Sorry I made you cry, Mere…I don't know how to take that…as a compliment or something else. xDD
Aw, I won't be better than some others, pizzachic. :) But thanks for that~
Chapter Eighteen
When he arrived at his hometown in the city of Madrid, everyone stared at him, and news of his return had spread like wildfire. It was all in the papers the next day.
He'd moved into Pearle's new home, somewhat smaller than he'd expected—no, scratch that—it was smaller than he'd expected. It was too cozy for a Maserati like her; she should have been living in a mansion, like the ones they used to live in as children. He wondered mildly what got into her mind for her to live like this.
In the weeks that passed, he once again got to know what she had become: a hardworking businesswoman who's turned on a new leaf in terms of love. In the previous years, she'd had only one or two steady boyfriends after Miguel, and had reported she hadn't been touched since she successfully had no children.
Soon enough, a bullfight had been scheduled in Pamplona's own dozer ring, and Pearle had reserved seats.
"I thought you might want to watch," she said sheepishly.
And then, they were seated in the coliseum-like infrastructure, watching.
Miguel enjoyed every bit of it, remembering his former career, right until the tercio de muerte, literally translated as 'third of death' or 'death third': the third and killing phase of a full-blown, Spanish-style bullfight. Much to his surprise, a car in black and gold and another in dark red and gold entered the ring as a pair. The black one smiled confidently, the other in red much more meekly. And what surprised him more was that, in the announcement, it was Tercio and Benedicto.
The whole of the female crowd screamed assent as their gazes scanned the audience. Even Pearle couldn't suppress a squeak.
Fifteen minutes, he thought. He only had to wait fifteen minutes, and then it would be over. Yet, it was one of the worse fifteen minutes he ever sat in, but also one of the best, watching his old friends weaving past each other as they played with the released dozer. Miguel couldn't help shouting ¡olé! in his anticipation as he watched.
As the show ended spectacularly, the crowd dispersed, but Miguel remained, heading 'backstage'.
"But you can't go in there! They aren't allowed to see anyone," Pearle told him, but he didn't listen. When he'd reached the so-called changing rooms, he not only heard squeaks and female voices, but his own friends', both laughing and crooning. Miguel opened the door to find Tercio, Benedicto, and two other girls.
"Tercio, Benedicto!" Miguel gasped.
"Miguel?" Tercio called. "How long as it been?"
"Too long, my friends!" Miguel replied, and the three friends exchanged greetings.
"Is that Miguel Camino?" one of the girls squeaked.
"The one and only," Benedicto replied, quiet pride in his voice.
"Wow," the youngest one said in awe.
"And who are these very beautiful ladies?" Miguel asked smilingly. But his expectation that the girls would giggle didn't come true, and soft-spoken Benedicto stepped forward, stance defensive.
"They're, er, fans," he replied.
"And close friends," Tercio added quickly.
Miguel blinked, surprised. "What? I'm confused."
"Ladies, will you excuse us a moment?" Tercio asked gently, and the women left. The black and gold car stepped forward. He breathed deeply before speaking. "Don't be mad, but…they're…they're our girlfriends," he said slowly."
"I…I thought you both vowed you'd be bachelors forever?" Miguel asked.
"Yeah, but…" Tercio seemed to weigh his words carefully. "…but life gets boring when you're alone."
Miguel nodded, knowing all too well. "So, how did you, er, meet?" He almost said, 'end up with them'.
"We-el, they were fangirls at a party, so…." Benedicto sighed, gazing into space. "I still remember the day I met Madge."
Tercio's eyes took on the same look. "It was weird, don't you remember?" he murmured. "Imagine, sisters!"
Benedicto chuckled. "I'm kind of glad you took up Raquel; I imagined she was a challenge."
The door burst open. "I thought you liked challenges!" the youngest girl spoke again, and Miguel now took not of her English accent.
"Oh, Madge," Benedicto called affectionately. "Only in a fight do I like challenges." He kissed her fender slightly. "But out of it, I like to relax."
Madge squeaked slightly before nuzzling him back.
The other car, who Miguel assumed was Raquel, sided by Tercio. "And you?"
Tercio only laughed. As he settled, his eyes were playful. "You know challenges are my style." Raquel giggled at Tercio's low growl.
"Guys?" Miguel interrupted awkwardly. "Care to introduce?"
"Sorry, Rodrigo," Tercio apologized smilingly. "This bella flor of mine"—he nuzzled Raquel slightly—"is Raquel."
"And this is her sister Margaret," Benedicto added, voice proud and affectionate as he stared at Madge.
"How long have you been together?"
"Er…six months?" Tercio mused.
"Each?"
"Well, yeah," Benedicto shifted uncomfortably. "I mean, we did meet them at a party, after all."
Miguel swallowed, realizing the turn of events. Tercio's and Benedicto's words and stories all seemed like an omen, and the world he left, the world he forced away, came surging back, into his vision, in a rush. A fresh wave of hurt sliced through him, making him frown.
"Miguel?" Tercio called out, and Miguel snapped back to reality. "You alright?"
Rodrigo blinked. He hadn't noticed his horrified expression. "Yeah," he said quickly. "I'll be fine."
Benedicto tipped his front slightly to the side. "How come you don't have anyone with you?" he asked.
"Oh, she's outside," he said quickly. Outside Spain, to be exact, he added silently, remorsefully.
Tercio nodded. "I predict you found love before we did."
"Well…maybe."
Tercio and Benedicto burst into laughter. "You always were a favorite of the ladies, Rodrigo!" Benedicto called laughingly.
Miguel could only put on a cold smile, irritated. Was that how his friends saw him: a flirt? "But that doesn't mean I have a favorite among the ladies."
The friends stopped laughing, and Miguel's smile faded. The golden grand tourer's front bowed as he closed his eyes.
"Oh, Rodrigo…" Benedicto murmured sadly.
"Something tells me you're not telling us everything," Tercio said, tone straightforward. There was a pause of confirmation. "Don't you trust us?"
"It's not that guys, I…" He paused, sighing inwardly. "I was afraid you'd judge me. Just as the media, the women, have judged me…just as I'd judged Margo.
Tercio and Benedicto exchanged bewildered glances, before the former stepped forward. "You're our friend, Rodrigo. We won't judge you for a million euros."
Miguel smiled at Tercio. "Just one million?"
The friends laughed. "Well…you get the point."
"So really, what's going on?"
Miguel blinked, pausing. "You guys remember Pearle, do you?"
The friends gasped. "You…you hooked up with Pearle?"
"Well…not in that sense," he stammered.
"Rodrigo, hadn't you known?" Benedicto whispered. "Pearle is Navarre's biggest"—he swallowed—"slut."
Miguel's eyes widened. "What!" he whispered in shock.
"How do you even know about that!" Madge cried out.
"Well, when we go drinking with the boys, well…" Benedicto stammered, trailing off. "It's not what it is, I swear!"
"Believe me, we're more intimidated by those kinds of girls than anyone else," Tercio grumbled in anger. "We were ambushed once, it scared us half to death."
"What happened?"
"At a performance," Tercio replied loudly. "How else?"
"H-how did she turn out this way?"
"No-one really knows," Benedicto replied softly. "They say she left home for it. "Others claim she was kicked out." The red and gold matador trembled before he stared at Miguel, brown eyes fierce. "Miguel, she'll only betray you again."
Miguel nodded at the revelation. If Pearle did love me, she'd tell me.
"So, are you with Pearle?" Tercio asked.
"Well, no idea," he replied. "After this, well…"
Someone gasped, and everyone stared at Raquel, her eyes wide. "How can you stay with her?"
"It's his decision, Raquel," Tercio told her gently, although Miguel could see uncertainty in his eyes.
"But Tercio, this is a woman who takes advantage of men," he squeaked. "What if, just because he's your friend, you got…."
"I won't, mi corazón," Tercio replied lovingly. "I won't."
Miguel noticed the exchange with a heavy heart. Out of instinct and habit he wished Margo was here now, talking happily with Tercio and Benedicto upon introduction. But then, he realized, he couldn't wish for her now; he was the one who left.
Was this how Pearle felt nearly thirteen years ago? He didn't know, but he was pretty sure it was.
"Oh, hey, amigos, I better go," Miguel told them. "It's getting late, and you guys might be tired."
Benedicto blinked. "Not really," he said, glancing at Madge. He winked at her, and the young girl giggled shyly.
"That's the dirtiest thing I've ever heard you say, Benedicto," Tercio commented laughingly, and Benedicto shrugged. "Go ahead, Rodrigo," Tercio turned o Miguel, his deep blue gaze gentle.
The golden grand tourer nodded before heading for the door. Tercio followed to close the panel, but not before murmuring, "Good luck deciding, Miguel."
Miguel jerked around to find Tercio smiling knowingly at him before closing the door. Miguel shook his front as he turned, smiling. He sighed. Tercio had a way of knowing things, right from the start.
And then, as he drove home, his mind wandered to wonder if he should confront Pearle about his findings. He told himself no; he knew she would show her true colors soon enough.
But why did he have the gut feeling something else would help him decide?
