—¡Hasta cuándo serás tú quien los telefonees! —Le comenta la esposa a manera de sermón, agregando, —ellos también tienen el deber de llamarte a ti.
Las duras palabras retumban en su mente, les irritan pero reconoce que como casi siempre, ella tiene razón. Detiene el dedo, ha marcado tres números, decide abortar la llamada. Respira hondo y la mira inspeccionándola mientras levanta la ceja derecha.
—¡Yo te conozco muy bien, Roberto... desde que eramos novios te he visto levantar la ceja cuando estás incómodo!
—¡Mujer, déjame tranquilo, me voy al cuarto! —le contesta con un tono de resignación.
Por muchos años, Roberto se ha comportado solícito con la mayoría de las personas que conoce, jamás le ha negado nadie un favor a su alcance, inclusive si no lo está, procura la manera de que otros lo suplan, haciéndose responsable como intercesor. En una ocasión pagó una deuda cuantiosa, al ser fiador de alguien que desapareció sin dejar rastros. Cada cierto tiempo su mujer no pierde la oportunidad de sacarle en cara el bochorno y la pérdida, le recrimina que muchos son unos hipócritas que se aprovechan de su bondad.
Él suele llamar periódicamente a familiares y amistades, le interesa saber de ellos y de sus asuntos, cerciorarse de que están bien, pero al pensarlo bien, no recuerda recibir muchas llamadas de ellos. Reflexiona y justifica la conducta con base en la suposición que es él quien toma la iniciativa. Así, decide escuchar a su mujer, sentirse menospreciado y usado, lo perturba sobremanera. De seguro, al notar la ausencia de sus llamadas recibirá múltiples llamadas que le mostrará el error de su esposa.
Han pasado tres meses, se siente devastado, solo esporádicas llamadas de los parientes más cercanos, entre la que están su madre, suegra, hermanos y cuñados, lo alivian. Hoy suena el teléfono, él piensa en su madre, pero no, es Pedro.
"Until when will you be the one to call them!" Exclaims the wife, lecturing him, adding, "They also must call you."
The harsh words echo in her mind, it irritates them but she recognizes that as almost always, she is right. He stops his finger, has dialed three numbers, decides to abort the call. He takes a deep breath and looks at her inspecting her while raising his right eyebrow.
"I know you very well, Robert ... ever since we were a couple I have seen you raise your eyebrow when you are uncomfortable!"
"Woman, leave me alone, I'm going to the room!" he replies with a tone of resignation.
For many years, Robert has behaved solicitously with most of the people he meets, no one has ever denied him favor within his reach, even if he is not, he tries to get others to supply him, taking responsibility as an intercessor. On one occasion he paid a large debt, being a guarantor for someone who disappeared without a trace. Every once in awhile his wife does not miss the opportunity to remind him of the embarrassment and loss, he reproaches him that many are hypocrites who take advantage of his goodness.
He usually calls family and friends periodically, he is interested in knowing about them and their affairs, making sure that they are well, but when he thinks about it, he does not remember receiving many calls from them. Reflect and justify the behavior based on the assumption that it is he who takes the initiative. Thus, he decides to listen to his wife, feel despised, and used, it which disturbs him greatly. Surely, when noticing the absence of your calls you will receive multiple calls that will show you the error of your wife.
Three months have passed, he feels devastated, only sporadic calls from his closest relatives, including his mother, mother-in-law, brothers and brothers-in-law, relieve him. Today the phone rings, he thinks of his mother, but no, it's Peter.
—Hola Roberto, ¿Cómo estás?
—Encantado de escucharte Pedro, ¿Cuánto tiempo sin saber de ti?
—¡Tú sabes hermano, la rutina nos consume! —le contesta con una leve risa, no ha terminado de reirse cuando le dice, —¡que pena contigo, pero quien mejor que tú, para ayudarme! —Por un momento hubo una pausa y Pedro volvió hablarle, —Roberto, ¿estás allí...?
—Si, aquí estoy, ¿cómo puedo ayudarte?
—Yo necesito $ 10.000, hermano. —Pedro queda expectante hasta que escuchó.
—Lamento, no poder ayudarte, en estos momentos no dispongo de esa cantidad.
Su mujer está sentada frente a él, ella mira al televisor, pero Roberto sabe muy bien que ella deduce lo que pasa, los años de convivencia lo han compenetrado tanto que existe una sincronía entre ellos.
—Lo sé Roberto, pero tú tienes amigos que pueden darme un préstamo si tú intercedes y eres mi fiador. Yo no te quedaré mal.
Toma una bocanada, el aíre lo relaja, mira a su esposa, ella está impávida en la silla, de repente sonríe al ver una escena graciosa en la tele, deja de titubear y le dice.
—Lo siento Pedro, no puedo ayudarte en esta ocasión, tengo más de tres meses que de mis amigos nada sé, solo tú te has dignado a llamarme y te lo agradezco, pero siento no poder ayudarte...
"Hello, Robert how are you?"
"Delighted to hear you Peter, how long without knowing about you?"
"You know, brother, routine consumes us!" He replies with a slight laugh, he hasn't finished laughing when he says, "Too bad, but who better than you, to help me!" For a moment there was a pause and Peter spoke to him again, "Robert, are you there?"
"Yes, here I am, how can I help you?"
"I need $ 10,000, brother." Peter was waiting until he heard.
"Sorry, I can't help you, I don't have that much right now."
His wife is sitting in front of him, she watches the television, but Robert knows very well that she deduces what is happening, the years of living together have permeated him so much that there is a synchrony between them.
"I know it Robert, but you have friends who can give me a loan if you intervene and are my guarantor. I will not look bad on you."
He takes a puff, the air relaxes him, he looks at his wife, she is undaunted in the chair, suddenly she smiles when she sees a funny scene on TV, stops hesitating he says.
"I'm sorry Peter, I can't help you this time, I have more than three months that I don't know anything about my friends, only you have deigned to call me and I thank you, but I'm sorry I can't help you ..."
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