Liana heard about the accident and simply said:
—"I knew it. I knew it would happen."
After that, Liana went to visit him at the hospital. He was in a coma. As she entered, she heard cries of sorrow and stretchers being moved back and forth. When she arrived, she stood in front of the door, thoughtless. And there was Alexandra, crying.
When Liana thought of leaving, Alexandra saw her and screamed:
—"This is your fault! You're a damn poisonous ivy! You did this! You manipulated him!"
Liana, showing no emotion, simply approached and whispered in her ear:
—"I was never the cause. You did it all yourself."
After those words, Alexandra was taken away due to the scene she caused, and Liana entered Benjamín's room.
—"You know? I knew you would crash. There was also a chance you wouldn't. I knew you loved Alexandra, and even if you were with me, once you saw my true intentions, you'd go back to her. But I... I could pull you away from her whenever I wanted."
Liana smiled calmly. That smile was not one of satisfaction, nor malice, nor cynicism. It was simply Liana's smile. The poisonous, climbing ivy rarely smiled with such calm.
Afterward, Liana kissed him and said:
—"These were the sweet lips you longed to taste."
And then she added:
—"This is our goodbye."
When Liana left the room, a few seconds later, Benjamín died. Only cries and screams were heard. Liana, deep in thought, said:
—"Beautiful day."
She opened her umbrella.
—"I don't like carrying even a little bit of this sun."
Benjamín was not weak, and he never was. Nor was he impulsive or foolish: he was intelligent. He came from a good family. His parents were humble and kind-hearted, and they raised their beloved son the same way. But Benjamín represents a truth: many men were raised to be strong, but in reality, they are emotionally unstable. When they are good people, like Benjamín was, they're easier to manipulate. A hostile, ill-mannered yet affectionate girlfriend found him in Alexandra. Maybe he loved her, but her behavior wore him down. When he saw someone as innocent as me, he thought he had found a better option. He believed someone like me couldn't possibly do harm.
And had he been a more calculating man, then it would've taken me more time. But he wasn't. I did it.
That is my truth. And also, the truth of many men.
It began to rain. Liana just smiled, saying:
—"The day I met you was warm. And so is today. Maybe, in a month or two, I'd dance in the rain again if I remembered what made me stop... but I don't."
What I remember most was how cruel they were to me, and how painful it was. I learned to stay silent. My opinion didn't matter. But I promised myself I'd drag down anyone who tried to humiliate me again. And I would climb. And they would see me shine, without needing anyone.
Anyway, I don't want to go back to where I started. I don't think I'll talk about my past in this story… because I won't allow it. Maybe I'll want to tell it, because I'm searching for what I truly long for.
Still… I don't think I'll go to his funeral.
—"But wait…?" —said Liana, surprised— "Where am I…? This place looks like where I live…"
—"No, it doesn't just look like it..." —she corrected herself— "It is where I live. I got so lost in thought I walked here without realizing. And now I'm home. There's no one here… but that's what I chose."
I love this solitude.
Besides, I only ever wanted one thing: a place where I could rest and be at peace, where no one would judge or stare at me for everything I do. A home where perfection isn't overrated. And that's what I achieved.
Also… I'm a very bitter person, you know?
Liana went inside. There was that solitude, without a single sound. Just a silence… where the solitude itself made noise.
She entered the chess room and picked up a piece from the opposing team.
—"I already took one down. That's a big step, master... but such sadness and imbalance."
After saying that, she went to her room. She took off her clothes, showered, and lay down. But before that, she looked at herself in the mirror and said:
—"This is the cruel mirror of life. It has no mercy for anyone."
And now... comes my second move —she said with disdain and a smile.
The next day, Liana got up saying:
—"It's almost time to graduate. I should get some rest. Besides, I passed the casting... Soon, I'll start working."
—"How strange... I'll graduate in Foreign Trade, I temporarily work as a writer… and I love acting. But they said filming will start on New Year's."
Today I just want to rest.
First I'll take a shower. Then I'll apply sandalwood oil. Then I cleanse my face, wash it, dry it... and I won't wear makeup. Even though I'm very vain, I give my body a break when it needs one.
After my skin absorbs the oil, I apply a cream I mixed with a few other products. Though it's risky, I also added a natural perfume... sweet, but also bitter.
After applying it, I get dressed and, finally, I eat. Even though the clock already shows 12:00 p.m.
Yes, that's when I have breakfast. Sometimes earlier, or sometimes not at all because of the stomach pain. Anyway, today I'll go out on my day off. I'll go to the park, to look at the sea.
It's so calm, it sometimes feels like my life is a novel… one that's being narrated and watched by many. Through that, I understood that reading is a world only you can have. Many can read the same book, but few will give it the same world… and the same imagination.
And since this is my fate, I'll simply follow it. But I'll only improve my future, because I'm not that typical protagonist who wants to fight destiny and free will.
I'll just move the pieces of my future.
But while Liana was sitting on the swing, she felt someone gently push it. She was startled, and when she turned around, she thought calmly:
—"I know him... I've seen him somewhere before. I don't know where… wait, I think I remember..."
While Liana was thinking, he just smiled. Then, in a calm voice, he said:
—"You looked so lost in thought, I thought I'd help you move a little."
Saying that, the man walked away without another word. Liana, still surprised, whispered:
—"Our meeting was so natural, it startled me... What a chill."
She remained silent for a few seconds, then got off the swing.
—"But this... this isn't a beast I can tame. I better head home. I don't want more surprises."
As she walked, one question pulsed in her mind:
—"Why was that guy around here...? And why is he so bold?"
Don't tell me... —Liana smiled calmly— ...he's following me.