2. Gabriela
Chapter 2
Gabriela
Fuck you.
T he words appear in the text bubble after I sent him a message, reaching out because it’s obvious by the way he stared at me in the hall today that he’s pissed. I know there isn’t much I can do to make the situation better, but I thought that if we could talk to each other about what happened, maybe he wouldn’t hate me. I mean, if our parents are in love with each other and end up getting married, we’d be some sort of fucked-up family.
Well, his message just now doesn’t make that seem likely.
I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me, because I don’t hate you.
I type back, then I close out the conversation.
Why is he holding me responsible for my piece of shit-cheating father? I’m not blaming him for his mom convincing my dad to leave us so they could be together. After the finalization of my parents’ divorce, he packed up and left with her. From what my mom told me, they moved an hour away and are “starting over.”
It’s frustrating how he can’t separate me from my father’s actions and doesn’t understand that I’m just as hurt and betrayed as he is. It hurts my heart. I put my phone on its charger, then leave my room and head over to my mom’s. Her door is wide open, and she is sitting on her bed with my sister braiding her hair.
“Can I come in?” I ask, trying to hide the emotions that want to pour out. I don’t want to cry in front of my three year old little sister, though, so I suck it up.
“Gabby, Mama is giving me two braids, like you!” Mireya squeals, waving her hands rapidly as she rocks back and forth.
“Yeah! That’s so awesome, Reya. You’re so much prettier than me.” Mom beams at me. She doesn’t have to. I’ll always be here to help her out with Mireya.
Just another reason I’m pissed at my dad for what he did. With Mireya being on the spectrum and now that he’s dipped out, my mom has no one but me to help her. While Mireya is at school, she sleeps since she works the night shift as an emergency room nurse at the local hospital. To say she’s spread thin is a fucking understatement.
I take a deep breath, trying to push down the anger and frustration that have been building up inside me. It’s not fair that I have to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of my little sister and supporting my mom, all because my dad decided to cheat on her and leave. But I can’t dwell on that now.
I step into my mom’s room and find comfort in the familiar sight of her and Mireya. Despite everything, my mom always finds joy and strength in the simplest moments with my sister. It’s a reminder of why I need to stay strong, too.
I sit down on the edge of the bed, joining them as my mom finishes braiding Mireya’s hair. “You’re doing a great job, Mom,” I say, giving her a reassuring smile. She looks tired, but I can see the gratitude in her eyes. The least I can do is be here for her and Mireya.
“ Mija , let me do yours now.“ She says this, patting the bed.
I scoot over, pulling Mireya in front of me so I can start some deep pressure compressions to get her relaxed for bed. Mom starts on my hair, and while she brushes my long black hair, I think about the hurtful message I received from Joaquín when I reached out to him. It’s frustrating how he can’t understand that I am not my father and that I am hurting just as much as he is. But I can’t let his words consume me.
Closing my eyes, I sigh, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. I won’t let his anger define me or make me doubt myself. I’m determined to rise above this situation and prove that I am not defined by my father’s actions. “So, I saw her son at school today,” I say, trying to make small talk about the situation without making it a big deal.
“Oh,” she replies, “how is he doing with everything?”
“I don’t think he is handling it well. He seems…angry.” I shrug.
Angry is an understatement.
“Just be kind to him, mija .”
I’m trying.
After my mom finishes braiding my hair, I give her a hug, holding onto her tightly. “We’ll get through this, Mom,” I whisper, my voice filled with assurance. She nods, her eyes glistening with gratitude and pride.
“I know we will,” she says, checking her watch. “Shit, I need to go. Do you think you can handle bedtime?”
“Yep. Just go, mom. I’ve got this.” I kiss her cheek and scoop up Mireya to get her in bed.
* * *
I pull into my parking spot at the school campus after dropping my sister off at school. My best friends Cora and Natalie are waiting for me by Cora’s car. Turning the car off, I reach for my backpack and get out. Just as I’m about to cross the parking lot, a car slams on its brakes, nearly hitting me, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut and scream. I open one eye and look at the car. It’s Thiago Hernandez and Nathan Moore, and sitting in the front passenger seat is Joaquín.
The look on his face says it all.
I’m frozen in place as he stares at me up and down. Thiago looks back and forth between us, then rolls down his window. “Look, this staring contest is great and all, but I need to park before we miss the first bell.”
I still don’t move. Cora yells at me from her car to come on.
Joaquín smirks, licking his bottom lip, and I watch as he rolls his window down. Sticking his whole upper body out, he yells at me. “Get out of the fucking way, Puta . Unless you’re stopping to ask if you can suck our dicks.”
Thiago honks his horn at me, and I jolt forward and move to the side. As the car creeps by, Joaquín’s eyes don’t leave mine. I can feel the tears brimming in my eyes, and I suck back a breath to calm myself.
Cora and Natalie run over each of them grabbing onto one of my arms. “I didn’t know Thiago was that much of an asshole.” Cora snorts. “It makes me regret hooking up with him over the summer.”
“Hold up,” I say, turning toward her. “You did what now?”
“It was a summer thing.” She looks over to where the guy’s car is parked and stares at Thiago. “It looks like he’s moved on.”
I shake my head, still reeling from the encounter with Joaquín. “That doesn’t excuse his behavior,” I mutter, feeling hurt. Natalie squeezes my arm in support and shoots a disapproving look towards the guys’ car.
As we walk towards the school building, Cora sighs. “I knew he was friends with Joaquín. But I never saw him act like that when we were together.” Her words sound apologetic, but I can tell she’s also frustrated with Thiago’s actions.
I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the unsettling encounter. “Well, it’s a good thing you’re not with him anymore. You deserve someone better.” Natalie nods in agreement, her eyes filled with sympathy.
We enter the school building, and the incident is still fresh in my mind. I wonder why Joaquín is targeting me and what I did to deserve his cruel words. But I push those thoughts aside, focusing on the support of my friends and the determination to not let their words define me.
Throughout the day, I try my best to put the incident behind me. I focus on my classes, using the familiar routine of school. However, during lunchtime, that blows up in my face.
Cora, Natalie, and I sit at our usual table in the cafeteria, picking at our food. I can’t shake the feeling of being watched. I pan the room, and Joaquín and his friends are sitting three tables away, and he’s staring. Just like he was the other day, in the hallway.
Ignoring Joaquín’s intense gaze, I try my best to enjoy my lunch and engage in conversation with Cora and Natalie. But his presence looms over me, making it difficult to focus. I can feel the weight of his scrutiny—his eyes are burning into my skin.
Natalie notices my unease and whispers, “Don’t let him get to you. He’s just trying to get a reaction.”
Cora chimes in, her voice filled with determination, “Yeah, he’s just a jerk. We won’t let him ruin our lunchtime.”
Taking their words to heart, I muster up the courage to meet Joaquín’s gaze head-on. I refuse to let him intimidate me. With a defiant look, I hold his stare momentarily before turning my attention back to my friends
* * *
The day drags on, and Joaquín’s staring becomes a regular occurrence. It’s as if he’s trying to intimidate me and break me down. I do my best to keep my head high, walking with confidence through the hallways, knowing that I’m strong enough to deal with whatever he dishes out.
The last bell rings, and I gather my stuff to meet the girls at our lockers. I cut across campus, running up the steps to the hallway, and threw the door open. It’s dark in this old hallway; the musty smell of age hits my nose, and I cringe. Nobody is here yet.
Except him.
Leaning against his locker, Joaquín watches as I walk to my locker. I keep my head facing forward, turning the dial, and inputting my combination. The tickling sensation on the back of my neck hits me. His hot breath against my shoulder startles me, and I jolt forward.
“If I had to bet money, I’d say you’re probably a little slut, aren’t you, Gabriela? Did my mom give you any tips about whoring around now that she’s with your dad?” Joaquín’s vicious words strike a nerve, and I spin around to slap him.
He catches the wrist of my hand that’s cocked back to slap him. Reaching down, he grabs my other wrist, bringing both above my head. Pinned in place, he steps into my space, pressing his body against me.
“Your dad ruined my family.” He spits his words at me.
He blames me for this.
“I’m not responsible for the actions of my father. Just like I don’t hold you responsible for your mother.” I say, my voice shaking with nerves. “And for the record, I haven’t seen my dad or your mom. They took off, and moved an hour away to start over. He left us. Just like she left you.” I choke back the tears. “I’m hurting just as much as you are, Joaquín.”
“I’m going to have so much fun breaking you.” His grip on my wrists tightens as he pushes his body flush with mine. “And I will break you. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but by the time I’m done with you, you’ll hurt as much as I do.”
His dick’s hard and is pressing into my stomach. The way he’s hurting me and trapping me like this is turning him on.
“Hey, asshole! Let her go!” Cora shouts from down the hall. The sound of her sneakers smacking against the floor as she runs over echoes.
“We’re just having a little chat, aren’t we, Gabriela?” He tongue darts out to moisten his lips as he looks down at me, then pushes himself back, and drops my wrists. “See ya tomorrow.”
While he backs away and turns to head back to his locker, where his friends are waiting for him, I finally let out a breath.
“You okay? Do you want to go report him for touching you?” Cora pulls me into a hug. I watch him give me a menacing smirk as he backs out the door, flipping me off.
“No, I can handle it. He’s just a stupid boy. He’s hurting and using me as a punching bag in a way.”
Cora pulls back. “He hit you?”
“No. Like with his words. It’s nothing I can’t handle.” I say.
I can handle it, like with everything else in my life.