Page 47 of Until You Came Along

“You might be right about that because he implied that he always gets what he wants, but in that sense he won't have any luck with me because I'm quite stubborn too.”

“Are you sure? Because I also think you feel something for Hermes.”

“I already told you I'm not in love, I like him a lot and I enjoy being with him, nothing more.”

“If you say so...”

“Baco, that's how it is,” I affirmed, looking at him seriously.

“Very well, then I suppose that if my brother accepted your rejection, this story is over?” he asked, I nodded my head and he continued: “Well let me tell you that I don't think it's even begun, this story has plenty more chapters to go.”

“You say that because you think your brother will keep insisting?”

“I say it because you two want each other terribly and you'll end up accepting what the other demands. My brother will give in on something and so will you. This is just beginning.”

“I don't agree with what you're saying and... I ask you not to tell him anything.”

“I assure you I'll continue playing dumb with him, besides, from my position of ignorance, I can contribute my bit to help him stop being an idiot,” he affirmed.

“What do you mean?”

“You'll find out soon enough,” he said, enigmatically.

“You promised not to interfere.”

“You'd better not make me talk, you've been treating me like a fool since we met.”

“That's not true, I already explained why I didn't tell you anything.”

“That doesn't change the fact that I'm upset you didn't trust me.”

“Try to understand, it was about your brother. Sometimes I think life is very ironic, I meet you the day after I ran into him and then I find him in my apartment,” I said, smiling.

“It's like I tell you, it's destiny, beautiful, destiny.”

After midnight we decided to head back. On the way, Baco told me he had started painting a new picture and described his progress. When we arrived we said goodbye and I went straight to bed.

???

The week passed peacefully. I met with Serafina a couple of times and also had dinner with Baco on two occasions. I heard nothing from Hermes, so I assumed he had accepted my decision. Although I knew it was for the best, deep down I felt sad because I would have loved for things to be different.

Friday dawned with torrential rain and electrical storms, which is why my group of friends proposed having a “home movie night,” as we called those gatherings where we spentthe whole night watching movies at one of the group member's homes. Since it had been a while since we'd met at my apartment, I suggested they come over.

When I got home from the office, I put on comfortable clothes and prepared everything to receive them. At ten o'clock everyone arrived, including Serafina. Including me, we were eleven people crammed into my apartment's living room. First we ordered pizza and beer, and then we started arguing about which movie to watch first, as we generally watched two or three.

Once we chose the movie, which was in the horror genre, we settled on the couches and on cushions on the floor. What we did least was watch it; we spent the time screaming, chatting, and laughing. At three in the morning, seeing that the rain wasn't as torrential anymore, we decided it was time to end the movie night because many of us were falling asleep. They helped me tidy up a bit and then left, except for Paul who asked to stay a little longer, because the friend he lived with had asked him not to come home before five since he would be with a girlfriend. It was common for someone to stay over because sometimes they fell into such a deep sleep that there was no way to wake them up, or they drank so much that they passed out on one of the couches.

“You can sleep on the couch for as long as you want, but don't even think about waking me up if you leave before nine,” I clarified.

“I don't know if I'll be able to wake up before that time, but whatever time it is, I promise to make breakfast,” Paul commented.

“Perfect, I'll hold you to that. I'll go get you sheets and a blanket.”

“Thank you.”

I left everything for him and went to my bedroom because I was exhausted. As soon as I lay down, I fell into a deep sleep.

???