While you were Sleeping

10. Blurred lines

The girls made their way back towards Juliana's flat, Valentina had offered to buy coffees nearby but Juliana wanted to avoid the barista bar. She knew Karla would pounce on her and she would have difficulty explaining who she was with and why. She had only shared the information about the misunderstanding with her mother and hoped it would sort itself out when Guille woke up.

They took a different route home, walking streets Juliana had never been down before, coming across a small restaurant café, she thought this was the perfect alternative to avoid meeting anyone she knew.

"JULI?" Juliana froze as a loud and familiar voice greeted her as soon as they entered, she turned to locate her mother, whose eyes were wide as she gawked at the woman with her.

"Ma?" she asked astonished. What were the chances? She turned to look at Valentina, issuing a silent apology and receiving an amused smile in return.

"Juli, mija, what are you doing here?" Again, Lupe's eyes were focused on Valentina.

"Eh... ma, this is Valentina," she gestured towards her new friend. "Valentina, meet my mother, Lupe," she finished the introductions.

"Nice to meet you Valentina," Lupe stretched her hand out and Valentina promptly shook it.

"Nice to meet you too," she smiled warmly.

"We were out for a walk and wanted to grab a coffee to go," Juliana explained nervously, she hoped her mother didn't say anything about Guille.

"Of course, mija, take a seat and I'll get it for you," she gestured towards a free table.

Juliana rolled her eyes. "No ma, TO GO!"

"But Juli," she whined grabbing her daughter's hand, "I want to introduce you to Perlita and Panchito!"

Juliana took a deep breath. "Fine, but I still want the coffees in 'to go' cups!" Lupe quickly agreed and went in search of her boss. Juliana turned to Valentina and dramatically rolled her eyes. "I am so sorry! My mother only got this job yesterday! I had no idea this was where she worked," she shifted nervously from one foot to the other.

"Hey!" Valentina reached for her hand. "It's fine, but I've just realised something... I don't know your last name!"

Juliana laughed, it was true, she hadn't mentioned her last name. "Did you think I was like Madonna or Shakira and just had one name?" she smiled.

Valentina rolled her eyes. "No! I was thinking more like Cinderella or Rapunzel!"

"Hold on, you are the princess, not me!"

"Right, and you're the pumpkin?!" They both laughed.

Lupe smiled as she watched her daughter laughing with her new friend, she couldn't remember the last time she saw her have fun. She wasn't sure if she had ever seen her look so happy and carefree. Caring for her sick and elderly grandparents had forced Juliana to grow up quickly. Lupe had depended on Juliana to clean, make dinners and help put her grandparents to bed, but Juliana rarely complained. There were times when Juliana seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders but Lupe didn't know how to help her. She hoped relocating to Mexico would be a fresh start for them both and was glad to see a lighter, happier side to her daughter.

When Perlita, a small frail woman with a mop of wavy grey hair, came out from the kitchen, Lupe quickly introduced her daughter, who in turn introduced Valentina. Perlita had insisted the girls sit and have their coffee in the shop, serving them both a slice of her famous chocolate flan cake.

While they enjoyed their coffee and cake, Lupe appeared again, this time with a tall and handsome man. She introduced the girls to Panchito, who apparently, had gone to school with her, many years ago.