Jazmin

Chapter 1. Part 6

Jazmin was walking anxiously around her house. She wondered what Lisa was going to say. She probably saw her with Pablo or maybe he told her everything and now their friendship was forever ruined. She had always had a dreadful fear of disappointing Lisa and therefore she always worked to maintain the best version of herself, to be the best possible best friend to Lisa. She didn't know what she would do without her, but she knew for sure that their friendship was over. Lisa would never forgive this.

-Lisa come on in sweetie- Jazmin's grandmother shouted from across the room- you are always getting skinnier. Are you hungry? I'm making your favorite, red beans and sausage.

- No, thank you, Nana, I just ate- said Lisa politely- Is Jazmin in her room? I really need to talk to her.

- She is waiting for you in the living room.

When Jazmin saw Lisa, she gave her a hug. She predicted this would be their last but was surprised when Lisa returned her embrace.

- I so need to talk to you Jaz- said Lisa with a hint of sadness and desperation in her voice- I have a problem, a huge problem

-What's up? – asked Jazmin, relieved of knowing that for now, their friendship was safe

-I have a cousin, Pablo, he is living with me. The situation was meant to be temporary. He had to sell his house because he won the visa lottery and is going to Spain, so he needed some money to start over there and buy the plane ticket. I never met the guy before, but he is family. I mean, he is nice and all, don't get me wrong, but things have gotten complicated.

-Wow, you had a whole secret family I didn't know about- said Jazmin mockingly- but what happened, why are things complicated now?

-Well, things have turned to shit. The embassy called and the process has been canceled. Apparently, a lot of Cubans have been faking papers to get Spanish citizenship and now they are punishing everyone.

-But he won the visa lottery, right?

-It doesn't matter Jaz; his papers are stopped indefinitely. And he doesn't have enough money to buy a place of his own. He is going to have to stay with me. I can't kick him out of the house, and he doesn't have anybody else. But I don't want to live with a cousin that I don't know. I feel so guilty Jaz. But I like to have my own autonomy, my own space and now he is going to be in my house always. He is never going to be able to move out.

-What about the money that he had saved? Can't he buy his old place back?

-No, he lost too much money on lawyers and transportation here.

-Maybe is not so bad Lisa, you have been too alone for too long. It's nice to have some family around

-But I don't know this guy Jaz. I don't really trust him or feel any kind of affection towards him.

-Have you talked to him about what he is going to do? Maybe he has a plan B?

-He Is devastated Jaz. We found out this morning and he hasn't moved from his bed. He has spent the whole morning in the same fetal position. He is like a zombie; he heard the news and just froze, went to bed and laid there. His eyes wide open, looking at the wall as if expecting the whole thing to be a nightmare

Jazmin didn't know what to tell Lisa. She felt her pain, this was going to be, without a doubt a major change. But at the same time, she felt happy. Could this mean that she and Pablo actually had a chance of being together? She felt incredibly hopeful. She hugged Lisa and assured her that if things got too bad, she could always spend the night, the week or the month at her house. Lisa laughed and asked if she was supposed to sleep next to her or her grandma. Jazmin's grandma entered the room with a plate full of beans, rice, and sausage and they ate quietly, knowing that everything would somehow work out.