The air was warm, for a summer day in San Angel, Mexico. Two men, and a petite woman sat outside in their bathing suits laughing and slapping each other with a towel.
The woman, around 5'3, wearing a white top and red bottom bikini, her hair tied into a large ponytail, choppy with her messy hair, stood triumphantly, both boy's necks in each arm. She cheered.
"Maria is the King of the Hill!" She chanted, relasing the boys so she could run around.
One of the two, a dark skinned matador, or, ex matador, with hair dark brown, tied into a ponytail, with an iconic curl resting at the top of his head, laughed. "She's very active, isn't she, Joaquin?"
Joaquin, a well muscled soldier, with lighter skin than he should have, being out in the sun all day, twirled his mustache. "Very."
Manolo stood up, then grabbed Joaquin's bare arm to help him up. Joaquin looked down at Manolo's waist, sighing when he saw scars from a previous bull training with his father Carlos, who was now dead.
Manolo saw Joaquin starting, and immediately turned red. "Is there something you need, Joaquin?" Manolo asked, reached for his red shirt beside him and slipping it over his head.
Joaquin shook his head. His damned father. Manolo could've been killed while Joaquin was on a training mission, never getting to see his boyfriend ever again, or even say goodbye. Knowing Carlos, he probably wouldn't have cared that his son died. If only he put on a good show.
Manolo coughed, his lips pursed together in a straight line. "Joaquin, uh, I'm not bullfighting anymore, remember?"
It was only then Joaquin realized he'd been thinking out loud. His face turned beet red, and he started to stammer an apology. Manolo shrugged it off.
"Let's go find Maria, si?" Manolo took Joaquin's hand and walked down the hill, toward Maria, who was now sitting under the shade of a tree.
Maria waved them over with a small motion. Joaquin and Manolo both walked to her, and sat down, sandwiching Maria between them.
The three lovers sat, eyes closed, arms around each other. Suddenly, Maria sat up straighter. Manolo took his arm off Maria's shoulder. Joaquin did the same, turning his head to look at his girlfriend.
"Maria?" Manolo questioned.
Maria glanced at Joaquin, then Manolo. "Manolo, if you don't mind, how about we go to the bullring?"
Manolo raised an eyebrow. "How come?"
Maria shrugged. "I was wondering if you'd teach Joaquin and I to bullfight. No killing included."
Manolo thought for a moment, glacing at Joaquin, who looked genuinely interested. Finally, Manolo nodded.
"Let's go."
