Perfect
-It's beautiful. I love it! What is that?
-Mariam keeps moving from one side of the car to the other.
He asks and smiles. Happiness sweats from her pores. She is a little girl who has been smiling ever since she crossed the threshold of the airport. She is jovial, cheerful and terribly enthusiastic. At times I am barely able to answer. Blake looks at her in the rearview mirror and rolls his eyes. And although he tries to look annoyed, he seems delighted to have her in Madrid. The two of them are as alike as an egg and a chestnut. The one with hair as black as his eyes, is the typical boy capable of undressing you without words, however, Mariam is ethereal blonde and with eyes meadow hope in which evil would lose battles.
-And that?
-The Cibeles fountain.
-Cibeles?
-She is a Greek goddess. The mother of the Olympian gods. Legend has it that Hippomenes and Atalanta competed in a race. Hippomenes wishing for the grand prize that was Atalanta, made a golden apple fall calling her attention and making her lose the race. Both lovers were very happy. One day, carried away by passion, they fell in love in a temple of the goddess Cybele. Enraged, she transformed them into lions and bound them to pull her chariot forever.
-It can't be.
-I'm afraid so," I answer flippantly.
-But they loved each other.
-He cheated.
-All's fair in love.
-Not always," I replied like a profane old maid, having great fun watching her frown. He lied, the lie breaks everything.
-Anything goes in love. Blake stretches out his hand, resting it on my knee. Anything.
-Mariam confirms her brother's words.
-With you two, mythology goes to hell.
-But love triumphs.
The three of us laughed at Mariam's comment.
-Even though he is a legend, I feel very sorry for him.
-It's amazing how well you and your brother speak Spanish," I commented, changing the subject.
Mariam from the back seat raises her gaze to focus on Blake's black pupils.
-Since we were children we have been interested in Spain.
After that he didn't speak again. Strange considering he hadn't breathed since he got off the plane.
-Madrid is amazing," he says, closing the car door. Is this our car?
-Ours? Yes, it's mine.
-What I was saying. Our." Mariam winks at me. She's super funny.
Blake gets out of the car and guides us to the restaurant just ahead.
-Shall we eat here?
-We have a reservation," Blake said to the man at the door and to me.
I leave the Horcher sign behind while the man at the entrance is mesmerized by my gold-colored slippers. I get it. They are fabulous.
Mariam leads the way. I'm about to follow her when Blake's hand rests on my back. He guides me in a possessively adorable way. I turn my head back checking to see if everything was okay when he winks at me. He does it the same way as his sister. They are the same in gestures, but with completely different intensities. One is the sunshine of the day while the other is the madness of the silent night.
-So you'll be living at home? -Both of them stare at me with eyes as round as the plates on the table. I imagine you'll want to spend all your time with your brother," I say, swallowing the last piece of glazed onion.
-He is going to imprison me.
This time I'm the one with fried egg eyes.
-You will finish your studies in the best boarding school in Madrid. You will have the best teachers at your disposal. That's not exactly a prison.
-That's perfect," I replied in admiration.
-What I said, he will imprison me.
-We will see each other on weekends.
-But if you want, I can call you and we can go shopping together. I'd love to be friends.
-Mariam, don't be a pain.
-It's not," I say, replying with the same cheerfulness, "and yes, you can call me anytime. I'll be glad to. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to leave for a minute.
I'm about to stand up when Blake holds my hand. His gaze collides with mine before he speaks.
-Coffee?
-Yes, please." He still won't let go.
-Don't be long. He waits three eternal seconds before releasing me from his grip. I look at Mariam who keeps staring at us.
I run to the bathroom. To be disliked by a sister is the worst misfortune of all. Laura once fell in love with a guy who had a sister who didn't end up liking her very much. The poor thing scratched her tits for a week. The wretched girl put cactus thorns inside her sweater. Today I still don't understand how she managed to get so many. We were removing thorns with tweezers for fifteen days. I prefer not to remember it.
-! ! -When Mariam returned, she kept repeating it.
-Can you tell what's so perfect? -Blake rolls his eyes as I sit back with a smile on my face.
-Love," says Mariam, inhaling the aroma of a closed restaurant.
-So let's drink to the perfection of love? -I say, raising my coffee cup.
Mariam plays along, raising her cup of pennyroyal. Blake holds the glass of white wine. First, he clinks it with his sister, then with me.
-For our happiness," he says to Mariam. For the perfection of love," he says with a promising look.
Mariam hides her smile inside the teacup. I get it instantly. Twenty years against seventeen makes me three years more experienced. She's seen us and she knows it.