Big Dreams

Chapter 5: Twenty and in love

Miguel and I started talking a lot shortly after that day, once I stopped making myself so hard; we texted and sometimes we studied together at the Valongo's library but in college, we were never together in front of other people. I thought I should ask him why but we were just friends and the truth was I didn't want to be seen with someone like him -always smoking, looking superior, treating some people badly with his friends, among other things- while I wasn't sure what he was for me.

The semester kept going with a lot of work to do and, as usual, I was exhausted. December arrived bringing a lot of desire to rest and stay at home in the warm to watch Christmas movies but instead, we had to study for the exams that would take place in January, so I invited Miguel to my house to study with me because he was a great help.

We grew closer every day, I started to know the real Miguel: he was just a sweet, fun boy with a bad reputation because he didn't wanna lose his friends. I discovered things like his age, he was 20 already, but I got even more curious about other things. He told me that he had cancelled college enrollment for a year to take care of his family but didn't tell me why.

One day, we were studying and I was so tired that I fell asleep on his shoulder.

- "Did I fall asleep?", I was confused when I woke up. When I sat down, our eyes met, faces just inches apart, my heart beating fast and a smile on his lips.

- "We did", he corrected me, "I think biochemistry makes us sleepy", he said, still smiling.

The idea of the two of us sleeping against each other filled my mind; what was going on? I couldn't let that get any further and as he was getting closer to me I got up.

- "Maybe you should go, it's getting late and the study is clearly not paying off."

- "And when will I see you again?", he was looking at me with his deep green gaze.

- "I don't know actually..", at that moment I understood that the reason for the question was because we were on 23rd December so Christmas would be in the next two days and I would be with my family, "Maybe next week... but we can talk over the phone", as I said that I regretted and tried to fix it, "I mean if you want to or if you have time or..or if an occasion arises, you know ", he laughed at me a lot.

- "Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are when you show that you like me but then try to pretend you don't?", I blushed, rolled my eyes, and just didn't know how to respond. I always had an answer for everyone!

The next day, I was watching "Home Alone" when I received a phone call from him.

- "Hey?", my voice sounded confused.

- "Heyyy, can you come outside, please?? Don't ask me anything, just come, please", I was very confused, but when I looked out the window and saw that he was really there, I put on my gazelle and ran down the stairs.

- "What are you doing here?", I asked immediately.

- "It's a surprise, come on", he grabbed my hand and started walking, leading the way.

We got to the main street and it was just amazing: there were Christmas lights all over the place, the town hall all lit up, there was a smell of Christmas cakes in the air and we could hear "Jingle bells" playing in a house close to us. It was just perfect.

- "I know you love Christmas and the other day you said you had never come to this part of town this time of year, so I figured you would like it", he remembered those details and that was just too cute for me to handle.

- "You liar", I heard him laughing at my offense, "you told me you were at home baking, I can't believe you came all this way just to show me the lights." and I punched him softly and then we stood hand in hand looking at each other, "Thank you", I said and looked at the lights.