âWhy are you two so happy?", I wondered when I came back home and saw Christian and Nano drinking beer happily.
âNano's rich now", Christian exclaimed with a grin which made me wonder.
âIt's nothing, Em, we're just talking", Nano looked stressed and put something behind his back so I raised an eyebrow.
âWhat's behind your back?", I wanted to know, âTell me, Nano!"
âNothing."
âShow me what's behind your back", I became angry knowing that he got himself into trouble again.
When he didn't move, I reached behind him to find it out by myself.
âYou can't be serious", I whispered shocked knowing who the watches belong to, âNano, you can't be fucking serious! I swear, if you're not getting yourself killed, I'll do it. How can you be so stupid?"
âEmilia, calm down! Those people have got enough money. They won't get hurt", he rolled his eyes.
âYou've got no idea of anything, huh? It's not only about the damn money. Ventura got arrested. Marina and Guzman miss their dad. I grew up with this family! And Carla is my friend, too. Plus, you're getting yourself into trouble, Nano! Someone's going to be hurt and I'm sure that this is going to be you", my voice was loud at first but became quieter soon, âI can't watch you going to jail again or someone being hurt, you, Marina, Samu."
âAre you going to tell her? The little marquesita?"
âI'm not like you, Nano. Samu and I try to be good people", I just sighed heavily looking away disappointed.
âYou would put them before us? That little girl before your own brothers? Yeah, I know, I'm only your half-brother but we're going through so much more together than with them. Those little rich kids. We're not like them, Emilia. You always said family first. That's why you live with us, isn't it?"
I nodded.
He was right.
He was so damn right.
I had promised myself to always put them first. Mamá, Nano and Samu.
Now's the right time for it.
âI'm not telling her. But get your shit together."
âThere's something you've got to know. Marina has helped me when she found out that I'm in trouble. She's not in danger, I promise. I know you care about her like you do about us."
âThank you for telling me, Nano."
I had to think about all of this.
I wouldn't tell anyone about it. Not only because of the fact that Nano is my brother. But he has always helped me and took care of me. And when he had found out that Ander and I were dating, he kept this secret to himself, too.
It wasn't a big deal actually. My dad just never liked the idea of me dating a guy from school, especially not Guzman, Polo or Ander. But he disliked Ander the most. Which was okay for me for the time during which we have only been friends. But when Ander and I got closer, I knew that would cause trouble. I still don't know why my dad wouldn't like him. I mean, he's busy with his own life after all and doesn't even help our family when it comes to financial issues so what's his problem with my love life? No one understood that, not even mom. But mom on the other hand.. well, she doesn't think about consequences that much.
In the beginning, Ander and I didn't care about people watching us. We were just young teenagers falling in love. So he used to walk me home sometimes. Since we haven't been cautious about it - who would have thought that would cause problems anyways? - Nano saw us about two months after we first became a couple. And he reacted the same way that my dad would have reacted. Just a few months earlier, my dad had left our mom and left us with nothing. Why would Nano be like him then if he hated him so much?
âI promised him to take care of you, Emilia. You're only thirteen years old. You're too young to get your heart broken by an idiot like him", Nano had shaken his head when he I confronted him after he beat up my boyfriend.
âYou don't even know him!", I shouted at him, it was more like a mixture of shouting and crying, âAnder is different! He's lovely and caring, he's not an idiot. Don't insult him! Why would you even know what he's like? How can you dare to call him an idiot? You just beat up my boyfriend, Nano."
âYeah, for a good reason! I know that he's just playing with your heart and going to break it sooner or later because I haven't been different. I was the exact same. He might play the good guy in front of you but you've got no idea what he would do when you're not around."
âYou're just like dad, don't you see that?", I laughed frustrated, âYou always pretend to be better than him but you're not. I hate you, Nano. I love Ander and you're not going to change that."
He looked hurt by my words but I couldn't care less in that moment, âI might not be able to change your feelings for that boy but you're not going to meet him anymore. He means trouble. And I'm better than your dad because I won't tell him what's going on. I didn't mean to hurt you, I'm only doing what I'm doing to protect you. You're going to understand that someday."