Chapter 2 - Healthy party? - Mduno

The truth is, the death of my dog hurt me so much that I couldn't even think about that guy.

"She's a little sad, but she doesn't want to see you starve." We sat on the bed and began to eat, despite my lack of appetite. "Vero, don't be mad, you know she can't handle it. She was happy to be with the toughest of the tough."

"I don't give a damn who she's been with."

"You know she loves you a lot. She never let you get involved with those jerks she hangs out with. She hasn't taken you to her drug dealer parties. That's the most important thing, the way she shows you how much you mean to her."

"It's a very dirty world, Raúl. Honestly, I don't know what to do to get her out of that life. I've learned five languages because every now and then she gets disappointed with love and decides to change and do something different. I support her, but her problem never ends!"

The expression on his face showed that he understood. She has taken him on countless trips only to leave him alone.

"She'll never change, darling." He sat beside me and took the TV remote.

"You're right about that. I've given up. She's very lovely, even if she doesn't think so, and it's very hard to help her with that."

"You're lovelier," he said, licking his fingers.

"If you say so," I smiled.

"What do you want to do today?"

He doesn't want to see me depressed, but I don't want to go out for anything in the world.

"Change my clothes, put on the most comfortable sweatshirt, watch a lot of movies." He made an expression of 'as you wish.' "And no matter what you say, I won't leave the room."

"I know, there won't be any force on earth to change your mind." He got up, went to the cabinet where I keep my favorite movies, showed me one, and I smiled, nodding. "So, the plan is, home theater?"

"You guessed it," he smiled. "What are you laughing at?"

"For the first time, someone will play chef for us. Out of guilt, she'll bring us whatever we ask for."

Lorena didn't like cooking at all. She eats because of me, or when Raúl spends the day with us, he's our chef. He seems blessed by the gods of cooking.

"At least she's good at spreading a little."

I got out of bed to go to the bathroom and changed my clothes. The ones I had on were stained with Timón's blood. When I returned to bed, he continued talking.

"That's her life, sweetheart. What would you say about me?"

"I haven't said anything to her that I haven't said to you! And I always remind you, regardless of your homosexuality. You should have only one partner, not be promiscuous, because I will castrate you if I find out you're sleeping with drug dealers or many men. I will never forgive you if you get an incurable disease. I warn you!"

I pointed my finger at him and then caressed his face. He wasn't very attractive, but he was well-presented. Since we started university, he became my best friend. It was friendship at first sight in dance class, and since then, we've been partners at every club outing or university performance... I love dancing!

"Good thing I'm not your husband," he commented, laughing.

"Yes! Good thing."

He made me smile despite the sadness, his arms hugging me tightly. He brought lunch when they shouted that the delivery had arrived. Lorena had ordered chicken and sent my favorite pieces; the thigh and the breast. Raúl also came in with his plate full. Tears started to flow again.

He hugged and comforted me until I calmed down. The group of friends around me was ironic. I'm angry with my only true friend, but despite everything, she's never linked me to her world. Raúl was very serious; you had to be very perceptive to detect the direction of his gaze, which never went towards the girls at a club. With us, he felt free to make comments about a good-looking guy. We spent most of our time together.

"Well, I came to tell you that classes start on Thursday."

"That's a relief. I can't stand this confinement anymore, and honestly, seeing her low self-esteem is unbearable. Imagine having relationships with more than two men at the same time..."

During the week, I limited my conversations with Lorena to the essentials. It was an uncomfortable situation, and until we talked it out, it would be very difficult to return to normal. The endless sessions on the couch talking about girly stuff had been suspended. She was more hurt by this situation. But I have to be fair. I miss her too.

I know the world she's in because I'm her confidant, and she warns and takes care of me. She was ashamed of what happened and deep down felt guilty for Timón's absence.

Raúl served as our intermediary. The situation was completely ridiculous, bordering on childish. At times, I tried to talk to her, then I remembered Timón's death and wanted to rip her hair out! I sighed.

I was finishing an important assignment for the university, due on Monday. Lorena entered the study room. Deep down, I felt joy that she was the one to take the initiative to talk. I put on a serious face, though I was dying to run and hug her.

"Vero..." she came in, playing with her hands, looking at a fixed point, avoiding eye contact. Her nerves were obvious. "Are you still mad?" she lamented. "I miss you and I'm really sorry about what happened."

"I already told you, it's okay." I closed the laptop, turning the chair to look at her.

"Tell me, what can I do so you're not mad at me? Do you want another dog?"

"It won't be my Timón, Lorena! Thanks, let's leave it at that."

"Can I invite you to a party?"

She looked down, as if expecting a sentence. She didn't notice my expression of surprise.

"To one of yours with the buddies from last Monday?" Our eyes met. "No thanks! I have no desire to meet them. Besides, they're not my type. Seeing a bunch of old creeps drooling over women with little self-respect, I'm not interested!"

I raised my voice, I wanted to make her understand. Her expression changed, I saw her turn red with anger.

"I like what I do! The party is harmless. You know, it surprises me that you say that when I've shown you and kept you away from my work life. It's a job, whether you like it or not! Besides, we've already talked about it, I'm not changing that. I have a great time, even if my clients aren't attractive."

I wanted to open her brain, wash it with detergent to see if she thinks differently, but since that's not possible, I had no choice but to sigh.

"Why do you want to take me now?" Curiosity got the better of me.

"Vero." She approached. "I hate your indifference. Besides, we agreed on this. If I had a decent party, I would take you. I'm just keeping my word." No matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to hide my urge to laugh.

"When is it?"

I needed to get out, meet different people. I hadn't gone out in a long time. Soon I would graduate and enter the working world. I had no life experience apart from the perfect world created by my family, Raul, and Lorena.

"At three." I lifted the laptop lid to check the time; it was barely one in the afternoon. "It's not one of those parties, we'll be back around nine. It's a casual gathering, have a cocktail, and chat a bit with my colleagues."

"Where?" We left the study heading towards her bedroom.

"Outside the city, wear whatever you want." She pointed to her closet overflowing with clothes.

"Thanks, but if the gathering is decent, I have clothes for that."

I went straight to my room, grabbed a pair of jeans, a pretty blue gradient tank top, did my hair, and grabbed a jacket; it's very cold outside the city. I put on some lip gloss and eyeliner. I waited for Lorena, who came out dressed up in jeans, confirming that the friends' gathering was harmless. I smiled at her.

"You look very pretty, thanks for accepting the invitation."

"Honestly, on a Saturday, I didn't want to stay home doing nothing. I appreciate the invitation."

"I always consider you."

"Yes, I can tell. You always make me feel like the older one when it's the opposite," I said.

Lorena drove her car at a reasonable speed, she seemed very happy. At least my anger had disappeared. I limited myself to talking about my brother. She doesn't say anything, but she likes Santiago, every time I talk about him, her eyes light up.

"Vero, will he come to your graduation? He must look... older."

I looked at her with a frown, she put on some music to ease the tension.

"Don't even think about it! I love you, but stay away with your work life, I won't smooth things over for you. Got it?"

She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue; I burst out laughing. She was definitely imitating me, I used to do that a lot as a child.

"Vero, we're arriving, and I want to..." She raised her eyebrows. I understood it was something serious.

"I'm not going to follow you around like a child."

"We're entering the estate of the 'big shot,' king of sex, well-endowed, and the best in bed."

"Wasn't the party supposed to be different?" With that description, I didn't get a good feeling.

"No, because he never sleeps with the same woman twice. He's very methodical," she stopped the car at a checkpoint of unarmed men, I imagine they have weapons hidden somewhere. "I have an interview," I frowned. Lorena closed the window to explain. "They want us for a couple of business deals, the chosen ones will be companions at a convention in Miami. I don't know the dates, apparently, the big shots of the world will gather." I couldn't help but laugh.

"Now there's a convention for drug lords?" Lorena also burst out laughing.

"Yes, according to what my agent said." She raised one of her eyebrows. "He's the one who will take our photos, and the investors will choose who they want as their companions for four days."

"What the hell?" I exclaimed. "Oh Lorena! Honestly, you'll never change." I pointed at her. "Stay away from Santi, he's coming to visit me in a month. He's very innocent, he knows nothing about your world." She shrugged and changed the subject.

"I hope Don Roland Sandoval picks me," she said, hopeful.

"Why doesn't he stick with one girlfriend?"

From all the narco novels I've seen, they have a reputation for changing girlfriends all the time, even if they have a wife.

"And you say he changes daily? That's new and sad."

"Vero, he's a very strange person. He leaves you breathless because he sends you straight to the moon with three different orgasms before even penetrating you."

Her comment was a bit uncomfortable, it wasn't the way she should talk about the topic. She didn't even notice my change in color and kept talking.

"He knows how to treat a woman in bed, but otherwise, it's like you're a wall, he doesn't kiss you, and he can cut off the negotiation at any moment if we're not up to his standards. He's a tough nut to crack." She sighed, maybe remembering that man. "We're here."

I was so distracted by the conversation that I hadn't noticed the place. The estate was a huge colonial-style mansion with incredible taste, the entrance was cobblestone, and hundreds of men guarded it, which is why it belonged to the big shot. One of the parking attendants indicated where Lorena should park. There were many cars behind ours. I looked at her, she had a frown, and at that moment I regretted coming with her.

"Vero, take my keys, if things get heated or when I tell you, run. We looked at each other. "Get out of here fast."

"Is something wrong?"

"I don't like this, especially since they lied to us about there being no narcos."

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I wanted to leave, but the adrenaline in my stomach won out. It would be the first time I saw a drug lord's party. Wow, are you nosy now, Verónica?