As the lights dimmed in Edson's living room, Santiago couldn't help but steal glances at Isa, his heart fluttering every time her smile illuminated the darkness. Her facial features, illuminated by the soft glow of the TV, captivated him in a way he couldn't quite explain.
Isa noticed his lingering gaze and returned it with a gentle smile, causing Santiago's cheeks to flush with embarrassment. Thankfully, the dim lighting concealed his blush, sparing him from further scrutiny.
Edson's offer for his teammates to stay over for the night was met with enthusiastic agreement, especially since it was a Friday and they had no practice the next morning. As they began to plan sleeping arrangements, Isa watched with amusement as her brother and his friends bantered playfully.
Settling in with a bowl of popcorn, Isa listened as Diego voiced his reluctance to share an inflatable bed with Jorge and Uriel. Edson's solution, proposing that he and two others sleep in his bed while the rest slept on the floor, elicited snickers from some of the group.
"Y porque alguien no duerme con Isa," Diego said, crossing his arms as he expressed his desire to sleep alone on the inflatable bed.
"Porque Isa no va a dormir con nadie," Edson replied firmly.
"Pero Edson, yo no quiero dormir con Jorge y Uriel en la misma camita," Diego complained.
"Pues te aguantas carnal," Edson retorted.
"No hombre, no cabemos," Jorge chimed in.
"Está bien," Edson said, rubbing his face in frustration. "Yo dormiré con Isa y dos de ustedes dormirán en mi cama. Los demás dormirán aquí."
Some of the group snickered at his plan, but Isa finally spoke up. "Porque no dormimos todos aquí? Aquí cabemos todos, no se porque se pelean."
"Isa, no cabemos aquí," Edson said, trying to explain the logistics.
Isa stood up and made the rest stand up too. She showed Edson that the couch turned into a massive bed. "OMG ISA ERES UNA GENIO," Edson exclaimed, surprised.
"Por eso lo escogí, menso," she said, still eating the popcorn from the bowl she held in her hand.
They got ready, Isa brought many blankets for everyone and pillows. "Isa, las cobijas huelen a ti," said Ozziel.
"Oh, lo siento," she said.
"No te preocupes, huelen rico," said Kevin.
As they settled in for the night, the group's laughter and chatter gradually gave way to sleepy murmurs, their bond strengthened by the shared experience of friendship and camaraderie. And as Santiago drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like these, when the warmth of friendship enveloped him like a cozy blanket, chasing away the shadows of doubt and uncertainty.
____
As the night wore on, Santiago found himself unable to sleep. His thoughts were haunted by the moment he had been caught admiring Isa's face and the eye contact they shared. Nearby, Isa lay awake as well, replaying Santiago's admiring glances in her mind.
Finally, Isa decided to get up and go to the kitchen for a glass of water. The moonlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow on her as she moved. Santiago, noticing her silhouette, felt compelled to follow. Quietly, he got up and made his way to the kitchen.
"Isa," he whispered, careful not to startle her.
Isa jumped slightly but relaxed when she realized it was Santiago, the boy who occupied her thoughts day and night. "Dime," she said, turning to face him.
"Me podrías regalar un vaso de agua, por favor," he asked.
Isa poured him a glass of water and handed it to him. "Muchas gracias," Santiago said with a grateful smile.
They sat down at the kitchen table, the quiet of the night enveloping them. "¿Qué haces despierto?" Isa asked, taking a sip from her cup.
"No puedo dormir, ¿y tú?" he replied.
"Yo tampoco," she admitted.
Outside, their neighbors were having a party that made sleep even more elusive. At that moment, "Mi Mayor Anhelo" by Banda MS started playing. Santiago began to sing softly, "Quiero ser el amor de tu alma," and Isa joined in, "el calor de tu cama y sentir tus caricias."
They looked at each other and continued singing in whispers, sharing smiles and laughter. After a while, Isa stood up and looked out the window to see what their neighbors were up to. Santiago followed her.
"Mira, le está pidiendo que se case con él," she said in awe.
"Qué bonitos," Santiago replied, watching the newly engaged couple with her.
They spent a few minutes admiring the scene in silence until Santiago spoke up. "Isa," he said, turning to look at her.
"Dime," she said, also turning to face him.
"No sé cómo decir esto, ya no aguanto más guardármelo a mí mismo," he began, his voice trembling slightly.
"¿Qué pasa, Santi?" Isa asked, her eyes searching his.
"Me gustas mucho, lo siento, sé que no te traté bien y todo, pero durante estos meses que nos estuvimos conociendo y conviviendo más, mis sentimientos eran cada vez más claros," he confessed.
"A mí también me gustas, no pasa nada Santi. Pero quiero que sepas que quiero llevar esto a la ligera para poder conocernos más. Acabas de terminar una relación y conociendo a tu ex no creo que le agrade mucho el tema," she said softly, her gaze never leaving his.
"Yo estoy conforme con lo que digas," Santiago said, a broad smile spreading across his face.
Isa hugged Santiago, and he hugged her back tightly. "Isa," Santiago said, catching her attention.
Isa turned, and before she could react, Santiago kissed her. It was a sweet and delicate kiss.
"Santi," she said, looking at him with a mix of surprise and affection. "Aun no somos novios," she added, playfully hitting his shoulder.
"Lo siento, ya no aguantaba," he replied, smiling and pulling her into another hug.
____
After their heartfelt exchange and the sweet kiss they shared, Santiago and Isa stood in the kitchen, the silence between them filled with unspoken emotions. Santiago could feel his heart racing, the weight of his confession lifting, replaced by a sense of hope and excitement. Isa's eyes sparkled with warmth and understanding, her smile reassuring him that everything would be alright.
"Deberíamos volver antes de que alguien nos vea," Isa whispered, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Sí, tienes razón," Santiago replied, still holding her hand gently.
They walked back to the living room, hand in hand, the connection between them stronger than ever. As they approached their makeshift sleeping area, they quietly let go of each other, not wanting to draw attention from their friends who were already fast asleep.
Santiago lay down on his blanket, feeling a mix of contentment and anticipation. He glanced over at Isa, who was settling in nearby. Their eyes met one last time before they closed them, both knowing that tonight had changed everything between them.
In the quiet darkness, the sounds of their friends' soft breathing filled the room, and Santiago's thoughts drifted back to the moments he shared with Isa. Her smile, her laughter, the way she looked at him – all of it felt like a beautiful dream.
As he began to drift off to sleep, he could hear the distant sounds of their neighbors' party winding down. The song "Mi Mayor Anhelo" still played softly in his mind, a reminder of the tender moment they shared in the kitchen.
Isa, too, lay awake for a few moments longer, her heart full of warmth and joy. She knew that the journey ahead would not be without its challenges, but she felt confident that they could face them together. She smiled to herself, feeling Santiago's presence close by, and finally allowed herself to drift into a peaceful sleep.
The night continued to pass quietly, the room filled with the comfort of friendship and newfound love. Santiago and Isa, now more connected than ever, slept soundly, their dreams intertwined with hopes of a bright future together.
Hiiiii everyone, I was literally squealing and swinging my feet while writing this chapter. Thank you so much for everyone who supports my work. Luv y'all lots💗
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Siempre te voy a querer
FanfictionHow did we go from enemies to lovers then lovers to strangers?
