Page 31 of Until You Came Along

"She wasn't afraid of difficulties: what frightened her was the obligation to choose a path. Choosing one path meant abandoning others"

—Paulo Coelho

On Saturday I was restless because I didn’t hear any news from Baco until the afternoon. Around five in the afternoon, I sent him a message to find out how his meeting with his family had gone, and he replied: “All ok.” So, feeling more at ease, I called Serafina and suggested we go out for drinks and then to a movie or dancing. My friend immediately jumped at the plans, and by nine o’clock that night, she was at my place ready to go out and have fun.

Seri loved doing my makeup and fixing my hair, so I let her experiment on me with the latest trends in makeup and hairstyles. The hairstyle consisted of beautiful waves, and the makeup featured smoky eyes that highlighted my blue gaze. For my outfit, I chose a black jumpsuit with a halter neck that left half of my back exposed. Serafina had put on a dark red sleeveless dress that looked elegant and sensual on her.

I was closing the apartment door when, behind me, the elevator doors opened and a familiar whistle of admiration startled me.

“Whoooo wheeee! Where are these beautiful women headed?”

I turned with a genuine smile to respond to Baco, but my smile instantly vanished. He was accompanied by his brother, who was looking at me with his eternally serious gaze, unabashedly scanning my body.

“Hello, Baco; Mr. Darwich,” was my curt greeting.

“I’m Serafina, Delfi’s best friend,” my friend introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you, Serafina,” Baco greeted her, but his brother only nodded his head in greeting and then returned his gaze to me.

“And where are you beauties going?” Baco asked again.

When I was about to respond, my friend took the lead and lied shamelessly.

“We’re going on a double date with some friends.”

I gave Serafina a serious look.

Hermes looked at Baco and then at me.

Baco looked at me with a mischievous smile.

Serafina observed Hermes carefully.

It was a very suspicious exchange of glances. I knew my friend very well and knew she had said it to observe Hermes’ reaction to her comment, because she kept insisting that this man was crazy about me, something I didn’t agree with, because I was certain that this man only wanted to get me into bed like so many other women.

“Enjoy yourselves. Delfi, remember about the adjoining wall,” Baco pointed out, widening his smile.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I responded, also smiling.

“You allow her to go out with others?” Hermes asked, without any reservation and looking at his brother in astonishment.

“Why shouldn’t I?” Baco asked, looking at him in surprise before bursting into laughter.

“I find it surprising that you, of all people, would ask that question,” I commented, unable to contain the ironic tone in my voice and disregarding the rest of the spectators who were watching us without blinking.

He, who opposed exclusivity, was amazed to believe that there was some kind of relationship between Baco and me and that we were going out with others. The cynicism of that man knew no bounds! He looked at me, and it was obvious that my comment took him by surprise.

“Yeah, truly. I don’t think you’re the right one to be shocked that a couple takes such liberties,” Baco said, and Hermes glared at him.

“But you two aren’t a couple,” nosy Serafina asserted, “you’re just friends. Delfi would never date others if she were in a relationship, and she would never accept her partner seeing other women,” she clarified, looking shamelessly at Hermes. “But let me tell you that it’s very likely she’ll lose her single status tonight because the guy we’re meeting is crazy about her. I have no doubt he’ll propose to her, and obviously as his exclusive partner,” she concluded with that completely imaginary and ridiculous grand finale.

I kept looking at her, not believing what I was hearing. That woman should have been an actress and would surely have several Oscar awards to her name by now. She invented stories and conveyed them with such credibility that no one doubtedwhat she was saying. Hermes was clenching his jaw so tightly that I thought he would break all his teeth.

“If that’s the case, I hope you don’t forget about this friend who needs you so much,” Baco said, playing the victim.

“Rest assured I won’t,” I responded. “Excuse me,” I said, looking seriously at Hermes, who was standing in front of the elevator door and not allowing me to press the button.

He barely moved.