Chapter 9
COLLATERAL HEARTS | GXG Intersex
Gabriela leaned against the trunk of her car, eyes shut, arms crossed. She stiffened at the sound of a familiar voice calling her name. Opening her eyes, she was met with Blair running toward her, hugging her legs tightly.
"Gabi!" Blair exclaimed, her smile beaming with childlike excitement.
Gabriela blinked, looking down at Blair before glancing at the figure accompanying her. "Blair," she said softly, patting the little girl's head.
"Aren't you supposed to be inside?" Vien's sharp voice interrupted, arms crossed and brow raised. "Don't tell me you're not enjoying our treat?"
Gabriela straightened up, awkwardly clearing her throat. "No, no, it's not that," she said, waving her hands as if to dismiss the thought. "Just... uh..." She rubbed the back of her neck, chuckling nervously. How am I supposed to explain that Ingrid asked me to drop her off?
Before she could fumble further, Ingrid's voice chimed in, saving her. "Oh, Vien."
Vien raised a skeptical brow at Gabriela, then shifted her gaze to Ingrid.
"Wait," Vien began, her tone suspicious. "Are you twoâ"
Ingrid cut her off with a soft laugh. "No, no. I asked Gabi to drop me off, that's all." She gave a polite smile, her tone casual.
Vien's gaze darted between Ingrid and Gabriela, clearly unconvinced. She opened her mouth to press further, but Ingrid's phone suddenly rang. "Excuse me, I need to take this," Ingrid said, giving them a nod before stepping away.
Gabriela felt Vien's piercing gaze boring into her, judgment clear in her eyes. Of course, Gabriela thought to herself. You just confessed to her that you like her. Great move, genius.
Blair tugged on Gabriela's hand, looking up at her with curious eyes. "Gabi, who's she?" Blair asked, pointing toward the direction Ingrid had gone.
Gabriela gulped. "Ah, she's just a friend," she said with a strained smile.
Blair tilted her head, pausing as if recalling something. "Not your..." She glanced at Vien. "Mommy, what's that called again? Girlfriend?"
Vien blinked, momentarily stunned. "Blair!" she hissed, her cheeks reddening. "Here we go again with your questions. Please justâ"
Before she could finish, a soft laugh interrupted from behind.
"Well, well, look who we have here," Vera said as she strolled up beside Vien, her tone playful.
Vien groaned, covering her face with one hand. "Please, Vera, don't add fuel to the fire," she mumbled.
Blair, undeterred, giggled. "Aunt Vera, do you know Gabi?"
Vera smiled warmly. "Yes, Blair. I do know Gabriela. Why do you ask?"
Blair beamed, ready to spill more thoughts, but Vien stopped her with a sharp look. "Blair, I swear, if you don't stopâ"
"Aunt, do you think Mommy can date Gabi?" Blair asked, her voice filled with innocent excitement.
Vien froze, utterly mortified, as Vera chuckled, nudging her twin. "Wow, your daughter really has your attitude. She's setting you up!"
"Gosh, stop!" Vien groaned, covering her face in embarrassment.
Blair crossed her arms, pouting. "Mommy should date Gabi," she declared, her tone resolute.
Gabriela crouched down, patting Blair's head gently. "Blair," she began softly, "you shouldn't decide things for your mom. Grown-ups make those choices themselves. And one day, when you're a grown-up, you'll want to make your own choices too, right?"
Blair huffed, puffing her cheeks. "But I want you to date Mommy," she protested. "You two look good together, and I like you!"
Gabriela blinked, her face flushing as her ears turned red. She was about to respond when Ingrid returned, her curious eyes scanning the group.
"Okay, what did I miss?" Ingrid asked, looking between them.
Vien straightened up, regaining her composure. She was about to respond when Blair suddenly hugged Gabriela's legs and glared at Ingrid.
"Miss Madame," Blair said seriously, "you're not Gabi's girlfriend, right? Because Gabi isn't allowed to have one!"
Vien and Vera exchanged wide-eyed looks, stunned by Blair's boldness.
"Blair!" Vien hissed, stepping forward to grab her daughter.
"Mommy should date Gaâ" Gabriela quickly covered Blair's mouth, laughing nervously.
"Alright, Blair," Gabriela said hurriedly, crouching down again. "How about we play next time, okay? I really have to go now."
Blair glared at her but eventually sighed. "Fine. Bye, Gabi!" she said, stepping back to stand beside her mother.
Vera leaned close to whisper to Vien, a teasing grin on her face. "Wow, Blair's totally inherited your attitude."
Vien groaned, rolling her eyes. "Just shut up," she snapped, glaring at both Gabriela and Ingrid absentmindedly as irritationâand perhaps something elseâlingered on her face.
Vien stepped out of the bathroom, tying her robe as she walked toward the sliding glass door. She opened it, letting the cool night air in, and stepped onto the balcony. Settling at the small coffee table, she leaned back in her chair, savoring the stillness of the evening. A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
One of the housekeepers entered, balancing a tray with a glass of milk and a cup of tea. She was followed closely by Blair, who was tiptoeing behind as if trying to go unnoticed.
"Thank you," Vien said to the housekeeper with a polite nod.
Blair, thinking she could make a clean getaway, was halfway out the door when Vien's sharp voice caught her.
"And where do you think you're going, little missy? Get back here." Her tone was firm but not cold.
The housekeeper exited, gently closing the door, leaving mother and daughter alone.
Vien pointed to the chair across from her. "Sit down. Let's have a little chatâgrown-up to grown-up," she said, arching an eyebrow.
Blair bit her lip but obediently climbed onto the chair. Vien placed the glass of milk in front of Blair and took a sip from her own tea, crossing her legs as she regarded her daughter.
"Do you know why we're having this talk?" Vien began, her tone measured.
Blair looked down and mumbled, "Sorry, Mommy."
Vien sighed and leaned forward. "Look at me, sweetie." She tapped the table gently to get Blair's attention. "I know you like Gabi, and it's sweet that you're friends, but you can't just go around asking those kinds of questions or making those comments."
Blair fidgeted in her seat, her small hands wringing nervously. "I just want you to be happy, Mommy," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Vien softened, tilting her head slightly. "Sweetheart, do you think Mommy isn't happy?" she asked gently.
"You take care of me all the time, but..." Blair hesitated, her eyes filling with tears. "You don't take care of yourself, Mommy. I just thought maybe Gabi could... you know, help."
Vien blinked, her daughter's words hitting her harder than she expected. She set her cup down carefully, gathering her thoughts. "Blair, it's Mommy's job to take care of you. You're my baby, my responsibility. And I'm happy as long as you're happy."
"But Mommy..." Blair sniffled, wiping at her nose. "You deserve to be happy too. Like I'm happy when we're with Gabi."
Vien let out a soft chuckle, rubbing her temple. "Come here," she said, motioning for Blair to join her.
Blair slid off her chair and shuffled to her mother, who pulled her onto her lap and wrapped her in a warm hug.
"You're still a kid, sweetheart. You don't need to worry about Mommy, okay?" Vien said gently. "I appreciate you trying to help, but setting me up with Gabi? That's just making things awkward for both of us," she added, giving Blair a pointed look.
Blair pressed her face against her mother's chest, her voice soft and insistent. "But you don't like people bothering you, Mommy. And Gabi likes you," she mumbled. "Can't you just be happy with her?"
Vien let out a scoff, closing her eyes briefly. "It's always 'Gabi this' and 'Gabi that' with you," she said, chuckling lightly. "I'm right here, Blair, and all you can think about is your friend."
Blair pulled back slightly, her small hands reaching for her mother's face. "I want her for you, Mommy," she said earnestly, her big eyes shining with sincerity.
Vien bit her lip to hold back a smile, shaking her head at her daughter's determination. "Blair," she murmured, brushing her fingers through Blair's hair. "You can't make someone like or love another person. That's not how it works, okay?"
She hesitated, the next words catching in her throat. "And... if it ever happened that Mommy liked Gabi, and Gabi liked Mommy too..." She paused, unsure how to continue.
Blair tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Mommy? What? What happens then?"
Vien sighed and gave her daughter a faint smile. "Let Mommy handle things like that, alright?" she said, gently poking Blair's nose. "Ifâbig ifâsomething ever happens between Gabi and me, then maybe it'll work. But don't try to force us together, alright?"
Blair nodded reluctantly, her pout making Vien smile. "Okay, Mommy. I'm sorry," she said quietly.
Vien's expression softened as she leaned down to kiss Blair's forehead. "I love you, kiddo," she whispered, wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter.
"I love you too, Mommy," Blair whispered back, snuggling closer, her small body warm against Vien's.