"So what..?" || Kevin Álvarez

||4|| The Walk.

    "Bye" I begin to drive off. I get one last look at his smile in the mirror. I find myself smiling too.

     I wave at the, now leaving, men. "Thank you so much."
     "Por nada!" They wave back.
     I feel Kevin behind me. By now I have got used to him appearing out of no where really close. "So, how do you like your new desk?" He asks tentatively. He ran his, ringless, hand over the smooth desk surface.
     "I love it. Now we don't have to be cramped into yours" I joke and he chuckles his head shaking.
      He's in-front of me now. "Yeah. It was getting a bit crowded.. huh" His gaze on my eyes and he pushes a strand of my hair away from my face.
I don't realize he's leaning toward my face until my dad opens the door. Kevin backs away startled and we look at my dad.
      "Y/n you have my Popeyes right?" He asks.
      I sigh and give him his Popeyes. "Here dad."
      "Thanks" he walks out shutting the door behind him.
      I turn to Kevin, "Well, I better get to making this desk useful."
      Kevin's eyes follow me as I go around and sit at my desk. It's sleek and very modern. It faces Kevin's desk so if I were to look up I'd be able to see him across the room. The need for two desks required us to move to a bigger office on a higher floor. I didn't mind.
      "Yeah.." he mumbles. "Hey I've been meaning to ask you something"
       I look up and raise an eyebrow. "You ask too much questions."
       Kevin presses his lips together into a thin line. Deep in thought.
      "Spit it out,"
      "Why did you come in with puffy eyes yesterday?"
      My eyes widen slightly biting my lip in frustration. I try to find an excuse. "That's just how I wake up in the morning."
      Kevin shakes his head. "No.. on other days you come in completely fine. Yesterday was the 5th time since you started working here"
      My brows furrow and my palms turn into fists under the desk. "I'm.. im still completing my work just fine so I don't know why it matters-"
      "Hey, no need to be defensive... I'm just bringing up what I've notice." He pauses, "Do you at least have someone you can talk about it to?"
      I stayed silent. I knew exactly what he was talking about. The days Alejandro got bad I couldn't help but cry on the way to work. I couldn't allow myself to cry in-front of Alejandro because it would only make it worse. I also will never allow myself to bring up these problems to my family. They would go insane.
      I shake my head.
      Kevin sighs. "You can always talk to me, y'know." A small smile creeps onto his face and I return it. I nod and look down hoping to drop the subject and it works. Kevin goes to sit at his desk.
We work on our project until noon. We had a deadline coming up soon and it was better to get it now that to turn it in later. After hours of typing away at a screen and reading countless articles, I was beginning to get a bad head ache. I ignore it at first but it kept getting worse.
"Ugh.." I groan putting my head down. I finally finished my papers for today.
"What's wrong?" Kevin asks from his desk.
"Nothing, just a head ache" I reply without looking up. I almost forgot he was in the same room as me.
"Do you have pain killers?"
"Those never help." I still don't look up.
Kevin looks at me then gets up. I can hear his steps getting closer. "Do you like ice skating?"
"What?" I laugh and finally look up. "That's such a random question."
Kevin shrugs, "yeah, well, do you?"
"I've never done it before, but im sure I suck at it." I lean back into my chair.
"Let's go after work. There's an ice skating rink for the winter festival thing."
I can feel the way my ears perk up. I knew exactly what he was talking about. It was the Christmas themed event they had every year. My parents never allowed me to go before because they said it was for 'common people', and god forbid I 'mingle' with 'common people.' Now that I was with Alejandro I didn't even bother asking to go. The festival was always full of people and fun activities. If I snuck off with Kevin after work, I'd finally be able to go.
I must have been lost in thought for a while because Kevin then speaks up. "Of course I don't want you to feel pressured. I just think a little fun might help your headache." He looked down then back at me. "I know how it feels."
"Yeah. Let's go then, are you done with your work?" My mood felt suddenly lifted. I wont have go home as early as I usually do.
"I only have a couple pages to write then we can leave."
I nod and patiently wait. I was beginning to get more and more excited. Maybe I wasn't sure how late I'd be home or how Alejandro would react but I was just glad I had something to look forward to.
"Alright let's go." He finally declares. I practically jump out my seat and walk towards the door. I reach for the handle but my hand bumps into his.
"Wow, do I look like the type of guy to let a woman ever even touch a door?" His hand on the door handle, but he hadn't pulled it open.
I Shake my head. "Not really, if I squint."
Kevin just laughs and opens the door. I walk through and we make our way to the elevator.
(T: where's your sweater? Did you leave it in the office?)
Kevin scanned my body. "Donde esta tu suéter? Lo dejaste en la oficina?" His tone was gentle yet had a hint of concern.
"Uhm no, I just didn't bring any.."
    Kevin's lips press into a thin line. "If anyone asks, this isn't mine."
    It confuses me that he begins taking off his coat. He steps closer and wraps it around me. He adjusts it so that I can easily put my arms through the sleeves.
    "uh- thanks but you really didn't have to." I'm a bit embarrassed and wish I had brought a jacket. I wasn't really expecting to be going out though.
    "This sweater is fine. Here-" Kevin grabs the bottom ends of the jacket and zips it up. Suddenly it feels weirdly intimate when we make eye contact.
    I clear my throat and smile. "Thanks again."
    The elevator door opens and I sigh. We walk out. I become very aware of myself as I'm wearing his jacket. It feels warm and cozy. Is it weird if I smell his jacket. I let the intrusive thoughts win and- Atole? Why does this mf smell like an Abuelita's Christmas cooking.. I shake my head trying to drown out those thoughts.
    Kevin had on a simple black hoodie. It looked cooler with the jacket he gave me to put on but he decided I was more important than style I guess. Weirdo. We walked out the building and I didn't realize I was smiling to myself
    "You that happy to go to the festival?" He asks.
    It brings me out of my thoughts and I nod. "Yup, I've been wanting to go to since I was little"
    Kevin swiftly switches our spots on the sidewalk so that he's closer to the cars. "And why didn't you go then?"
    I shrug. "Well I'm assuming you know how parents like ours think." I kick a pebble on the floor.
    "Yeah I guess I do." His tone wasn't as happy this time. I could see the little cloud of warm air flow out as he spoke. I was glad I had his warm jacket because it was cold as a witch's tit outside.
    "You always ask me questions. Seriously." I bring up, not wanting the conversation to end.
    "Well, if it's not you asking it has to be me. And you never ask." He always had that damn smile whenever he talked. Or was it a smirk? I can't describe it but I just know it makes his face look really cute.
    "okay.. I'll ask the questions today." I announce.
    "Let's hear them" He turns to look at me and I turn to look away. I don't like to look at people if they're looking back. It makes me feel exposed.
    Then I start thinking about questions. I do have questions but they're not exactly appropriate.
How long have you been married? Do you hate the parties you go to as much as I do? How did you propose and how did the wedding go? Do you actually love your wife. Am I kidding!? What sane person asks a, seemingly happy, married person if they love their spouse?
    Kevin didn't rush me but at times I'd hear him chuckle. I probably looked stupid so deep in thought over a couple questions.
Fuck did I bring cash?
    "I've got my first question!" I state confidently. The confidence decimated the moment I had to say it out loud, "do.. you mind skating alone...?"
    Kevin stops walking and knits his brows in confusion. "You don't want to skate?" His voice was softer than I'd ever heard it before.
    My heart sinks a bit at his expression. "No- no it's not that- I just don't have cash on me and I won't be able to pay my entry."
    Kevin's expression softened. "I don't get it, what's the problem?"
    "How am I going to pay?"
    He shakes his head looking down and smiling. God I love when he does that. "Even if you did have the money there was no way I was letting you pay for anything. This is all on me." He starts walking again.
    I stand without following for a second. I was incredulous. "What?" My jaw dropped but I couldn't help but smile. "You can't do that!"
    "yeah I can."
    "I'll be in debt with you and owe you the money." I complain.
    "Y/n. I'm not charging you for having a good time." We stop at a red light and wait for the walking pedestrian light to turn on from the other side. "You deserve it. Plus you've been such a good assistant I actually look forward to going to work now."
    The pedestrian light turns on but I'm too surprised to start walking. No one's ever given me an actual free day to enjoy myself like this before. Kevin seems to be getting used to my late reactions because he takes a hold on my hand and walks with me across the street. His hand is warm and gentle around mine. I'm so overwhelmed that I'm not quite sure what to say.
    "thank you.. genuinely I'm at a loss for words" I finally speak out. My hand feels empty when he lets go when we reach the other end of the street.
    "what why" We're walking closer together now.
    "I'm asking questions today remember." I remind him. I hear him hum in acceptance and nod. An indication for me to go on. I feel a small sense of pride in having a better question this time. "Why aren't you more annoying?"
    I can assume he wasn't expecting me to ask this because of the way he turns his head to me.
    "I mean- that first day when I got hired— on accident to be honest— you seemed way more annoying." I continue in the nicest possible tone I could. I hope this wouldn't make him want to snatch my jacket back. His jacket, I mean.
    "I could say the same about you,"
    I scoff in fake surprise. I overdramatize my reaction because I knew damn well I was ticked off that day and was way more annoying than usual. Kevin finds it funny and his grin widens. "I was not being annoying that day!"
    "Not necessarily annoying but weird yeah." His tone is more teasing now.
    "Me weird!?" This time I scoff in genuine surprise but it seems equally as dramatic. "You're the one that randomly went like 'you have pretty lips'!"
    Kevin's light expression wavered a bit. "That's not weird- You started staring at me first. I stared back and it was the first thing that came to mind, so I accidentally blurted it out— big deal" Kevin shrugs and puts his hands up as if showing he's got nothing to to hide. His cheeks had a faint pink tint I would only notice if I looked closely.
    I felt myself blush and look down. I didn't think he would admit to it so casually. "I only stared because I didn't know I'd be your assistant only a couple minutes later. I thought I'd walk out and never have to deal with the confrontation." I groaned but I was having a fun time. We weren't even at the festival yet but I was already having fun with him alone. This also wasn't the awkward confrontation I would have expected at all.
    "Well when I complimented your lips I didn't know either." His voice was calmer now. He was toning it down but his face was only becoming more flushed. "And it's not weird; it's the truth."
My mouth falls open a bit but I can't help holding back a smile. "Is it weird if I return the compliment?" Oh my god. This whole conversation felt so weird. Does his wife know he's out right now?
"Nope, not at all." I could practically hear the smile in his voice.
I press my lips together. "You have really nice eyes." I probably said a little too fast. I had a lot more to say about his eyes, but this was all I could bring myself to say out loud. I wasn't trying to die of embarrassment before I made it to the festival. This is definitely getting weird.
    I turn to look at him after he takes a bit too long to respond for my comfort. I'm relieved when I see him looking down too. Also making the same face I was a couple seconds ago. I consider the thought that he might be blushing but quickly brush it away as I remember it's extremely cold.
    "thanks." His voice quieter now.
    "not weird at all" I comment suddenly really embarrassed.
    "nope"
    We walk in comfortable silence for a bit. I wonder if smiling just as much as I am. I'm having a little too much fun.
    Then I hear his phone ring.

"Despacito
Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito
Deja que te diga cosas al oído"

    I let out a laugh. "That's your ringtone!? You've got to be kidding!"
    Kevin smiled reaching into his pocket and pulled out his phone to check who was calling. The longer it played the funnier it got.

"Firmar las paredes de tu laberinto
Y hacer de tu cuerpo todo un manuscrito (sube, sube, sube)
(Sube, sube) Oh"

    Kevin's face was happy until he saw the caller. Naturally, I peek over to see the name. It read, 'Violeta Barca'
    "who's is it?" I ask still smiling.
    Kevin sighs but doesn't answer the call yet. "Es mi esposa.."
    My heart sunk a bit as I was reminded of reality. This wasn't just a silly little hangout. I wasn't just a silly little teenager anymore. I was hanging out with a very married man. Alone. I pursed my lips and knit my eyebrows. I was starting to try to hold a tighter hip on my morals.
    The phone vibrated in his hand.
    "You gunna answer that?" A part of me was hoping he wouldn't.

——

This time you get an apple because an apple a day keeps the doctor away.🍎 no fr guys I wish I ate more apples bc guess who got sick for new years🤩🤩 Sorry if it's a crappy chapter, I've got a 101 degree fever rn but I didn't want to wait longer to write it. At least this chapter is full of Kevin so I liked writing it.

Anyways, Stay safe and hydrated. I love you. Mwuah💋💋