I'm pretty sure we haven't introduced ourselves properly, I'm Santiago the man said cheerfully to cecilio and I'm Dario the other man said I'm Sofia the lady standing next to them added,umm nice to meet you I'm cecilio I'm toribio's friend cecilio said calmly, ohh a friend and I thought you were his adopted son Santiago said, Santiago was the oldest amongst them and had the sharpest tounge don't tease him like that Santiago Sofia said hitting him lightly,we really appreciate your help around here even when you're not related to the deceased in anyway people around were beginning to think you were a biological son I really just wanted to thank you sofia said sacasticly,name your price how much do you want I'll compensate you dario said boastfully;I really don't want these people's money but was this how there were going to talk to someone who had been doing everything the whole time did they really not care about toribio at all,no matter how much they hated him they couldn't hate him even in death he was their blood sibling after all I have no words to say to these people,Cecilio stood there staring at them for a while suddenly he tried to move away from them but dario pulled him back have you got no manners? How dare you walk away who do you think you are? You are nothing but a smelly begger who I am offering bread but due to his stupid ego he won't accept it,where do you think it will lead you to huh? Dario said pulling Cecilio aggressively while Cecilio stood there highly unbothered succumbing to his fate,dario suddenly felt a harsh pull drawing him away from Cecilio dario turning around only to see his important guest Rosa staring at him Mr dario I don't think that's a nice way to thank someone who helped you greatly is it? Rosa said with a smirk on her face,miss Rosa Santiago hurriedly said miss rosa I apologize on behalf of dario we didn't mean to use violence but the boy was just proving stubborn Santiago added we promise miss rosa to settle this moderately dario said slightly bowing but my friend here doesn't look comfortable talking to you Rosa said walking towards Cecilio,your friend!?sofia exclaimed yea an old friend isn't that right Cecilio? Rosa asked looking at him but Cecilio didn't reply,we apologize miss rosa we'll leave him to you Santiago said hurriedly leaving with dario and sofia,rosa turned to Cecilio fixing the collar of his suit that had been smudged how have you been lio have you been well? Rosa asked calmly,Cecilio kept staring at her he noticed that she had cut her hair short and it looked great on her she didn't age all,she still looked the same do I look too old are the dark circles under my eyes very visible?do I look like an smelly begger? Cecilio thought to himself
Looking at the man standing beside Rosa Cecilio recognized that he was parez he looked a little older than the last time Cecilio saw him he wondered where Jacinto was did something happen between them? was he OK? Cecilio thought why did Rosa suddenly refer to him as friend usually it was brother did they drift away so far off to now be referred to as friend or did their relationship become a little possible to become lovers that was why he was referred to as friend Cecilio had a lot on his mind; what are you thinking of Cecilio didn't you miss me at all Rosa said steping closer to Cecilio I did a lot Cecilio replied emotionless,that's good to know rosa said smiling brightly she left him there dumbfounded,that day Cecilio went back home and lay on his bed staring at the ceiling he had finally met Rosa but he couldn't say anything to her he had planed on telling her how his stay in prison was how thoughts of her kept him strong and how much he missed her but when he met her today his words dried up there was nothing to say at all parez seemed closer to Rosa than ever,Cecilio was very unhappy with this new development he wondered what happened to her while he was behind bars what has she been up to,she looked rich now,she and parez had come in a black SUV and she was dressed in designers from head to toe;Cecilio got very curious about her he wanted to know everything that happened in the past eight years he wanted to feel like he was always there with her Cecilio kept over thinking till the day broke, and again he didn't get a wink of sleep.
You've been away for two days and now you come in late?did you know how much work you left around here?cecilio's boss yelled at him I'm sorry sir it won't happen again Cecilio apologized it better not the man said and walked away while Cecilio continued with his work, it was around closing time Cecilio was cleaning the tables so he could leave suddenly looking out the window he saw Rosa and parez standing there talking to someone right across the street Cecilio got distracted he wondered if he should walk to her,one of his coworkers walked up to him and snapped him back to reality won't you hurry up let's close up and leave the man said Cecilio looked back at Rosa and she had walked into a building with parez and the other guy Cecilio really wanted to talk to her, he needed explanation I'm sorry please finish up for me I have something important to do Cecilio said and dashed out, wait you forgot you coat! The man yelled after him but Cecilio couldn't hear cause he was far off.
What do you want young man the man standing with Rosa and parez asked him as soon as he rushed into the building,it's OK he's with me Rosa said to the man I'll call you when I have thought about it Rosa added yes sure this building is big enough to do what you want to do I hope we get to work with you the man said beaming with smiles um talk to you soon Rosa said shaking the mans hand and so did parez,as they left the building Cecilio followed behind without saying a word when they got to their car he stood there like he was waiting for a signal, well get in Rosa said to him parez drove the car while Rosa sat on the other side and Cecilio sat in the back,aren't you cold? It's chilly you know Rosa said to him,no I'm fine Cecilio replied calmly parez kept looking at him through the rearview mirror he never said a word to Cecilio ever since they met almost like they were strangers Cecilio wondered if they were dating and parez must have known that he used to like Rosa did parez hate him now for showing up in front of them like this does he feel that I'll ruin there relationship Cecilio felt hurt maybe parez would be right I do feel like ruining their relationship if there is anyone who deserves Rosa it should be me cecilio thought to himself,parez halted at an expensive restaurant Rosa gestured Cecilio to follow as they were inside Cecilio felt he didn't belong here at all everyone wore expensive items including Rosa while he wore his work shirt and washed jeans his hair was shabby as a nest cause he couldn't afford a hair cut after the expenses at toribio's funeral he had obvious dark circles under his eyes and his shoes where begging to be replaced he had never felt so outed in his life before, he slowly walked behind Rosa as she sat at a table with four other guest with him,rosa and parez joining they became seven at the table,the lady at the table welcomed Rosa and parez warmly before giving Cecilio a disgusted look welcome back Rosa why didn't you inform us sooner that you were back from america, we would have made this more special the man sitting next to the lady said before greeting Cecilio hi I haven't met you before I'm laro and you are? he asked Cecilio,Cecilio my name is Cecilio he replied, why does it sound familiar the man said stroking his jaw well how do you know rosa? the other man asked him Cecilio was about to reply when parez snapped in he's an old friend from when we were back in Mexico we just met him by chance today parez said emotionless cecilio looked at Rosa like he wanted her to say something but she was busy chunking down a huge amount of whiskey all at once and pouring more into her cup she was about to take the second one when parez stopped her he moved her cup away and poured some fruit juice into another cup and handed it to her Rosa hesitated but when she and parez made eye contact she slowly took the cup from his hand and took a sip that gesture made Cecilio feel sure they had something together but he really didn't want it to be the case he had a habit of lying to himself especially when the truth was staring at his face;so she went to america I really didn't want to hear it from someone else that was why I followed I wanted to talk to her properly,the waitress walked up to them and handed Rosa a menu and she gave it to Cecilio, order whatever you want it's on me she said without looking at him at all Cecilio opened the menu and everything on it was trice his pay he couldn't afford anything at all here he didn't fit in here and he can't even talk to Rosa about anything with all these people around he felt like he didn't know who Rosa was anymore maybe regie was right eight years has been a long time long enough for someone to move on maybe Rosa had already moved on and was living her life to the fullest and there he was still holding unto the past hoping for sands to fall from heaven;hoping for the impossible,I'm leaving Cecilio suddenly said making the people around stop chattering he looked at Rosa and she immediately avoided eye contact Cecilio got up and left,the evening had gone far off and the weather became colder Cecilio wrapped his arms around himself and breath loudly he kept blowing into his palm and rubbing himself so he could get warmer I should have at least taken my coat he said to himself,Cecilio! rosa yelled from behind him he stopped his tracks and waited for Rosa to get to him I'll drop you off come with me she said no it's OK I can find my way back Cecilio said then at least take this Rosa said handing him a coat it's freezing she added,Cecilio slowly took the coat well then get home safely she said and turned around to leave,do you really have nothing to say to me Cecilio said Rosa hesitated a bit before speaking No I don't do you have anything to say to me she asked calmly,usually Cecilio would say no cause he didn't want to argue with Rosa but the Case was different now he needed answers without questions there would be no answers,yes I have a lot to say to you Rosa Cecilio said to her;
OK meet me at almond cafe at nine tomorrow you should have closed work by then, we can talk then Rosa said and walked away,why does she keep avoiding eye contact with me Cecilio thought aloud.