chapter 3: she was virgin

     "What atrocities did you commit this time?"

Marshall asked as the two brothers walked back into the room. Marcelo didn't reply but pointed at the bed instead.

    Marshall looked over and didn't notice anything weird, moving closer to the bedpost, he noticed that there were about three drops of red color on the white sheets. Staring hard he asked.

    " Is this what I think it is?"

    " Yeah"

    " Let me get this straight, Anaya's a virgin?"

    " Was..... she was and would still have been one ...... I'm such a fool..... I feel so irritated and embarrassed right now."

     " Did you know about this?"

     " No, I didn't"

     " So why is it that you didn't go after her to explain yourself?"

     " what would I possibly say, Marshall?..... Is it that I hurt her? Or that I don't deserve her forgiveness and that I know I deserve worse? Or that I was so inconsiderate and should have asked if she was ready before entering her? .... Let's face it Marshall, I'm a fool."

    " Were you aware that she was a virgin?"

    " No, I wasn't, but coupled with the way she... she was responding to my touch I... I felt it wasn't her first time."

     " I mean I'm shocked that you missed such a detail but given that it's Ana I'm not surprised."

     " What do you mean Marshall?... I just took away her innocence and you want to justify my sin?"

   " Well, what do you want to do...Kill yourself? Come on Marcelo, you're better than that. I don't think Ana even detests the whole thing, I just feel she was overwhelmed by all the feelings and couldn't keep up with you because, for one thing, I know the girl adores you and that everything that went on must have been consensual."

    

    " I feel terrible Marshall, I don't get how I keep messing things up with the one person I like."

     "Exactly why you need to meet up with her and explain yourself, Marcelo you're my brother and I know that when you're around Anaya, you usually don't think straight It would be believable if you told me you were carried away because you're always impulsive around that girl."

     " I need to fix myself before I face her again, I can't face her now when I'm so messed up."

     " Well if that's the case I think you should forget about ever meeting her."

     " What do you mean?"

     " She's leaving."

     " How do you know that?"

     " Gini told me"

     " That's not right... Gianni's usually very secretive when it comes to giving out details about Anaya and that includes with you."

      " Exactly, Gini confided in me when she was drunk. I'm not meant to be telling this to you but I thought you had to know so you could fix things before she left."

    " Why is she leaving?"

    " The same reason she left last time."

    " And what is that?"

    " You must be kidding me, Marcelo, you were cooped up in a room with a girl you say you like and yet you couldn't even ask her why she disappeared for two years?... you're messed up."

***********

  The ride back to Anaya's house was a quiet one with Anaya staring out the window and Dorian focusing on the road. The silence was becoming suffocating so Dorian decided to break the silence.

    " Your cousin is a whole package when she's drunk."

    " I know right" Anaya replied as she tore her gaze away from the road to focus on Dorian.

     " Yeah... I mean in the little span of taking her up the stairs, I successfully dogged two punches from her and three headbutts."

     " Turns out that after supporting you earlier she still sees you as a potential threat." Anaya answered while smiling lightly.

   " She keeps me on my toes"

   "  Trust me, I know that feeling, she's what keeps me in check most times."

   " She's a good person." He murmurs, his eyes focused ahead.

   " Dorian.... thank you."

   " For what?"

   " You always seem to be there any time I need you to.... thanks and... I agree with Gini, I would trust you a million times over Marcelo."

   " I don't think you should make hasty conclusions while you're angry, you're not in the right state of mind, and I know that when you're level-headed you'll go back on your words."

     " First of all, I'm not angry..... I'm disappointed and embarrassed and secondly, I don't understand what you meant when you said I'll go back on my words... Care to explain?"

     " Well this is Marcelo we are talking about, you're in love with that guy, anybody can see that, and Ana, do you know the weird thing about love, it's the fact that even after repeatedly telling yourself you're over the person, you find yourself going back on your words and doing the exact opposite. It makes one a little bit retarded if I may say."

    " Just like you and I right?"

    " Right"

    " Thanks, Dorian"

    " This is the second time you're thanking me just this night, don't make me feel pitiful Ana."

    " It's not easy to do what you keep doing for me, especially when I don't seem to see you in that light."

    " You know, I always wondered why you could not like me the way you liked Marcelo, then I realized, it's love.... and sadly you don't get to choose who you love. Ana, as long as we get to talk like this once in a while I'm content, and even if we didn't, I would still be there if you needed me."

      "There's....genuine love and there's the toxic one.....the toxic hurts, not just the two people involved but also everyone around them.... like my mom's love for my dad, it has wrecked me and I can't even understand what love is anymore. I kept wondering why she wouldn't give up on him and move on but I guess I get it now, she's obsessed with him Dorian, just like I am with Marcelo. I dread that I may turn out like her one day, clingy, needy, and suicidal."

     There was a bitter smile on her face when she was done speaking. Dorian's heart ached for her as his hands found hers while the other remained on the steering wheel. Ana was the strongest and happiest girl he had known but since her parents began having problems In their marriage he had watched her break piece by piece while putting on a strong facade on the outside.

     Marcelo whom she felt was her safe heaven wasn't even safe for her, he was the perfect man for her, but he just didn't know how to love her. The moments she needed him most he always made it his priority to disappear.

   " It's normal to be scared but what sets you apart is that you're determined and you certainly cannot let death win, suicide is totally out of the option. We'll cry, whine, starve, and push ahead. You shouldn't ever consider death."

    " Have I told you You're my best friend Dorian Yates?" Anaya asked emotionally as she leaned into his arms.

    "I probably should have recorded that." Dorian chuckled making the car more lively.

    " That's your loss, I certainly won't be saying it anymore" Anaya teased before getting off his arms.

    " How's your mum's health doing now?"

    " She's better... She'll be discharged tomorrow."

    " Why that's great news, is she joining you here?"

     " No, I will be leaving to go stay with her."

     " Ohhh.... so when will you be returning?"

    " I haven't even left yet." Anaya chuckled wondering what had suddenly gotten into him.

    " I'm just curious, the last time you left it took you two years to come back, and now that you're finally back, you haven't even spent up to a week yet you're leaving...again."

    " I can't tell when exactly..... But we'll still be keeping in touch so as usual, you'll be the first to know when."

    " Okay, and umm...do you wanna grab something to eat? I noticed you didn't eat anything all night."

    " That was a nice observation."

    " Soooo... is that a yes?"

    " Of course it was or did you expect me to say no?" She asked looking at him in disbelief, she didn't believe he would think that, it would be so shamelessly of him.

    " I was hoping you would, too bad wishes aren't horses." He replied before bursting into laughter.

    " Add the fact that you're so stingy to the reason why I wouldn't date you."

    " What do you mean I'm the most generous man you'll ever find."

    " Pfffttt oh please Dorian, I'll have you know that my ex did a handful when it came to being generous, the man was so tired of being born into money that he gifted me to relieve himself of the pain." She replied to him while giggling.

     Looking eagerly at him, she anticipated his reply and he didn't disappoint.

     " I can't compete with your ex, I need my money please." He laughed out loud.

    Pulling up at a restaurant, they got out to go eat. Settling into an empty cubicle, the waiter walked over to them and they placed their orders.

    " So tell me about the generosity your ex has shown you.

    " Well, just today, he gifted me two items at once for the two birthdays he missed."

    "  Pfffttt seriously... Just that? I already did that didn't I?"

    " Yes you did but he gifted me a custom-made gold keychain and the latest iPad."

As they were talking, their meals arrived and they dug in.

    " Wow....He sure has some money to waste, too bad you didn't take it cause you were pissed."

   " Haa... That is where you've got it wrong, yes he hurt me but the gifts are innocent."

    Ana's reply made him choke on his food, he had seen shameless people but this lady right here was too much.

   " You took the gifts?"

   " Of course I did, it's not every day you get to be gifted with gold and expensive gadgets my dear."

Ana replied while tapping the pendant on her neck.

  

   "I could make a fortune if I sold this don't you agree." She asks innocently.

     " Remind me, please... How do I know you again?" He questions in disbelief.

Anaya laughed as she looked at him, the guy always knew how to cheer her up and his facial expressions were to die for.

    " You gotta think about the profits dear... If you ever gift me gold I'll do the same, money after all is difficult to come by these days."

    Dorian shook his head in disbelief when he heard all that she had to say.

    " You are unbelievable Anaya, I'll make sure to keep it as a reminder to never gift you gold."