Héctor stares at his reflection in shock. He's in him and Imelda's bedroom again, sitting in front of the vanity mirror that faces their bed. Wringing his hands as he stares, it occurs to him that he hardly looks or acts like himself anymore. If his parents saw him like this, they would be shocked-- sad, even, because the one thing that always tore them up was to see Héctor like this. He gazes at himself, noticing how his apperance has changed.
His hair looks untamed and frizzy, sticking out at all different places. It's nothing like the way he perfers to keep it, where only a few strands fall out of their place. His eyes are vacant and unreadable, which catches him off guard because his eyes are usually the part of his face that's bursting with emotion. His mouth is a straight line.
Héctor continues to stare at himself, his hands dropping to his sides and squeezing the sides of the chair he sits in.
A memory comes to him suddenly: him and Ernesto when they were kids, watching Ernesto consider his apperance before leaving to hang out with his friends. Héctor had stood in Ernesto's doorway, watching as Ernesto narrowed his eyes, shaking his head and messing with his hair for what seemed like the millionth time. It was after Imelda beat him up, when he still had scratches around his eyes and mouth that were just starting to disappear.
How do I look, amigo? Ernesto had asked him. Héctor had said he looked amazing, trying to get Ernesto's nervousness to go away.
You look like you always do, Héctor told him. You look like a Superhero.
Even though it was many, many years ago, Héctor still remembers Ernesto's groan as he'd continued to mess up his hairstyle.
Turning away from the mirror, Héctor stares out the window at Ernesto's mansion. He crosses his arms as he looks, a sudden feeling of frustration welling up inside of him.
Why are you being like this? It shouldn't bother you this much. You're being dramatic. You were mad at Ernesto, remember? He's getting what he deserves.
Yet somewhere inside of him Héctor knows that that isn't entirely true. Ernesto had done enough suffering in prison. Why add to the list? That's what hurts the most, because even though Ernesto deserved his punishment, even the most wretched person in the world doesn't deserve to be forgotten.
The bedroom door opens, startling Héctor and causing him to jump. He turns and finds Oscar standing in the doorway. Héctor turns away from him. He hears footsteps behind him, and then and a hand on his shoulder.
"Héctor, please. Turn around."
Héctor reluctantly obeys, standing up and staring Oscar down.
"What do you want?" His voice is hard and sharp, and it barely sounds like his own. He starts to walk away, towards him and Imelda's bed. He sits down and crosses his arms. Suddenly he's no mood for conversation.
But Oscar doesn't get the message. He sits down next to Héctor and stares at him, shrugging. "I just thought I'd talk to you," he says.
Héctor huffs and rolls his eyes. "I don't feel like talking right now."
Oscar's tone is a mix of patience and understanding, which only increases Héctor's ire.
"I get it. You're upset--"
Something snaps inside of Héctor right then. He doesn't even realize his change in mood until he feels the air around him rise in temperature. He bolts up and glowers at Oscar as he clenches his fists. "You want to see me upset?!"
Oscar widens his eyes and holds up his hands. "Héctor, calm down."
"No!" Héctor's voice is loud. He points at Oscar sharply. "You don't know what it feels like experiencing something like this. Don't tell me to calm down when you hardly understand how I'm feeling." He takes in a shaky breath and lowers his voice. His voice, just like his body, is starting to shake. "I never wanted this to happen. Ernesto has suffered enough already. This is too much."
Oscar sighs and pulls Héctor back, forcing him to sit down again. His expression is concerned. They sit in silence for a moment before Oscar starts to speak again.
"Remember when Felipe and I would make jokes about Ernesto?"
Héctor stares at him strangely. "Why are you--"
Oscar interrupts him. "Do you remember?" he repeats, staring at Héctor intently.
Sighing, Héctor nods. "They made him mad," he says. "You two were lucky to get away with it. Sometimes he chased after you."
Oscar grins. "We always got away. He could never catch up to us."
Héctor shakes his head. "The only reason you got away is because I held him back. Had it not been for me, you two would've been in a lot of trouble."
Oscar laughs, putting an arm around Héctor once he stops.
Héctor looks away for a moment as silence fills the room again. "I miss my Superhero."
"I know you do." Oscar folds his hands and sighs. "But you can't do anything about it. You know what I want? I want you to start acting like yourself again."
Héctor stares at him and doesn't respond.
After a while Oscar stands up. "How about we go to El Beso Cantina again?"
"Why?"
Oscar helps Héctor stand. "I can't bring Ernesto back, but I can take you to his favorite place again. Besides, I like watching you dance." He cracks a grin. "Your moves are terrible."
Despite how much that comment stings, Héctor finds himself laughing. "Fine," he says. "We can go again. But only for a short time. I guess it wouldn't really hurt, and it might be fun."
Oscar nods and starts to walk ahead of him. "It will be. Let's go."