The rain tapped against the window, a gentle rhythm that mirrored the fluttering of Milagros's heart. She sat cross-legged on the floor, a carton of Chinese takeout balanced on her lap. The apartment was cozy, the scent of soy sauce and noodles filling the air.
Alejandro leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her with a soft smile. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, and his eyes held a warmth that made Milagros's insides twist.
"Miligol," he said, using the nickname she'd earned as a child. "You're adorable when you're hungry."
She stuck her chopsticks into the noodles, twirling them expertly. "Adorable? I thought you preferred fierce and independent."
Alejandro stepped closer, his fingers brushing her cheek. "I like all sides of you," he murmured. "The rebel, the dreamer, and especially the one who steals my dumplings."
Milagros blushed, her heart doing a clumsy salsa. "I can't resist dumplings," she confessed. "Or you, for that matter."
He sat down beside her, their knees touching. "You know," Alejandro said, *"when we first met, I thought you were trouble."
"And now?" Milagros asked, her eyes locking with his.
"Now," he said, "I think you're my favorite kind of trouble."
They ate in companionable silence, the rain outside creating a cocoon of intimacy. The sweet-and-sour chicken was tangy, but it was the taste of Alejandro's laughter that lingered on Milagros's tongue.
"Remember our first date?" she said, her voice low. *"That tiny Mexican restaurant with the flickering neon sign?"
Alejandro chuckled. *"How could I forget? You spilled salsa on your shirt, and I pretended not to notice."
"And then," Milagros continued, *"you kissed me under the dim light. Right there, between the enchiladas and the guacamole."
He leaned in, his lips brushing her forehead. "Best decision I ever made," he whispered.
Milagros set aside her takeout container, her heart swelling. "Alejandro," she said, *"I love you. Even when life gets messy."
He cupped her face, his thumb tracing her lips. "And I love you," he replied. *"Even when you steal my dumplings."
And so, they sat there—the rain outside, the half-eaten noodles, and the promise of forever. Alejandro kissed Milagros—a promise of love, of shared takeout containers, and of a future seasoned with laughter.
The rain tapped on the window, a serenade for two hearts entwined.
