Open House: For Sale

You Came!

After my break is over, I go back to the office.

"Hello again" I say smiling, closing the door behind me

"Hi" he says smiling back, looking at me funny

"What?" I ask, sitting down

"Nothing. U just went for a break and u came back...happy. Am I that bad to work with that your break brings u joy?" he asks playfully, making me chuckle

"No, silly. I just made a new client and I'm happy about it"

"Oh, wow, that's great!"

"Yeah, I'll see him tomorrow for his first lesson. And he's an absolute cutie. But I got a gay vibe..." I say, sounding a little disappointed at the end

"And? Is that bad?"

"No, of course not. I'm just saying... At least I'll be sure that he won't hit on me and I might have to drop him"

"That happens, huh?"

"Sadly, yeah...And when u need the money, it's hard to bring yourself to do it..."

"I get it, yeah. Anyway, break's over, back to work. And don't forget to tell me when u'll be having this extra lesson"

"Yes, boss" I say playing soldier and he exhales from his nose smiling, shaking his head in disappointment

~~~

The next day I indeed have my 1st lesson with Matteo and by the time we're done, I'm sure that he's gay, making me more relieved than I thought I would be. For the next few days, until my contest, I spend my afternoons practicing till late at night, even at home, with headphones on as to not bother Carla. I'm pretty tired at the office, though, making Carlos a little frustrated, but since I don't make any mistakes, he tries to let it slide. 

On Saturday, I'm up very early to do my routines one more time and to prepare adequately. At around 5, as I'm in the venue where the dance contest will take place, Carlos calls me.

"Hey! Missed me already?" I ask teasingly

"Hey! Well, how can I miss u when I'm right behind u?" he says and for a minute there I get confused, but then I get what he said, so I turn around

"U came!" I exclaim and go up to him, hugging him

"Of course I did. U need all the hype up u can get, no?" he asks, hugging me back

"I do, yeah, it's a pretty big deal...if I win, I could put a downpayment for a house!"

"Oh wow... I didn't know u'd get that much money" he says as we pull away

"Well, it's not much, but I could easily find a little cosy apartment, so I can get out of Carla's way..."

"I'll make sure to find u the best one"

"Don't get my hopes up. I'm up against dancers from all around the world"

"Don't get insecure on me now. And don't think too much, just enjoy it"

"I'll try. Anyway, I have to go warm up a little. Try to blend in so I don't know where u are and get distracted"

"Should I be offended or flattered?"

"Neither, it's not about u, remember?" I say teasingly, with my hand on my hip

"Gosh, I keep forgetting!" he says playing disappointed that I reminded him, making me giggle

"Go get them!" he tells me and after giving me a kiss on my cheek, he leaves

"Was that Carlos?" Carla asks, coming close

"Yep. I swear he almost seemed indifferent when I told him about this"

"Maybe he was being professional? Or he wanted to surprise u..."

"Yeah, maybe both...well, I'm going for my warm up. See u at the end. Take pictures" I tell her and after she gives me a big hug, I leave.

At around 6.30 the competition starts. First, we have cha cha cha, then rumba, and then solo salsa.  When we're done, and as I change into regular clothes for the after-party, Carla comes running .

"Excuse u, but I'm kinda naked here!" I tell her, since the way she opened the bathroom door could have let people see me

"Shut up and hear me out: Carlos is hella in love with u!"

"What? How do u know? Because he came here?"

"No. Well, that too, but also because, don't get mad, I hit on him and he barely looked at me"

"1. What? Why would u do that? and 2. so? u might not be his type"

"I did it for u, u idiot, so u know. And not his type? We look like sisters!"

"Carla, I won't base a whole hypothesis on just that. Please, leave me alone, I have enough on my plate already"

"Fine, I'll leave..."

"No, we have the after-party, don't leave me alone!"

"Oh, don't worry, u won't be alone..." she says winking and then leaves, while I call her name, but she just walks away. 

I curse myself and keep getting dressed. As I get out of the bathroom, I see Carlos in a corner, looking at his phone. About 3 seconds later, I get a text.

-I heard there's an after party?

-There is, yeah. It's more like waiting for the winners to be announced. You're not obligated to stay

-Do you want me to stay?

I look at his text and bite my lip, thinking about what to say. Carla comes into my head, telling me he's in love with me, making things worse. Few seconds later, he sees me and comes to me

"Hey, u found me! Sorry for not texting back, I got a message from a client and I had to answer" I lie quickly

"Don't lie to me, Penny...u just didn't know what to reply. It's ok, it was the wrong question to ask, anyway"

"No, it wasn't. Truth is I do want u to stay, I just don't want u to have to stay. I have to be here, but u don't..."

"Just as I don't sell a house I don't believe in, I don't do things I don't want to do either. Come on, let's get u a drink" he says softly, looking me in the eyes, making me smile and lead the way to the bar. 

As we have a drink and talk about dancing and the competition, a song I love to dance to comes up.

"Do u dance?" I ask him, moving to the rhythm a little

"I know how to, but I don't actually dance..."

"Oh, come on, u can't tell me u know salsa and don't come show me! I'll be easy on u, I promise" I say, pulling him towards the crowd. He rolls his eyes sighing and follows me. 

At first, I'm trying not to let my expertise show, but when he gets a little loose and I see that he has some serious moves and leading technique, I step my game up. At the end, he bends me backwards and when the song ends, it's the moment I get back up (3.39 on the video on the banner). We rest our arms down and look at each other, panting, with our faces only inches from each others and our lips parted a little. Suddenly, after I don't know how long, I hear an announcement from the speakers that we should move to the stage again to announce the winners.

"I-I have to go..." I say a little out of breath

"Yeah, I heard..."

"Will-will u wait?"

"Of course. Now go get your money..." he says smiling, releasing me. I contemplate whether I should kiss him or not, but then I remember that we're not in a relationship or something, so I just give him a big smile and run to the stage.

As it turns out, I came in 3rd, which means I just got a few hundred dollars, clearly not enough for a down payment for a house. More like the kind of bonus I could get next Christmas. Seeing Carlos, though, in the crowd, clapping and smiling at me, makes me feel a little better. Maybe Carla is wrong; Maybe I'm the one who's in love...