Rosa, do you not have anything to say to me?" Cecilio asked quietly as she dabbed antiseptic on the cut across his forehead.
"I don't," Rosa replied without looking at him "Do you?"
Cecilio exhaled slowly. "If you don't want to talk about it, then I won't." he said.
"Do you know why Leon asked for the money?" she asked suddenly.
"No," he said, eyes shifting away from her gaze.
"If you already know, then why pretend you don't?" Rosa asked, irritation lacing her tone.
"If you don't want to talk about it, I won't," Cecilio said again, voice calm and steady. "I won't do anything that makes you uncomfortable."
His answer only fueled her anger. She had lied to him
kept something this dangerous from him
and he had nearly died because of it. But the truth was, if Cecilio hadn't interfered, Rosa would have handled Leon quietly, efficiently, without bloodshed. Instead, he had become a target.
Rosa dropped the gauze, her breath sharp. "This is making me uncomfortable!" she burst out.
"What?" Cecilio asked, startled.
"This makes me uncomfortable, Lio! You...trying to sacrifice yourself for me!!! makes me uncomfortable!" Her voice trembled; every word sounded like it hurt to say. "I'm trying to understand why you do this
why you always put yourself in harm's way...but I can't. If you want to ask me something, then ask! Don't keep saying you're doing it for my sake, it makes me sick, Cecilio!"
"Fine," he said, voice firm now. "Then I'll ask. Do you not trust me enough to tell me about your plans? About selling the drugs in Antonio's name? Did you think I'd run to Leon and tell him? Am I really that unreliable to you?"
Rosa stared at him, stunned. "Seriously, Lio? That's what bothers you? That I didn't trust you?" Her hands trembled. "You should be furious that I lied to you! That you almost got killed because of me! But no, you're calm, like none of it matters. What's wrong with you?"
Cecilio didn't answer. He stood, his face unreadable, and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Rosa demanded, grabbing his arm.
"We'll talk when you've calmed down," Cecilio said, trying to pull free.
"No!" she snapped, gripping tighter. "We'll talk now! I want to understand why you do this. Why are you always there for me? Why do you care so much? Why do you never say anything? Say something, Lio!"
Cecilio turned sharply, his voice breaking the air like glass. "Because I love you, Rosalind!"
Rosa froze.
"I care about you, I protect you, because I love you," he said, stepping closer. "And not as a sister. I've loved you as something more...for a long time. I've held it in because I hate making you uncomfortable. But now you know. So tell me, Rosa...what are you going to do about it?"
Her breath caught in her throat. "What? I don't understand
how is that even possible? We're siblings, Lio. That can't be right."
"We're not blood-related," he said quietly. "Did you forget?" He reached for her hand.
Rosa recoiled, tossing his hand aside. Her heart was pounding; her mind a blur. Of all things, she had never expected this.
"I'm sorry," Cecilio said softly. "But it can't be helped. I've loved you for so long… but I don't want this to cause trouble between us. So let's just pretend I never said it."
Rosa stared at him in disbelief. "How is that even possible? You think I can just erase what I heard? I'm not you, Cecilio!"
"So what do you want to do, then?" Cecilio asked, his voice low, almost pleading. He reached for her again, but she stepped back.
"Cecilio…" she began, steadying herself. "I think it's time I set you free."
He blinked. "What?"
"It's time for you to leave," she said carefully. "You've always hated the drug business, and there's a mess I need to clean up. The last thing I need is this. It's better if you go."
Cecilio looked at her, disbelief clouding his features. "Do you really want me to leave? If I'm that much of a problem, then say it, Rosa. Just say the word."
Rosa hesitated. She could feel her throat tightening, but she forced the words out clearly. "Leave, Cecilio."you are a problem."
The silence that followed was heavier than any gunshot.
Cecilio's eyes glistened. He didn't move at first, he simply stood there, frozen, staring at her. His chest rose and fell unevenly. The pain in his expression was something Rosa had never seen before; it was heartbreak stripped bare.
When he finally turned, his movements were slow, mechanical, as if every step tore something out of him.
Rosa watched his back until it disappeared through the doorway. Her heart clenched so tightly it hurt to breathe. For a fleeting second, she wanted to run after him, to take it all back...to say stay.
But her body refused to move. She stood rooted to the spot, convincing herself that this was for the best… even as the silence of the empty room pressed down on her, heavier than guilt, heavier than love.
"Was it always this cold?" She muttered to herself.