Lucian siguió a su padre hasta la oficina y se sentó con cierta inseguridad, como un empleado a punto de ser regañado por su jefe. Robert le dio la espalda por un momento que pareció eterno, y el muchacho creyó escuchar que respiraba profundo antes de volverse hasta él.
—¿Cómo va todo, hijo? —preguntó antes de sentarse.
Lucian se preparó para otro discurso en el que su padre le decía que había dejado de pasar tiempo con él y que lo compensaría por eso. Que le contara todo mientras, para estar al tanto. Solo que esta vez la mirada en sus ojos era distinta, como la de un animal salvaje conteniéndose.
Sabía que algo estaba mal. ¿Había escuchado su padre lo que le había dicho a Verde? No recordaba qué tono de voz había utilizado para decirle nada más y nada menos que la ayudaría a escapar.
Su inseguridad aumentó, sus nervios y el miedo hacían que su corazón latiera de prisa. La habitación se había vuelto más pequeña, como si se estuviera encogiendo alrededor suyo, quería huir.
—¿Lucian? —dijo su padre, sonriendo. Sacándolo de sus pensamientos.
—¿Qué sucede, papá?
—Iré al grano. No me has contado nada de la criatura con la que ahora pasas gran parte de tus días. No creo que haya ninguna diversión en sentarte a observar a esa cosa, ¿Verdad? Algo debe estar pasando, así que...
—Nada está pasando —respondió rápidamente, en cierto modo, ahora se sentía también enojado—. Si me disculpas, tengo que irme.
Lucian followed his father into the office and sat down somewhat uncertainly, like an employee about to be scolded by his boss. Robert turned his back on him for a moment that seemed like forever, and the boy thought he heard him take a deep breath before turning back to him.
-How's it going, son? -he asked before sitting down.
Lucian braced himself for another speech in which his father would tell him that he had stopped spending time with him and that he would make up for it. That he would tell him everything in the meantime, to stay in the loop. Only this time the look in his eyes was different, like that of a wild animal holding back.
She knew something was wrong. Had her father heard what she had said to Verde? She couldn't remember what tone of voice he had used to tell her nothing more and nothing less than that he would help her escape.
His insecurity increased, his nerves and fear made his heart beat in a hurry. The room had become smaller, as if it was shrinking around him, he wanted to run away.
-Lucian? -said his father, smiling. Bringing him out of his thoughts.
-What's wrong, Dad?
-I'll get to the point. You haven't told me anything about the creature you now spend so much of your days with. I don't think there's any fun in sitting and watching that thing, is there? Something must be going on, so....
-Nothing is going on," he replied quickly, in a way, now feeling angry too. If you'll excuse me, I have to go.
Hubiese sido capaz de levantarse sin pedir permiso y salir de la habitación, sin embargo, se quedó sentado. Por respeto, y porque aún no estaba seguro de que su padre no supiera nada más. Pensó que era un engaño, y que le prohibiría ver a Verde, pero solo levantó los brazos y lo dejó marchar.
Lucian pensó en despedirse de Verde y decirle que por precaución ya no la visitaría durante los próximos días, para no levantar sospechas. Sin embargo, su padre había abandonado la oficina y lo observaba.
Con esa mirada clavada en la espalda, Lucian abandonó las instalaciones grises, lleno de incertidumbre, miedo y un enojo que crecía a medida que avanzaba el tiempo.
Luego de eso los días transcurrieron con una normalidad abrumadora. Qué fácil era desacostumbrarse de esa normalidad cuando algo sorprendente ocurría. Lo único bueno que hallaba en ella era a Maryse, que había vuelto al colegio.
Los primeros días había hecho un gran esfuerzo por ser la Maryse que él conocía, y aunque no lo conseguía del todo y era entendible, ya se estaba acercando a lo que él recordaba.
Pero era él el que estaba actuando extraño, según la observación de su amiga. Y, en una partida de ajedrez, dejó de jugar y se lo quedó mirando fijamente.
—¿Qué? —le dijo.
—¿No me contarás lo que te sucede?
Lucian bajó la mirada, sin saber qué decir o cómo hacerlo. Iba a abrir la boca para decir que todo estaba bien, pero Maryse no lo dejó:
—Y no me digas que nada, porque te conozco. Ya ni siquiera estás pendiente de... Elizabeth, y mira que ocupabas mucho tiempo observándola...
—Las cosas cambian.
—Supongo que sí. Que las cosas cambiaron mientras yo no estuve aquí.
Se quedaron en silencio durante un rato y continuaron jugando como si no hubiese pasado nada. Fue el turno de Lucian de pausar el juego y mirar hacia abajo.
—No lo creerías —dijo finalmente.
—¿Qué?
—Lo que descubrí. Si te lo cuento me llamarás...
Pero Maryse le había puesto la mano en el brazo y lo miraba con seriedad, dejando que la frase muriera inacabada y con ella, la inseguridad que sentía. Sonrió por la conexión especial que tenía con ella, pero luego se puso serio.
A partir de ahora la involucraría en un mundo que ni él entendía, por ello estaba eligiendo cuidadosamente qué palabras utilizar. Si tenía suerte, Maryse no solo sería espectadora, sino que lo ayudaría con lo que se proponía hacer.
He would have been able to get up without asking permission and leave the room, however, he remained seated. Out of respect, and because he still wasn't sure that his father didn't know any better. He thought it was a bluff, and that he would forbid him to see Verde, but he just raised his arms and let him go.
Lucian thought about saying goodbye to Verde and telling her that as a precaution he would no longer visit her for the next few days, so as not to arouse suspicion. However, his father had left the office and was watching him.
With that look stuck in his back, Lucian left the gray facility, filled with uncertainty, fear and an anger that grew as time progressed.
After that the days passed with overwhelming normality. How easy it was to become unaccustomed to that normality when something surprising happened. The only good thing I found in it was Maryse, who had returned to school.
The first few days she had made a great effort to be the Maryse he knew, and while she wasn't quite succeeding and understandably so, she was already getting closer to what he remembered.
But it was he who was acting strange, according to her friend's observation. And, in a game of chess, she stopped playing and stared at him.
-What? -he said.
-Won't you tell me what's going on with you?
Lucian looked down, not knowing what to say or how to say it. He was about to open his mouth to say that everything was fine, but Maryse wouldn't let him:
-And don't tell me nothing, because I know you. You don't even pay attention to... Elizabeth, and you used to spend a lot of time watching her...
-Things change.
-I suppose so. That things changed while I wasn't here.
They were silent for a while and continued playing as if nothing had happened. It was Lucian's turn to pause the game and look down.
-You wouldn't believe it," he finally said.
-What?
-What I found out. If I tell you, you will call me....
But Maryse had put her hand on his arm and was looking at him seriously, letting the sentence die an unfinished death and with it, the insecurity he felt. He smiled at the special connection he had with her, but then turned serious.
From now on he would involve her in a world that even he didn't understand, so he was choosing carefully which words to use. If he was lucky, Maryse would not only be a spectator, but would help him with what he intended to do.
Pueden encontrar más partes de esta historia en mi blog 🌻 You can find more part of this story on my blog.