HERNAN AND GABRIELA BOOK 1

CHAPTER 25

Two days pass, during which Aranza is taken for a drug test to be done.

On Wednesday,

At the mental institution, the doctors are running tests on the patients. The doctor running tests on John asks him questions.

Elsewhere, Alejandro is in his office. The thought of Adrianna living with Hector for two weeks was killing him.

Meanwhile, Antonio sees his grandmother's missed call and calls her. She wants to meet Gina. Antonio unable to wiggle out of it promises that he and Gina will come the next day. His grandmother asks him why they can't come on Friday, and he says that there is a big football game on Friday.

The second part of it. Will Gina agree? She can be quite stubborn, at best. Gina has lunch with Antonio. He tells her and she agrees. Antonio tells her to be prepared because his grandmother can be quite irritating.

Back at the university:

Aurelio is going to the male hostels to go to a friend's room. From afar, he can see the guys from the club. They look ready to cause trouble. Aurelio stops, removes his phone, pretends to send a message then presses record. When he gets near the guys, they begin taunting him and even begin pulling him. One asks him if he thinks he is so tough. Aurelio says he is not the one being a bully. Another says he should not feel so high and mighty because Aranza is friends with him. He adds that being Aranza's friend does not make him any less of a street rat.

Aurelio says that's a compliment considering they were going to drug and rape Aranza. One, who seems to be the leader, asks him what he is going to do about that. He adds that he can have any girl he wants and Aranza is no different. Aurelio says he can see how much of a real man he (the leader) is by drugging girls because he is unlovable and being followed by his cheerleading squad because he can't get friends. He tries to rough up Aurelio but is stopped when security arrives and stops him. Everyone is told to disperse. Aurelio smiles and says to himself that he has finally busted those jerks.

Elsewhere,

Isabella watches Gina busy at her computer and says to herself that very soon Antonio will be hers. She adds that there is no way that, that country girl will beat her.

Sometime later,

It is around four forty-five pm in the evening and many staff members at Montes De Alba Inc were leaving for the day.

Aurelio makes his way to the IT department to look for Antonio. He finds him drinking a cup of cocoa, at his desk. Most of his colleagues have left. Antonio is surprised to see Aurelio there and tells him to sit down. He asks him if he had any classes that afternoon or in the evening. Aurelio says their 2pm class was rescheduled, and he didn't go to the library because he had important things to do. Antonio asks him if he came with Aranza, and he said he did not. Aurelio adds that he got some evidence, that those guys at the party drugged Aranza, and wants him (Antonio) to listen to it. Antonio agrees. Aurelio plays him the audio. Antonio's hands clench, as he listens to the audio. Antonio says that they should take it to the police so that those criminals can pay. Aurelio asks him if they should tell the others. Antonio says they should tell them, especially Aranza, because this concerns her.

They leave to go to Adrianna's cubicle but run into Gina. She looks from one to the other and says that they have to speak in private. She has a do-not-argue with-me-look. Antonio smiles at her. She glares at him and Antonio loves her even more. That is his princess, feisty and fiery. When they are alone, she asks Aurelio why he didn't attend classes. Aurelio says the lecturer couldn't come, and he had things to do. Gina looks at him like she doesn't believe what he is saying and says that his first priority should be his books. She adds that he should have gone to the library. Aurelio tells her, he has evidence to prove who drugged Aranza. She is shocked and asks him how he got it. Aurelio says what is important is that those criminals pay for their crimes. Gina tells him to start explaining himself. He sighs then starts.

Gina tells him, he would have been in a lot of trouble if they had figured out his plan. Aurelio says that it wasn't a plan; it was a spur-of-the-moment idea when he saw them ahead of him. Gina adds that once the truth comes out he needs to be wary of those people and their cronies. Antonio tells her to relax, and that all will be well, but they have to report them so they can pay. Gina glares at him, and Antonio asks her what he did. She says that they are both the same. Aurelio asks her if she means handsome and intelligent. Antonio smiles. Gina rubs Aurelio's head and then says kind of but that was not exactly what she meant. She says that they are both intelligent and super sneaky. Aurelio says that they are both smart and handsome. Antonio smiles, and Gina is struck by how similar they are.

Shortly after, Adrianna looks at her phone. There is a message from Antonio that they should meet in the office garden. Hector gets a similar message from Gina. Adrianna calls Hector to tell him that Antonio wants to meet her in the garden, so they will meet in half an hour. Hector tells her that Gina wants to meet him there as well. Adrianna asks him if he has any idea why Gina and Antonio want to meet them there. Hector says he has no idea and adds he is coming so that they can leave together. Aurelio receives a call from Aranza.

He tells Antonio, who tells him to tell her, that he is here at the company but he should not tell her about the audio yet. Aurelio picks up and Aranza asks him where he is. Aurelio says he is at the company. Aranza pouts and says that nothing irritates her more than being left behind in plans. Aranza says that they should all stop treating her like a baby. Aurelio says something happened. Aranza asks him what happened. He says she should come because he would rather tell her in person.