Under the Surface
"What are you doing here?" I ask, angrily.
"I'm here to check on you, as I was concerned about your sudden exit from the table," he replies calmly, hands in his trouser pockets.
"What are you doing at my family's dinner? How dare you show up here like this?"
"Your father invited me. I told you that Ramón and I are close. I couldn't refuse an invitation from such a dear friend like him."
"What do you want? To harm me? Do you want everyone to find out about us? For my husband to discover what happened between us?" I shoot, nervous, looking around, afraid that someone might see us. "Do you want to destroy my marriage just because yours didn't work out, you think you have the right to ruin mine?" I finish, walking past him.
"Dália, I've already told you that I'm here to help you," X says, holding my arm and turning me to face him. "I'm trying to do you a favor..."
"Here's a favor for you, X: stop talking to my father and leave me and my family alone. Go away from here!" I say, irritated, releasing my arm forcefully.
"Dália, is everything okay?" Carlos asks from behind me. "Everyone's missing you at the table."
"Yes, I'm fine," I reply, turning with the fakest smile in the world.
"I believe we haven't been properly introduced. I'm the main sponsor of MAMA AFRICA, where your wife worked splendidly."
"Pleasure," my husband responds dryly. "What are you two talking about?"
"I proposed to your wife, which might even seem a bit indecent..." X begins calmly.
"He asked me to return to the NGO," I interrupt, holding my husband's arm. "And I'm telling him that I won't accept going back. I'm happy in my current job that I love so much... I've truly found my calling in real estate."
"Yes, Dália is really doing much better now. She told me how drained she felt at the NGO, so I support her decision to refuse," my husband says, looking at X.
"Oh, I'm sorry if Dália felt drained because of me. I promise that if she accepts, I won't drain her unless she allows it," X says, crossing his fingers. "I'll pay double what they're paying you. The NGO needs you... I need you... Someone like you."
"Like my wife said," my husband says, taking a step forward and standing face to face with X. "She doesn't want to work with you again, so I think you should find someone else. Come on, Dália, it's late, and the kids need to sleep," my husband finishes.
"Let's go," I reply, resting my arm on my husband's and kissing him on the shoulder.
"Well, once again, it was a pleasure to see you, Dália," X says, raising his hand in our direction.
"The pleasure is all ours," my husband responds, shaking X's hand firmly.
We leave the corridor, and I don't dare to look back, although I can feel X's gaze burning into my back. We take the sleeping kids and head to our car. We don't dare say goodbye to my parents, whom I doubt even noticed our absence. We settle the kids into their respective seats, get into the car, and my husband drives us home. He makes some small talk, but I'm not there... I'm lost in my thoughts, wishing that all of this was just a nightmare.
"Now I understand why you left," I hear my husband say from afar.
"He was the one who left me," I whisper, looking out the window.
"What?" my husband asks, not understanding.
"What?" I ask back. "What did you say? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
"I said I now understand why you left the NGO and ran away from there," Carlos repeats, looking at me. "That guy is so presumptuous... He must be the kind of boss who drains you dry. You know who he reminded me of?"
"I have no idea," I say, curious.
"Rubens. Rubens was just like him. Always speaking as if we were close, but when it came down to it, he just wanted to screw me over," Carlos comments.
"Yeah..." I confirm, looking out the window.
"Today I see that, Rubens only used me as a tool to serve his whims. Thank goodness I got rid of him. And thank goodness you got rid of yours..."
"Yeah..."
"The way he spoke to you was so audacious. He was lucky that I'm a calm guy, as any husband would interpret that he was hitting on you, and that could have caused a complicated situation at your family dinner."
"I'm glad you're calm," I repeat, holding his leg.
"Yes, but know that for you, I'm capable of anything," my husband says, looking at me seriously. He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing it gently. "Anything."
After a few minutes, Carlos parked our car in the garage, and we went upstairs with the kids. I put Marisol in her crib, turned on her music box, and then left her room, finding my husband in the hallway.
"Well, if you want to wait for me on the patio, I'll get the notebook and explain everything you need to know," Carlos says.
"Carlos, let's talk about this tomorrow, okay?" I request, stretching my back. "I'm very tired; I need to rest for tomorrow."
"Okay," my husband agrees. "If you want me to give you a massage..."
"No need," I say, passing by him and heading to our room.
I take off my clothes and go to my bathroom, where I turn on the tap for my bathtub and let it fill up. I add some bath salts and then get in, letting the water envelop my entire body. I sink into the bathtub and stay submerged, looking up at the white ceiling. It was so silent and peaceful underwater... As if there, I had the power to stop time. I close my eyes and let myself linger for a few more moments. My mind begged me to stay just a few seconds longer, and I allowed it. Just a few more seconds... Just a few more seconds... I feel the air leaving my lips and turning into bubbles towards the surface. I don't want to reach the surface, I know what awaits me out there. I want to stay here... in silence... in peace... Just a few more moments... forever.
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