The sound of the front door opening jolts Imelda out of her thoughts. Héctor stands in the doorway, his eyes containing a blankness that worries her immediately. She notices the box clenched tightly in Héctor's right hand, which only escalates her concern because she knows what's inside.
Imelda wastes no time striding over to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him inside.
"What's wrong?" she asks him as she shuts the door.
Héctor looks at her dully for a second before he turns away, his posture tense.
Imelda steps in front of him, noticing his eyes rapidly filling with tears. She glances at his hand again. "You didn't give Ernesto your present," she tells him.
"I know," Héctor says abruptly, edge in his voice as looks away again.
Imelda regards him with concern. "Why didn't you give it to him?"
Héctor looks directly into her eyes, and Imelda can see his own eyes blazing with fury for reasons she doesn't understand.
Héctor sighs. "Ernesto wasn't there."
Imelda widens her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Héctor closes his eyes and goes still before drawing in a breath. "He's been forgotten."
Had this been another time, Imelda would've smiled and maybe possibly jumped in the air. Nothing thrills her more than something bad happening to Ernesto. It always puts her in a good mood.
But Héctor seems saddened by the news. His free hand squeezes his wrist. The tears in his eyes are finally let out. He barely takes a step before he staggers and loses his balance, falling into Imelda's arms. Imelda stands him up again.
"How did you find out?" she asks.
Héctor opens his eyes. "One of the security guards told me when I got there. I didn't want to believe it, but--" He trails off and starts to walk away from her. "How could this happen?" he whispers. "Why did it have to be him?"
"No one likes to remember a bad person," Imelda tells him. "He got what he deserved."
Héctor whips around. "He didn't deserve this." His voice is sharp, his eyes wide with anger.
Imelda stares at him. "Héctor--"
He cuts her of with a sharp stare. "Being arrested, having his performing privaliges taken-- that is enough. Ernesto does not deserve this when he's already been punished enough."
"Well that's how you see it." Imelda thinks this but says it aloud as well. She doesn't realize it until she sees Héctor's hand curling to a fist and him straightening his stance.
Imelda walks toward him. "Mi amor, please. Even you have to admit this is good for him."
Héctor doesn't reply. He turns away from her, walking toward the stairs with a brisk pace.
Imelda follows him. "Héctor, wait."
Héctor turns toward her. "I'm going to lie down for a little bit." Turning around, he wipes his eyes roughly before sprinting up the stairs, leaving Imelda alone as she watches him.
