Chapter 6

I was getting ready as usual when someone started to whistle in front of my house, I went to the window and saw that it was Isaac, he was riding a black motorcycle, he had a very sexy black leather jacket and he was wearing an extra helmet for me. My eyes widened, had Isaac bought a motorcycle? I was not expecting that surprise. I opened my window and waved at him, Isaac smiled at me and motioned for me to come down. He wanted to take me to college. Pulse racing, I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. My parents were standing in the living room ready to go to work.

"Hurry up Kim, Isaac is waiting for you," my mom said carelessly as she fixed my dad's tie. They trusted Isaac as much as I did and didn't even ask me questions when I went out with him.

I went to meet him and found him leaning on the seat of the motorcycle. It was parked on the side of the road and it looked flawless. Every last strand of his hair was in place.

"Well, well. Look what we have here,” I said as I stood in front of him.

"I didn't tell you anything because I wanted to surprise you," Isaac admitted with a huge smile.

My heart sank to see him. Was I ever going to stop being attracted to him?

“Okay, let's say you surprised me a bit.”

The wind blew my hair towards my forehead and I had to put it in place. Up close the bike looked even more beautiful, I found it very curious that he chose black because that was my favorite color.

“I love it. I just love it,” I added excitedly.

“At last you admitted something in your life, with that I am satisfied, at least for now.”

I started to hesitate a bit. There was something wrong with all that.

“When did you learn to drive?” I inquired doubtfully.

“A cousin taught me years ago.”

My eyes widened.

“Years ago? Are you sure you remember how to do it?”

“How do you think I came from my house to here?”

It was a valid answer because he had not killed himself in the attempt.

“I hope you are correct because I would like to stay alive.”

Isaac laughed and started the motorcycle. I put my helmet on, climbed up behind him and wrapped my arms around him. Isaac stroked my hand and took a moment to make me feel safe.

“Everything will be fine, trust me,” saying that, he started to drive.

There was not much traffic on the road so he started driving faster and faster. The wind blew my hair everywhere and it was so much fun, I could do that every day without getting tired. I loved his company and his attention to detail, it was obvious that he was trying to convince me to accept being his girlfriend, but what he did not know is that he had convinced me for a long time.

I hugged Isaac tighter and decided inside that this was the day, after class I would have a serious conversation with him.

We got to college faster than I expected, partly it was a disappointment because I wanted to keep hanging around with him, and it wasn't really that bad because we were going to be together in class.

I took off my helmet and shook my hair with one hand.

“We arrived alive,” I said sarcastically.

Isaac put the bike aside and came very close to me, his eyes shining brightly. I wanted to take a step back, but didn't because I was so curious to know what he was going to do.

“I told you everything was going to be fine." His voice was barely a whisper.

Isaac grabbed a lock of my hair and pushed it away from my face, I melted inside at his touch. His face was very close to mine, but he looked very calm and began to stroke my lips with his thumb. Was he going to kiss me? Students came and went around us, but I felt that time had stopped. We were both staring at each other, but the spell was broken when someone carelessly pushed past me. My body collided with Isaac's and I quickly pulled away. We both turned to look and saw that it had been the work of a student who was walking with his group of friends and was walking away without even apologizing to me.

“Look where you walk! Isaac yelled at him with obvious annoyance but the guy ignored him.”

"Forget it, we have to go to class."

That interruption was what he needed to get back to reality. We both started walking and he sighed.

“I don't like the atmosphere of the university very much, there are a lot of freshmen who are causing chaos,” he commented.

“One more year, we only need to survive one more year. It can't be that hard,” I stated, trying to be positive.

My little brain could barely focus during class, I tried to write down every now and then, but the only thing I could think of was what I had to say to Isaac. Time passed too slowly for me and I was grateful when we finally got out of class, as I was walking with Isaac, Paola texted me explaining that she would be spending the entire afternoon in the library, so it was just me and Isaac. Perfect!

“Did you have plans for this afternoon?,” Isaac asked me suddenly.

My heart started pounding like stupid. It was just what he wanted to hear.

"Not really," I admitted.

“Would you like to go to a restaurant for lunch with me?”

“I would love to.”

He smiled and grabbed my hand. That took me by surprise, but I squeezed his hand anyway. It felt very comforting. Isaac took me to my favorite restaurant on his motorcycle and told me to order whatever I wanted. I decided to have pizza and he ordered the same.

"If you go along with me, you'll end up being a fat old man just like me," I joked.

"It doesn't matter, you already made me drink coffee at noon anyway. Nothing can be worse than that,” he admitted with a shrug.

We both started laughing and changed the subject. In our four years of friendship we had gone to many places together, but that day it felt different, I already knew that he loved me, but I had to explain to him that it was reciprocated. In my mind, everything looked easy, but it wasn't that simple. I got so immersed in my thoughts that at some point I didn't realize I was staring at him. Isaac raised an eyebrow and smiled at me, thus pulling me out of my fantasy world.

“Do you admire my beauty? He questioned, putting on a smug face that only he knew how to do.”

I shook my head with a smile, but it was too late.

“I just was thinking…”

“In my beauty?”

I couldn't help but laugh.

“Do not think so important.”

He only just smiled but there was something else in his gaze that I couldn't identify. Sometimes I felt like he could read my mind.

"Isaac, there's something I have to tell you," I admitted at once. It was the moment of truth.”

"I hear you," he answered calmly.”

I opened my mouth to say something to him, but was interrupted by the least expected person.

"Well, well. I see you are not wasting your time Kim,” Fernando said sarcastically, where did he come from?

The smile I had faded when I saw him.

“And why should I waste my time? I replied calmly.”

Fernando was trying to hide his jealousy, but he couldn't do it because it showed for miles.

“You look very cute together, you are two losers with boring lives. I don't really think you last a week.”

Isaac slapped the table with his hand in a scandalous way and rose to face him. Fernando only reached his shoulders and was not even a muscular man like Isaac. Why did this walking skull come looking for trouble?

"Better shut up you piece of malformed fetus, you're a bit of a man," Isaac said bluntly.

I felt very safe having Isaac by my side, Fernando was not a match for him on a physical level so I was sure he would turn around and leave. Or not?

Before I knew it, Fernando punched Isaac, I gasped but did not get up from my seat because I knew exactly what was going to happen, Isaac hit him back and Fernando fell to the ground completely unconscious and with his nose full of blood. I turned to look at Isaac in horror and saw that he had a part of his lower lip swollen. The restaurant employees surrounded us and called an ambulance because Fernando did not react, I could not believe what I was seeing and I was petrified, Isaac grabbed my hand and we both left the restaurant.

"That fool thinks he can play with me," Isaac growled through clenched teeth.

“How do you feel? Doesn't it hurt? I took a look at his wound and was very concerned. It didn't look good at all.”

"It's nothing, I'd better take you home," he replied, dismissing it.

"No way, we're going to the hospital."

“We're not going anywhere.”

"But you may have a concussion."

“I was hit by an ant, I think it's obvious that I'm fine.”

I had to contain my anger. How could he take the matter so lightly? I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"Maybe Fernando is the one with a concussion," he said with a malicious smile as he shook his right hand, he seemed to have some pain in that area.

"Let me see." I grabbed his hand and saw that he had small wounds on his knuckles. "You hit him very hard," I commented surprised.

“And I would have kept beating him if you hadn't been there, he doesn't have the slightest respect for women.”

“We have to go to the hospital,” I said firmly.

“I'm fine Kim, understand it once” saying that he took out the key to his motorcycle, “I'll take you to your house.”

I clenched my fists. Is that how he wanted things to work out? Okay! I approached the road when he was distracted trying to start his motorcycle, and I stopped in the middle of the road while a car was coming, Isaac got very scared when he realized what I was doing and grabbed my arm to get me off the street.

“What's wrong? Do you want to get run over? You went crazy? He was very nervous and said everything very quickly.”

“Yes, that's what I want. Only then would you deign to go to the hospital.”

"Don't be ridiculous," he said angrily.

"Very good". I wanted to free myself from his grip to do it again, but I couldn't because he wouldn't let me walk away.

“It's okay! We're going to the hospital. Are you happy?”

“I will not be happy until I know that everything is fine.”

“Did I tell you that you are very stubborn? He asked without releasing my arm.”

“A lot of times.”

At that moment we saw that two restaurant workers were helping Fernando out of the premises, he was already standing up, but he looked so disoriented.

"We're leaving," Isaac announced.

We both stopped arguing and put on our helmets to get on the bike. Isaac drove to the hospital and we both sat down to wait in the emergency room.

"I don't want you to fight him again. Promise me you won’t,” I demanded.

"Only if he doesn't provoke me."

“If everything had happened at the university, you would have been expelled, do you realize that?”

Isaac leaned his head against the wall.

“I do not care. He deserved that and more,” he whispered with his eyes closed.

I sighed and stared at him. His lip had swelled more, but I still wanted to kiss him. Isaac's eyes widened as if he knew what I was thinking and his gaze met mine.

“Admiring my beauty?”

I smiled. Maybe it was time to admit it.

“Maybe.”

My answer seemed to surprise him.

“What were you going to say when the malformed fetus arrived?”

“I will tell you when you take me home.”

Isaac grabbed my hand and squeezed it. Did he know what I was going to say to him? Just then the nurse called Isaac, I asked her if I could keep him company and she said yes, so we both went to wait for the doctor in a small room.

I started to feel very cold from the air conditioning and I got goose bumps. Isaac noticed it and took off his jacket to put it over my shoulders, he got so close to me that I could feel the heat of his body. Or was it my imagination?

“Better?” I ask.

“Much Better.”

Isaac turned around and surveyed the place.

"Look how many things are here," he commented as he looked at a table full of materials, there was gauze, alcohol, syringes and countless other things, I was afraid of just seeing them.

Someone knocked on the door and Ezra immediately appeared with a file. Amazing. Of all the doctors in the hospital he had to touch us precisely. Ezra was very surprised to see me.

“Kim, what are you doing here? There was some concern in his expression.”

"Nothing, I'm just accompanying my friend," I explained.

“I understand,” Ezra took a look at the file, “You must be Isaac Hernández, tell me, what brings you here?”

"I have a cut on my lip, that's all, but Kim thinks I can bleed to death," he explained wryly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Have a seat please." Ezra set the file aside and began to put on his gloves.

Isaac collapsed on the seat and my favorite neighbor disinfected his wound. The process took less than five minutes.

“What happened to you?” Ezra asked as he wrote recipes at his desk.

"Hitting me with a shelf is all."

I had to hold back a fit of laughter. He couldn't have come up with anything worse and that's why Ezra didn't believe a word.

“What about your knuckles?” He asked pointing to his wounds that had turned red.

Isaac started laughing.

“Well ok. To be honest I got into a fight with someone, but it was nothing serious.”

 For you, I thought.

Ezra turned to see me as if he wanted to ask me something, but he didn't say anything.

“You were lucky Isaac, it was only a minor injury, and you have to put ice on the wound so that the swelling goes down. Take this for the pain,” Ezra said as he handed him a prescription.

"Thank you very much doctor," Isaac answered as he got to his feet.

“You're welcome, I'm here to serve you.”

Isaac and I went to collect the pills and then he took me home. My parents hadn't come home from work yet so we could talk alone, it was time to be honest with him. Isaac settled back on the couch and I started icing his wound against his will.

"I told you it was nothing serious," he reproached me

His wound didn't seem to hurt at all, but it did affect me a lot to see him like this.

"This is my fault," I affirmed regretfully. "I should never have accepted Fernando. I'm a stupid.”

“Don't say that Kim, it wasn't your fault.”

“I don't want you to fight him again and I mean it.”

Isaac sighed. His look of resignation was too tender.

"Okay," he agreed reluctantly. "I'm going to ignore it, but only because you ask me to."

I was relieved to hear it and pressed the ice back against his wound. He grabbed my hand and pulled it away. He looked thoughtful.

“Do you still have feelings for Fernando?”

I frowned and didn't know whether to laugh or be offended.

“Of course not! When he left me I realized that I never felt anything true for him.”

“And what about your neighbor?”

What did Ezra have to do with all this?

“What do you want me to tell you about him? I asked doubtfully.”

“Is there something between you?”

I started to laugh thinking it was a joke, but seeing his expression I discovered that he was serious. My smile faded.

“I don't even know him, do you think I'm crazy? I'm not the type of girl who throws herself into a man's arms the first day she meets him.”

“But you like it?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

Isaac shook his head and looked away.

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't get into what I don't care about.”

It was more than evident that he was jealous and he looked very adorable. I stared at him and he realized, it was the right time to tell him everything that was stored in the depths of me. The more I thought about it, the more difficult it was going to be for me, so I cradled Isaac's face in my hands and kissed him without giving him a chance to say anything else and without giving myself a chance to regret it.

I was afraid that things would go wrong, but Isaac reciprocated and kissed me in a very passionate way, I wrapped my hands around his neck and I clung to him as I felt his arms surround my body. I felt that time stopped around us, the kiss was exactly how I had dreamed it so many times. After a moment we both stopped to catch our breath and stared at each other. He looked a bit shocked, I thought about doing the same to him over and over again just to see that cute expression.

“Does that mean you accept me? He asked with a smile.”

"Maybe," I acknowledged in a whisper.

“Don't play with me Kim, my heart is very sensitive.”

I smiled and gave him a quick kiss. I could do that all day.

"I would love to be your girlfriend," I finally admitted.

My heart was beating very fast.

"You don't know how happy you make me." His eyes were bright with excitement.

Isaac hugged me tightly and hid his face in my hair. I felt that, that was my place in life and I knew that he felt the same way so that made me very happy.

“Do you realize that it was not impossible for us to be dating?” I said while stroking his face.

"I was stupid for believing that."

“I was also stupid in many ways, I wanted to accept you that day that you confessed your feelings to me, but I cowed.”

“I was sure you didn't reciprocate. All this time I've been waiting for you to say no to me.”

Isaac cradled my face in his hands and gave me a quick kiss that left me wanting more, I felt a happiness that I had never felt before, I had no doubt that he complemented me.

“When did you start loving me? His eyes were filled with excitement.”

"I knew you were going to ask that." Would you believe me if I told you that for years?

Isaac was silent for a long time trying to assimilate that information and I just limited myself to laugh.

“I would believe you because you are very stubborn.”

Isaac hugged me and I leaned my head on his shoulder. At last we were together, as it always should have been.