Cities Through Her Eyes

Barcelona

 We had parked the car at one of the lots near the city center. It took us about 7 hours to reach Barcelona, counting all the stops we made. It was now 12 at night. We sat in a cozy corner of a cafe named Onna, on the road Carrer de Santa. We were the last ones here, the city had almost seemed to have died out. Mia excused herself to go to the washroom, while I wondered about the recent event which occurred on drive. 

Mia had leaned in for a kiss while we sat in the city traffic. I did respond with a jerking of my head and a bewildered face. "Oh I'm sorry, you're not attracted to me, that's cool." She said without a flinch. As if the rejection did not affect her. 

"No, its just, you know, I am-"

"Straight? Ohh, I thought you coming here, Barcelona. Right now, with the summer parades and gay events. I assumed, my fault." and she gave me one of those unique genuine smiles. She was not scathed by my denial, in fact she was one of the most self-assured people I had seen. 

I must admit with great embarrassment that her bluntness came as a shock to me. I do support the LGBTQ community, trust me, I do. But I had never encountered a moment like that. And coming from a country where even speaking about a topic like same-sex partners is a taboo did not help. Back home, I did have a few homosexual friends but I have seen them struggle with their identity. They had to become a little separated from society, specially from the older generations. 

After I got over the initial amazement, I looked back at her and returned that smile, which was definitely genuine as well. I liked her confidence and I could feel the acceptance in the air as we cruised along the highway into Barcelona. 

~~~~~

My sleep breaks at 10 in the morning when Mia pulls the curtains of the window apart. Last night we had checked in to the Arco Youth Hostel in the Gothic Quarter. For a hostel, the room was more posh than I would have imagined. It was a two-bed room, perfect for me and Mia. 

As soon as I get out of the shower, my phone rings. "Hello? Mom?"

"Nessa, you didn't answer my call yesterday, you reached Barcelona? See, I need to know where you are, you can't just not answer." And she started her lecture. 

"Mom I'm fine, everything is -" 

"Yes but the least you can do is answer. I am a mother after all. I want you to have fun baby, if I don't call, you will be cooped up in your tiny room." She said, cutting me off as always.

After a minute of silence from both ends, I built up my courage and said, "You know Mom, I am having fun. The point of this trip was for me to be independent so stop checking up on me. I might call you once a day- maybe-, other than that, DO- NOT- CALL. Thanks!" And I slammed my phone on the bed. I felt pretty badass and I knew my mother would have liked this. This is what she wanted, for me to stand up for what I want. 

"Well done, mon ami," exclaimed Mia, peeking out of the bathroom. And I stuck my tongue out and curtsy-ed to that. 

~~~~~

After visiting the Barcelona Cathedral and millions of other gothic building, we paused at Espit Chupitos, a bar on 77th. I assumed that we would go eat because I was famished but Mia walked right up to the bar and blocked our seats. I followed like a puppy. 

"Two red wine sangrias." she told the bartender. I gestured no. She looked back at the bartender and told him to give it to this girl sitting diagonally across the room from us. She then smirked at me and said,  "Don't worry, not for you." 

Just a minute later, that girl had come over to talk to us, well, to talk to Mia. 

To be continued...