The sky had transformed into a canvas of vibrant hues as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the bustling streets of Barcelona. I made my way back home from Mia's house, the pleasant buzz of conversation still ringing in my ears. It had been a delightful afternoon spent catching up with my friends, and as I approached my apartment building, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me.
As I stepped into the building, I noticed Mrs. Martínez's car parked outside. The sight sparked a flicker of curiosity within me. It wasn't uncommon for her to drop by for a visit, but something about her presence today felt different. Ignoring the nagging feeling in the back of my mind, I climbed the stairs to our apartment, eager to unwind after a long day.
Pushing open the door, I was greeted by the comforting warmth of home and the sound of hushed voices coming from the living room. Curiosity piqued, I made my way towards the source of the voices, wondering what had prompted Mrs. Martínez's visit.
As I entered the living room, I saw Mrs. Martínez and my mom seated on the couch, engrossed in conversation. They looked up as I entered, smiles lighting up their faces.
"Indiyah, darling, you're back!" my mom exclaimed, rising from her seat to greet me with a warm hug.
"Hey, Mom," I replied, returning her hug before turning to Mrs. Martínez. "Hi, Mrs. Martínez. What brings you here?"
Mrs. Martínez smiled warmly at me. "Oh, just dropping by to see your mom and catch up. It's been too long since we last had a chance to chat."
I nodded, accepting her explanation, but a sense of unease lingered in the air. There was something about the way Mrs. Martínez looked at me, a glint of knowing in her eyes that sent a shiver down my spine. But before I could dwell on it further, Mrs. Martínez excused herself to use the restroom, leaving me alone with my mom.
"Is everything okay, sweetie?" my mom asked, concern etched in her features.
"Yeah, everything's fine," I replied, forcing a smile. "Just tired from the day. I think I'm going to go to my room and rest for a bit."
"Alright, honey. Let me know if you need anything," my mom said, giving me a reassuring smile.
I made my way to my room, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as I closed the door behind me. But as I turned to flop onto my bed, I froze in my tracks at the sight before me.
There, sitting on the edge of my bed, was Alejandro. He looked up as I entered, his expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of us said anything, the tension in the room thick and palpable.
"What are you doing here?" I finally managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He shrugged, his gaze flickering away from mine. "I...uh...just needed to talk to you."
I felt my heart race at his words, a million questions swirling in my mind. But before I could gather my thoughts, he spoke again.
"I'm sorry, Indiyah. I've been acting like a jerk lately, and I just... I don't know how to fix it."
I stared at him, taken aback by his sudden confession. It was a far cry from the arrogant and confrontational Alejandro I was used to, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond.
"Apology accepted," I finally said, the words coming out softer than I had intended.
He gave me a grateful smile, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off our shoulders. But just as I was about to speak, his phone buzzed with a text message, interrupting the moment.
