“Hi Jennifer, do you want anything?” I hate catching myself talking like this, so vulnerable. I am not supposed to be talking to her. I don’t even know what to say to her.She gives me a brief smile and gestures with her hands for me to sit beside her. Without thinking, I do as she asks.After a few seconds of silence, I decide to break it. “How is your mother today?”“The same. It looks like she hasn't reacted to the medications.” Her voice is weak but firm. I could see that spending so many days in the hospital had taken a toll on her pretty face. I could see dark circles and swollen eyes from the tears shed but nonetheless she had the courage to face the situation.“Have you ever taken a public speaking course?” She looks at me like I am crazy but gives a tired smile.“Yes, and how do you know that?” she asks“You speak so well and clearly,” I explain.More minutes in silence as she rubs her hands, clearly nervous about talking to me as well.“You like him,” she begins.“That wasn'
The elevator soon opens, and I jump inside. Only, I bump into someone and I smell his unmistakable scent. I cling to him and hold him tight.“Selena? Selena, what happened? Are you okay baby” he asks concerned.He tries to unglue us, in vain... He gives up and finally hugs me. The elevator doors close us in.And what am I going to tell him now? That his ex-girlfriend didn't do what he thinks she did but did it for his good, and she still loves him, and she wants him back? Damn, I can't think straight. And if I start talking, I will sob even more, and when I do, I can’t speak properly, and I don't like crying in front of someone because that's a sign of weakness.What do I say? What do I say?He walks me to the car and helps me inside. I take a deep breath, preparing for the barrage of questions that will follow. I take a deep breath once more and watch him settle into the driver's seat and stare at me.“Now tell me what happened.” His face is calm and patient. I stare and finally spea
“You’re running away.” His jaw clenches and his eyes are heated“No, I'm not…” I try to calm down. “I'm not running away.”“So why does it look like you are?”“Okay, maybe I am alright? And it is because it was the only solution I found.” I lean against the sink to keep my balance. “This is all too much for my head, Hunter. God. How do you think I feel with all this madness?”“Excuse me? It just got out of my control. I can't stand when I plan something, and it doesn't work out, and I end up doing things without thinking. Now stop this madness, and let's get out of here.” He looks around the corner of the bathroom. “Please.”“Do you already know everything? Why she broke up with you?” I stare at him, and he seems to be searching for the words to say.“Yes.” He looks down and then back at me.“And what do you think about all this?”He turns away, his mind running. That just proves he didn't think about it.“You haven't thought about it, have you?” I demand. “Now I understand why you ca
Hunter’s POVI smack the glass hard, and the bouncer holds me back. How can she walk away like this? Without even letting me explain.“Sir, we have to go,” warns the security guard. “First of all, keep calm.”I exit the airport and get in the back of Sophia's stupid car. I have to sort this out ASAP. Damn, why is this happening? If only... I fucking need to drop that fucking word "if only...". And why does she make me so mad and so confused, when she is just as confused herself?Since I met Selena, I’ve no longer been myself. I’m a better person. But I haven't had time to think about how this new self should express itself. So, I'm here, not knowing what to do. My God, I used to always know what to do and why. Now I don't? I look like her talking. I smile to myself.“To the hospital,” I tell my security guard who’s gotten behind the wheel. “ASAP.”Almost half an hour later, I arrive back in that horrible place.“I need to talk to you.”Jennifer looks up at me in shock. “Now?”I take h
August goes bySeptember flies pastI need to get my life straightened out, and I'm going to start with what I like to do most to relax: Dancing. I take my parents' car and dive to my town's community centre. Thank God my city is interested in culture and sports. I read the large poster in front of the newly renovated pavilion.I search for the coordination room, looking for an instructor, but nobody has noticed I’m here, so I sit there admiring the group of dancers forming in each corner of the huge pavilion. They seem to be separated by age or something. They dance rap, hip hop and move to an eclectic sound. I stop to watch the women who appear to be in the same age group as me. I look at their feet and notice they are all in high heels. I scan at the rest of the people on the other sides and see they have on sneakers.“You would fit in doing the Stiletto.”I get a huge fright. I look back and see a caramel-coloured boy grinning at me with perfectly white teeth.“Sorry I scared you,
“Do you believe that?” She looks at me suspiciously.“I don't even know what I believe anymore. What if he had lied that he didn't like her? Ah, I don't know what else to think!”“You know, I can't believe we graduate in three days.” She changes the subject suddenly, to my relief. “We're going to be the prettiest in that graduation.” She claps her hands in happiness. It is rare for me to see her clap her hands like that. She is always so calm and straightforward, and not a jerk.“Is Eric coming?” It is weird to call him Eric instead of "her boyfriend".“He plans to. Maybe it’s a surprise.” She looks at me from the corner with a smirk.The day today is beautiful. For the first half of December, the sun and the thermal sensation have been mild, making the day even better. Since I have started noticing the days, this is the best one so far.“Valentina said I could live with her,” I mention. I twirl the cap of my water bottle. “She said she wouldn't give it up.”“Sorry I didn't tell you b
When I tell my mother who it is from, she smiles as though saying "I already expected something like this".Looking out the taxi’s window as traffic goes by, I think about what I might be feeling right now. I can’t contain myself from the mixture of euphoria and hurt. It doesn't matter, he remembered me.As the place rented for the celebration is in the city centre, it facilitates photographers’ access. The flashes start firing as I get out of the car."Selena, are you and Hunter going to see each other tonight?" "Is he going to come to see you?" "Why don't you talk anymore?" "Did you betray him as they said?"Question after question, each one more absurd than the next. If the entrance to the salon were two more steps forward, I swear I would have slapped at least five paparazzi in the face. For God's sake, absurdly ridiculous people.As long and a little boring as it is, I enjoy having my moment. Hearing the university's dean and vice dean, some course coordinators, and professors di
I think today is the best day for my trip. I can't take any more headaches from a hangover. How I got a ticket and a visa to Spain to travel two days before New Year's, I don't know. I just knew I needed to pull myself together since Sophia slept at my place, when we drank the entire bottle of Red Label, just the two of us. I haven't stopped drinking since. My mom is disappointed in me, and my dad doesn’t even talk.On Christmas two days ago, my dad said he got me two bottles of vodka as a present. It was a joke. I got a tablet from my parents; it was beautiful, and I almost died crying when I got it.I'm not proud of having drinking so much that I could not remember how the rest of my Christmas was. I don't know. I think I laughed a lot, which is what I needed. Never again in my life shall I drink so much. God forbid I wake up stinking again but, as my father told me: "What's a human being without his first few times?" A saying he told me after giving me the most important sermon of