Capítulo 7 – 7- Tiempo de brillar

Por primera vez, a Rafael no le gustó cuando vio el nombre de Valerie aparecer en la pantalla de su teléfono: “¡Oye!”

—Rafael, solo quería saber cómo estás. Sabes lo mucho que me importas, cariño.

Tarareaba en el teléfono como si estuviera demasiado ocupado con su trabajo.

—En los últimos dos años te he estado vigilando y no he dejado de preguntarte por tu bienestar, tanto si estábamos juntos como si no. —Habló con voz un poco ronca y a Rafael le pareció extraño que sintiera que estaba fingiendo.

¿Qué me está pasando? ¿Así deben comportarse los esposos cuando una tercera persona intenta provocar un desvío en su relación?

—Pero ¿por qué harías eso, Valerie, cuando yo siempre estuve contigo? —le preguntó, manteniendo su tono casual.

Dudó un momento: “Por supuesto, Raf. Es… eso es lo que… quiero decir… sí… ja, ja. ¿Cómo… cómo puedo olvidar que… estuve contigo todo el tiempo?”

Él esbozó una sonrisa para ella e inventó una mentira: “Sí. Todo el tiempo. Excepto cuando fui esos dos días a un programa de terapia justo dos meses después de nuestra boda. ¿Recuerdas?”

Ella se rió de nuevo: “Sí, sí. Cómo te extrañé esos dos días”.

“Está bien, cariño. Mis ejecutivos están aquí y tengo que continuar con esta reunión. No te preocupes. No me estresaré la vista”.

—Te amo, Rafael. Sólo recuerda… que… no quiero que pierdas tus ojos nunca más —dijo suavemente y Rafael se sintió herido… traicionado.

—Yo también te amo. No te preocupes, Valerie. Solo recuerda… Hakuna Matata.

—¡Qué! —se rió ella del otro lado—. ¿Qué significa eso?

—Nada, Valerie. Nada. Es solo un lindo diálogo de una película. —Desconectó el teléfono y lo arrojó sobre el escritorio antes de encontrarse con la mirada de su mejor amigo Joseph.

***

Rafael firmó unos papeles y le pasó el expediente a su asistente: “Tómalo, Liam. Y pídeles a los constructores que cumplan con los plazos del contrato para que podamos empezar a contratar al nuevo personal para nuestras nuevas oficinas en Kanderton”.

Liam asintió y tomó el archivo. Recientemente había descubierto que Kanderton era una ciudad en desarrollo y que tenía un gran potencial para su negocio.

—Me siento como si fueras parte de una película —dijo Joseph mientras masticaba unas patatas fritas cuando Liam se fue—, tal vez un thriller de suspenso.

Estaban sentados en la oficina de Rafael de Industrias Sinclair después de tanto tiempo.

“You are saying that Marissa made a claim that she was the one who spent these past two years with you. On the other hand, your mom didn’t get you to meet anyone. Why do you think she did that?”

“Maybe because my psychiatrist suggested it. According to him I might have felt left out.” Rafael shrugged and took a sip of his coffee.

“And why would a psychiatrist suggest something so outrageous, Rafael? Instead of helping you mingle among other people, he is suggesting you give up your social life. Strange.”

Rafael stood up and loosened the tie around his neck.

“I need to replace out about Dr. Sophia and Marissa. Something is telling me, they both are together. Sophia knows something about this whole drama that’s the reason she flew away.”

“By the way,” Joseph also got to his feet, “why are you so adamant in replaceing these women? Let them live their life and you stay happy with yours.”

Rafael was looking out the glass door observing the city lights. He didn’t give any reaction to Joseph’s questions.

He didn’t move when he felt his friend’s hand on his shoulder, “Don’t keep it inside you. Tell me. Why are you looking for them?” And for the first time, Rafael felt this sudden urge to cry.

“B…Because if… if Marissa is telling the truth, then… then … I think… those kids… those twins are mine.”

Joseph went still for a moment, “Goodness!” he whispered, and Rafael nodded with a sarcastic smirk.

“Did you talk to your mom or Valerie about it?” Rafael shook his head at his friend’s query,

“No, I didn’t. Asking these questions might mean alerting them. Valerie is not the same anymore.”

“Why? Weren’t you dating her before the accident? How can you say that?”

Because whenever I suck those kissable lips, they no more give me the taste of strawberries. I crave that taste.

He didn’t say it out loud but something in his expression made Joseph feel sorry for him.

“She doesn’t remember Hakuna Matata… a phrase from Lion King. I just lied to her that I went to a therapy program right after two months of our marriage. She went along with it but… I never went to any therapy program… in fact… in fact, I always stayed home after getting blind.”

He explained to his friend and for a few minutes, heavy silence hung in the room.

“Joseph. Help me.” This time there was pleading in his voice, “Help me in replaceing out Marissa and her kids. I might be wrong, but I need to confirm before taking the next step.”

He wasn’t able to get Marissa’s teary voice out of his mind before she left. She knew about Hakuna Matata, and she already predicted that he would regret it once she was gone.

Rafael closed his eyes.

I need to replace you, strawberry. I need to replace you, my sugar. Where have you gone?

***

“I’m so happy that you made it here in time,” Marissa held Sophia’s hand while sitting beside her on the couch.

“Me too. The first time he entered in my office, I knew he was having doubts.” Sophia again touched the iced water glass to her lips.

She didn’t take the risk of going home and left for Kanderton straight from her office. Thankfully her trusted cleaning lady got the documents delivered to her office. It was not wise to stay there anymore.

Rafael’s men might be keeping an eye on her every move.

“How is your pregnancy?” Sophia gave a little pat to her friend’s belly, “How are the babies?”

“They are good. It’s just the morning sickness that’s bothering me. Otherwise, it’s quite smooth.” Marissa started fidgeting her fingers in nervousness.

“What’s the matter? You seem upset.” Marissa nodded her head trying to control her quivering lips, “I was trying for college admissions. Before getting married to Rafael I was planning to start my MBA.”

“Then? I think one is supposed to take the entrance test.” Marissa nodded and gave her a shaky grin,

“I know. I’m getting to that part. I gave the test and today I got to know…”

“For God’s sake, Marissa. Speak up! My heart is sinking.”

“I got to know that…” she exhaled a long breath, “that I have failed the test.” Marissa couldn’t take it anymore and started crying.

“Hey! Girl!” Sophia at once moved closer to her friend and pulled her into a tight hug.

“Sophia. I was such an intelligent girl before I got married to him. I left everything for his happiness. And now I have nothing in my hands.”

“Who said you are no longer an intelligent girl?” Both the girls jumped up when Grandpa Flint’s voice got to their ears.

“Don’t ever talk like that. You are NOT empty-handed. Ok?” Grandpa Flint said sternly, “You have kids, silly girl. Once they are here, see how your world will change for good.”

“But Grandpa. My initial plan was to do an MBA to land in a big multinational. How will I raise my kids without a good job? I wanted to give the best life to my kids.” She said brokenly.

They were Rafael’s kids and deserved a lavish lifestyle as Sinclair’s heirs.

“Marissa. Look up!” Grandpa Flint placed his coffee cup aside and took the chair to sit opposite her, “Listen, girl. Who the hell told you that you can only give a good lifestyle to your kids by achieving an MBA degree?”

“Then what else should I do?” Marissa accepted the napkin from Sophia and wiped her nose, “The only thing I might be doing is waitressing. That’s what I can do best, I guess.”

“Can you put some positive thoughts in that head of yours, girl?” Grandpa Flint snubbed her like a gentle father who couldn’t let his daughter think of herself as someone small.

Marissa kept crying and could feel Sophia rubbing her hand on her back to console her.

“Marissa. Listen to me,” Flint held the hands of the crying girl, “Maybe that’s what fate wants you to do. Why work under someone when you can start your own business.”

“Business?” Marissa quit crying and eyed the old man as if he had lost his mind, “What business? I don’t even have any money for investment.”

“The business idea I have in mind might not need a huge investment.” Marissa didn’t say anything and kept looking at Flint’s wrinkled face.

—Todos estos días he estado comiendo la comida que estás cocinando para mí en esta cocina —Flint señaló hacia la estufa donde el caldo de pollo estaba hirviendo a fuego muy lento—. Empieza un negocio de comida.

“¡Qué!”

—¡Qué! —gritó esta vez Sophia junto con Marissa.

“¿Negocio de comida?”

—Sí. Negocio de comida. Tienes buen gusto en tus manos, tonto. ¿Alguien te ha dicho alguna vez que tus manos tienen magia?

Marissa había dejado de llorar.

“Te he visto preparar comida con tanto amor… y tanta pasión. Para ti, es como una terapia. Haz de esa terapia tu profesión”.

Sophia empezó a asentir con la cabeza: “El abuelo Flint tiene razón. Empieza un negocio de comida, Marissa. Quién sabe, en el futuro, podrías tener éxito en el servicio de catering en todas las organizaciones más importantes. Tal vez… algún día, cuando esa universidad te invite a atender a sus invitados, simplemente les muestres el dedo medio”.

Por primera vez, Marissa sonrió: “¡Oh, Dios, Sophia! ¡Flint! Ustedes dos son increíbles”, dijo con una risita.

Sophia le rodeó el cuello con la mano y la apretó contra su costado: “Conquistemos el mundo, Marissa Aaron. Junto con mis sobrinas, mostrémosle al mundo quiénes somos. ¡Es hora de brillar!”