The following week, a sudden sadness gripped me. Diego at all costs tried to cheer me up with something. He told me to go play a video game at his house, called me to go downtown to buy some things and eat some junk food. But nothing helped. Lupita tried too, but just like for Diego, nothing she did or suggested could cheer me up. It was a whole week depressing, lamenting my existence in the corners.
— Cristian, take it! — Diego yelled, throwing an empty juice box at me.
Without thinking twice I punched the box, seeing it fall to the ground. Then I looked at Diego, who was laughing as he approached.
— Why? — I asked, making a face.
Diego could not speak. Just laughed heartily.
— That wasn't even funny, I just punched the box — I said.
I rolled my eyes, stepping away from Diego. From a distance, I saw Lupita and her brother talking alone. I thought about whether or not I should approach, but Lupita called with her hand even before I changed my direction. Diego was right behind, no longer laughing at the same intensity as he had a few minutes ago.
Santiago looked angry since Lupita spoke to him privately. Diego, Lupita, and I walked side by side, talking about theories and Santiago further along, with the headphones on. He was stepping heavily, looking up, his hands buried in his pants pockets and his backpack on his back.
I had never stopped to notice Santiago's details, not the physical one at least. He was tall, dark brown curly hair, tired brown eyes, a thin mouth bruised from peeling skin, tanned skin, but not that much, and wore the most diverse of clothes. Santiago liked to show how much he had his own taste and how much he didn't care what people said. I remember once at school they teased him, calling him gay and then the next day he showed up with his fingernails painted and a rainbow button-down shirt. Santiago is indeed someone memorable, at least he is memorable to me. About his personality, however, I could only talk about what he showed to everyone, which was nothing less than his more aggressive, looser side and a little bit about how he treated his sister, Lupita, who by the way they had a relationship really admirable.
— Cristian, what is your type? — Lupita asked.
— What do you mean by that? — I asked not understanding.
— Kind of girl — She said.
Kind of girl? My type of girl? I thought, my eyes widening a little. I bit my bottom lip pretending to think.
— Well I don't know, I never thought about it — I replied, being grabbed by Diego right away.
— How did you never think about it? — shook me indignantly.
I scratched the back of my neck, smiling awkwardly as I looked away.
— Yeah! — Lupita said too, looking at me. — Even Santiago has a type and he doesn't even like girls.
— Did you see? — Diego shook me once more. — Even that guy over there has some kind of girl and you don't!
— Why are you worried about this? — I asked trying to get rid of Diego's hands.
Out of the corners of my eyes, I could see Santiago standing, leaning against a small wall. He fiddled with his cell phone, ignoring us.
— Why does everyone have a type — Lupita answered my question.
— Kind of girl?
— Yes.
— Even girls?
— Yes, Cristian, even girls.
We were looking at each other for a while. I was totally lost and uncomfortable with it. Inside, I was asking ardently for Santiago to save me from that embarrassing situation, even though he and I weren't intimate.
— My God — I said, shaking my head. I thought a little quickly about what kind of girl I liked. Then I looked at Lupita, assignment with the forefinger. — My type of girl is you, maybe.
Lupita raised her eyebrows, smiling as if her subconscious was bragging about something. He looked to where Santiago was.
Diego wrapped his arm around my neck, ruffling my hair.
— What a bad taste! — he joked, earning a slap from Lupita next.
— And kind of boy? — the girl asked.
She and Diego looked at each other. I could see they had just conflicted for a moment. And they looked at me waiting for an answer.
I refused to answer that question. I took a few steps back and started walking towards my house. I really didn't want to answer those questions. I felt exposed.
— Hey don't run away from us — Lupita said coming right behind me. Diego did the same, following us.
— Stop it! — I sent, passing by Santiago who looked scared. He wasn't listening to what we were talking about, his headphones were loud. So loud that when I passed in front of him I could hear some of the music.
— What are you doing? — Santiago asked.
— Cristian I want to talk, come back here! — Lupita totally ignored her brother, coming after me.
— Why do you want to know that? — I looked back. — It won't change anything in your life.
Lupita sighed.
— Can we talk?
— Why? — I stopped turning to face Lupita.
Diego stopped a little before.
— We suddenly got into this subject so uncomfortable and without any goal — I said, running my hands over my face — Wow, for once I'm really pissed off.
Santiago a little further back was looking confused. He held his headphones in one hand and his cell phone in the other.
— Come on, where do you want to go with all this? — I stared at Lupita and Diego. I compressed my lips, waiting for an answer.
— I want to know… — Diego took a step forward. — You're hiding something from me and I want to know.
— I'm not hiding anything from you man, where did you get that from? — I said, furrowing my brows.
— Lie — he said. — You never got along with guys who talk too much about girls, much less get along with girls. Not romantically.
— 'Cause I don't fucking want anything to do with anyone, what's that got to do with it? — roared. — Be honest and direct. Want to know if I like guys?
Lupita held her breath, staring at me with her eyes open. Santiago was also surprised and Diego didn't know what to say.
— If you wanted to know this, just be straight as you always have been — I said, taking a step back. — If you ask me, Diego, my answer is yes.