The Diplomat - [Part I] The Diplomat
The Diplomat
Part I of II
Episode: Post 4x11
Summary: Roque still hasn’t forgiven Ivan for being with Julia, and Marcos decides to intervene.
“The Hague Conventions held in 1899 and 1907 were the first treaties that several nations came together to agree on the rules of war,” said Rebecca to her fourth year history class. “As you can imagine, war is a difficult situation for everyone involved, and the conventions were used to define protections for the soldiers and civilians of countries at war. It also created the Permanent Court of Arbitration, where international disputes are arbitrated to help resolve issues before they escalate…”
Marcos turned his attention from the teacher to look at Roque and Ivan. The two friends hadn’t sat next to each other for a class in weeks, but today Ivan was sitting behind Roque. The situation was still tense between them, and Marcos hadn’t imagined that this situation with Julia would have carried on for so long. He had stayed out of it for the most part, assuming that they would patch things up once Julia had chosen Ivan. But Roque was still holding onto the grudge with Ivan, while he seemed to have forgiven Julia. Even though Ivan did deserve the cold shoulder for breaking his word, the friends had bigger problems to take care of without squalling between themselves. Marcos was also tired of getting frostbite on his side of the dorm room.
The bell rang and Roque bolted out of his seat before Ivan could try to speak to him. Marcos looked back at Ivan, who looked a bit disheartened by his friend’s reaction. He picked up his books and went after Roque, deciding that he was going to fix this situation once and for all.
“Hey buddy, where are you running off to?” asked Marcos.
“Our room?” Roque replied. “I have a ton of homework.”
Marcos continued to follow him. “Of course… You’ll be the best student in class at this rate of doing homework to avoid Ivan.”
Roque rolled his eyes as he went into their room. He was sick of everyone thinking that he had to forgive Ivan eventually, because that was what he always did. It was what everyone did... except now.
“Look, I know you’re still mad about Ivan and Julia,” Marcos went on. “I don’t blame you. But right now we need to trust each other.”
“Right, like how I trusted him to keep his word to stay away from Julia?”
Marcos nodded his head. “Ivan is an inconsiderate asshole with poor self-control, but I don’t think he meant to hurt you.”
“So what? I’m supposed to just get over it?”
Marcos let out a sigh. “Yes. Because Julia is with him now, and you’re still making a fool of yourself over her.”
Roque glared at him as Marcos had expected. “Like when all of you knew that they were hooking up and let me embarrass myself defending her?”
“Hey, I didn’t know anything until Carol told me,” Marcos said defensively. “It was the same morning that they got caught. If I knew what was going on, I would’ve tried to help.”
“Help who? Help me realize that girls like Julia end up with guys like Ivan? And I’d be over it by now?” Roque demanded.
“No,” replied Marcos, moving closer to him and looking him squarely in the face. “I would have reminded Ivan that I stayed away from Carol even though he didn’t ask, because we were friends.”
Roque turned away. “Ivan didn’t ask you to stay away because he’s too cocky. He thinks that he’ll get anything he wants. No one else matters.”
“Why did I even bother?” Marcos shook his head. “Ivan is an idiot, and while it was fun watching him get what he deserved, it’s getting old now. You’re wearing the rest of us out.”
It was as if a bucket of water had been dumped on Roque. Had he become as bad as Ivan? Roque had been upset that his friends all seemed to conspire to support Ivan, even when Roque was the one who needed them on his side. He had become fed up with it.
“I’m sorry that things turned out this way. But holding onto a grudge is making you into someone you’re not,” Marcos continued.
“That’s just it. I’m sick of being who I am. The walking joke. They knew how I felt about her. And neither of them cared. Ivan couldn’t even just let me have her? No, he had to fall for her. He’s your best friend. He’s Carol’s ex. Vicky silently worships him. Now Julia… Cayetano is gone, so it’s just the Ivan fan club left.”
Marcos was taken aback this time. He hadn’t really considered this side of Roque’s discontent. They had gotten wrapped up with Ivan’s troubles with his father, and then the discovery in the chapel, so Roque had felt overlooked.
“We are hardly the Ivan fan club any more than we’re the Marcos or Carol or Vicky fan club. We’re friends. You’re our friend and we don’t want to see you miserable. Especially not over a girl that doesn’t deserve you.”
“But Ivan deserves her?” Roque asked. “I was the one-”
Marcos stood firmly this time. “This isn’t about who deserves who. What’s done is done now. You aren’t forgiving him to make him better; it’s to make you better. If Vicky, Carol and Julia have managed to reconcile, I don’t see why you and Ivan can’t.”
Roque nodded. “I suppose I can forgive him. But only when he actually apologizes.”
“Of course,” Marcos said, laughing and shaking his head. “He never actually apologized? Of course, it’s Ivan… Don’t worry, I have your back.”
Roque looked surprised at Marcos’ response. He had thought that Marcos would have tried to plead Ivan’s case, but he had reminded Roque that his friends still had his back. After everything that happened, it was nice to feel reassured that he had a place among them. But he was still stinging from Ivan’s betrayal, and he didn’t want to give in just to appease the others.
“Just don’t make promises you can’t keep,” said Roque.
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A/N: I thought it would be interesting to reflect on how Ivan and Roque patched things up after Julia and Ivan got together.