Not enough (Fermín López)

Chapter 26

"We could leave on Sunday, right after my training...".

Fermín kept talking about the little trip they had planned for the weekend when he noticed Lorena dropping his hand when they got out of uni. And before he could ask what was wrong, he saw an older woman walking towards her.

"Auntie Claudia?"

Fermín felt himself going defensive hearing that woman was part of Lorena's family but then had to rethink his reaction.

"Oh my God!", screamed Lorena before running to hug Claudia. "It's been so long since I last saw you".

"I know. Look at you so grown up and beautiful. And...", she finally acknowledged Fermín, standing and looking at them. "I'm guessing that's the boyfriend".

Lorena giggled. Wait!, Fermín thought. Giggling was not something he expected her to do in the presence of her family.

"Yes. Let me do the introductions".

Fermín took that as his sign to approach them and offered his hand to the woman called Claudia.

"Oh look at him so polite. We're family, Fermín. Give me a hug!"

They hugged and then Fermín looked at Claudia, smiling. "You're not what I expected. I mean, I didn't know you existed five minutes ago but...".

"But you've met my brother. Lorena's dad, I mean. And no, I'm not like him. Like them".

"Are you here because of what they did?", asked Lorena.

"Yes. I wish I had heard before but it seems you had someone to look after you".

Lorena looked at Fermín and smiled.

"I did. His whole family has been great".

"But it should be your family that looks after you. I know my house is a bit far but I could drive you to class every day...".

"What do you mean?", asked Fermín, scared Claudia was going to take Lorena away from him.

"She can move in with me".

"No, she's fine with us", he looked at Lorena, needing her to reassure him. "You are, right?"

"I am but Fermín...I can't stay at your parents' forever. It makes sense I move in with my aunt. Also, I already told you I have some money saved and I could work during the summer".

"But you'll be far...".

Claudia was looking at both of them with a smile on her face. It was nice to see her niece finally met someone who loved her and worried about her so much.

"Ok, hear me out. You've clearly got a good system going on and classes will end soon so how about you stay with Fermín during the week and start moving in with me on the weekends? And then you can stay there and we'll plan the next uni year and all that".

"So she can stay with me?", asked Fermín, making Claudia laugh.

"Yes, honey. I'm not taking her from you".

Lorena chuckled and Fermín blushed. "It's just...you know".

"I'm not going to separate her from someone who loves her. Lorena knows that already".

They all decided to drive to Fermín's so Claudia could meet his parents and tell them of the plan. His parents also thought it sounded great so there was only one person there who wasn't as happy.

"Why are you acting like this?", asked Fermín's brother.

"Like what?"

"Like a little kid. Everyone is over there talking and you've come here to sulk. Shouldn't you be happy Lorena found a solution to her problem?"

"A solution that means she'll live further away from me".

"Right...you'll still go to class together. She'll probably stay in another dorm or something. Come on, Fer. This doesn't mean you won't see each other. No one can separate you. Not even God would dare try".

"I guess...".

"You know this is good for her too. Be mature about it".

Fermín nodded and went back to where everyone was chatting and sat next to where Lorena was standing, bringing her close so she could sit on his lap.

"Hey".

"Hi...I don't want you to go", he whispered so only she heard him.

"I know. But I won't be that far and will learn how to drive so it'll make everything much easier. I'll be ok. We'll be ok".

"Promise?"

"I promise. I can't be away from you anyway. So...".

Fermín soon realised the plan was good but he was enjoying living with Lorena so much that it still made him a bit sad to know it would end. But he hoped the same dynamic would be repeated in the future...when he and Lorena had their own place to live in. He wanted all that...even on sick days.

"God, my head is killing me", complained Fermín's dad, rubbing his temples with his fingers.

"It's the storm that's coming. I feel a headache too", told him his mum.

"I'm fine".

Everyone looked at Fermín as if he was the reason why their heads hurt and that included Lorena.

"I got a migraine so I hate you".

"Oh honey, let me find some paracetamol for you", said Fermín's mum, opening drawers. "Migraines are the worst".

"I already took one, thanks. Not sure how much it'll help".

Fermín noticed Lorena shivering and took his hoodie off to give it to her.

"Thank you. I should probably just go to bed and try to sleep".

"You won't have dinner?", Lorena shook her head. "I'll eat fast and then go look after you, ok?"

"Ok", she told him, hugging him tightly before leaving to go to his bedroom.

Lorena let the blinds envolve the room in darkness and brushed her teeth quickly before going to bed. She was trying to find a position where her neck didn't feel super stiff so that she could be comfy. But it wasn't so easy. And then, Fermín entered the room.

"You can't sleep?"

"No, my eyes hurt, my neck is stiff and my jaw feels weird when I talk".

"Sounds fun", he said and Lorena laughed before groaning because laughing hurt her eyes too. "Ok, no jokes. What can I do?"

"I don't know. There really isn't something that helps until I fall asleep and then wake up feeling better".

That made Fermín feel useless so he just got ready for bed and got inside of it, moving Lorena so her back was to him.

"What are you...".

"Where is the neck bothering you?", he asked and she showed him by touching that area, so Fermín tried massaging it softly, not wanting to hurt her more. "Better?"

She nodded, seeming to relax a bit. "Maybe go a little higher".

He did and finally, Lorena found a good posture for her head but the rest of the problems were still there. So Fermín moved his hand to her face, to try and relieve the area around her eyes that was bothering her.

"Sorry, my hand is a big cold".

"No, it's nice that it is cold. It helps with the pain".

"Ok then...".

Fermín found the whole thing very relaxing too, but clearly not as much as Lorena, who quickly fell asleep. So he stopped touching her face and moved his arms to her waist so he could hold her while she slept. He really couldn't wait until that was their everyday life, in their own house. Minus the migraine, of course. Fermín hated to see Lorena in pain.