Mi campeón - Carlos Sainz (EN)

Chapter 1✓

Night had fallen over Brussels, wrapping the city in a cloak of lights and shadows. The bright neon sign of a club flickered to the rhythm of pulsating music that spilled out from the wide-open doors of an upscale nightclub. On the sidewalk, a line snaked its way forward, filled with elegant and impatient figures. Among them, Talia and Clara waited, enveloped in the electric atmosphere of the evening. Their dresses, though stunning, offered little protection against the biting cold of the night. Talia, draped in a midnight blue dress that accentuated her pale skin, shivered despite herself. Clara, wearing a flowing dress that hugged her slender frame, blew on her hands to warm them.

- I should have brought a jacket, Clara muttered, her teeth slightly clenched. What made me think it would be "bearable"?

- Beauty before comfort, Talia replied with a sly smile. Isn't that what you always say?

Clara let out a nervous laugh, trying to shake off the cold that pierced through her. To distract themselves, they struck up a conversation about their respective lives. As university students, they rarely had the chance to go out to such prestigious places.

- So, your thesis on Nietzsche... still as intense? Clara asked, raising an amused eyebrow.

Talia rolled her eyes, crossing her arms to preserve some semblance of warmth.

- Intense is an understatement. But you have to admit, he's right about one thing: what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Exactly what I've been telling myself for the past twenty minutes in this line.

Clara burst out laughing, drawing a few curious glances from the people around them. Their good mood was contagious, even in the freezing wait.

Their words were drowned out by the buzz of the crowd and the steady beat of the music from the nightclub. The hours ahead promised surprises, adventures, and new encounters, but for now, they were eager to step through the doors of this mysterious and exhilarating place.

The music grew louder as they approached the entrance. The bouncers, imposing and dressed in black, watched each person with almost military precision. Their job was not only to maintain order but also to filter the guests. When it was finally Talia and Clara's turn, the bouncer gave them a scrutinizing look.

- Aren't you a bit young to be here? he asked in a neutral but slightly mocking tone.

Prepared, Talia handed him their IDs with confidence.

- We're both 23, she replied. Apparently, we look much younger, she added with an ironic smile.

- Are you meeting friends tonight? he continued, skeptical.

The bouncer smiled but kept examining them as if looking for an excuse to turn them away. Before he could say anything else, a sudden commotion broke out in the line. Whispers spread through the crowd, and several heads turned toward the back.

Talia, too focused on her conversation with the bouncer, didn't immediately notice the cause of the excitement. A man was approaching, flanked by two equally confident individuals. He wore a long, dark coat, and a hood partially concealed his face. He walked with a casual stride. Without a word, he passed the line, ignoring the indignant protests that rose here and there.

Talia exchanged an incredulous look with Clara. Arms crossed, she watched the man approach the entrance, where the bouncer immediately unhooked the rope to let him through. No check, no questions. Just a polite gesture and a knowing smile. It was too much.

- Hey, excuse me! Talia exclaimed, her voice louder than she had intended. That's not fair! We've been here for an hour, and he just gets to walk in like that?