They all enter the bar together. Ángel, Susana, Marta and Raquel have already arrived, because they found a place to park nearby, but the others have had more difficulty. Javier is still bundled up in the outfit he improvised at home, and is ready to go along with Paula’s idea. He doesn’t want to have an argument with Ángel, although on the other hand he is tempted to reveal his lie before the girls. He doesn’t understand the reasons that prevent him, every time an idea like that occurs to him, from doing something that would make him disliked. After analyzing it, he knows that it’s not because of the jokes that would be made about him. It’s her image he wants to preserve, even more than his own. Since the conversation in the bar, when they were waiting for the tow truck, he hasn’t stopped thinking of her a single moment. Sometimes he hates her for how badly she’s treated him. Other times, he wants her to kiss him again. He finds himself dreaming of another date like the one on Tuesday. But now that he knows this is the girl Ángel’s been sighing over since he was small, the possibility looks remote. Between a girl who seems to hate him, and his only true friend, he chooses the latter.
“What are you going to drink?” Ángel takes the initiative.
“I don’t know... beer?” suggests Paula, and the rest agree. The music is very loud, but if they yell they can understand each other. When Ángel gets up to order, followed by Ana, Javier takes advantage of the moment to slip away.
“You’re not meeting your boyfriend here?” Susana asks Paula, with obvious bad intentions.
“Well, no, we’re annoyed with each other right now. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he appeared.”
“So you’re done with him? Because if it doesn’t matter to you, he seems like a really attractive guy, and if he doesn’t interest you anymore...” Susana doesn’t beat around the bush.
“He does interest me!” When Paula hears her own words, she can’t avoid surprising herself. She’s said it with absolute conviction. “Just because we’re annoyed with each other doesn’t mean that... look, here he is! Excuse me.” Paula goes toward him. She has on the best of smiles. Their plan had been to organize a fight that serves “David” as a pretext to leave. Javier can then invent whatever he likes. But Susana’s attitude has changed what Paula wants.
Javier has barely changed his outfit. He carries his coat inside-out in his hand, with the scarf, cap, and glasses hidden inside it. He’s planning on greeting everyone and then leaving. The anger will be smooth and civilized.
“Hello!” The girls have no problem recognizing him as the boy who accompanied Paula the day of her father’s wedding.
“I knew you’d be here,” says Paula, grabbing his arm. “We need to talk.
“I think so, too.”
To Javier’s astonishment, Paula wraps her arms around him and gives him a passionate kiss. Paula needs to go to a psychologist! If he’d understood correctly, they’d agreed that they were going to argue, and this seems more like a reconciliation. But he can’t deny that he likes it. She whispers some words in his ear that confuse him even more.
“Let’s get out of here!”
Marta and Raquel observe Susana’s fury. It seems that once again the two girls have someone to compete for. Before, it had been Ángel. Just as Paula can’t get rid of him, Susana hasn’t let an occasion pass without trying something with him. The girls’ mutual dislike has led to several confrontations over him, even though one of them knows she doesn’t have a chance with Ángel and the other has had enough of him in her romantic life. Now it seems that the motive for dispute is someone else, Ángel’s best friend.
Ángel arrives a few seconds later with Ana.
“Where have Javier and Paula gone?”
“Paula went with her boyfriend, David. I think they’d agreed to meet here, though she hadn’t told us anything.” Marta looks around to find Javier, but doesn’t see him. “I don’t know what happened to your friend. Maybe he went to the car to leave the coat and scarf.”
“But I have the keys!”
“To my car. Do you want to dance, Ángel?” Ana tries to distract his attention as her classmates have asked of her.
“No. This isn’t what I expected from tonight!”
“Who cares!” Ana tries to play down the importance of what’s going on. “Now that we’re here I think we should have fun.”
“I don’t feel like it.” Ángel is furious, though he tries to hide it.
“Please!” begs Ana. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a place so interesting. And even longer since I’ve found a guy as good-looking as you. Don’t be angry!”
“You think I’m good-looking?” Ana’s tactic of using vanity as a weapon to attract his attention and change his bad mood seems to have worked.
“You’re the guy I’ve always dreamed of.” She’s overshot a little and the line is really cheesy, but she thinks that acting like this might be fun. It might even mean really winning him over. A little action in her romantic life wouldn’t be bad. It’s been stagnant for far too long.
Ángel’s mood is changing. He knows that Paula isn’t interested in him, but he’s used to her behaving like a good girl in his presence. She’s never talked to him about her hook-ups, much less introduced them to him. If by chance someone’s touched on the topic, she’s managed to steer the conversation in another direction. Ángel knows all too well that they’ll never go out together, but he likes to dream it could happen anyway. That’s why he doesn’t understand how she could have shown such a lack of consideration this time. At least she could have introduced him to the guy he has to hate for the rest of his life. He decides to concentrate on Ana for tonight. It seems that she’s much more attracted to him than Paula is anyway.
* * *
In the street it’s cold and Javier and Paula don’t have a car, so they decide to walk. Neither wants to take the metro, not even to go home. The two want to talk. But they can’t find the right words, because they don’t want to start arguing again. Finally Paula breaks the silence.
“What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know. Sooner or later they’re going to realize that ‘David’ and I are the same person.”
“That’s the least of our worries. We can always say that... I call you David because it’s a game between us. You call me... Eva, for example, which is my mother’s name. Or because we didn’t want Ángel to realize through the twins. Something else worries me more.”
“What?”
“I don’t know, the things I’ve been feeling lately...” He looks at her, as a silence grows between them there’s no need to fill with words.
“I know. The same thing is happening to me.” They sit on a bench near the bar.
“It’s really strange. It’s like you’re two different people. When we’re alone, if we don’t argue, and you kiss me, you seem... charming. You’re someone who listens, someone different from the rest. The bad part of the time is when we’re surrounded by other people. Then you become a tyrant and hysterical. We always have to do what you feel like, and not just because you’re paying.”
“You’re a clown. You always do or say whatever’s necessary to make the others laugh. In class, I can’t bear you.”
“Neither can I.”
“Get out! You didn’t even know me in class, before I punched you.” Paula is surprised by Javier’s comment.
“No, you misunderstand, princess,” he says. “It’s me I can’t bear. I’d like to be more like Ángel. He’s the ideal guy, the one all the girls are looking for. Well... all except you.”
“He’s good-looking and fun, but I’m not looking for a good-looking guy who makes me laugh. I want someone who makes me feel something. I think that’s why I rented you. I needed someone for appearances’ sake, because I still hadn’t found that person that makes me feel.”
“You were my only date.”
“I don’t believe it!” She hadn’t expected that.
“No, seriously. Ask Ángel if you want. You were the first and
only person who rented me. After seeing how angry you got the other day, I think I’m going to leave the job.”
“Why?”
“You know what? I didn’t look for that job. I stumbled onto it. But I accepted it because I wanted to go out with a girl. I was tired of inventing stories. I’ve never gone out with girls. I know that it seems impossible in today’s world, but it’s true. There are some people that have holes in their agenda, and others that don’t even have an agenda so as not to see the holes.”
“I don’t go out with guys much either. Not for the last two years. And that’s not why I rented you.”
“But in my life there’s no Ángel reminding me that he loves me.”
Paula is confused. She’s increasingly attracted by the Javier who appears whenever they sit in some calm place. She wants to embrace him, kiss him, but she can’t see a natural way to do so. Strategies for things like that aren’t in her book of life experiences. She’ll need to ask advice from her friends. They practice fairly frequently.
“Javier, look at me.” She doesn’t want to wait any longer. She’s decided. But it’s not her who takes the next step. Javier pulls her toward him, and almost without realizing they’re kissing again.
* * *
The bar fills with people in a short time. Their group has met too early, and so they manage to enter, but there are people who have been waiting at the door for a long time. A few have to leave so that others can go in.
Raquel and Marta have gone what they call “exploring”, that is, taking a turn around the room to look at those of the other sex. Ángel remains with Ana and Susana in the same corner they’ve occupied since their arrival. The two of them trip over themselves to flatter him. One, because she has a task to complete that has become that night’s challenge, and the other because she still hasn’t given up the dream she’s cherished since childhood. It’s a personal desire, to which is added the prestige it would entail to have something of Paula’s. Ángel’s thoughts, on the other hand, are elsewhere. He could be overdoing it with anxiety, but it worries him that Javier hasn’t appeared. He’s lost hope that Paula will return, but his friend’s continued disappearance makes him anxious.
“I think the best idea is to go somewhere else. There are too many people here, and the heat is awful. We can meet Javier there,” he says, as soon as he manages to distance himself from Susana’s face. She’s been stuck to him for a while now with the excuse that she can’t hear him, and she begins to feel a little annoyed.
“But it’s so nice here!” Susana seems ready to spend the rest of the night in the bar.
“I’d prefer not to go somewhere too far,” says Ana. She realizes that since she and Ángel are the two drivers, they’ll have to take different cars, and he’ll be able to escape. If they go anywhere else, at least they should take one car or walk.
“Where is everyone? Marta and Raquel have been gone for more than half an hour, and Javier hasn’t appeared.”
“I think that Javier must have found some girl and gone off with her,” Ana speculates.
“You don’t know him!” says Ángel, smiling. “He’s the ugliest guy on the planet.”
“That’s what you think. Maybe girls prefer normal-looking guys.”
“No way, not me,” Susana interrupts. “I like handsome guys, like you. I can look at you for years without getting tired.” Susana moves closer to Ángel in a suggestive way.
“I think one can do more interesting things with guys than ‘look at them for years’.” Ana takes advantage of the moment to wink at Ángel. He smiles again.
“What kind of things do you mean?” Susana doesn’t think Ana will dare say anything inappropriate. In her mind, the only ones who do scandalous things like that are the trio of Paula, Marta, and Raquel.
“Let’s see. More than talk, obviously!” she looks at Ángel and realizes that he’s laughing at Susana. “Come on, beautiful! To talk, one needs certain gifts, which not everyone is born with. We could also...” she smiles before the next words. “Play tennis!” Ángel knows where the conversation is going, but he wants to have fun. He doesn’t put any brakes on Ana’s imagination, which directly attacks the morals Susana’s been taught. “We could also... go on a trip to Toledo. Ah! We could also hook up!”
Susana chokes on her drink. When she recovers a little she leaves abruptly, with the excuse of going to the bathroom. Ana and Ángel begin to laugh, which is how Marta and Raquel find them. The two have called an end to their exploration, now that they’ve found two good specimens. They belong to an urban tribe difficult to catalogue, but at first glance they seem very interesting. Superficially, at least, in the same way that Susana is interesting for someone who doesn’t know her. They decide to wait for her to return, although the idea tempts them to leave without her and go somewhere else. Ángel, who at first had lost hope that the night would be worth remembering, begins to enjoy himself. Javier’s absence stops mattering to him, and Paula’s already gone with someone else. When Susana returns from the bathroom, they all get up to go.
* * *
Paula and Javier haven’t moved from the bench. It’s really cold, but neither of them notices. After a rocky start, they’ve been talking. Neither remembers having felt so good with anyone. It’s as if everything that surrounds them has ceased to be important. After a time, neither can say exactly how long, they separate their lips and look at one other. A smile, and half an hour later, hand in hand, they’re rushing to tell each other their lives. It’s a wandering narration, full of silly anecdotes, middle school and high school stories, friendships and relationships that went badly. Little by little the stories converge on the people they have in common. They come to Ángel’s family and stop at Silvia.
“She really loves me. Every time I appear at Ángel’s house, she treats me wonderfully. She’s like a second mother to me.”
“I like Silvia too. Of all my dad’s exes, she’s the best. Better than my own mother, I sometimes think. As for Susana’s mother... have you seen her? She’s looks exactly like her daughter, thanks to make-up and surgery! But she’s more clever. That divorce nearly ruined my father. It’s a good thing he’s well off! I don’t know what to say to you about the new one. You’ve seen her nearly as much as I have. In fact, I don’t even remember her name. No point, because it won’t last! I think that if Silvia paid any attention to him again, my father would stabilize his life. But I don’t think it’s going to happen. She’s too smart to put up with his infidelities. My mother wasn’t his soul mate, it was Silvia, but he lost her by being an idiot. She used to visit his house a lot, but not so much now, and Ángel...”
“...cares a lot about you.” Javier realizes that his friend isn’t going to understand if he and Paula allow themselves to start writing their story.
“I know. I care a lot about him too, but he doesn’t see that for me he’s just like one more brother, even if technically he isn’t one. I care about him, which I don’t feel with that dimwit Susana.”
“I’d like to know what’s going on between you two. You seem to hate her with a passion.”
Paula looks away, trying to evade a question she doesn’t want to answer. Suddenly she sees something that catches her attention and makes her get up abruptly from the bench, pulling Javier by the sleeve. He doesn’t know what’s happening.
“So where are we going now?” asks Ana. The group from the bar has stopped alongside the car that Paula and Javier are hiding behind.
“There’s a good bar in my neighborhood. I’m starting to get hungry, and they stay open making awesome tapas until... who knows what time! Until they run out! Sometimes Javier and I have dinner there at two in the morning.” Ángel begins to enjoy the night. He’s decided to get with both of the girls who have shown interest in him, and he takes Susana by one arm and Ana by the other. Suddenly Ana sees Javier and Paula.
“I just remembered that I left something in the bar. If you wait for me...”
“If you want, we’ll
come with you.” Ángel is afraid that Ana will end up disappearing too.
“No, it’s fine. I know what we can do! Since it won’t be easy to go back in and it will be boring for you guys to wait, why don’t you go to the bar that you mentioned? I can meet you there.”
“We can’t,” says Marta. “There are six of us, and Ángel’s car only fits five.” Ana has forgotten the two new additions Raquel and Marta have picked up.
“It’s okay!” The drinks have definitively affected Ángel. “I’ll come with you, beautiful.” He lets go of Susana, ready to stay with Paula’s friend. He’s concluded that he likes her more.
“But you’re the one that has to drive!” Susana tries to prevent Ángel from escaping like he has all the other times.
“Silly girl! I don’t know about the others, but there’s no way Ángel’s taking the wheel. He hasn’t had three beers too many... he’s had a barrel! Maybe you should go by metro. It’s still running,” says Ana, regretting having to give up a conquest that had seemed to her nearly certain. “You guys go on, I’ll catch up.”
Paula grabs Javier’s arm and they emerge suddenly in front of everyone. The slap that Javier receives takes him as much by surprise as everything else. Will the girl never change? Every time he thinks he’s beginning to understand where things stand, she takes on another personality and confuses him again.
“What’s going on?” Ángel doesn’t understand anything. He’d nearly forgotten the two of them, when suddenly they appear here together. And by the looks of it, not exactly friends.
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