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Chapter 8

  • When I come back home from work I see the apartment door open and my brow furrows for a moment, in which I remember I left Theo inside on my way out this morning, but I don't think he left it open as I've seen him being careful with that.
  • I carefully open the door, trying to see if there is a thief who managed to get past the guard, however, my steps stop when I see a familiar figure sitting on the sofa, who has his legs crossed and in his hand the television control, and he's flipping channels, he looks bored.
  • He turns his head to me and smiles at me, letting the controller aside and getting up from the couch, walking toward me with confident steps as he always has, and he seems pleased with my reaction as he cups my face in his hands and leaves a kiss on my cheek; then he walks away still smiling.
  • “You're finally here, I've been waiting for you for half an hour” his brow furrows “I thought you had forgotten that bad habit of leaving the door open.”
  • And I know what he means, I think it happened to me once or twice while we lived together, but I should have expected that from him because he reminded me of it for almost a month when it happened.
  • I guess Theo forgot to close it properly before leaving, I'll have to talk to him about that, although I'm pretty sure he didn't do it on purpose, maybe he just got distracted.
  • “What are you doing here?”
  • His brow furrows and he walks away from me completely, walking back to the couch, where he takes a small box with a light blue bow on it and looks at me like when he used to get mad at me and seemed to think about whether to talk to me or not.
  • “I was on my honeymoon” he turns back to stand in front of me “I remembered you, so I brought you a present.”
  • “Malu…”
  • I hear the door behind me getting open again, and I don't need to turn around to know who it might be, and I don't know if this is the best moment for him to be here, although really who I should doubt that his presence was good, is Malu's because he's a married man, I'm sure he should be on his honeymoon, not in my apartment, giving me a gift he brought me because he reminded me.
  • “My love…”
  • I feel an arm around me and seconds later I can see some black hair by my side, as well as some blonde hair because Theo has arrived, but he didn't come alone, but he has come with his little sister, that hug thief because when she's around it seems that he doesn’t pay attention to his surroundings. Of course, except for now, when he looks like he's marking his territory in front of Malu.
  • “I didn't know we had visitors” he only looks at me “my mom has invited you to dinner.”
  • I change my gaze to Malu, who smiles sideways as if he had realized Theo's intention, the way in which it's up to me to get rid of him, but it doesn't seem to bother him, I'd say he even finds it somewhat funny.
  • “It's perfect” says Malu “I think you could put one more chair at the table for me.”
  • I know that's something Theo doesn't expect, his face betrays him, and he lowers his gaze to the little girl for a moment, who just looks at us and pulls her hair tails before hugging her brother's neck, but I'm surprised by the way how he smiles at her and then at Malu.
  • “Of course, I can put a chair for you, in my house, there is always space for someone else” he takes a step towards the door.
  • Next thing I know, I'm alone with Malu again, and his smile seems to widen as he walks back to the couch like he saw it funny by what Theo said, and I don't think it's funny at all.
  • He accepted him to go eat at his house just to not be rude, because Theo is very sincere with what he feels and, I could tell that having my ex at his table was not something he wanted.
  • “What is so funny?” I ask.
  • “Really, Aldair?” He looks at me “Are you still trying to make me believe you have a boyfriend?”
  • My brow furrows because I'm not trying to make him believe that I have a boyfriend, I do, and it’s the guy who was here minutes before, but I must suppost that it's not that easy to believe, since only months ago I quoted him to try to make us back together, and even if Theo hadn't stopped me at his wedding, I would have opposed.
  • Yeah, maybe that's why he doesn't think I have a boyfriend, but it's true, I'm dating Theo.
  • “I'm not wanting you to believe that he and I are in a relationship.”
  • “And I'm still single.”
  • “Why is it so hard to believe that I'm dating someone? You got married, I can also have a partner.”
  • Malu doesn't say anything and at that moment I take the opportunity to go to my room, I want to take off my suit and put on something more comfortable, but remembering that I'm going to Theo's apartment, I only take off my coat; I don't want to go all casual either, as I think I made a terrible impression the first time I was there, and I think their parents deserve respect from me.
  • “Because you don't go out with a child who flutter everywhere, Aldair” Malu's voice surprises me “you like serious people, capable of giving you stability.”
  • “What makes you think Theo can't do it?”
  • “You only need to look at him to know that he is not someone stable” he smiles “how old is he? He seems to have just finished high school. The man’s you like” he stands in front of me and places a hand on my chest “are different, because you know that you don’t have enough age to play around, you need stability.”
  • “I think you're underestimating Theo.”
  • Malu smiles and his fingers move across my chest and I know if he keeps doing that I'm going to end up letting my feelings out because he knows me well enough, I like men who can give me stability, so I would never go out with a child as he says, but Theo, I think he is stable enough, he is not a child who lives in a fantasy in which love is color pink and overcomes all barriers, those fairy tales don’t seem to be something in that he believes.
  • “Actually” I feel the distance between the two of us diminish “I wanted to invite you to dinner.”
  • I think about it for a bit…who am I lying? His fingers have moved down until they caress my abs, and I'm not thinking straight anymore, so I part my lips to tell him I agree to have dinner with him, but Theo's voice takes my attention and now I see him standing at the door of the room; he doesn't look very happy, his face shows it all, and his eyes fall on Malu's hand, seems that this has made him more angrier.
  • “I came to tell you that dinner is almost ready and you both better go upstairs.”
  • Malu rolls his eyes and walks away from me, passing by Theo's side who only watches him as he leaves the room, and when I also approach him, he places a hand on my chest to prevent me from leaving and his brow furrows, making it clear to me that what he saw didn’t please him.
  • Without giving me time to react, he pulls from my tie and our lips collide; this time it's not a gentle kiss at all, because Theo seems to want to take all his anger out on this kiss since even his teeth bite my lower lip and I can taste the metallic taste of blood.
  • “I'm your boyfriend” he says through clenched teeth.
  • He walks away from me and leaves the room. When I follow him I can see how he has stopped at the door of the apartment, waiting for Malu and me, still allowing me to feel how upset he is.
  • Even when we arrive at his apartment, where he follows his brothers, that feeling doesn’t seem to go away, and I have Jared at my side, who makes it clear that my presence bothers him, and although he is less hostile with Malu, I can also recognize like doesn't him to being here, is the whole Smith family that easy to read?
  • Dinner is not awkward at all, because both Malu and Theo know how to behave and their family is actually very friendly. They make jokes at the table, and although Mr. Smith is a figure that commands respect, he is also someone that you can have a peaceful conversation with, that in the end it could only be listening or giving advice.
  • And once again I've wondered how they all fit into this apartment, because it's not just two kids around ten years old, not even the baby, but there's also one more young woman, Jared, and Theo.
  • They are all too many for such a small space, but it is not something that I say while I think about it, and it seems that I am not the only one who believes that because Malu's expression also says so.
  • When dinner is over, we go into the living room, where Theo's dad tells us a story about how they got stranded on the road when my boyfriend was only two years old and Jared was one.
  • I really don't even remember how this conversation came about, because we've talked about a lot of things, I think it was something that Malu said about how he didn't have to come home early because his husband was on a short work trip, and that he will arrive a little bit late, I'm not too sure.
  • Malu's cell phone starts ringing as Mrs. Smith tells us about Theo being a troublemaker growing up, and my ex excuses himself so he can answer.
  • I can hear him muttering something about being home soon, and when he comes back, he informs us that he has to go because his husband will be here earlier and he prefers to wait for him at home, and I do too, I thank them for dinner and say goodbye, I'd better go to my apartment before it's too late.
  • I decide to accompany Malu to his car, a gray one that he didn't have before, but I don't make a comment about that. I just wish him to go back safely and head back to my apartment, seeing a figure leaning against the door as I step off the elevator.
  • I certainly don't know what to expect, because, throughout dinner and the time we were talking to his parents, he seemed a little distant towards me, like he was still upset.
  • “You should be resting” I say when I get to my door and put in the code.
  • “Why do you let me do this to you?”
  • “I don’t understand what are you talking about.”
  • “Aldair” he grabs my arm “if I asked you to be my boyfriend it's because I want an opportunity, but…” he lowers his gaze to the ground “I don't think it's working; he arrives and you…” he looks at me “I don't think you're fair to me at all.”
  • “Theo…”
  • “Should we break up?” There is a look of sadness on his face.
  • “Theo, I…”
  • “It's late” he holds my cheeks with his two hands “take rest, Aldair.”
  • He leaves a short kiss on my lips and I watch him walk out of the apartment, but those last words have left a bitter taste in my mouth, knowing that while I don't want to, I am hurting Theo and he doesn't deserve it.
  • I'm cruel to him and despite that he's still here, I should be able to love him, just... if Malu wasn't here, maybe I could, I could love Theo.