Game of Passions

by Diana Scott

  — Fuck Lucas, you will agree with me, that in this last month, you have gotten into more problems, than in all your years of career.

  — Yes sir.

  — Kid, are you sure you do not need me? — The colonel felt like a father facing those young people of the special brigade.

  — No sir— he ducked his head.

  — Can you fix it?

  — Yes sir.

  — Then boy, go home and clear your mind, because I'm going to need you in top form.

  — Yes sir. Can I retire sir?

  — You can go.

  But when he was about to leave, his colonel spoke loudly and held Lucas tightly by the shoulder.

  — Lucas, you're good, one of the best, your teammates and I need you in the team. Son, I was young too, nobody deserves to throw your future overboard for... whatever it is, what's happening to you.

  Lucas did not answer.

  He felt ashamed, hurt and angry... very angry. the last month had been a torture and the worst thing was that he was behaving like an idiot raised to the bucket. When she learned that she was leaving the country, she felt herself dying.

  A s weeks ago, he was coming through the front door Matthias with him at his side when he could hear a Azul saddened, "gone", those were his only words.

  At first Lucas was unable to understand his friend's wife.

  Azul spoke meaninglessly of a letter, an inheritance, an island and who knows how many more things, until at last he heard his name.

  "Carmen has left"

  He felt as his heart began to beat strongly. His ragged breathing did not allow him to think.

  « He had left? Where... why... with whom...? »

  — Azul, Where is Carmen, what happened? — the words came out loud and Matias showed anger at the way he spoke to his girl, but he did not care, he was too stunned to think about wounded sensibilities.

  Azul dried her tears and could form coherent sentences.

  — She's fine, but she's gone.

  — Where? — Lucas could barely breathe.

  — Brazil.

  The rest of the conversation between Azul and Matías was totally opaque to his ears.

  "He's gone, he's gone... without saying goodbye. Not a single word. No explanation He just left leaving him behind, like someone who gets rid of an old rag »

  Lucas was stunned.

  He never thought that suffering for a woman could be so deep.

  He tried not to think, tried to believe that she did not care anymore.

  The days passed but the grief was still present.

  He wanted to show that she was like everyone else and looked for replacement in his bed again and again, continuously, but he just managed to get up in a daze and much emptier than the day before.

  No woman had cared so much, but why? She always tried to keep the distances.

  He had never given himself completely and for once he did, he could not believe that the torture for not having her could be unbearable.

  He tried to reach his heart but Carmen distanced herself each time he moved on the path of conquest. Would it be for that?

  Maybe, if she had shown interest in their relationship... maybe she would not be so desperate?

  Yes, it should be that. Simple masculine pride

  Lucas one more day, tried to relax and stop thinking about her, but when he got home, he was only able to punch the door of the room and break it. Again.

  — Fuck, get out of my mind—he cried desperately— or I'll go crazy.

  I want and I do not want

  — Enter—Matías could not be less polite.

  We'd better go to the garden to talk quietly. Azul just lay down. The twins decided to play football in their gut and they have not let her keep an eye on the whole night.

  Lucas was sure that his captain's black eyes shone with devotion when he talked about his girl. He observed it and could not repress a touch of envy.

  He wanted the same as Matias, with the only difference, that instead of a brunette like his captain, his dreams were focused on a blonde with turbulent eyes that confused him until he left his world upside down.

  Twenty—eight years old and the body of a man accustomed to danger, he felt totally helpless in front of a small six—foot pudding with a strawberry mouth and an indomitable character.

  — You seem more relaxed.

  — Yes, about that. I wanted to thank you for the other night at the bar. The colonel told me your efforts and... well I... — Matías did not let him continue.

  — I do not want your thanks. I want you to be the same again.

  — I will be. It was just passing nonsense.

  Matias raised an eyebrow doubting the passenger of the situation but preferred not to comment.

  The two friends talked about the usual topics, sports and military training. At the end of the minutes a Carlos joined him, who came in furiously through the door.

  — Those kids are hateful.

  Matias laughed amused and Lucas tried to apologize to his style. With a blow to the back and a teasing comment.

  — Dude, yours is pure parental instinct. I imagine when you father your poor children...

  — For that I should have only one woman, which is far from my plans.

  «And of mine until I meet that blessed sorceress of hearts»

  Lucas noticed Matias' nervousness. He continually looked at his mail on his cell phone.

  — All good?

  — Yes, well, I do not know exactly.

  — New mission? — Carlos sounded hopeful.

  — Not quite.

  — Then what happens?

  — You see, Azul has been very worried lately.

  Carlos and Lucas looked at each other in fright.

  — The babies are fine? — Lucas seemed distressed.

  — Yes, yes, it's nothing like that.

  — So it's Azul? — Lucas could not understand his friend.

  — No, she is perfectly. Well, everything you can, being about to give birth to two rugby players.

  Carlos and Lucas looked surprised and Matías explained.

  — You will see. She and Carmen talk almost daily on Skype.

  Lucas tried to disguise the nervousness that caused the mere mention of that name. He swallowed hard and looked out the window to avoid betraying any feeling in front of his friends.

  — Azul told me about a series of accidents that at first did not seem important to me but as the weeks went by I began to doubt.

  — Accidents! — Lucas jumped like a spring — but she...

  — Carmen has not suffered a scratch but I do not know how long.

  — What does that mean? You think he is in danger. But why and by whom? I do not understand is not supposed to...

  — If you shut up I can continue and my wife can continue resting without your screams wake her up — Matias' voice was more that of the captain who gave an order that of a friend.

  Lucas nodded nervously.

  — Azul searched for information through the Internet underworld.

  Neither Carlos nor Lucas were surprised, he knew about the computer hacker activities of his friend's wife.

  — She discovered a rather obscure information, from a hotel chain called Thompson Hotels. He was able to discover his not so clear procedures for buying land and his total lack of respect for nature and the environment. I have spoken with the colonel and he helped me with some confidential information and now I am receiving his confirmation by email.

  — Then we are on mission— Lucas said.

  — I'm afraid not. There is no case for our jurisdiction.

  — But you said he was in danger!

  — Yes.

  — So what is your plan? Why do you have one or do you plan to leave it lying? — Lucas had nerves to the surface.

  Matías smiled at his suspicions. The reasons for Luke's behavior had a single principle and a single solution. Carmen.

  — I was going to travel to Brazil and verify tha
t everything is fine.

  — But Azul is about to give birth to the twins— this time Carlos spoke up

  — I know but I can not think of anything else.

  — I'll go. — Lucas sounded determined. — I can take care of her. I do not need anyone else.

  Lucas sounded possessive and Matias smiled again, even if his plans worked they could solve two birds with one stone.

  — You know it's not an official mission?

  — Yes and I assume the consequences— Lucas did not hesitate

  — Neither the colonel nor I can be your support. You'll be alone— Matias sounded more serious than usual

  — I'll go with him— Carlos declared bluntly.

  — I can not accept. I've already gotten you into too many problems.

  — And that's why you're going to take me. Either you take those devilish children out of me or I swear to you that I'll turn into Jack the children's quarterer.

  — Charles! Remind me never to leave you in the care of my children— Matías joked and the three laughed aloud.

  A beautiful young brunette with wild hair and a very bulging belly walked barefoot into the room.

  — Can you know what's wrong with you? Then they say that women are scandalous.

  Azul rubbed her eyes and Matias saw her adorable with her swollen little girl and her little dream face.

  — Come love— hugged her by the waist— You see, Lucas and Carlos will travel tomorrow to Brazil to take care of Carmen.

  Azul turned quickly and looked Lucas in the eyes ignoring Carlos

  — You'll do that for her.

  — Yes.

  Azul threw herself into Lucas's arms and kissed him on the cheek, taking him completely off guard. Lucas held her so she would not lose her balance and smiled amused, seeing a jealous Matias, approaching from behind to squeeze her around the waist and move her away from her, claiming all her rights.

  — I prepared a report for you— commented Matías.

  — Have you already prepared it for me? — Lucas asked curiously.

  — I figured you would not want to stay in Madrid.

  Lucas nodded without asking. He did not want to be in evidence more than he already was.

  Azul tried to separate from her husband but he held her tightly.

  — Honey, he said seriously, could you leave me alone with Lucas?

  Matías looked at her surprised.

  — Lucas and I have to talk.

  — And you can know what? — His voice sounded jealous but tried to hide it after a false hoarseness.

  — It's something that only Lucas can know.

  — I am the father of your children and I'm not leaving— Matías pouted as a small child.

  — And I love you but what I need to talk to Lucas, is information for him and for nobody else.

  Lucas looked at her strangely and Carlos patted Matías's back to take him out of the garden and into the living room.

  When they were alone, Azul sat down and slapped the other chair with the palm of her hand for Lucas to imitate.

  — You'd better get comfortable because I want to tell you something that I promised never to tell but I can not keep it quiet and much less after seeing what you feel for her.

  Lucas tried to deny it but at this point it was foolish to do so.

  — She is in danger — tried to justify herself.

  — And you will travel seven thousand kilometers, risking everything, just to take care of it. You better listen to me carefully because Carmencita and only she has the right to tell their most profound feelings, but there is something I can tell you without my head cut loose tongue.

  — Maybe you should not... — Lucas spoke with his small mouth.

  — I must— Azul sounded safe— someone has to wake up that big head once and I guess that will be you.

  — Intuition of a mother? — He replied funny.

  — Yes and apparently it is becoming more common.

  The two laughed funny and without other preliminaries, Azul began to speak. Nothing in particular, he wanted him to be able to deduce the problems of his friend without being a total traitor.

  She did not want to reveal her friend's secrets, but she talked about the importance of the past in our lives, she also commented on how difficult it could be to become a teenager complicated by an unintentional love.

  They talked for a long half hour. The truth was that she spoke and he listened trying to clarify something of all that sea of ​​metaphors and unclear comparisons.

  — Anyway... I hope you can understand...

  — Eh, well... — understanding was not the exact word.

  — Trust yourself. Think You are very smart and you will draw important conclusions for both. I wish you good luck and I'm sorry I can not help you more but I think you should call Matías. Now.

  Lucas did not understand what he was talking about until he watched her carefully, his eyes escaping from the orbits when he saw the great puddle of water under Azul's legs.

  — Matías!

  This entered the room like a whirlpool and Azul laughed nervously to see how three large men as closets, with piercing eyes and members of the Spanish special forces were able to be terrified by the arrival of a pair of twins.

  — I've broken water... — He could not finish speaking. Matias picked her up and swung her hurriedly to the car. Lucas ran ahead opening the doors while he listened to his captain screaming giving orders without sense, until raising the vehicle and heading towards the hospital.

  Lucas saw them leave and smiled at the sight of his calm and sensible captain, on the verge of a nervous breakdown due to the imminent arrival of his two children in the real world.

  The businesswoman

  Carmen was exhausted.

  After seven hours of flight and many tilas had arrived in the city of Salvador. There she was only able to pick up her luggage and take off for the plane with destination "El morro de Sao Caetano".

  This was his new life.

  There, "Pousada Paraíso do Paxaio" awaited her and who knows if the answer she was looking for.

  I was tired of running away but I did not have the courage to change either.

  Carmen held her head trying to breathe deeply, she felt tired and terrified but her friend Azul was right, the past was past and the future was right in front of her.

  His days until now passed one after another without alterations, his life was limited to work and go out with whatever man wanted.

  He smiled sideways, remembering that plump little girl from the institute that no boy paid much attention to. That was her. Only Richard looked at her with interest and she felt herself fly. She was so crazy for him, that she was able to believe in the sincerity of the feelings of the most badass among the pranksters of the institute.

  Notes, homework, money, everything was given to him without protest, totally because he did not do it if he had fallen in love with her, the short and plump little blonde of third A.

  He shook his head. She was not that naive girl anymore.

  She was in Brazil and as a good Spaniard she was determined to conquer new lands.

  Her future was new and different, and although her pulse beat a thousand times an hour, she was sure that this was the exact moment of her life where the rudder should turn. I had to conquer new horizons and I was willing to get it, as Azul said, I needed to take risks.

  Azul, she thought wistfully, How would she be? It was the first time they had distanced themselves so much and with only a day of separation she already felt helpless without her company.

  And Lucas, how would his sudden decision have been made?

  At first, she thought about calling him to say goodbye but when she remembered the way she fled from her apartment in the middle of the dawn... no, that was not a good idea. Maybe a letter but what would he have written on it?

  Dear Lucas, two points, you make me so crazy that just thinking about you makes me sweat like a foolish little girl without experie
nce and then start dreaming about a house in the country and three children running around in the garden, while her mother kisses Dad clutched to his neck.

  «Of that nothing, not crazy»

  Carmen knew exactly what kind of man Lucas was, too handsome to commit.

  «Like all»

  They had had a good time together but he would get tired of her and leave her crying in front of a phone that would never ring.

  No, that was not it anymore.

  Now, I was a future businesswoman from an inn on a tiny and beautiful island in Brazil.

  « How could all this happen?

  Without fully realizing what she was doing, she found herself opening, once again, Aunt Faustina's letter, which she held tightly in her hand and resting on her spectacular red bag.

  Beautiful Carmencita, since I saw you I knew I would have loved to have a granddaughter like you. Every night I begged God to offer me the gift of motherhood, but my prayers were in vain. The years passed and nothing. I'm not going to deny that I got a little angry with him for not listening to me but when I traveled that year to Spain and your grandmother taught me her beautiful granddaughter with hair like gold and sandy eyes I knew that God had heard me. Your grandmother was like a sister and she never denied me the possibility of loving you and that's what I did but not because I wanted to, but because you were the sweetest and most loving person I ever met...

  The letter continued to express the deep feelings of a woman who had truly loved her and who had found her adopted granddaughter on the other side of the pond.

  I hope you have already realized how precious you are on the outside and inside. I wish with all my heart that you have discovered that light that surrounds you and that we are all capable of appreciating when we are by your side. Dear Carmen, I leave you my "Posada de las Pasiones" as its name indicates, I lived there my best and most loving moments and now I give it to you to show all of Brazil the impetus and beauty of our Spanish land.

  My dear Carmencita, you are a special being. Your grandmother always tells me about the beautiful intelligent and responsible girl that you have become and I simply nod. Of course, I always say to myself, like I was not going to be, if you were our little angel since you were little. Beautiful girl, I hope this small gift will help you as you did with me in your time to discover the reality of life. Love.