THINKIN BOUT YOU, carlos sainz

TWO, formidable

CHAPTER TWO,
formidable

Liliana tossed and turned in her bed, the restless energy coursing through her veins as the night before Qualifying stretched on interminably. Her mind was a whirlwind, thoughts ricocheting from one worry to the next, her body aching for sleep but unable to surrender to it. There was an undeniable irritation gnawing at her — how could she possibly miss out on her beauty sleep, especially tonight?

(As if she needed it anyway.)

Her body propped up against the soft pillows, Liliana let out a frustrated sigh, staring blankly at the dimly lit hotel room around her. What was keeping her awake? What could possibly be causing this disquiet?

The answer eluded her, leaving her with a growing sense of unease, the clock ticking louder with every second.

Without warning, a wave of emotion surged through her, propelling her from the bed in a sudden, almost frantic movement. The silk robe draped over the hanger shimmered under the soft light as Liliana yanked it from its resting place, the cool fabric gliding across her skin as she wrapped it around her. She needed to get out of the room, to step away from the encroaching thoughts.

She made her way into the hallway, her footsteps muted against the polished floors. Her mind was lost in a labyrinth of confusion, every turn only deepening her internal turmoil. Her lips nervously chewed on the soft flesh of her bottom lip as she wandered, her eyes darting from one side of the corridor to the other, searching for something — anything — to quell the storm inside her.

She'd felt this way before. Nerves creeping in, a restless energy that seemed to live just beneath her skin. But tonight felt different, heightened somehow. She wasn't sure why. She had always prided herself on her ability to handle interviews, to stand in front of the cameras and ask the questions that others might shy away from. But every time the lens focused on her, there was always that flicker of anxiety, the familiar weight of doubt.

As she wandered aimlessly, Liliana found herself standing before a secluded balcony, the quiet space offering a brief reprieve from the madness within. She leaned against the cool railing, her eyes drifting upwards to the vast expanse of the night sky, her thoughts quieting as the stars above whispered their stories to her.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she glanced over to the slumped figure of a man, sprawled across a row of chairs, snoring loudly in his drunken slumber. The sound was absurd, almost comforting in its absurdity. Liliana shook her head in amusement before returning her gaze to the heavens, allowing herself a moment of peace.

She always found solace in the stars. There was something so awe-inspiring about the endless vastness of space. Each star, a beacon of untold stories, a reminder that she, too, was part of something much greater than herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind her, soft and familiar. "What are you doing up?"

Liliana spun around, startled for a brief moment, her brow furrowing as she tried to place the source of the voice. "I could ask the same thing."

Carlos stood before her, his expression one of quiet understanding, his brown eyes filled with a warmth that instantly calmed her. "Can't sleep. My nerves are getting the best of me," he said simply, his voice carrying a hint of vulnerability.

Liliana offered him a gentle smile, one that spoke of solidarity. "Me too," she murmured, her eyes returning to the sky as the cool night air brushed against her skin.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, as her gaze lingered on the velvet expanse above.

Carlos looked up at the sky, his gaze softening as the stars twinkled brightly above them. His eyes shifted back to Liliana, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he took in the sight of her, her face illuminated by the ethereal glow of the night. "Yeah, it is."