Chapter 14

Everything suddenly changed.

Ric and I were on speaking terms last week and suddenly he stopped speaking to me. He came into my room one night drunk and left and since then he avoided me.

He would walk away whenever he saw me coming and would mutter hurtful words to me whenever we were close.

Those weren't the worst but tonight I'm so done with him. He literally made me look like a fool in front of everyone. Making sure I felt out of place while playing the game.

I was so hurt. I felt my tears threatening to come out of my eyes so I left the place.

Daniel had stopped me from moving any further. "Wait," he said.

I shrugged off his arms. "Let me be!"I exclaimed.

Just then Ric came, he stood by the door with his jaws clenched. Daniel moved away from me and turned to his direction.

"What's happening here?" He asked.

"And I don't think that's for you to decide, is it Jackson?" Daniel fired back. I could sense the tension between them, like they have issues that go deeper than now.

Ric eyes me up and down before shaking his head. "Come in Liliana, let's go." He demands.

Seriously? What gives him the right to control me? Even if he just saved me from kissing Daniel, a.k.a Mr. Badass.

Ric drags me forcefully by my arm, away from Mr. Badass. He wouldn't let go until we got outside.

"Seriously, Liliana?"

"What was that all about?!" I retort.

"Why are you dressed this way, huh?!" He huffed.

"That's none of your concern. And last time I checked, you weren't talking to me!"

"You think I didn't wanna talk to you? I avoided you because I didn't want to answer your questions yet."

"And why don't you want to answer them?" I asked.

"Because... because..."

He sighed.

"Lily, I have a complicated life. It..." He trailed off, pissed.

"Get into the car, I'll drop you off," he demands.

"I won't get in unless you tell me what the hell is wrong with you?!" I folded my arms around my chest.

He sighs, "Get in first, Lily. I will tell you," he spoke gently this time.

I got into the car. It was silent. I expected him to say something but he remained quiet. I decided to keep my mouth shut until we got to our destination.

Once we reached home, I got out of the car, waiting for him to get out and start answering me.

"Are you gonna talk or what?!" I exclaimed.

"Let's go in first," he says gently. "It's like you aren't taking no for an answer," he added.

"Obviously," I scoffed.

We got into my house. It's the first time he came into my room using the door.

"Congratulations," I remark. "First time coming into my room using the door," I said sarcastically.

He chuckled lightly and headed straight towards my bed, lying down on it like it was his.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Resting," he replied. "So, Lily, what do you wanna know?" He asked me.

"Why did you come into my room that day drunk? Why were you avoiding me? And why did you go silent when I talked about your parents?" I said quickly and at all once.

He sighed, "You see, Lily, my life is complicated. Aside from Richard, you're the only person allowed to hear this," he spoke.

I looked into his eyes and saw pain. Something was wrong.

"Mariana's Dad is not my real dad." He saod and I gasped.

"What?" I asked confused.

"So you and Rose have a different dad or what?" I asked.

"No, Mariana and Rose share the same dad but we all have the same mom," he tells me. I could feel his hurt.

It's confusing, Mariana is the first child, Rose is the last child, and Ric is the middle child. How come he doesn't share the same dad with them but the same mom.

"That's why I said my life is complicated," he said in a discouraged tone.

He was hurt. For the first time I didn't see a proud Ric, but a vulnerable one. I walked closer, taking a seat beside him and wrapping my arms around him. He had issues too, just like every other human being.

"My dad is my mom's high school sweetheart," he continues.

"They met again at a high school reunion. They drank, got drunk, and had sex. My mom was married then with a kid, Mariana was two years old." He spoke every word, one after the other, like he didn't want to.

"She woke up the next morning discovering what had happened and was ashamed. She told Mariana's father the next day, he was disappointed and hurt. He didn't look at her for months nor speak to her until he found out she was pregnant, "

"There were doubts in my father but it was confirmed as soon as I was born. I looked exactly like him, no doubt about it, and the DNA test proved positive. That shattered Mariana's dad."

"He was hurt even though my mom, day by day, assured him she loved him and him alone," he continued. "They finally got over it, but there are still issues. My father wants me in Mexico with him but my mom doesn't.

"My life is messed up," he complains. "And to make it worse, Rose hates me. That day when I came over, she said she was the last child but I was the one that gets the most attention. Her parents fight day in and day out because of me and she swore she was gonna hate me if they divorced!"

"That's why I promised never to be in a relationship. History is bound to repeat itself!" He yells. I couldn't help but feel sad for him, his future is damaged because of the past. No wonder he was sad, he has a lot of issues going on. And having two dads?

"It's gonna be fine," I assure him.

"No, it's not gonna be fine Lily. My father's bringing up a court case... I love both of my parents. My mom and my real dad."

"They've always been there for me. You asked why I have many cars? My real dad is rich, he's a businessman from Mexico." He said, exasperated. "As soon as I learned how to drive, he started spoiling me with cars."

"I can't blame Rose for hating me, but I love her. She's my sister, even if we don't share the same dad I would literally kill for her, Lily, I would." He spat.

He was now standing up, so I did the same bringing his face to mine.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I tell him. "She doesn't hate you, she's just hurt. It's gonna be fine." I assure him.

The next thing I know, Ric and my eyes were locked. The room grew silent.

I didn't move, I was stuck. It was like I was compelled to stand still with only an invisible force pulling us towards each other like magnets.

I've always felt different around Ricardo. Even though I don't know why yet, I was always more open and outspoken by his side.

His lips claimed mine in seconds. It was just a peck at first, then he pulled back and stared at me, resting his forehead against mine.

Then he kissed me again, deep and slow, and I couldn't help but feel butterflies in my belly. They were dancing and I could feel the electricity passing through my body, it sent tingles all over.

It was soft and sweet, like nothing I've ever tasted. He pulled me closer with his arms around my waist while I placed my hands on his shoulders.

At that moment, I knew something had changed.