“Why didn’t you tell me?” Raquel has her hands on her hips. She looks upset. “Ares?”
“I don’t know,” I reply.
It’s a few days after her birthday party, and we’re finally alone again in her room. The bad news had come in various forms: e-mails and rejection letters. The main reason they gave was that the deadline for scholarships had passed, and that the spots were already taken by people who had applied on time.
Raquel had found out from Apolo because I hadn’t told her when I started getting responses. I didn’t know how to tell her. I had given up hope, but she hadn’t. I didn’t want to take that away from her.
I can’t lie, the rejection makes me sad, but my consolation is knowing that at least I’ll be able to attend the same university as her. I’ll be miserable studying business, but at least I’ll be miserable next to her.
“Are you mad at me?” I ask. Raquel sighs and puts her hands around my neck.
“No,” she says, giving me a short kiss. “I’m so sorry it didn’t work out, but we’ll figure something out.”
“Raquel . . .” I shake my head at her.
Her eyes meet mine. “No, don’t even think about giving up.”
“Do you think I want to give up? But we can’t cling to nonexistent hopes either.”
“Did you try talking to your grandfather?”
“What for? He already told me he won’t get between me and my father.”
“Go back and talk to him,” she pleads. I shake my head. “Ares, he’s your last resort. Please try again.”
“I don’t want to be rejected again,” I admit, lowering my head. Raquel holds my face, forcing me to look at her.
“One last try. Please?” she asks again. I kiss her softly, my fingers tracing her cheeks slowly. When I step back, I smile at her.
“One last try.”
Grandpa Hidalgo doesn’t seem surprised to see me. He’s sitting in my father’s study. Claudia is sitting next to him, laughing at something.
“Hello,” I say a little nervously. “How are you, Grandpa?” He smiles at me.
“Some days are better than others, that’s how old age works,” he replies. I take a seat in the chair on the other side of the table. “Claudia, my dear. Can you ask my son and Artemis to come in here for a moment?”
He’s calling my father and Artemis? What for? This is not going to end well. Claudia exits, closing the door behind her.
“Grandpa, I . . .” I pause, thinking of how to begin. He raises his hand.
“I know why you’re here.”
I open my mouth to speak, but my father walks in, followed by Artemis.
“What’s up, Dad? We’re busy. We have a video conference in ten minutes.” My father gives me a quick glance but doesn’t say anything. Artemis looks confused.
“Cancel it,” Grandpa orders, smiling. My father protests.
“Dad, it’s important, we’re . . .”
“Cancel it!” My grandpa raises his voice, surprising us. Artemis and my father share a glance, and Dad nods, so Artemis makes the call to cancel. They both sit off to the side, a little distance away from Grandpa and me.
“What happens now?” my father asks with a sigh. Grandpa takes a moment to regain his composure.
“Do you know why Ares is here?” he asks, his voice back to his normal tone. My father gives me a cold look.
“I guess to ask for your help again,” he says. Grandpa nods, prompting Artemis to speak up.
“Which I imagine has annoyed you because you’ve already told him no,” he interjects.
“There’s no need for this, Grandpa,” I say, standing up. “I get it.”
“Sit down.” I don’t dare challenge him, so I sit back down. My grandpa turns slightly toward my father and brother. “This conversation is far more important than whatever stupid business you are conducting. Family is more important than any business, and you seem to have forgotten that.”
Nobody says anything, so Grandpa continues.
“But don’t worry, I’m here to remind you. Ares has always had it all. He’s never had to fight for anything. He’s never worked in his life. He came to me for help, and I turned him down to see if he would give up the first time, but he exceeded my expectations. This kid has been working day and night, begging for scholarships and applications for months, fighting for what he wants.”
Artemis and my father look at me with identical expressions of surprise.
“Ares has not only earned my support; he has earned my respect.” Grandpa looks me straight in the eye, and my chest feels tight. “I’m so proud of you, Ares. I’m proud that you bear my name and carry my blood.”
I don’t know what to say.
Grandpa’s smile fades as his gaze falls on my father.
“I am very disappointed in you, Juan. Family legacy? May death come for me if I ever thought that family legacy was something material. Family legacy is loyalty, support, caring, passing on all those positive characteristics for all generations to come. Family legacy is not a damn company.” The silence that follows is agonizing, but my grandpa has no problem filling it. “The fact that you have become a workaholic to avoid dealing with your wife’s infidelities does not give you the right to make your children as unhappy as you are.”
My father clenches his fists.
“Dad.”
Grandpa shakes his head. “What a shame, Juan, that your son begged you for support, and you turned your back on him. I never thought I would be so disappointed in you.” Grandpa turns his gaze and gestures toward Artemis. “You made him study something he hated. You’ve done everything you could to make him like you, and look at him. Do you think he’s happy?”
Artemis opens his mouth, but Grandpa raises his hand.
“Shut up, son, even though you’re just the product of your father’s bad parenting, I’m also upset with you for turning your back on your brother, for not standing up and supporting him. I feel sorry for both of you, and these are not the moments I want anyone to associate with our family name.” Artemis and my father lower their heads. My grandpa’s acceptance is something extremely important to them. “I hope you can learn something from this and improve. I have faith in you.”
I am struck by the sadness in my father’s and Artemis’s expressions.
Grandpa looks at me again. “I started your enrollment process for medical school at the University you told Apolo about.” Grandpa hands me a white envelope. “It’s a bank account in your name, with enough funds to pay for your degree, college expenses, and inside are keys to the apartment I bought near campus for you. You have my full support. I’m only sorry you had to see your own father turn his back on you. The good thing about all of this is that you experienced not having it all and having to work for what you want. You’ll make a great doctor, Ares.”
I can’t move. I’m speechless. Of all the scenarios I’d imagined, this one had never crossed my mind.
Grandpa shakes his hands and slowly stands up.
“Well, that’s it. I’ll go get some rest,” he concludes and leaves the room. With his head down, my father walks out behind him. I’m still sitting there with the envelope in my hand, processing everything, when Artemis stands up and faces me.
“I’m sorry,” he says, looking me in the eyes. My older brother has rarely said those words to me. He runs his hand over his face. “I’m really sorry, and I’m glad that you can follow your dream. You deserve it, Ares.” A sad smile crosses his face. “You have a strength that I didn’t. Grandpa is right to admire you.”
“It’s never too late to change your life, Artemis.”
He shakes his head.
“It’s too late for me. Good luck, brother.” And with that he walks away, leaving me alone.
I don’t know how to feel. My emotions are so jumbled, but I recognize the main one as pure happiness.
I made it.
I’m going to be a doctor.
I’ll study what I want and I’ll save lives.