Okay, again, thanks so much a million times for all the support from all of you. This chapter picks up from after Gerardo gave a 'talking to' to José with Alejandro trying to work out his frustration, emphasis on 'trying'. Enjoy!
({No POV})
It was several moments after Gerardo took José inside to chat as Alejandro just looked determined to block anything and everything out as he kept hitting the tire with the sledgehammer. But, some thoughts still managed to slip through the cracks...
You did sleep with her, correct? If not that would be quite pathetic after the amount of time you've been just as pathetically pining over her for in my opinion.
His eyebrows continued to knit together as his striked picked up in intensity.
Seriously? We sleep together once and you think that must mean I'm in love with you? How much of an egocentric jerk are you that you think that I'd feel that way about you from just that?!"
His swings became shorter and more rigid as his thoughts just continued to spiral.
You just show up to my parents house and cozy up to them and then pull this stupid DATE BULLSHIT!…
Stupid DATE BULLSHIT!...
DATE BULLSHIT!...
BULLSHIT!...
BULLSHIT!...
BULLSHIT!...
Alejandro scrunched his eyes and grit his teeth as he grunted before swinging the sledgehammer over his head one last time before throwing it out of his hands with force at the tire.
His breathing picked up as his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides, before taking one of his hands and running it through his hair and looking like he was trying to collect himself as he continued to scrunch his eyes.
He kept his hand in his hair and practically clenched his fingers into it out of his current internal tension until he heard, "Hijo?"
Alejandro whipped his head behind him, fully expecting to see his father giving him a look of total and complete displeased disappointment at everything that just happened… but; surprisingly, he didn't.
Instead Gerardo was regarding him rather neutrally as he put his arms behind his back.
Alejandro glanced away for a moment, putting his arms behind his back as well, before commenting bitterly and frustrated to the nth degree, "I'm assuming you're going to scold me like a child too?"
After several beats of silence between them, Gerardo stepped forward slightly.
"No… for you in this instance, scolding won't do any good. Personally, even I'm feeling rather stressed lately as well from work. Perhaps a walk, meal, and a drink or two with my son is just the ticket. Maybe we could walk to Nuestra Casa together? A little father-son bonding over an early dinner and some drinks?" Gerardo suggested calmly and smoothly with a smirk.
Alejandro tilted his head in total confusion at his father, not understanding why he was suggesting it… and also why he was saying son in the 'singular sense'?
He continued to give his father a look as he inquired, "Walk? Isn't Nuestra Casa a 45 minute walk from here?"
Gerardo shrugged before responding, very matter of fact and smooth, "Well, it is a pleasant evening. A nice long walk to me is just what's needed now and it's still a bit early. This way we can build up an appetite and take our time."
Alejandro's confused state continued to contort as he asked, not that he cared… especially now after what just occurred, "And José?"
Gerardo shrugged and explained, though an obvious tinge of displeasure came through in his voice, "Your brother is staying here to… sort himself out. He can have dinner on his own."
"But, doesn't Isobel have the night off?" Alejandro recalled, remembering his mother mentioning that before she left earlier.
"That is correct." Gerardo answered simply.
"Then what's Josè going to do for dinner?" Alejandro inquired, still completely confused by everything that was happening.
"Your brother is a grown man with two perfectly good hands to make his own dinner or he can order it himself elsewhere… and if he doesn't like it, then he can lump it." Gerardo said spitefully to himself at the end, making Alejandro's eyes go wide at his father's words.
Until, for the first time in almost two weeks, Alejandro actually smirked to himself for a second.
Gerardo then walked to their back gate and opened it before motioning to it and saying, "But, never mind that. I could go for a nice bowl of gazpacho right about now. They always make it so well there. My treat."
Alejandro, though still hesitant and slightly confused, finally walked out the gate with his father.
The two started off on their constitutional together before Gerardo put a hand on his son's shoulder, causing Alejandro to to halt his step and look over to his father.
"So, since we appear to have this long and pleasant walk ahead of us… I think there have been some things you haven't been telling me?" Alejandro's demeanor immediately tensed up as he looked anywhere but at his father, clearly trying not to acknowledge the obvious subject… despite it being the only thing on his mind, well one facet of it in particular despite everything.
"Alejandro, now normally I would consider this as something entirely none of my business since you are a grown man and your life is entirely your own affair; however, considering I have been more than helpful to you with loaning you my car and lending you the lake house keys no questions asked in your recent pursuit and after what I overheard on the deck just now… I believe as your father, I'm at least warranted a little insight at this point, wouldn't you say?" Gerardo pressed slightly, giving Alejandro a slight yet stern glance out of the corner of his eye.
They both proceeded to walk in silence until Alejandro finally let out a sigh mixed with a grunt, his expression nothing but frustrated before snidely commenting, "I don't think any amount of time or patience is sufficient for explaining this."
"Well, it's quite a long walk… perhaps, let's start with that, sí?" Gerardo started, motioning his hand ahead of them.
The two proceeded to walk as Alejandro debated for a second… well, until he realized he wasn't going to get out of this as his father kept looking at him expectantly.
50 minutes later
Alejandro and his father kept sitting at their table at the Spanish restaurant their family tended to frequent for a taste of home on occasion.
Gerardo looked at his son wide eyed after Alejandro explained the recent events over the past couple months to his father.
Everything from him realizing how he felt about Heather, to his plan of getting her to go out with him, and (though subtly) how things went awry between them after their little getaway and tryst at the lake house.
Gerardo looked thoughtful and almost taken aback for a moment before finally sighing and running a hand through his hair, making even someone as calm and cool as Alejandro nervous since his father was one of the few people aside from Heather that he had a hard time understanding.
Though Heather was just a completely different story from Alejandro's perspective.
But, his father?... He never knew how his father would react to things.
Though a very calm and collected man, Gerardo was always a man of mystery who always held very high and particular standards on things. Yet he also surprised Alejandro at the same time with how he expressed certain opinions, such his father's approval when it came to his involvement with Heather for example that he still had a very hard time comprehending why that was.
So, Alejandro felt within his rights to feel somewhat skeptical about what his father was going to say… or even do?
Gerardo traced his fingers over his goatee in deep thought for a moment before looking to Alejandro and saying, "Alejandro, I want to make some things clear before I'm going to say what I'm about to say to you, sí?"
Alejandro gave his father a skeptical look for the umpteenth time that evening as he tilted his head before finally nodding for his father to proceed.
"Now son… you have always been a very intelligent and diligent young man. Whether it was your studies or your extracurricular activities, you always strived to be the best and prove that you were and I have always been immensely proud of you for that. Though your brothers also carry that determination, yours in particular has always reminded me the most of myself when I was a young man. Just as your mother always tells you whether it's your looks or your personality, you are your father's son. And I'm proud to admit that. However, also like myself at your age and as much as I'm sorry to be harsh, but you are…"
"A fool?" Alejandro cut in matter of factly, quirking up an eyebrow and making Gerardo immediately go wide eyed.
It looked as if Gerardo was about to question how his son knew what he was going to say until Alejandro elaborated, "I know what you think about me. That night almost 2 years ago when you thought I was asleep, I heard what you told mamá about what you thought of me and my actions on the show. Every… last… word of it."
Gerardo, though still trying to maintain his usual level of seemingly unwavering composure, went wide eyed at what his son just filled him in on.
It was silent for several moments between them before Gerardo cleared his throat and started, "Well… I apologize for you having to hear all that in that way, but…" "Don't... because you were right." Alejandro interrupted, his tone almost cryptically even and flooring Gerardo even more.
But, Gerardo had no time to respond as the server brought drinks to the table.
Almost on cue as they left, Alejandro continued, "I mean it. You were right. I was practically enraged when you first said it, but after watching everything and practically losing sleep over it… I couldn't deny it. I was a damn fool. There were so many things I could have done in that moment that make me feel like a complete idiota looking back on it. Mostly that I should have thrown that damn mannequin into the volcano when I had the chance. Then I could have won. I could have had everything! I could have even had …"
Alejandro's entire demeanor immediately tensed up as a stream of thoughts engulfed him.
Everything from when he and Heather had that exchange in Central Park, actually having their first proper conversation without being at each other's throats on the plane during the London challenge, their little moment in first class (at least before Heather pushed him away), their kiss on top of the volcano in Hawaii… and then spiraling into him thinking of their make out sessions in the creek and her room before his mind finally settled on and practically almost taunted him with them being together at the lake house in more ways than one.
It was clear Alejandro was letting himself practically get consumed in his thoughts as Gerardo continued to observe this in absolute intrigue until after a few moments he finally commented, taking advantage of his son's rare translucent state, "You really are in love with her… aren't you?"
Alejandro's eyes went wide, his father's words pulling him out of his head. He grimaced slightly, debating for a moment if he really wanted to talk about this particular subject with his father.
Until… Alejandro looked like he had a twinge of defensive energy overtake him as he started, "Yes, I love Heather. And I don't care what anyone else says or thinks otherwise. Because don't think I don't see exactly what everyone else thinks of me. That everyone thinks I'm absolutely loco. Mother does and Carlos probably does. José practically mocks and teases me for it. And…"
"Hijo…" Gerardo interjected, cutting off his son's defensive tirade, before continuing while trying to keep his tone calm, "Now son… Is there any way you can express yourself to me a bit more civilly on this subject, particularly without any more unnecessary cheek toward me?"
Gerardo quirked up an expectant eyebrow at his son while Alejandro looked like he was almost forcing himself to calm down before saying, scrunching his eyes shut as he let out a strained sigh for a moment, "Fine… then I will be honest when I admit that I am completely in love with her. Even after everything, I just… I just can never seem get her out of my mind. And… I don't even care. It took me trying to get revenge a couple months ago to finally see it and to stop being an absolute fool like I was the first time. To me, she's all that matters. She may be too insufferably stubborn to admit it, but I know she feels the exact same way about me. That's why I had to do something..."
"So that's why you came up with that plan to have her date you with that possible ultimatum?" Gerardo surmised, still regarding his son with a focused and intrigued yet unreadable look.
"I had no choice. She gave me no choice. Heather's just… ugh, she just always has to make everything so difficult constantly. Dios mío, she drives me absolutely insane! I know she feels the exact same way about me, but she always keeps shoving me away and constantly treats my feelings as if they mean nothing to her despite the fact I can see right through it. Why is it so damn hard for her to just admit how she feels about me?! I just… ugh, dammit..." Alejandro said, through his teeth in absolute frustration while trying to keep his voice down to avoid disturbing other customers around them in the restaurant.
He continued his look of frustration until Gerardo said, "Alejandro, mijo… I do not doubt your feelings for her just as I don't doubt what you just said regarding her feelings toward you. However, if you think you are no longer a fool, then you have learned nothing from your past errors. Because in my view after what you just divulged to me... you are still just as much a fool now as you were then."
Alejandro's eyes went wide as he snapped subtly through his teeth, "Pardon?"
"Again, Alejandro, I don't think you are unintelligent in the slightest. However, you always seem to overlook the most obvious things, particularly in this instance with Heather. When the two of you were 18 and you paused on the volcano with her or when you had her voted out early on in the game a couple months back, what were you thinking? I'd honestly like to know… because personally to me there is no other answer aside from your own arrogant foolishness." Gerardo said, making Alejandro look like he was about to open his mouth to protest.
Well until Gerardo put his foot down and continued, "Don't deny it. You've always been one to plan ahead, son. However you always seem to plan for the wrong things when it comes to what's actually important to you. You told me yourself on the way here that you told Heather you wanted to just forget everything in the past and move forward… and that's precisely where you're wrong. If anything from my perspective, what the two of you desperately need is to acknowledge what's happened between you in order to move anywhere at all. What you and her need more than anything is to talk to each other."
After a moment, Alejandro let out an indignant scoff before commenting, "Talk? To Heather? You are aware of who we're discussing?"
"I'm serious, son. Now I know your young lady is a bit of a tough nut to crack, but…" Gerardo started until Alejandro rolled his eyes and cut in, "Tough nut? More like an impenetrable, cold anti-emotional wall. Heather Wilson does not ever want to talk, which was why I did what I had to do with her because she gave me no other choice."
"Only because you won't let her give you other choices since you fail to see true sense. Son… I know you love her and I could see that especially from earlier when you defended her as you did. Which I respect you for as a man defending a woman's honor. However, you can't force 'love' into a situation and demand it. No one chooses to fall in love and you in particular were dealt quite a difficult hand with her on that front from the start. Heather is a very hardened young woman and seems very emotionally closed off. On top of that and from what little I've seen of her personally, she's quite strong and stubborn with sticking to her ways."
Alejandro scoffed again and responded sarcastically, "Yes, go on. Tell me something I don't already know."
Gerardo; however, immediately leaned closer and looked his son right in the eye as he responded, "But, that's the point. She was like that to begin with, but after everything that happened between the two of you in the past… you and her need to have a serious talk between the two of you as equals. Not a forced one by one party. You laid out your feelings to her… now it is up to her to come to you."
"Oh, and when will that be? The way I see it, I'd be better off waiting for a rock to speak to me rather than Heather. Considering there is no talking when it comes to Heather. So tell me. When?" Alejandro retorted, still looking beyond frustrated and annoyed with his entire situation.
"When she is good and ready to. While I will concede that there are many varieties of successful relationships, but all of them are based on honesty between the two individuals involved. If she really feels the same way about you as well, like you say and think she does… then she will come to you. But that is her choice to make and her choice only. If you love her, then you must give her time." Gerardo expressed, giving his son a nod.
Alejandro looked frustrated, puzzled, and almost confounded to the nth degree as he processed everything.
It remained quiet between them until Gerardo said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to use the facilities while we have a moment."
Gerardo started to stand until Alejandro finally said, "Father? Before you go I just need to ask you one thing."
When Gerardo looked back to his son, he was almost surprised to see a look of almost curiosity in his eyes.
Gerardo tilted his head as he inquired, "Sí?"
"Everyone else thinks I'm completely insane for how I feel about Heather, except you… why?" Alejandro asked, not even attempting to beat around the bush.
It was a silent standoff for a couple moments until Gerardo said, wringing his hands a little, "Well, while I don't want to completely divulge everything, I will be honest when I say that I do think you and her seem to be very 'well matched' from what little I've seen."
Alejandro's eyes widened as he took that in as Gerardo stood up to use the bathroom, almost not believing what his father just admitted to him until his disbelief stretched even further as Gerardo put a hand on his shoulder.
"And just between us and while I'm aware it's still very early days for the two of you... But, I do hope both of you work through things. Because if there's ever a point where a necklace is in the future for her, then you'll hear no argument from me." Gerardo expressed, motioning to the long horn necklace around his neck with his free and proceeded to give his son a smirk and a wink before patting him on the shoulder a couple times and then made his way to the bathroom across the restaurant.
Meanwhile Alejandro was practically in an uncharacteristic state of shock as his eyes went wide at what his father just admitted to him just now, particularly by basically telling Alejandro exactly the extent of his approval toward his involvement with Heather.
Alejandro continued to sit there in shock, taking advantage of the solitude at the table to take in everything that was just said.
Well, looks like Alejandro got a bit of a 'reality check' of his own this chapter… as well as finding out exactly how much his father approves of him being with Heather if you guys were able to catch my drift on how Gerardo worded it. Though why exactly you say?… but more on that later. ;) More importantly though, I really wanted to highlight Alejandro's flaws with his pettiness and arrogance just like I displayed Heather's with her absolute denial and bad attitude in the previous chapter because this is something that I believe most Aleheather shippers agree on deep down… Yes, even though we love their relationship for how perfectly twisted and ridiculous they are together… it's that both Alejandro and Heather really have a lot to sort out between them. As much as both of them, especially Alejandro, want to just ignore the past… they have WAY too much 'emotional baggage' to just be ignored between them that they seriously need to talk through if they ever have a snowflake's chance in hell of being together in a serious relationship. And I really thought Gerardo, being the 'tough love' father I made him to be, was just the person to tell Alejandro that he can't force anything to happen between himself and Heather unless if that's also what Heather wants as well. C'mon Alejandro! I know both you and Heather like to play your little frustratingly hilarious 'mind games' with each other, but even you can't just treat everything like a game. Truth sucks sometimes, Al! Haha. But… what about Heather at this point you may ask? Stay tuned for the next installment! ;) Anyway, thanks for reading so much as always and constructive reviews are always appreciated very much. Hope you all are continuing to stay well!
Stay classy all!
Dexter1995