving you, Malu. It's not by getting to know someone else that this can change. If you want that so badly... I'm not going to insist on you anymore, but I don't want to stay away. You're my friend, though. My best friend, remember?

-Clear...

"We got along really well. We could have that again.

- Or not.

He bit his lip and I came across a familiar scene, he always did this when he had nothing to say, or when he had too much to do. Eduardo sat down at the table and Cecilia brought the snacks.

"I brought you the usual one, Igor. Natural and blah blah. I didn't know what you wanted, Malu. So I ordered a snack just like Eduardo's.

- Can I keep your toy, Auntie?

-Clear...

-Very good! Aunt Karol never gave me her toys. I smiled at him, trying to unwrap my snack. But I wasn't hungry. I ate without wanting to and without following the conversation at the table. Cecilia fought with Eduardo for soiling his shirt and Igor tried to defend him. It was very 'family' for me. I felt my head spin.

"I have to leave now.

- Oh, aunt... Why? Cecilia looked at me with the same question in her eyes and Igor was focused on Eduardo.

"I have to sort out a few things. I'm sorry.

"Oh, stay a little longer.

- The other day your aunt does something to you, well. She's got something to do, Eduardo. Igor murmured softly. Without looking at me. I kissed Cecilia and Eduardo, feeling my throat tighten. "See you another time."

-Until. I waited for Igor to answer and he did right away, looking me in the eyes. I smiled sadly, wondering what was happening to us. Me.