"She claimed she wasn't jealous, yet she wrote across the shirt he was going to wear: I prefer boys."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moreno was lying on the sofa watching TV, engrossed in an episode of an Indian series he had discovered by chance and had started watching regularly.
Rasina came down the stairs after taking a shower, her hair still wet, wearing a face mask and carrying a cup of matcha. When she saw him, she walked over.
He sat up straight and invited her to sit. "Welcome..."
She smiled at him and sat next to him. "What are you doing?"
"Dancing... Can't you see I'm watching a series?"
She rolled her eyes. "Series are for girls, not for you, you idiot. Get up."
"Who the hell said that? Shut up and let me see what she's going to do."
Rasina took a sip of her matcha and decided to give the series a chance. However, the heroine's behavior seemed utterly bizarre to her. One moment she would fight with her boyfriend, then if she walked away and saw him laughing, she would get angry all over again. Then they would argue again... then she would insult his assistant and kick her out, only to go off alone and cry.
"What the hell is this? Why is she acting like this? Is she crazy?..."
"No, she's jealous of her boyfriend because of that assistant..."
"Jealous? Why?"
Moreno rolled his eyes. "That assistant... Look at her, acting all innocent... but she clings to him too much and tries to get his attention. Ugh, I want to hit her..."
"Well, what does the heroine have to do with it?"
"She's jealous, Rasina, jealous..." Moreno said, his eyes glued to the screen in front of him.
"But why? Doesn't she have confidence in herself? Look, she's prettier... And if the man loves her, he won't care about any other woman..."
"Ah, Rasina, how can I explain this to you? Jealousy is an innate feeling that a woman experiences; a strange and disturbing sensation that makes you act weirdly. It has nothing to do with confidence, but... Damn it, you're supposed to be the one explaining it to me..."
"Me? Why?" Rasina asked, unable to comprehend how such strange behavior could be instinctive.
"Right. Well, you'll experience it someday and you'll understand..."
Rasina burst out laughing, looking at him with utter disdain. "Me? Jealous? How ridiculous you are, Moreno..."
She got up from the sofa, deciding to head up to her room. "Jealousy, he says!" she muttered. She rushed upstairs to get ready because she was about to head out... and she was already running late.
......
**Larsen Palace**
Alfredo was getting ready to go out. Finally, that haughty girl had forgiven him and agreed to go out with him again. Well, he felt like she was punishing him, but he had no proof.
Shopping with her! It was a strange request, but he would agree to anything anyway.
Rodolfo glanced at him sideways when he heard him whistling down the stairs. Rodolfo was focused on his computer, which he had been practically glued to over the past few days. Even though it was a holiday, he couldn't stop working.
"Put that thing down and go outside for a bit. The weather's nice," Alfredo said, noticing his brother's gaze.
Rodolfo ignored him, returning his eyes to the screen.
"I hope you don't turn her against me, because if I see her acting strangely, I'll send you back to Russia for good," Alfredo stopped, looking at him.
"Who are you talking about?"
"The one you're going to meet."
"And how do you know her?... Oh, no, it's not Celia, don't worry." Alfredo winked at him and left.
Rodolfo quickly closed his laptop, feeling oddly embarrassed. What the hell? How did he even think of that? He desperately needed a cup of coffee—that was the only thing on his mind now.
....
Alfredo had been parked across from the large shopping center for almost an hour, glancing at his watch every single minute. He muttered to himself, unsure if the heat was getting to him or if he was truly losing his mind. "Calm down, Alfredo, okay... just wait. She's doing this on purpose to annoy you... she'll be here any minute..."
His frustration vanished in an instant the moment he spotted a gleaming black Ferrari speeding by. It pulled into the parking lot recklessly, almost scratching another car. She stepped out, wearing high black heels and a stunning dress. Her bold red lipstick only made her look even more stunning.
Alfredo bit his lower lip and finally got out of his car. Well, who was Rasina if she didn't do exactly this to him? He approached her and kissed her hand.
She smiled and said, "Sorry I'm late..."
"Waiting is worth it when the reward is seeing you..." Alfredo replied with a wink.
She stroked her golden hair with a touch of vanity. If you were to ask Rasina what she had become most addicted to lately, it would easily be Alfredo's compliments.
They entered the luxurious, multi-story mall, adorned with a large fountain in the center where children loved to eat ice cream. The sound of their laughter, the background noise of passersby, the scent in the air...—all of this was exactly what Rasina loved.
"Um, okay, which section should we start with?"
Alfredo took Rasina's hand and led her toward the ice cream parlor. "Let's start here."
She laughed and joined him.
One hour, then two... It was almost three in the afternoon, and they were still there. Rasina looked incredibly happy, but Alfredo certainly didn't. The sight of him carrying all her purchases was truly comical; he could barely see where he was stepping.
"Alfredo, look! What do you think about me trying on a few dresses?" Without waiting for his opinion—as if it actually mattered—she quickly moved forward and began selecting the dresses she wanted to try.
Alfredo sat down, scrolling through his phone while she tried on her choices.
"What do you think?" she asked, watching him chuckle as he typed something.
"Hello?" she prompted.
"Oh, sorry," he replied, glancing up briefly. "Yeah, it looks great."
He immediately went back to typing, bursting into laughter after Celia sent him a message—it was a picture of Rodolfo that she had turned into a digital sticker.
Rasina pursed her lips, turning back inside to try on another one.
"Well, how about this one?"
Alfredo didn't seem invested at all. "Oh, this one is beautiful too," he said just as his phone started ringing. He slipped it into his pocket. "Are you finished?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Okay, let's go. I still have some important work to finish."
She nodded stiffly as he went to pay for everything.
"No, Alfredo, there's no need—"
"Shut up, Rasina."
He carried all the bags and loaded them into her car, while she tried her best to appear completely unbothered. She didn't know why, but her mood had suddenly darkened.
"See you later, princess..."
She forced a smile, and he drove off. Just seconds later, his car disappeared, leaving only a trail of dust behind.
.
.
.
..........
꧁End of chapter ꧂