A month later, we managed to finish building the buildings and started on the shopping center. The solar panels are already in place and the electrical connections are working perfectly. We only have the next three weeks to finish the town's details, like adding small inhabitants and some of the shop designs.
After painting the roads and putting up the traffic signs, I collapse to the ground to rest my back. — I think you really need to relax a bit more now — Adrian says.
— Going to a party right before finals will only stress me out more — I say.
— I still haven't helped you get a girlfriend — he says.
— Forget it — I say, and I go to my room. After finals, we presented our final project and got an excellent grade. We were offered the chance to present it at the university's environmental architecture fair the following year, which would be a great opportunity to get into a company that looks for talented young people.
I spent my vacation in Japan with my mom and my dad's family. I stayed in touch with Adrián, and the following year we continued living in the same apartment.
This year I'm determined to enjoy my time more, so I'm only keeping my weekend job and asking my dad's family for help to support myself, even though I'm mortified.
Once the money is in my account, I approach the landlady to finally pay her after five days. — Again, I apologize for the delay — I say, bowing and handing her the envelope with both hands.
— No, the apartment is already paid for — she says — Your friend made a three-month advance for both bedrooms.
— What? — I ask, confused.
— Yes, he paid the three months in advance a week before you both returned — she says.
At that moment, I go back to my room and collapse onto the bed. If I had known Adrián would pay in advance, I wouldn't have been so embarrassed asking my dad's family for money.
— Why did you do that? — I ask him when I hear him come in — Why did you pay the rent without telling me?
— I told you I wanted to help, but you're too proud to accept it — he says. I won't deny that I felt relieved when Adrián refused to take half the money. I agreed to go to the gym with him to pay for his membership, but that jerk has it paid for the whole year in advance. Doesn't he come home for vacation? It doesn't matter; he probably doesn't even think about the money he loses on the days he doesn't go to the gym.
|°|°|°|
After finishing our weight training routine, we both head to the showers. Looking in the mirror, I flex my arms, showing off my muscles. I'm not as bulky as Adrián, but I've toned my body enough that my abs are showing and my chest isn't so flat anymore — I see you worked hard over the holidays — Adrián says while he touches my arms — I think you're ready to meet some girls — he adds.
— You think so? — I ask.
He pats my stomach and says — Of course. — There are still three weeks until classes start, so I'm feeling a bit relaxed. We both go to a party at a club near campus. Almost all the students from my major and other faculties are here. I know this because I recognize most of the people I've run into last semester around the university.
Adrián and Camile are dancing by the pool while she smokes. One of her friends is swimming in a white nightgown, and you can see her nipples through the wet fabric. I don't want to sound too perverted, but I can't deny that it motivates me to talk to her even more. I get in the pool and swim near her — Hi, Amelia, right? — I ask.
— Yes, and you're Luisa's friend — she says with a smile.
— I don't think we're that close — I say.
— Anyone would think you have those kinds of friends too — she says, glancing at the couple dancing by the pool. Suddenly, Adrián hoists Camile onto his shoulder and carries her into the club, right through the crowd.
— Do you think I'm like him? — I ask — I'm not that adventurous.
— I don't believe you — she says with a grimace diving under to swim. Then she resurfaces, splashing me.
— Please get out of the pool! Swimming in anything other than a swimsuit is prohibited! — warns the lifeguard who appears out of nowhere.
I forgot we're in a public pool, not some stranger's backyard.
We both got out of the pool and I approached her. — Would you like to go out with me sometime?
— We can go to your house tomorrow for lunch — she says and walks away.
The next day, we ordered food and set the table to eat with them. They both took off their shoes at the entrance when Adrián greeted them, and we went downstairs to watch a movie.
As expected, Adrián and Camile started kissing as if we weren't there until they went to his room, and a few minutes later I received a message that said:
"I hope you don't waste your time, you're welcome."
— Do you want to watch something else? — I ask her.
— What's your favorite movie? — she asks — We can watch it.
— I don't have a favorite.
— What? How can that be? — she asks — Do you at least have a favorite genre?
— Maybe horror? — I suggest.
— Maybe? —she asks, as if offended. — You have to be sure — she says.
— Then let's watch your favorite movie instead, so we'll have something in common — I say. She just smiles, and after a quick search, we start watching the movie.
From that night on, we exchanged numbers and started texting each other very often. A couple of weeks have passed, so I decided to ask her out, and we agreed to meet at a restaurant.
|°|°|°|
— Do you want me to order something to eat? — Adrián asks, opening my bedroom door.
— No, you've already done enough by paying the rent — I say, putting on a shirt.
— I already told you it's not a problem — he says — I'll order Mexican food this time.
— No, I'm going out with a girl — I say — Actually, you know her, she's Camile's friend.
— Ah... So you did take advantage of the opportunity we gave you with Amelia — Adrián says, coming closer to run his hands through my hair — Let me help you, you have to look good. Even though she's already seen you high and half-naked...
— What? — I ask, trying to remember if that really happened.
— That time you were really high, she was there. Don't you remember? — he says mockingly.
— Why did you have to remind me of that? Ugh... fuck! Now I feel even more nervous, man!
— Relax, she already agreed to go out with you — he says, placing his hands on my shoulders — It'll be fine.
On the way to the date, I try to think of conversation starters, but the thought of her seeing me at that party last year makes me insecure. When I see her walk into the restaurant, she's wearing a short dress that only covers half her thighs, and the neckline seems to be elasticized. It's pink with a red floral print that contrasts beautifully with her complexion. Her curly hair, framing her face, draws my attention to her chest. — Hi, you look beautiful — I say when I'm standing in front of her.
— Thank you — she says with a smile that makes her eyes crinkle slightly.
— You have dimples, how cute — I say, noticing her cheeks.
She continues smiling, but covers her face. — That's enough — she says, sitting down at the table.
When the menu arrives, she orders a seafood casserole with coconut rice, and I decide to order the same. — I've never had this before; the rice is sweet — I comment.
— Delicious, isn't it? — she says — It's the only place I know that serves such a variety of Latin American cuisine."
— We have to come here more often — I say, and she nods. After a moment of silence, I try to start a conversation — Are you from here?
— No, I grew up in France, but my family is Colombian. That's why I love this food — she says — And you?
— My mother is English, but my father was Japanese — I say — I spent my childhood in Japan, but my teenage years were in England. That's why I applied to university here, but after my father died, my mother remarried another Japanese man and moved back to Japan.
— So what do you plan to do when you finish your studies? — she asks.
— I don't know — I say — I haven't really thought about it. I think when I finish my studies, I'll look for a job here, even though my mom is in Japan. My father's family is very polite, but they never really made me feel welcome.
— Oh, I see — she says.
— And what do you plan to do? — I ask.
— We don't have any family left in Colombia. I think I'll just stay here, but I might travel as a tourist from time to time — she says. After lunch, we walked through the park near the restaurant and had ice cream. We talked for hours about books and movies we'd enjoyed.
I'm eager for a second date with her. So as soon as I get home, I text her to tell her how much I enjoyed our outing, and when I check my phone, I see she's beaten me to it "I had a great time with you, I hope we see each other again ;)" her message reads.
"I really enjoyed seeing you too" I reply.
While I'm in the kitchen, I check the refrigerator and notice some homemade food packaged in glass tupperware. I go downstairs and see Adrián coming out of his room. — How did it go? — he asks in a monotone voice.
— Good, I think I'll ask her out again — I say.
— That's great — he comments — When will you do it?
I notice he's keeping his head down, and much of his hair is covering his face, which isn't normal for him. — I haven't thought about it — I say, approaching him — Is everything alright? — I ask. When I tilt my head to look at him, I notice blood on his lip — What happened?
He turns his face away, but doesn't say anything, so I insist — Adrián... If you didn't want me to see you, you wouldn't have shown your face.
— I was just in a fight — he says — I think I drank too much.
— Really? — I ask, smoothing his hair back — Did you win?
— I wish you could see how the other guy ended up — he says with a smile, but stops when he feels pain.
— Have you cleaned your wounds yet? — I ask, examining his face. He lets me touch his cheeks and chin. — Let me help you — I say, heading to my room to get a first-aid kit.
— How do you know what to do? — he says as I clean the cut on his lower lip and the one on his forehead near his black eye — I would have taken a painkiller before bed, that's all.
— Is this your first fight? — I ask.
— You could say that — he says. He winces when I gently press a cotton ball onto the wound on his forehead.
— I used to get bullied at school — I say — I had to clean my own wounds a lot.
— Why did they bully you? — he asks.
— I had to do the other boys' homework, and when I couldn't finish it, they'd beat me up — I say — I remember many times I refused to do it, so they'd give me a beating.
— You've been more rebellious than I thought — he says with a smile — Vandalism of public property, smoking, and refusing to follow orders. Any other acts of rebellion on your record?
— I'm just trying to stay out of it — I say. I throw away the bloody cotton balls and put a bandage on the small cut on his forehead.
— You'll surely win her over — he says, looking me in the eyes and smiling. For a moment, I feel uneasy, as if something is stirring inside me, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
— Are you hungry? — I ask.
— No, I went to visit my mother's house a couple of hours ago — he says. I nod and start to leave, but he brushes my hand — Thanks — he says when I turn to look at him.