GRAVITY | R. DIAS

• 32 •

Erling 🤖

hi erl, martha was just going for
a walk and forgot her phone

oh okay, thx for letting me know 👍
is she alright tho?
she left in a hurry last night

yeah she's okay, just a bit hungover 😉

•••

Alex 💕

martha! i got big news!
i'm coming to ur place rn
not delivered

where r u?
why r u not home?
not delivered

February 18, 2024

Martha doesn't see the messages she recieved during the day until she arrives back home around 10 o'clock in the evening. Immediately the girl calls Alex to let him know she's still alive, even though she doesn't feel like that. The reality of what happened last night really drained all the energy from her body.

"Martha, you're alive!" Alex voice almost shouts through the speakers of her phone. "Where were you and why didn't you answer you're phone?" he goes on.

"No, I went to visit my sister and forgot my phone at home," Martha explains, trying to hide the distress in her voice, but failing miserably.

"What's going on, Mar? You don't sound that well and why did you visit your sister so unexpectedly?" her best friend asks concerned.

"There's nothing," the girl lies. "But what's the exciting news you got to tell me?" she tries to steer the conversation away from her.

But Alex doesn't take the bait. "For real Martha, what's wrong? I'm coming over again if you don't tell me now,"

The blonde sighs. Maybe she should just tell him. It isn't like he's going to judge her, he's her best friend for fuck's sake. "I did something stupid yesterday. I slept with Rúben," she admits. Tears start prickling in her eyes again.

A gasp of shock resonates through the phone. "You didn't!" Alex exclaims. "God damn Mar, I was only joking about doing him,"

"I fucking know Alex. God I feel so bad about it,"

"What are you going to do now?" he asks.

"Nothing. I'm doing nothing but keeping my distance from him," Martha answers.

While she was at her sister's they've talked through every possible scenario and Martha's best option was to just stay away from the man. It is clear to her that she can never pursue a relationship with Rúben, due to her past experiences and trust issues when it comes to dating.

Alex hums understandingly. "I get it, but does Rúben? Maybe you should have a talk with him about what happened and tell him why there can't be anything more between the two of you,"

Maybe Alex is right, but Martha isn't ready yet to face the Portuguese. "Not now, maybe in a few weeks, when I've given this all a place,"

"Okay, but I swear it'll be better to talk it out. But now on to the real question. How was it? Did he push all the right buttons? How many times?"

The blonde shakes her head. Her best friend is unbelievable, but she loves him dearly. He's probably grinning from ear to ear, excited to hear all the juicy details.  "Alex please, I'm not telling you that. But on different note Ale, what's your big news?" she asks again. She really curious and maybe it'll take her mind of Rúben.

"Well, the spa stuff wasn't the only surprise Dan got me," her best friend start telling. "He got me something else, something round and shiny,"

The girls mouth falls open when she realises what that something round and shiny could be. "No, you're engaged?!" she yells. Well this news certainly makes her forget about the Portuguese.

"Yes, I'm getting married!" Alex also screams. "And I want you to be my maid of honor," 

"Of course I want to be your maid of honour,"

"God I'm so happy Martha! I thought he was never going to ask," her best friend had always dreamt of getting married and had already planned every little detail of his dream wedding. All that was left was Dan proposing. Which he finally did.

"He definitely would've asked you one day. Dan loves you so much. I'm so happy for you guys," Martha says.

"Well I'm happy for you too that you finally got laid again. By the way you were avoiding the question I can tell he was good. I mean of course he was, the man looks like he was sculpted by greek gods,"

"Ale come on. Can we please stop talking about Rúben? I want nothing to do with him anymore," the girl sighs. "It was a mistake,"

"Doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. Dan and I once got caught having sex in his parents' swimming pool. That was a mistake and it never happened again, but we did enjoy it," Alex says.

"Too much info Alex," Martha shakes her head again.