Eavesdropping
Enrico
As soon as the words escaped my mouth, I felt remorse creeping inside me. My already complicated relationship with Rachel had reached a new dimension, all because I acted impulsively upon realizing that everyone at home was having fun, talking, and full of joy. At the same time, I felt lonely that night.
I had planned to meet Bruno at the club, but what I didn't expect was for him to have invited Tayla, and even more surprising, for her to have accepted to join our daytime program. Since it was a Sunday and we didn't race scheduled for this weekend, unlike what was planned in the championship calendar, we decided to break the routine and spend the day at the club on a typical summer day.
At least, that's what I had imagined before my friend showed up in the company of Tayla. The day didn't go as planned. Bruno was completely enchanted by Tayla, which made him an unpleasant company, as his "beloved" couldn't take her eyes off me, creating considerable discomfort between us, something truly regrettable.
However, I didn't intend to return home, where the available options were anything but pleasant. I stayed at the club for as long as possible, only returning now to be confronted with that familiar yet disturbing scene.
I couldn't control myself and ended up uttering impulsive words, driven by the pain I felt. I decided to lash out in return, and now I was overwhelmed with guilt for my actions.
Despite mentioning exciting plans for the night, all I wanted was to rest, nothing more. I longed for the swift unfolding of the next week when I could return to the tracks and distance myself from the house where I lived. That would mean being away from Rachel and equally from my father, a man who always treated me with coldness but at the same time pretended to love me. This duality left me confused and tormented by the emotions that these uncertainties caused for years.
Everything was even more confusing that night because Joseph seemed different, and so did Rachel. And it bothered me in a strange and unsettling way.
Perhaps it was because Rachel seemed so carefree, while I tried in every way to provoke jealousy in her and consequently elicit a reaction to the news that I was involved with Tayla. However, nothing happened; she didn't seem shaken, which only confirmed that there were no genuine feelings on her part for me, as she tried to make it seem. Or, at least, that's how I interpreted her refusal to be just my lover, without commitments or feelings involved.
These thoughts continued to swirl in my mind as I struggled to sleep, tormented by everything that was happening. I began to question whether I should give Rachel a chance. She was so different... less... Rachel.
She was softer, more sensitive, and kinder. I had noticed how she and Joseph seemed to be getting along now, which should bring everyone happiness. However, all I felt was jealousy because while she smiled and was happy alongside Lindsay and my father, she only seemed to desire distance from me, as much as possible.
But accepting that Rachel was different was one thing. Showing it to others was something much more complicated. Sarah, quite rightly, wouldn't be pleased to know that I was involved with her twin sister, and I couldn't blame her for that.
I tried to find a more comfortable position in bed, which felt like it was full of thorns, but no position seemed satisfactory or pleasant. I could hardly sleep, and in the morning, I woke up earlier than usual. I couldn't bear lying in bed anymore when my thoughts tormented me.
So, I put on some comfortable shorts, a simple T-shirt, and a pair of sneakers. I was going for a run to calm the storm that had been haunting me since I saw that scene so unusual yet so familiar in my kitchen. I realized I missed something I had never had: a family, my family.
I ran several kilometers, following my instincts, and when I felt tired and far enough from home, I began to make my way back the same way, but at a slower, steadier pace.
I passed through the gates of my mansion just walking, controlling my breathing to return to its normal rhythm. I circled the house from the back, planning to enter through the back porch and reach the kitchen through the service door, something I rarely did, but I saw no problem in doing so that morning.
As I approached the back porch, I heard what sounded like someone groaning, as if they were feeling unwell. I quickly understood that the person was vomiting, emitting those characteristic sounds of discomfort.
I thought about speeding up my steps and going to help whoever was in need, but a strange and unusual sensation made me walk even more quietly than before. I considered it inappropriate to draw the other person's attention to me. After all, the fact that I was the homeowner could cause some kind of embarrassment for my staff, something I wanted to avoid.
Before being noticed, I heard a female voice speaking softly, and I immediately stopped upon hearing the name "Rachel." I assumed they were talking about her, and although it was wrong to eavesdrop on other people's conversations, I couldn't help but hide behind a leafy tree near the porch where people seemed to be now. I wanted to hear better what they were saying.
"I believe it was something I ate," said a second female voice.
So, it was Rachel herself who was feeling unwell, which surprised me greatly and made me even more determined to listen to the conversation. Was she sick?
"Everything you ate, I ate too, and I'm fine," Lindsay was saying. "Is this the first time you've felt nauseous in the morning?"
Nauseous in the morning? That seemed very strange...
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