T.W.: Terminal illness, Discrimination.

Lester and Benxamin were released from the hospital weeks later. They traveled with James back to the city. Mira's health was still delicate, it was possible that she could not survive the surgery after what happened. She thought that it was best not to risk it anymore. She made an extreme decision: Mira voluntarily entered the clinic where her sister worked to be cared for by a nurse instead of her son and her husband and never return home. It's not that she didn't appreciate the care they gave her; she believed it was fair not to depend on her family when they needed their own space.

Wanting to get away from them was never her intention, but James was up to his neck in debt from her expensive treatments. On the other hand, knowing that Lester was safe thanks to the twins, kept her firm in her determination and that's why she wanted to let them continue with their lives.

Victor didn't return to the boys until some time later, his injury left him with a large scar and he had to use crutches for several months. Fortunately, his leg did not have to be amputated, although he did have to undergo physical therapy - which Ernest Witsel - paid for against Victor's wishes.

Being at that time a minor and unable to emancipate himself due to his injury, Stella accepted that Ernest was responsible for all of Victor's medical care, because she had no way of doing it. What she did not know is that the young man became an employee-slave of Witsel; those expenses kept him more tied to his claims. His boss didn't do all this as an act of generosity. Every time he helped an employee, there was always something in return. To settle part of his debt, Victor had to accept another deal with him: a fictitious inheritance where he had obtained a house in his name - the former owner was a dangerous client who disappeared one night of drinks without leaving trace.

Victor felt that it was a punishment for his actions and also for the damage caused to Benxamin, Lester and his parents - especially for Mira's decision - which he found out about thanks to Tamara who told him about it while visiting him during his therapies.

“My father talked to Mr. Haydar about his family.  I feel so sorry for Lester's mother.  This is so unfair, she shouldn't have to go through this.  No one should.”

“Mrs. Haydar... ?” Victor asked.

“I'm afraid so,” Tamara replied. “Lester is so sad and all because of that ridiculous trip.”

*** 

Lester Haydar tried to keep in touch with Benxamin about his brother's real situation. At a time when the closest form of communication was through calls or letters, he wrote to Victor every day, bound for the hospital on the island of Elisa, but he never received a reply. Desperate, Lester asked Benxa on the telephone what was going on. The twin said that everything was fine. Honestly, he was getting tired of others' lies to not cause him any concern. What Lester didn't know is that Victor Dautt was much closer to him; but hidden along with his own fears. At the other end of town, dealing with his life.

Benxamin, for his part, was trying to overcome the trauma caused by the shipwreck. Completely distracted from his horrible experience while studying his first semester of the university and his dream career.  He lived with his aunt but with the idea of ​​being independent when he had the opportunity.  Stella didn't care what he did as long as he worked, apart from getting used to her philosophical conversations with his nephew.

Victor rigorously followed his recovery, walking with crutches was a nuisance to him. His boss pampered him with all the necessary care, all the clothes he could buy for him, and he paid month by month the rent of the small room that the young Dautt chose to live before all this happened. He never used any of his gifts, he left them piled up in his bathroom. He was so angry with Ernest that he decided one day to go to his aunt's apartment to collect his old belongings and to his surprise, Stella was there sheltered in her art - much more vibrant as was her artistic expression.

“I hope you call from time to time,” she said.

“I will,” he answered her as he put his clothes away in a small briefcase.

She looked at his left leg, which sometimes limped.

“You can come back whenever you want, you hear, brat? Benxamin has done well in his university. I have no way of paying Mr. Estévez for what he did with your therapies. He told me that this debt was settled. That man is an angel. And by the way, you never told me that his daughter was your girlfriend.”

Oblivious to Victor's true situation, Stella bragged about how well she was doing at work and about her paintings that Ernest bought at incomparable prices for the lady. While she told him about her new art gallery with a boring and superficial monologue, Victor thought about the money he got from his fictitious inheritance and that it wasn't enough to get rid of his boss.

“Take care,” he said before leaving. He left a telephone number and address written on a crumpled piece of paper on Benxamin's bed, which were the same as those of the supposed couture store. 

The same ones that Lester, he used to call countless times without success and went almost every day to look for his friend. He persistently questioned both the store employees and Ernest's bodyguards, who made silly and exaggerated excuses about Victor. 

“He quit a few months ago, boy,” said a guy. 

“He is working in another city,” affirmed another. 

“Victor just left,” answered one more.

What Lester wanted the most to make the twins happy collapsed. His Victor walked away from him without giving him an explanation but in reality the young man loved him in his own way and considered that he wasn't the right person for Lester.  There was no chance of being with him knowing what kind of life he was getting himself into, and the last thing Victor wanted was for him to be the boyfriend of a criminal.

***

It was the year 1993, a young 18-year-old Victor gave up trying to lead a normal life.  He changed to be the worst version of himself.  He accepted jobs more related to Ernest's fraudulent dealings.  He rose from his position as interpreter to counterfeiter and arms dealer, but never entered the world of illegal drugs - it was not his interest or his specialty.  He became an expert curator, a persuasive salesperson, and a smooth-talking man in landing million-dollar contracts.

But what happened to his dream of acting or even singing?  That was no longer so relevant in his life.  His impediment to walk affected him to get important roles.  The directors wanted attractive, fit young men, not a Victor Dautt who gradually stopped using crutches but became lame.  Despite his short-term attempts to land a decent role, he witnessed the darker side of acting.  If he wasn't rebellious, pure, perfect, or didn't have a catalog body with killer abs, and didn't play by the rules, he had to aim for supporting roles - which helped him gain some fame. Playing characters was his passion, but mounting debts and Ernest's pressure to charge high interest for his family's well-being forced him to change his mind.

His clandestine job - though he hated it - brought him more money than agreeing to work on movies with mediocre scripts. During that time, he donated a part of his earnings anonymously to his brother and aunt, in the same way, he gave a contribution to the bank debt and medical expenses of the Haydar couple. He even helped Lester by sending him money in the mail on a monthly basis. It was an uncomfortable sentiment for those involved. Benxamin never spent that money and gave it to Stella - who squandered it on her art. Lester suspected it came from him and saved it to return to him once they met again.

Lester didn't think to leave things as they were.  One day, he invited Benxamin to lunch to find the right way to contact Victor; this meeting was to take place in the Japanese restaurant where he once worked.  Although the boys tried to see each other despite their agendas and little by little they were distancing themselves due to their new routines, from time to time they ate together and it was Lester Haydar himself who took those initiatives.  That beautiful friendship - at least on his part - he did not want it to fade.

He showed Benxa all the money that Victor had sent him and asked if he knew what was going on.

“He's still working with that man, right? Look, I have gone to that store and I have also looked for him in the room that he rented. But I haven't been able to contact him since we got back. I haven't heard from him.”

“He is an adult, dear Lester,” said Benxamin.

“Victor is your brother and we are friends. Do you know where he is? Tell me at once!”

Benxa was calm, but from time to time he seemed distracted by another matter.

“Please,... ” expressed the young Dautt with some demotivation.

“You know it, don't you? Why are you two lying to me?”  Lester interrupted angrily.

“It's his decisions. I can't do anything to help if he doesn't cooperate.”

“Sometimes people can't ask for help because they don't have a way to. We have to protect him before something bad happens to him. What the hell is going on? You two have changed since… ” Lester asked desperately.

“I don't know. I have to go. And please, the next time we see each other, let it be for something that has nothing to do with my brother or... ” he hesitated as if forced to say it, “ ... don't look for me anymore.”

Benxamin left the restaurant but not before paying his bill plus Lester's. His mature attitude, self-assured and complex, was no longer part of his charm. Benxa was not the know-it-all boy or the friendly young prodigy. He was someone elusive and indifferent. Lester was forced to go with his mother, who was still hospitalized.