Episode 2

I arrive home soaked and go up to my room. When I enter, I find my stepsister sitting on my bed.

"Just look at you, you'll never find a husband like that. On the other hand, I've already received many marriage proposals, but there was one in particular: Limber, fighting over me. Can you believe it? When before he only saw you, he only looked for you."

"Good for you. Now, get out of my room so I can rest," I tell her, and she gets up, passing by my side.

"When Fernando proposes to me, I'll clear the way for you with Limber. That way, at least, you can say you'll be with the only man who has ever loved you, if he even pays attention to you, since you're not up to his standards."

She keeps walking and slips on the water dripping from my clothes, screaming exaggeratedly. My stepmother is quick to arrive, angry.

"I only came to give her the news and she pushed me. Look at her, mother, how she arrived. Who knows who she was with or where she went to come back like this."

"Estrella, I don't care if you get married. I don't care what you do. As far as I'm concerned, leave the house that my parents built with so much effort," I shout at her, and I feel the slap my stepmother gives me.

"This house is mine now," she says through clenched teeth, and Estrella gets up with a smile. My stepmother leaves, and with a push, I throw Estrella out of my room.

"Not for long," I shout at her, closing the door.

"See, she pushed me," I hear Estrella complain in her spoiled voice. They knock on the door and I lock it. They try to open it, but they don't know that when they weren't around, I changed the lock. This is my room, the only place where I feel safe. Sometimes I want to run away, but that's what they want, and I won't give them the pleasure.

I change in the bathroom and take out the payment I received today. Tomorrow I'll take it to the bank to save it. I lie down to sleep and on my nightstand I see the photo of my parents. I wipe away my tears and today is a day when I cover up my father's photo.

I wake up to my alarm and wash up, changing quickly, putting my work clothes and a uniform shirt in my bag. Now, with Estrella here, I don't plan to come back. From school I'll go to work. I leave almost running and when I get to school, I go to my classes. I don't talk to anyone. When classes are over, I go to the bank, where I deposit my money, and in the late afternoon I go to the club. I change as always.

I knock, entering a room, and ask them what they'll have. I feel a very penetrating gaze, but for me it's almost normal. I take note, leaving, and return with the bottles. I leave them on the table and when I leave, I bump into a tall person.

"I'm sorry, sir," I say.

"Fernando Linares, nice to meet you," he says, and I remember Estrella talking about him.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Lulu."

"I told you my real name. Why don't you tell me yours?" he asks me, and my eyes widen.

"That is my name."

"That name doesn't go with such a beautiful face," he whispers, and I squeeze the tray.

"Have a good night, Mr. Linares," I say, and walk away quickly.

Just before finishing my shift, they call me to take more bottles to Mr. Linares' private room. I enter and he is sitting alone.

"Can you tell me which bottle you want?"

"One that you recommend. And I want your company."

"Sir, I think you know more about bottles than I do. And about my company, it won't be possible, since there are staff for that."

"Charge whatever you want, I'll pay it."

"It's not about that."

"I just want to talk. I'm not asking for much."

"It's not possible. Now, if you'll excuse me, I can ask the bartender for the best bottle to bring it to you."

"Alright, thank you," he says, and I leave to get the bottle. I enter, leaving it on the table. He looks at me and I try to avoid it, since I don't want him to recognize me when he marries Estrella, if they find out that the stepsister works in a place like this, he won't want to marry her, and it's not for them, but then I'll always have them at home. I'm grateful that it's half dark.

"Are you very young?" he says, while I serve him.

"When there are needs, that's the least of it."

"Are you underage?" he asks me with the glass in his hand and a cigarette in the other.

"I'm of legal age."

"Do you get the tip that I leave you every time I come here?" he says, so he's the one who leaves them.

"Yes, Mr. Linares, thank you very much."

"I've been coming here for years and the first time I saw you was a year ago. I thought you were the daughter of a worker," he says, and I look at my watch, noticing that my departure time has already passed.

"Well, I'll leave you now since it's my departure time."

"Am I boring you?"

"My boyfriend always waits for me at the exit to go together," I lie, and he nods.

I leave, changing, and say goodbye to the boss. I leave the bar waiting for a taxi, but none pass. I have no choice but to start walking. I appreciate my comfortable sneakers for this occasion. I walk two blocks and hear the honk of a car that slows down next to me. With my headphones, I pretend not to notice, but I always try to be aware of what's happening around me. I feel someone grab my shoulder and I turn, taking off my headphones.

"Can I give you a ride? After all, I delayed you," Mr. Linares says, looking for something.

"Thank you, but no, and don't worry, I live nearby," I tell him.

He laughs and I realize why.

"Make up another excuse. Only the children of the great families live here. And your boyfriend? Did he run away? Why don't I see him?"

"I'll try not to sound rude, but I see that you insist. Here I go: You are a stranger to me. I would never get into a stranger's car. I tried to be nice to you, but you still don't understand. Now, if you want to go complain to my boss, do it," I say, turning my back to him.

When a taxi passes, I raise my arm to stop it and get in. I arrive at the house, enter the gate area and walk to the house. I notice a car parked that is very similar to Mr. Linares'. They changed the lock. I go around to where my window is and there is a rusty ladder hidden among the ivy. I climb up, since my father made it at the time. I climb in through the window and notice that my room is all messed up. I leave my bag, noticing that the door is broken. They opened it by force. I leave angry, heading to the living room, but I am stopped by the voices.

"Of course, Mr. Linares, we were expecting you. My daughter has been waiting for you for days," my stepmother says, and rather they were urged by why he came.

"Mother, what will Mr. Linares think of me?" Estrella says, and I want to make fun of her.

"I'll go see why they're taking so long to bring the snacks," my stepmother says, and when she leaves, she sees me standing there. She grabs my arm, but I don't move, shaking her off.

"We need to talk."

"About what? About how you changed the locks on the house so I can't get into my house or how you broke into my room by force, breaking the door," I say without measuring the tone of my voice, and for the first time my stepmother looks desperate.

"Lower your voice. I'll give you the new keys and call the locksmith to fix your door. What do you say, my dear? Don't get upset," she says the last in a tone so full of tenderness, and I turn to see who she's talking to like that and I smile, since Estrella and Mr. Linares are standing at the door of the living room.

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