Chapter IV

Secundina's house is one story, really small, and every weekend she liked to clean it thoroughly, she moved every piece of furniture in the small house and as it should be with the music at full volume and that didn't allow her to hear the door almost breaking down from the blows it receives, it wasn't until the music ended that they could hear the blows. Secundina, seeing her friend Darío, throws herself at him, he reciprocates each kiss received on the cheek, Emilia follows him, they leave Darío alone and with a simple 'Hello' they greet the older one, he gives his brother a few glances, the younger one just shrugs.

• Come in, come in, excuse me, as you can see we're cleaning up.

"Yes, I can see it." The brothers raise their right hands to their noses. "When did Fernando come?" the younger one asks.

—You know very well that he doesn't enter the house, only my dad, you, and my friend, from then on no one else, obviously my cousins, but men don't enter my house.

—You stink of him —Elian leaves the house to vomit, Darío goes to the kitchen to rinse his nose.

Secundina takes paper napkins, a glass of water, and goes to the aid of the Maypole.

"Are you okay?" He offers her napkins and water. "Lean on me if you like."

Elián looks up and bumps into her. He can't stop his eyes from changing color when he sees her. She sees this, but doesn't give it any importance.

• I'm fine, yes, yes—she takes the glass, drinks the water—. We probably haven't had lunch.
• No? I see you better, come on, let's go inside — he leans on her left shoulder — —. You two have a very sensitive nose, I saw Fernando three days ago. — When they enter, Emilia is already attending to Darío who couldn't stop his nosebleeds, she leaves the older one without caring and concentrates on carefully attending to the younger one, the color of Darío's eyes changes from black to yellow, Secundina she is surprised to see the yellow eyes, she looks for Elián's eyes which also have a touch of yellow. —You know what to do, breathe through your mouth, head back, pressure, don't stop applying pressure.

—I'm the doctor here.

• And that's why it's all stained with blood, and it's hard to get out of clothes.

—Don't argue with me, Secu, I know what I'm doing.

—If not, obey and don't complain.

• Yes my Secu, as orders.
• Thanks, Elián. You should sit next to your brother so you can look after him while I make you two some breakfast.
• Yes of course.
• "Are you feeling better, Papa Dario?" he nods. "Do you want crushed ice?"

• he affirms again.

The two women leave the brothers alone, Elián does not stop watching his brother.

• Tell me the truth, I'm very serious. I don't want to come between you two. — He speaks in ancient Greek. — Are you a couple?
• Don't be silly, she and I are nothing, haven't you seen?
• That's why I'm asking. Your nose is bleeding because she smells like Fernando. His scent hurts you so much it makes you bleed, not to mention the fact that you're submissive to her.

Elian's passion

• Don't be stupid, I already told you we're nothing. And don't complain about the bleeding, you just threw up.
• But I have a reason to be, he's my partner, he's supposed to be my partner, even though he doesn't know it.

"I've been with her for a little over eight years, it's normal for this to happen to me, given the way we live together." Emilia arrives with the ice. "Thanks, dear."

—Mr. Elián, you can go eat now.

• Thanks. I made up a story about him throwing up because we didn't have breakfast.
• Ok, I'll play along.

Secundina serves the two or three breakfast, and at the after-dinner conversation they start up an unimportant conversation, the hostess can see certain features in the brothers that catch her attention, the change in eye color, the same sideways smile, she finds both attractive, her attention is drawn to the eldest and his loud laugh, she studies him in detail, the eldest has a slightly parted beard, however his friend has finer features, he tilts his head, the age difference can easily be seen, Darío is barely over thirty and Elián is already over forty just like her, when the older ones' glances meet she lowers her gaze in embarrassment, Elián just smiles.

• Emilia, we came to talk to your mother.

—Yes, Papa Dario, apachito, let's go, dogs and teenagers are prohibited.

• I was talking to my brother about many things, including you. — Elián speaking.

—Fucker! And what did they talk about?

—Would you like to work for me?

—What, hitting you? – that makes them both laugh–

"Bodyguard, you've got the body. With a little training, I think you'll make a good bodyguard." Secundina fake-hits Darío.

• “It hurts!” —exaggerating—. “It’s a man-eater.”

"Idiot!" he makes a stupid gesture, and they both laugh. "He's coming out! To kill you like Kevin Costner in Houston." He turns to the older man.

"I don't know who it is, but it could be." He takes out the papers and hands them to her. "Read carefully, analyze them carefully because it'll be a 360-degree turn."

—When do you need my answer?

• In a month or sooner preferably, but starting today a month.

—Okay —he starts flipping through.

—Well, I'll wait for a reply. In case I'm not here, since I have matters to attend to, here's the contact for the offices, or you can send it to me through my brother.

• You can also give me the answer.