Chereads / HERNAN AND GABRIELA / Chapter 3 - CHAPTER 2

Chapter 3 - CHAPTER 2

Friday reaches and Aranza goes to a club with friends. Hector is there too with a friend. Everyone in Aranza's group has too much to drink. A creep in the club goes and tries to Assault Aranza, and a scuffle ensues among the parties involved. The man uses the fact that the 2 teens are drunk to lie that Aranza is his girlfriend and, the 2 teens stole her, when he went to the gents. The two teens begin getting disorderly and are kicked out leaving Aranza defenseless and alone. The creep smiles knowing he has a free easy lay for the night. Hector wakes up to go to the gents, and out of curiosity decides to peak in, to see the crazy girl, thankful Gina was not as reckless as a teen. When he sees it is Aranza, he decides to help her. She could be his sister. Hector knows the creep will put up a fight but the thought that he planned to make Aranza just another call girl or rape her angered him. He goes in and as expected the creep puts up a fight.

Hector says the girl is his boss's, Mrs. Helena Alvarez, daughter, and that the creep does not know her, he is simply taking advantage of her being drunk. The creep gets angry and wants to put up a fight. Hector adds that Aranza is underage. On hearing this, the owner ignores the creep's threats and protests, telling Hector to leave with Aranza. He is afraid of the legal trouble, especially since the girl is Madame Helena's daughter. Hector decides to take her to his house. In the state Aranza is in, she could not face, her mother. Gina is shocked to see her brother with a drunken girl, but is even more shocked when he says it is Aranza. They take her to Gina's room. Hector seats on a chair in the living room. Gina asks him what happened.

Meanwhile Carlos asks Helena if she is worried about Aranza's safety, and she says no. Helena says the girl has probably overslept at a friend's house. Helena notices Carlos is quiet and asks him what he is thinking about. He asks her what she thinks happened to Gabriel. Helena shakes her head, and says that even if Gabriel survived, the injuries would have killed him soon after.

Back at Hector's and Gina's house,

Hector tells her. Aurelio is away with friends, so they can talk freely. Gina asks Hector if he believes Aranza is their sister. He admits he is unsure, because Helena and Carlos had known each other for some time, and had probably been lovers for a long time. Gina says that either way they should help her where they can and he agrees. Hector's phone rings. It is Luisa, calling to check up on them. Both she and Armando talk to each of their kids separately. Gina and Hector are advised to be careful, and not victimize Aranza, Adrianna and Antonio. Luisa reminds them how cunning Helena and Carlos can be. They also call Martin, who also talks to his mother, Anna Patricia.

The next morning, Aranza is surprised, to find herself in a strange bed. Her head is aching, and she feels horrible. She wakes up, and not finding a bathroom in the bedroom like she did in her room, she leaves the room to look for one. She finds one and vomits. She flushes and leaves. Gina heard her and leaves Aurelio's room, where she was sleeping. Aranza is afraid when she sees Gina but Gina reassures her that she means no harm. Aranza asks what she is doing here, and Gina tells her. Aranza asks where Hector is, and Gina says he is still sleeping. Gina gets her painkillers and makes her tea. An hour after, Hector wakes up. Aranza is afraid when he tells her that they have to call her mother. Hector says that he knows that she is afraid but it is the right thing to do, because her family must be afraid. Aranza relents but asks him to call Adrianna instead.

Hector calls Adrianna. Adrianna decides to go and pick up her cousin. To avoid causing suspicion at the house or arouse interest in the hood, she decides to take public transport. Adrianna had just left the house and was checking for something in her bag, when she felt someone put their hands around her. She looks up and sees Alejandro. Adrianna wiggles and glares at him. Today more than ever, she has no time for his nonsense. Alejandro asks her where she is going in a hurry. She says a friend needs help because of post hangover complications. He offers to take her and she refuses. Adriana tells him to leave her alone and that he is a closet psycho. She adds that she is never going back to him. She then leaves. Alejandro looks at her. She is a wildflower that he will tame.

Adrianna follows the instructions Hector gave her. People in the block of flats where the Ortiz's live are surprised to see such an elegant lady, there and stare at her. They are even more surprised when she says she is looking for Hector. She is shown, and goes up the stairs. Adrianna takes a deep breath and knocks. Hector opens the door. He is wearing light shorts and a vest, and has a towel on his shoulders. Adrianna stares at him, for a few seconds then introduces herself. He says he knows her and introduces himself as Hector Ortiz. He asks her in. Adrianna looks around. It is small but cozy, and clean. Hector wonders what Adrianna is thinking. He lets Gina introduce herself. Adrianna asks them where Aranza is, and Gina says she is bathing. Adrianna asks them if they live alone, and Gina says they also live with Aurelio, their younger cousin who is at a Friend's place.

Adrianna asks them if they are brother and sister. They momentarily are caught off guard but catch their breath in time, and Gina says that they are cousins, who were adopted by the Ortiz's when they were eight, after their guardian died. Adrianna asks about their parents and Hector says that they remained in their hometown. Gina is relieved when Adrianna stops asking questions and secretly studies her to see how she is as a person, to get a sense of how she had become. She gets the feeling her brother is smitten with her and will not be objective. Aranza comes out wearing some of Gina's old clothes, and is temporarily petrified to see Adrianna. Adrianna wakes up and scolds Aranza, saying that if Hector had not found her she could have been raped or killed. Aranza asks her if she will tell her mother. Adrianna says no. Gina makes breakfast and later Adrianna leaves with Aranza. Luckily neither Helena nor Carlos are around. Adrianna remembers Hector. He was definitely attractive. Luckily Helena does not find out about the incident at the club.

A few days later, in the evening, Antonio is driving through the hood in his car, and accidentally knocks down a child. Gina who was inside a store hears the commotion and comes out to see. Antonio leaves the car to assess the situation. He knows he can't flee. Gina pushes through the crowd, and tells him to take the child to hospital. Antonio insists it was not his fault, because the child was part of a group recklessly playing along the road. Gina says either way, the child is injured and needs medical attention. She stands near the door of Antonio's Car and stares him down like he was the devil incarnate. She tells him that if the police don't arrest him, she will ensure he pays. People watch the unfolding scene. Antonio relents, grumbling, but insists she comes along. Gina tells someone, probably a neighbor to tell the child's mother, and helps Antonio carry him into the car. She sits in the back with the child and they leave. Antonio keeps on glancing towards her. She is so far the most irritating, annoying and stubborn woman he knows. She is also however, the most attractive as well.

They reach the hospital and the boy is wheeled in. Gina and Antonio sit in a chair waiting. Her phone rings. It is Hector; he has probably heard the news from the neighborhood gossip mills. Gina says she is fine, and that they are waiting for news. She insists she will be fine, and she will get home okay. Antonio listens to her, and wonders, if it is a boyfriend calling. It should not but the thought makes him irritated, probably even jealous. He wants to ask but decides not to. Gina walks up and Antonio asks her where she is going, she says she is going to the cafeteria. Antonio says he will go with her and the meal is on him. Gina says she wants nothing from him, and can pay for herself. Antonio says he is not trying to patronize her, but is just being nice. She looks at him, like she does not believe a word he says. Antonio smiles. Gina Ortiz infuriates, and attracts him at the same time.

He apologizes for the accident and his initial reaction and asks Gina to go with him to the cafeteria. Gina agrees, saying it was only because they are in the hospital and it was inappropriate to argue there. Antonio smiles and they walk together towards the cafeteria. They sit and order. Gina's phone rings again. This time it is Aurelio. She also assures him she is fine, and promises to update him, on the child's condition. The child lives nearby and they know his mother and grandfather. Antonio is slightly irritated. This time he has to ask, to know if it is a boyfriend. He asks if he should be afraid, a jealous boyfriend, will barge in here to throw a fit. Gina says those were her cousins, and were calling just to check on her. Just then Martin calls. After he makes sure she is okay, he says he told her so. He reminds her of when they were 18, and he told her that she would fall in love with Antonio and Hector with Adrianna. Gina smiles, and tells him, he is so annoying, and says she will see him at work the next day.

Antonio asks her if it is Martin from procurement. Gina toys with the idea of telling him it is none of his business, but decides it is too rude. She says it is. Antonio asks if they are close. Gina says they have known each other since they were 8 years old, and his aunt and uncle adopted her and Hector. Antonio decides to let it go for now, but he does intend to investigate the matter. He tells her that her cousins love her. Gina says that she knows they do but sometimes they are overprotective because she is the only girl. Antonio asks her if she has a boyfriend, to which Gina tells him that its none of his business. After coffee and muffins they head back to the waiting room.