Chương 67: Chapter 67 - Safe Haven

"Si abuelita estoy bien, nomas tengo un pregunta." < Yes grandmother I am fine, I just have a question. >

I rubbed the tiredness from my eyes. "I am going to tell you something but you have to promise me you won't tell mom." My abuelita had a habit of gossiping. It was great to hear what she hears from others but not so great when its on the other end.

When I tell her to keep it between us she knows to not share unless it was life threatening. "Of course mijo whats wrong." She shuffled a bit, probably to sit up in her bed.

"I had a dream and I need your help determining what it means." In her younger days she was a child psychologist. She was good at determining how people feel and navigate the subconscious reactions people experience.

Though it has been years since she practiced, her mind and skills have never wavered. If anything age has made her more perceptive. After recounting the dream, I waited with baited breath to see what she thinks.

"Hmm. This Celeste girl with the red hair, she doesn't happen to be a D'Angelo right? No relation?" At that I felt a bit peeved. Though our 'family feud' was not a secret, those not directly involved rarely made a comment on it.

"She is." I answered curtly. Careful to keep my voice in check as I did not want her thinking I disrespected her. "Ahhh I see. Relax mijo I am just looking for context."

The nerves bundling in my back relaxed but instantly spiked again at her next question. "Honestly, do you want to get married?" It was a question I loathed. It wasn't that I didn't want to get married. But who I want to marry is out of the equation in my parents eyes.

"Sure but not right now." I settled on answering. "When we sleep our body uses that time to heal. It helps us improve our brain performance, mood, and overall health. It is theorized that dreaming is the brains way of processing personal conflicts and emotional struggles that we experience." She paused and took a deep breath.

"The reason I asked about context is because to me it seems you really like that girl. Yet you both are in different stages of life. You view her as an adult while you remain behind as a child."

It was an interesting perspective. "Why was I the child?" My abuelita laughed a bit at that. "Being a child is not a bad thing. In this case more than likely its to differentiate a simpler time in the past. A time you crave and miss. Often childhood is viewed more brightly than the present. There is a warmth to it."

"You miss the times when it was just the two of you. The family fued and taboo does not exist in your childhood. As for the intrusion of the other man its reality breaking in. Your mind created a safe haven where your desires can be free, but reality broke that delusion. Your haven is not as safe as you anticipated. He has the potential to take away your desires."

Did I view Dante de' Medici as a threat? Not particularly but also... potentially. He was much closer at actually taking Celeste away. But I also felt he did not hold a candle to me when it came for the love I held for her.

"Hm." I felt more troubled. Just how deep did Celeste mean to me? And was it foolish to love her the way I do.

"If I were you, I would re-evaluate what you value most and what you are willing to lose for your desires. Take charge of those feelings and confront them. But, do it when you are well rested and have a clearer head. Right now I am sure you feel tumultuous and a bit spooked. Duérmete mijo. < Sleep my boy. > Sleep and process this when you have sat on it for a bit."

"Gracias abuelita. Te amo." < Thank you grandma. I love you. > She truly knew the best words to say.

After hanging up I actually slept better and deeper. Soon enough it was time to begin the trek to Alans bachelor party. I drove to the airport where the guys met up to fly out to his party location. His best man, which was his annoying cousin, planned a weekend in Bangkok.

The flight was uneventful. Most of the guys were sleeping or working surprisingly Felix did not come.

Once we arrived in Bangkok, Greg, Alans cousin, lead us to the club. The music pounded loudly and drinks began to flow. Unlike the night in Amsterdam I felt more in the mood to drink. I knocked back some shots feeling more light.

"It's not the Maldives but not bad huh!" The single guys had already made their way to the dance floor to grind against other women. Alan and I stayed by the bar. He was faithful to Rebecca and did not want to make a mistake. I was still not buzzed yet so I kept him company.

Greg came up from behind hyped up. A few of our other friend came by already sloshed. "Such pretty ladies here too!" He yelled and nearly fell with the vigor. His drink spilled on the ground and he grabbed Alans drink to replenish himself.

I was not someone who looked down on others for their status. But people who could not take a hint or read the room was something I hated.

I raised my hand to get Alan another drink. But he thought it was for him. "Another round on Dean!" Now it wasn't like I was short on money but I did not offer another round. Nothing puts a damper on a party worse than alcohol poisoning.

The bartender brought over smaller shots and replaced Alans drink. The way Alan was looking at his cousin already told me I did not need to be the one to reprimand him. He would do it later for me.

Alan decided to have the guys moved to a private room to relax a bit and sober up before heading to the next location. Most of the guys starting nodding off at this point.

"What do you think Rebecca and the other ladies are doing?" Greg came into the room with more champagne. "Noemi planned Rebeccas party so who knows could be more tame or more wild."

"I wonder if Celeste could get wild." I nearly shattered the glass bottle in my hand. I slowly turned to face him as everyone in the room got uncomfortable. It was an unspoken rule to not discuss her privately like that. "She is still single right? Man if I could get with her I bet I could find all sorts of surprises."

Alan sobered up quick and tugged the bottles away from his cousin. "Ok I am cutting you off."

"No seriously, she has always intrigued me. Everything about her screams innocent virgin." He burped before hitting the last nail to his own coffin. "Do you think the curtains match the drapes?"

The way it got so silent in the room was incredible. I swallowed back the rest of bottle before getting up and smashing it against his head.