Chapter 5 - Coincidence? - Mduno

The sun streamed through the window, the light hitting my face. I opened my eyes, disoriented for a moment. Where am I? My mind started sending me signals, images, memories, and I realized I hadn't been able to leave Roland Sandoval's estate.

I stretched, and as I turned over, I saw him sleeping beside me. In the bed! I screamed like a madwoman, scrambling out of the covers, just as he jumped up, naked, with a gun in his hand, pointing it at me.

I froze, staring at a forbidden place, but it was impossible not to. His body was perfect, from his shaved head to the tips of his toes. I remembered what Lorena had said, that he was very well-endowed... And humanity was morbidly curious. I felt heat all over my body, especially in my face. How embarrassing!

"For fuck's sake!" he shouted. "Never in your damn life scream like that next to a man like me!"

He was very angry, and I turned around to give him some privacy. I heard him laugh.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"This is my house!"

Seconds later, he was at the fridge, wearing green sweatpants and a sleeveless shirt of the same color. Lord, he was even more handsome in the daylight.

"You slept in my bed; you could have laid down on the couch."

"I thought you'd stay with your two girlfriends."

He bit into a green apple, his look was cynical, and he mocked my comment.

"I don't have a girlfriend, and I don't do that cheap romantic stuff. You can leave now, Veronica, everyone else is gone, including your friend you live with." I frowned. "It's past nine in the morning."

"How do you know my name?" I had wanted to ask him that yesterday.

"Girl, I'm Mr. Roland Sandoval. I know everyone who sets foot in my house."

"You haven't earned the 'Mr.' from me, and thanks for everything, Roland."

I went into the bathroom to change my clothes, which were still damp. When I came out, he was reading the document I had translated for him. He looked at me differently for a second, then turned away to resume his usual attitude.

I grabbed Lorena's car keys, which she had left on the nightstand. The man was a very well-made prospect. No wonder women fought over him, and who wouldn't? I left without looking back.

"You had me worried, Vero!"

That was Lorena's greeting. Raúl had his cell phone to one ear and the cordless phone to the other, letting out a sigh of relief when he saw me enter the apartment.

"Worried?!" I slammed the door. "You left me stranded like an idiot! Believe me, it was horrible watching those people start to undress."

"Did you see the orgy?"

I glared at Raúl, who made a gesture to zip his lips before bursting into laughter.

"I'm sorry, Vero. I never thought you'd see an orgy." I made a face at Raúl.

"Thanks!" I turned back to Lorena.

"But..." She sat on the leather couch. "You left, I didn't see the car, and I was happy thinking you managed to escape that hell."

"The car was right where we left it, don't lie!"

"Vero, I swear, I made a scene. Rata was the one who took me out to show me the car was gone; it wasn't there. He said you left without any problems. I was glad you didn't see what happened; honestly, it was hell. I didn't do drugs last night; I couldn't because I was worried about you." It was true, I could tell when Lorena was lying.

"Hell, yes, I left that house today at nine in the morning."

My voice changed, and both of them got up to hug me.

"I don't understand, where did you go?"

She was convinced I had managed to leave last night. I looked at the table; they had smoked several cigarettes, something they did when nerves got the best of them. I took a deep breath.

I walked away, went into the kitchen, and grabbed a bunch of grapes. I motioned for them to sit with me on the couch. There was a blanket next to the sofa, my clothes had already dried. I told them in great detail what had happened. Lorena opened and closed her mouth while Raúl listened quietly, frowning from time to time, and they also started eating grapes.

"Did you sleep with Mr. Roland?"

"No! I didn't sleep with anyone! Didn't you hear what I said?" I rolled my eyes at her.

"Idiot! I mean sleep, just sleep. He never lets women into his main bedroom, it's his unbreakable rule. He doesn't sleep with anyone, but he let you sleep there." She thought for a moment. "The Rat got me out of that mess I hadn't been part of. I made a scene looking for you and, as I told you, I spent the night with him.

"I never imagined you'd hide in Mr. Roland's room. When I got to the apartment and didn't find you, I got scared, I thought something had happened to you, Vero. I called Skinny... well, the whole university knows you didn't wake up at the house." I was surprised.

"What could we do?" Raúl, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "You never do anything illegal or against common sense." I sighed.

"I'm fine, that man is a pompous degenerate." His image came to my mind, he was a perfect man.

"He's just as he wants to be and does everything like a god." I rolled my eyes at her.

"I'm going to take a shower. You owe me a decent outing!"

I looked at her with narrowed eyes, they both smiled, and I went into my room. I took a long shower; one of those where you wait for your fingertips to wrinkle and waste water because your mind gets lost in thoughts. In my case, trying to understand what happened last night.

I had the feeling they wanted me to spend the night at that estate, or why did all the coincidences align? Maybe it was to achieve a goal. In any case, for whatever reason, the universe conspired.

I put on some sweatpants, a sleeping shirt, my colorful striped socks, and went out to make something to eat. I was very hungry, they already had scrambled eggs, talking secretly about me. I took the plate and ate breakfast without speaking, while they analyzed me.

"We should go out today," Raúl suggested.

"It's Sunday."

"I didn't say go partying, just go out," he said.

"You're right," Lorena agreed. "There's a really good movie, are you up for it?"

"If you pay," I finished my breakfast.

"Perfect! I'll pay."

"And the snacks."

Skinny added, making me laugh, and Lorena looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"They're charging me for something!"

"Absolutely!"

We both said at the same time. He made a face, and we burst into laughter.

It was a really good romantic comedy. We made Lorena spend a fortune on food, and I drank so much soda that I urgently needed to go to the bathroom. I ran, not wanting to miss much of the movie. It always happened at the best parts.

On my way back, I bumped into Juan Márquez, the only official boyfriend I've ever had. We broke up because of his infidelity; his parents were more hurt by it than we were. He was three years older than me, and even though I was in a lower grade at the school where we graduated, I helped him pass his subjects. We hadn't seen each other in over four years. He lived in the North, his father was a big contractor, and they had a lot of money. His eyes lit up.

"Skinny!" —no one had called me that in a long time, I wasn't that skinny anymore.

"Juan!" —I smiled at him.

"You look amazing..." —I blushed like a fool, couldn't help but smile at him again.

"Thanks."

I interrupted him. I'm missing the movie! It was nice to see him again, he looked much more mature. He wasn't a stunner, but his features were pleasant, and being athletic suited him.

"I'd love to see you again if you don't mind. You know how I am, in fact!" —he said, pulling out his phone— "My parents are having a gathering on Friday, they'd be happy to see you. My mom still compares you to all the other girlfriends I've introduced to her."

"Perfect! Can I bring a friend?" —I noticed his disappointment, but he hid it in seconds— "You live far away, and getting back would be a problem."

"Sure, give me your phone."

We exchanged numbers, he kissed my forehead, and before I turned away.

"Vero!" —he was about six feet away— "I'll call you as soon as the movie's over, if I can concentrate." —I smiled again.

"I'll be waiting for your calls." —If he's still the same, he'll call all the time.

"You haven't forgotten!" —he shouted.

I got back to the theater, thinking about what he meant by "you haven't forgotten." I went back more than four years, he always made a lot of calls, I guess he was referring to that. My subconscious betrayed me, and I remembered how possessive he used to be.

As soon as I sat down, not even three minutes passed before the movie ended. For my friends, it was a moment to tease me. I'll have to buy it to watch the ending at home. On the way back, we dropped Raúl off at his apartment. We headed home without hurry, in complete silence. Each lost in our thoughts, we spoke at the same time.

"The Skinny guy says you caught his eye," she commented.

"I ran into Juan." —she widened her eyes, and I frowned— "Who are you talking about?"

"You ran into Juancho Márquez?" —I smiled.

"Yeah, he looked more mature."

"Is that why you took so long and missed the movie?" —I nodded.

"It was a total coincidence, he said he'd call me."

"He won't take long."

I agreed. We had reached the garage where Lorena parked her car. From there to our apartment, it was two blocks.

"And how is he? Are they still rich?" She was incorrigible. The phone rang. I ignored her questions and answered the call; it was Juan.

"Well, here's the first one. If that intensity hasn't improved, he'll call at least three times before you go to bed, otherwise you'll spend hours on the phone." I stuck my tongue out at her; she was right.

"Shut up!" I said softly. She smiled as I pressed the green button to answer. Lorena was right about the second part of her comment. I talked to Juan for over half an hour and ended up accepting his invitation for Friday at his house, to celebrate a good business deal with his father's best partner. I imagined the elite of the construction industry.

"Confirmed, so Friday?" he asked for the umpteenth time.

"Yes, and remember I'm bringing someone."

It was better to have a shield; who knows what his intentions were. Raúl was the best at pretending to be my boyfriend. We've done it before.

"Don't emphasize it, please."

I smiled as I took off my clothes and put on pajamas. Tomorrow was a university day.

"My mother will be very happy to see you again."

"Say hello to her for me, please." She had intervened a lot for him when we broke up.

"Okay, see you Friday," he said, but didn't hang up.

"I already said yes."

I ended the call, then turned to my laptop. I needed to finish a project. The week went on as usual. Classes at the university, I was ahead on several topics as well as my projects. Tomorrow was the meeting at Juan's house, and I hadn't talked to Flaco to accompany me.

In the dance group, we were organizing a performance for the graduation clause. We hadn't seen each other all week; he was busy with his thesis. I hoped to see him today.

"Hey, my Vero!" Raúl put his backpack aside as he entered the dance room. "I'll change and then we can talk."

"You've been missing," I replied.

"Stressed. The week has been tough with the thesis. Once I'm done with it, I'll give you my full attention."

I followed him to the dressing room. Our classmates were already practicing the final moves before the teacher arrived.

"I need you to be free tomorrow, and I won't take no for an answer."

"Why?"

He looked so manly, never showing his true sexual orientation. If his father found out he was gay, he'd withdraw both financial and emotional support. That was my best friend's real ordeal, the fear of being discovered by his father.

"I got invited to a meeting. Lorena can't come because she's traveling; she'll be back Saturday morning."

"Vero..."

He came out of the dressing room just as the teacher arrived to start the class. The music began. We were doing a mix of Dominican music where merengue and bachata played a significant role, transitioning from one genre to the other. Raúl danced incredibly; we understood each other very well.

I couldn't see myself dancing with anyone else. At university parties, I've danced with several classmates, but it wasn't the same. We focused on the choreography. During the break, we resumed the conversation.

"Is the meeting important?" I nodded and shook my head at the same time.

"Not really, I just don't want to snub him. We'll meet at the entrance of the complex, make an appearance, stay for an hour max, and most crucially, can you pretend to be my boyfriend?"