ˋ°•*⁀➷In Mijas, Spain, Carlos Martinez and Viola Lopez were childhood rivals, always at each other's throats-whether it was over grades, sports, or just who could outdo the other. Their competitive fire was unmatched, but after graduation, their pat...
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Viola's car hummed gently as it cruised down the sun-dappled roads of Mijas, her fingers lightly gripping the steering wheel. Beside her in the passenger seat, her mother, Meera, sat with an excited smile, her eyes twinkling as she looked out at the familiar sights. Having just arrived from India, she was thrilled to be back in Spain, especially to see her daughter.
"So, how was the flight, Ma?" Viola asked, glancing over as she turned onto the main road leading back to their house.
Meera stretched her arms, a little tired but still animated. "Oh, it was long, of course! But I met this lovely lady from Delhi on the flight. We talked about everything—her daughter just got married, and she showed me so many pictures! It reminded me of Val's upcoming wedding. Can you believe it's finally happening?"
Viola chuckled, keeping her eyes on the road. "I know! Val and Mateo have been planning this for so long, and now it's almost here. I'm so excited but also so nervous. There's still so much to do."
"I'm sure it'll be beautiful, sweetheart. You and Carlos have done so much already."
Viola smiled at the mention of Carlos. "Yeah, he's been great. We've both been running around, making sure everything's perfect."
Meera gave her daughter a sideways glance, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "And how is Carlos? It's been a while since I saw him."
"Oh, he's fine, just busy with his races and everything. You know how it is."
"I see..." Meera said, the tone in her voice playful but curious. "He's been helping you with the wedding preparations a lot, hasn't he?"
Viola shrugged casually, trying to keep her tone light. "Yeah, he's just... Carlos. Can be sometimes reliable."
Meera nodded thoughtfully, her gaze soft. "He's always been there for you, hasn't he? Since you were kids."
Viola chuckled, trying to steer the conversation away from that line of thought. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You and Carlos' mum used to say we were inseparable. But I think it was just because we were fought with each other half the time."
Meera laughed at that, her voice light and melodic. "You used to fight like cats and dogs over the silliest things. I remember once you two wouldn't speak for a whole week because he ate the last cookie!"
Viola laughed out loud, the memory warming her chest. "Oh God, I remember that! He was so smug about it too. Always thought he could get away with anything."
"Well, he was a handful, but he's grown into such a fine young man. And you both have grown up so much. I'm so proud of you."
Viola bit her lip, trying to suppress the smile that threatened to creep across her face. "Yeah, well, Carlos was always the best boy in your eyes, wasn't he?"
Meera laughed again, the sound filling the car. "Oh, he was, wasn't he? But you were always my favorite, no matter how much you two drove me crazy."
Viola rolled her eyes playfully as she turned the car into the driveway of their house. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Well, here we are. Home sweet home."
