Is it because of your father? Because of what he did? The girl asked quietly. Manuel looked around, making sure no one was listening. He took his friend by the hand and led her to a corner of the yard.
It’s not about my father, he said, looking at the floor. It’s something else, something that happened yesterday. Something strange, Marie.
It was very strange. Mariana’s eyes lit up with curiosity. What? Tell me? She asked, almost pleading.
Manuel took a deep breath and said, I saw a boy who looked exactly like me. Mariana frowned. Like a doppelganger? That’s normal.
My mother says that everyone has several doppelgangers in the world. People who look like us, the girl said, trying to understand. No, Mariana, you don’t understand.
He wasn’t similar. He was the same. The same height, the same eyes, the same hair.
Even the voice like me, the boy explained. The girl’s eyes widened in surprise. But he was all dirty.
It looked like he lived on the streets. Although I don’t know if he actually lived on the streets, but his clothes were torn. He was like me, but it was like he lived a completely different life.
Like in a parallel world, you know, Manuel said, still shocked. His friend crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head thoughtfully. Are you sure? Just like him.
Yes, of course. He was just like me. And what did you do? Mariana asked curiously.
Manuel told her how he found the boy in front of the banquet hall, how they tried to talk, and how Pablo, scared by Adriana’s voice, ran away before they could have a proper conversation. Wait, Mariana exclaimed, collecting everything in her head. So you’re telling me that you might have a twin brother who lives on the street? Manuel scratched his head, confused.
I don’t know. My mother always said that I was an only child. But this is all very strange.
I swear, he was just like me. Manuel, Mariana admitted. Her friend crossed her arms over her chest, full of determination.
You have to find that boy again, Manuel. Find out who he is, Mariana said firmly. Manuel sighed.
I’m amazed, but how? I don’t even know where he lives. I only know his name. Pablo, Mariana smiled.
Her mind was already working. Why don’t you go back to where you found him? He might be there again. If he doesn’t have a home, he might be looking for shelter nearby.
And even if he’s just a child who got dirty, he might live nearby, she suggested, excited to know more. Manuel thought for a moment. That’s a good idea, Mari.
But how do I go back there? My parents would never let me go looking for some stranger, even a child, Manuel said anxiously. He also admitted that he had thought about telling his mother about Pablo, but had changed his mind, fearing that he would not be taken seriously. Mariana’s smile widened.
I’ll take care of it. Here’s what you do. Ask your mother if you can spend the evening at my house.
Then we’ll make up an excuse and my driver will take us. The world does everything I ask, she laughed cheerfully. Manuel felt hope rising in him again.
He extended his hand to his girlfriend and smiled. Deal. Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Pablo’s reality was completely different.
A boy with a growling stomach from hunger was digging through garbage cans looking for food. He checked one, then another, and another. All were empty or had food left over that was inedible.
With a sad sigh, Pablo sat down on the sidewalk, hugging his knees to protect himself from the morning chill. His thoughts returned to the day before. He remembered the garbage cans outside the banquet hall.
They were probably full of good food thrown into the trash. He also thought about a boy like himself, Manuel. I should have looked for food yesterday, he muttered regretfully.
He remembered well the woman’s voice that had made him run away. From a young age, he had learned to be afraid of adults. He knew that for children like him, being taken to an orphanage was worse than living on the streets.
In an orphanage, he would lose his freedom and could be subjected to abuse, as had happened before. Pablo thought for a moment, thinking about this unusual meeting. Then an idea appeared in his tired head.
What if I go back there? Maybe there is still food in the containers near the hall. And maybe I will meet Manuel again, he said to himself with a spark of hope. Getting up from the ground, Pablo gathered his courage and decided that he would go back to the street near the banquet hall.
Something inside him told him that this meeting was not just a coincidence. Something was bound to happen. Meanwhile, at Manuel’s school, the little millionaire anxiously looked at the clock hanging on the classroom wall.
Every second seemed to drag on endlessly. He mentally counted down to noon, the moment when the lesson would end and the mission he had planned with Mariana would begin. The hand finally reached 12.
And as soon as the bell rang, Manuel looked at his friend, exchanging a conspiratorial smile with her. They both quickly stood up and headed for the door together. Before leaving, the boy ran up to the teacher.
I promise I’ll be more attentive tomorrow, maestro, he said with a shy smile. The teacher smiled back and nodded understandingly. From the entrance to the school, Mariana saw the black car of Edmund, her personal driver, and quickly ran up to him.
Wait a minute, Edmund. Manuel is going to my house today. He just needs to tell his mother.
The girl said excitedly. The driver, used to Mariana’s unusual requests, smiled and nodded. The girl ran to Manuel, who was waiting for his mother to appear.
However, it was not she who appeared, but Alfonso, the boy’s father, accompanied by his sister, Mercedes. Manuel immediately frowned when he saw them. Something inside him always began to stir anxiously when he saw Alfonso, and especially when Mercedes was nearby.
With a forced smile, Mercedes leaned over and hugged Manuel tightly. Handsome nephew, I missed you so much, my dear. Today I came for you.
Do you like it? She said in a sweet voice. Manuel remained tense in her embrace and did not respond. Alfonso was direct and abrupt.
Get in the car, Manuel. I’m in a hurry, he ordered in a firm voice. The boy took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.
I’m not going, he answered boldly, confronting his father. Alfonso’s expression became even harder. He crossed his arms over his chest and raised his voice.
What do you mean you’re not going? Your mother is in an important meeting, and I came to pick you up. Come on, get in the car. Realizing that the situation could get out of hand and jeopardize their plan, Mariana quickly intervened.
That’s not it, Senor Alfonso, she said, smiling politely. Manuel just wanted to tell you that he will have lunch at my house today. We need to do our schoolwork together.
The boy quickly added, precisely, Dad. Please. Alfonso looked at the girl with disdain, clearly suspicious.
He glanced at his son and said, I don’t know. Your mother asked me to take you straight home. He paused and crossed his arms.