Two-Faced || Cesar Diaz

Chapter Fourteen

R O S A L I N A

I don't know what to say, because saying anything could be the wrong thing. Instead, I decide to turn it against him. It's all I feel that I can do. "What're you doing home, huh? Haven't seen you around here in awhile," I say with a slight attitude. His face changes for a split second before turning back to a scowl.

"This isn't about me, Rosalina. I've told you before countless times, stop hanging around that kid. I'm not gonna tell you again," he says before turning around and going out the door. For some reason, his words angered me more than they usually would. He can't just come in and out whenever he wants. He also can't control my life. He isn't my dad.

I get up and get run towards the door after him. As he's about to get in his car, I say something. "Javier," I say and he looks at me annoyed. I say slowly, clear enough for him to hear, "I'm gonna do whatever the fuck I want."

His face turns to confusion and then anger. He slams his car door shut and walks over to me. "What did you say?" he sneers.

"I really don't think I can be any clearer," I snicker. I stop when I feel a sting and my head turn to the right. I touch my face and pull my hand away. I look at Javier in front of me, the same face of anger still on his face. Not even an ounce of regret is shown. I can already feel myself shaking with rage.

"Fuck off. I liked it better when you weren't here at all; let's keep it that way," I say before turning around to go into the house. He grabs my wrist and turns me around.

"I'm not playing anymore, Rosalina," he warns.

"Oh yeah? Well neither am I," I say before punching him in the stomach. He bends over and groans. I turn around and walk into the house and shut the door behind me. Making sure to lock it. I peak out the window to see him walk back to his car, while holding his stomach.

He gets in and slams his fists on his steering wheel. He turns the car on and pulls out of the driveway. I watch until I can't see his car any longer.

A tear slips out of my eye but I quickly wipe it before going into the bathroom. I look in the mirror and my left cheek is tinted red.

He's such an asshole. He really isn't the person he used to be. I look at my cheek for a second longer before exiting the bathroom. I walk down the hallway before deciding to go into Javier's room.

It's surprisingly clean for it being his room. I look around and find some pictures on the top of his dresser. I walk over to it and look at them. There's one picture in particular that has all of us in it. Smiles on all of our faces, all of us together, happy.

I look at myself and I have one of the biggest smiles on my face. I really don't smile as much as I used to. I was so happy. It didn't even matter that I didn't have friends back then, my life was good.

I set the picture back face down on the dresser and as I'm about to leave his room, I see a sheet of paper sticking out from behind his dresser. I grab and unfold it. It's my suicide note. I skim over it. "Why was I so cringey?" I ask myself.

Like why did I even feel the need to even write this? Also, why does Javier even have this? I leave the room and take the note with me. Crumpling up the sheet of paper, I throw it away in my trash can in my room.

Seeing as I have nothing else to do, I turn my light off and lay down in my bed. All I ever do is sleep. I think I've had enough to last me a year. I should go for a walk tomorrow; finally get some fresh air.

I close my eyes and doze off.

***

I wake up to a knocking noise at my window. I grab my phone to check the time and it's a little before midnight. I put it back down and throw the blankets off of me. I walk over to my window and unlock it before laying back down.

"How'd you know it was me? It could've been a burglar," Cesar says climbing in.

"Burglars don't knock on windows," I sigh. He shuts and locks the window behind him.

"Fair point."

I cover myself back up and turn towards Cesar so I'm more comfortable. He gets under the covers and I wrap my arm around him. He puts his hand to my cheek before pulling back slightly.

"Your cheek is hot, Rosie," he says. He feels my other one.

"Yeah I know," I say before sitting up, "I should probably ice it."

"What happened? Did you leave the house at all today?" he asks putting a hand on my back.

"No, I literally never leave, Cesar," I laugh. I get out of bed before going to the bathroom. I grab a washcloth from the bathroom shelf. I run cold water and put the rag under it. I would put ice in a ziplock bag, but it gets too cold. I'd rather have a cold washcloth. It's just what I prefer.

"Then what happened? You couldn't have done that to yourself."

I don't know if I should tell him. He'd be mad, but it's not like he can do anything. "My brother," I simply say. I put the rag on my cheek before leaving the bathroom to go back to my room. Cesar follows behind me.

"Your brother," he says.

"Yeah." I lay back down in bed.

"What'd he do?"

"He told me to stop hanging around you, I said no. He said it again, and I said I was gonna do what I want. So he slapped me, then I punched him. Then he left, end of story," I say tiredly.

"That fucking ass-" he starts to say before I cut him off.

"Cesar, just stop. It's not like you can do anything about it. I don't need any protecting, I can handle myself. My brother just isn't the person he used to be, and I'm just going to have to live with that. The same way he's gonna have to live with the fact that I'm not the same person I used to be."

Cesar hugs me from behind. "Rosalina, you're one of the strongest people I know. I don't know how you do it," he kisses my head.

I don't know either.