Cecilio zipped up his training bag and glanced around the Taekwondo hall one last time. The lights reflected faintly off the polished floor, and the smell of sweat and disinfectant lingered in the air. He'd been uneasy all day
his kicks had been off, his focus scattered.
"Everything alright, Cecilio?" his colleague asked, noticing the restlessness in his movements. "You look like you could use a break."
"I'm fine," Cecilio said quickly, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
When the man turned away, Cecilio slipped his phone from his pocket. 10:50 p.m., Saturday, November twenty-third.
His stomach dropped. That was the night Rosa was supposed to return Leon's money.
Without hesitation, he dialed Jacinto's number. "Has Rosa gone to meet Leon yet?" he asked the moment Jacinto picked up.
Jacinto hesitated. "She already left."
Cecilio froze. "Where are they meeting?"
He didn't even wait for a full answer before grabbing his jacket. Turning to his colleague, he said hurriedly, "Pack up without me, I've got something to do."
Before the man could ask another question, Cecilio was gone.
******
The old gym was nearly swallowed by darkness. Dust hung in the air, and the faint smell of alcohol and sweat mixed into something rotten.
Rosa stepped inside, her footsteps echoing across the cracked concrete floor. "Why here?" she asked coldly, ignoring Leon's greeting.
"Hola, amiga," Leon said with a sly grin. "This place brings back memories. Used to belong to me and Antonio. We boxed here once." He chuckled, taking a drag from his cigar. "I never liked boxing, but Antonio
he loved punching things. He was such an animal."
"Cut the crap, Leon." Rosa tossed a duffel bag onto the floor between them. "Here's your money. You got it. Now leave me the hell alone."
Leon crouched, unzipping the bag. The glow from his cigar tip flickered across his face. "Did you really think it was going to end like this?" he asked with a laugh. "What is this,,, a movie? Even in movies, the bad guy dies."
He stood up, drawing a gun from his waistband and pointing it at her.
Rosa didn't move. She didn't beg. She simply stared him dead in the eye.
"You think you're tough?" Leon sneered.
"No," Rosa said softly. "I just guessed this was going to happen. So get it over with. Maybe if I die, everyone else can finally live a normal life."
Leon grinned, finger tightening on the trigger.
"Rosa!"
Cecilio's voice sliced through the dark. Rosa flinched, spinning around in disbelief.
"Cecilio...what are you doing here?" she whispered.
He stepped between her and Leon, shielding her with his body. "Leon, let's talk about this. Put the gun down," he said calmly, his voice trembling at the edges.
Leon laughed, unsteady. His pupils were wide, his movements erratic. The tequila bottle swung from one hand, the gun from the other. "No, son. She deserves this. Just like Antonio did. She thought she could sell my drugs in his name. What was she doing, huh? Testing my patience?"
He staggered forward, laughing wildly. The drugs had hit him full force now
his words slurred, his laughter unhinged.
Cecilio stepped closer, slowly, carefully. Then, in one swift motion, he grabbed Leon's arm and shoved it upward. The gun went off, a deafening blast echoing through the gym as the bullet punched a hole in the ceiling.
"Run!" Cecilio shouted. "Rosa, run!!
I'll meet you outside!"
For a moment, she hesitated
every instinct screaming at her to stay. But then she turned and bolted.
She ran without thinking, her boots pounding against the pavement, her breath burning in her throat. She didn't stop until the wail of police sirens filled the distance. Only then did she freeze at the top of the hill, turning back toward the dark silhouette of the gym.
Then,,,another gunshot.
Rosa's heart sank deep into her stomach. The sound echoed in her skull until it was all she could hear. Birds scattered from the trees as red and blue lights flared in the distance.
Officers were shouting, flashlights cutting through the night. She couldn't hear what they were saying. She couldn't move. Her body felt heavy, numb.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. It was Parez.
The screen read 11:20 p.m.
Rosa stared at the glowing numbers as a wave of regret crashed through her chest. She should've brought Parez. She should've come earlier. She should've stayed with Cecilio.
Her mind fought to shift the blame
to convince herself that Cecilio had only gotten hurt because he'd been too nosy. But deep down, she knew the truth. Cecilio had only ever been "nosy" when it came to her. Because he cared.
He cared too much.
She couldn't even help him once.
The thought tore through her.
Her breath caught. Tears blurred her vision as she looked up at the night sky, at the heavy clouds that hung like mourning shrouds.
"Lord," she whispered shakily. "I know I don't deserve to ask for anything... but this isn't for me. It's for Cecilio. Please... let him live."
Her voice cracked.
"He's a good soul. He loved everyone around him...including me."
The tears finally came
hot, uncontrollable, breaking through eight years of silence. Her body trembled as sobs tore out of her chest.
"If he dies," she whispered, sinking to her knees, "I'll never forgive myself."
The night swallowed her words whole, leaving nothing but the sound of distant sirens
and a woman's heart breaking in the dark.