“You and me against the world, Rocky.”
Mom appears in the doorway of my room, wearing her nurse’s uniform. “I’m leaving. I have a night shift today.”
“Okay.”
“You know the rules: don’t go out and no visitors unless it’s Dani or Yoshi.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Her hard expression softens. “I’ll call you from time to time on the landline.”
That pulls me out of my numb state. “Are you kidding?”
“No, I trusted you, and you used that to party and bring boys to the house.”
“Mom, I didn’t commit a crime, I just—”
“Quiet. I’m late. I expect you to behave.”
A forced smile forms on my lips as I clench my fists at my sides. I can’t believe this is happening. My relationship with my mother has fractured, and it’s all because of Yoshi.
What gave him the right to tell my secrets to my mother?
Night falls, enveloping my room in darkness. I don’t even want to move to turn on the lights. I’m surprised to hear the doorbell ring. I look through the little peephole in the door and see my former best friend waiting impatiently. He’s wearing his favorite sweater and a wool hat. His glasses are slightly fogged up. It must be a bit cold outside. Autumn has already arrived, leaving the hot summer behind.
I think about not opening the door, but I can’t leave him out in the cold either.
“I know you’re in there, Raquel. Open up.”
Reluctantly, I open the door and turn my back on him to head to the stairs. I hear the door close behind me.
“Raquel, wait.” I ignore him and keep walking. I climb the first step and he grabs my arm, turning me toward him. “Wait!”
I slap his hand away. “Don’t touch me!”
He raises his hands. “Okay, just listen to me. Give me a few minutes.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“It’s a lifetime of friendship; I deserve a few minutes.” I gave him a cold look. “Give me five minutes, and then I’ll leave you alone.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Talk.”
“I had to do it, Raquel. You were gawking at that guy. Do you have any idea how much it hurt me to watch him use you repeatedly while you let him? I grew up with you. I care about you.” He touches his chest. “Regardless of how I feel about you, you’re my best friend. I want the best for you.”
“And telling my mom was the solution? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“It was the only thing I could do. If I had tried to talk to you, you wouldn’t have listened to me.”
“Of course, I would have.”
“Be honest, Raquel. You wouldn’t have. You would have said I was jealous, and you would have ignored me because you’re so fucking blind with love that you can’t see beyond your nose.”
“You have two minutes left.”
“Remember what you said to me last Christmas? When you told me it was time to forgive my father?”
I tighten my lips because I do remember. Yoshi’s dad had messed up big time with them, and Yoshi was furious. I advised him to at least listen to his dad’s side of the story.
“No, I don’t remember.”
His expression falls. “I was furious with you, I shouted at you: ‘How can you take his side? What kind of a friend are you?’ And you told me: ‘A true friend is one who tells you the truth to your face, even if it hurts.’”
I don’t like it when someone uses my own words against me. “That was different. I talked to you. I didn’t go gossiping and meddling with your father.”
“Yes, you talked to me, and I listened to you. You wouldn’t have listened to me, Raquel. I know it, and you know it too.”
There is a moment of silence. “Your time is up,” I tell him and turn away.
I hear him mutter defeatedly. “Rochi . . .”
“My name is Raquel.” My voice comes out colder than I expected. “Thank you for the explanation. Regardless of your reasons, you destroyed years of trust in a flash, and I don’t know if it’s something that can ever be restored. Good night, Joshua.”
I leave him there at the bottom of the steps, and he looks like a gentleman waiting for his lady to come down the staircase. Except that he took it upon himself to destroy any chance with said lady. When I get to my room, I hear him close the front door. I let out a big sigh and walk to my window.
The window that started it all.