Lisa Brüschweiler, a twenty-five-year-old law student, is under immense pressure from her studies, exams, and the high expectations of her single mother. After failing her final exam, the stress of having a low GPA as a graduating student takes a to...
"Oye, Lisa, ¿ya hiciste la colada? ¿Por qué sigues holgazaneando, si es sábado!"
As usual, the shout from her mom was like an alarm clock pulling her back to reality. She slammed her pen down and ran her fingers through her greasy hair. Damn, she hadn't even had time to shower in two days straight because of that damn final exam before summer break. Even without looking in the mirror, she could feel the bags under her eyes weighing her down and swore she could pass for a homeless person with the way she looked right now. It didn't help that the only thing keeping her awake for the past nights was the 5 cups of black coffee, 3 energy drinks, and the damn moaning sounds from next door!
"I was studying, Mama!" She stood up, almost losing her balance, and quickly grabbed the wall for support. Once she regained her strength, she bent down to get her laundry basket from her dark room. Damn, she should open those curtains; they were making her feel more depressed than she should. Still hesitating as she stared at the black curtains, the door to her room burst open with a loud bang.
"Studying? Come out and eat something first, and what is that smell?! Your room reeks! ¡Recoge tu cuarto!"
Lisa let out a deep sigh. "Sí, mamá."
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Lisa glared at her phone, biting her nails while contemplating what comeback to use in response to what her friend had just said. She was currently on her room's veranda and had finished hanging the laundry. She rested her elbows on the railings, still thinking. From her perspective, her neighbor did not look like an uncle at all. Her best friend probably said that because she hadn't seen him in person, and Lisa had kept bad-mouthing him to her friends. She even gossiped about him having a child but hadn't seen a wife. She cursed under her breath as the afternoon sunlight and heat burned her sensitive skin.
She was about to go back to her room when the sliding door of the neighboring veranda opened, and the man they had been gossiping about came out, lighting a cigarette between his lips. He hadn't noticed her yet, so she watched him lean on the railings and blow smoke into the air. If only she hadn't coughed from the smell, he might not have looked her way.
