from: martin <3; M.Ø | short story

three

as she sat down she tried her best to comprehend what was going on but the situation was too much for her.

"so basically, back when we started talking, i think i was a bit lonely i'm not sure but i found you and i guess we got along well. i didn't want to spoil it by coming out and telling you who i was and the whole conversation of how we both looked like just never came up. please just say something."

"so you're not martin smith?" she said still trying to wrap her hand around everything.

"no" he laughed, martin was a little nervous she would get scared and leave but it wasn't going badly so far

maria's dad then came over. she saw him walking closer and started to get nervous.

"hello, my name is carlos" he stood there and put his hand out

"oh" martin stood up and shook the man's hand. the man looked a little old alas, he was a bit worried that maria had a boyfriend. he didn't even know why he was worried.

"papa we're almost done" she said, implying that she wanted her father to leave.

"alright", carlos said, making his way back to his seat.

"is that your dad?" martin asked, he was sure it was but he needed that little confirmation

"yeah, he said he was more comfortable if he came with, you know, in case you were old or ugly or something"

martin felt a bit relieved though he wasn't sure why.

"and?" he said with a smile on his face.

"and what?" maria asked, a bit confused.

"am i old or ugly?"

"well..no" she said, a small blush creeping onto her face.

they continued to talk for a while until maria's father approached them.

"mija, maybe it's time for us to go, it's almost time for us to check in and you know how anxious i get when it comes to these hotels", their bags were still there and they hadn't even checked into the place they would stay for the next week.

"oh yeah", maria didn't want to go but she knew she had to, they had to check in and she had no other way of getting to the hotel.

"i have to go, but we'll still have our day, i just have no other way to get to the hotel unless i go with my dad" she said, a bit disappointed. carlos began to walk to the uber as maria was saying her goodbyes.

but martin didn't want her to leave. unknowingly, he took her hands.

"you don't have to, i'll drop you off when our day is done, i just feel like there's so much we need to talk about"

realising he was holding her hands, he let them go.

"you don't have to do that" maria wanted that but she didn't want to be too eager.

"i want to" martin said, his eyes glistening as he looked in hers.

"really? okay let me go ask my dad." she got up to told her father that she would meet him at the hotel later. she hugged him, they said their goodbyes and she made her way back to martin.

"so what's the plan," she said with a smile.

"come with me" he took her hand and led her to his car.

opening the door for her, they both got in the car ready to start their day.

martin started the car and began to drive to their first destination, emirates stadium.