We Belong Together

(V.) Rainy day

We're driving home in silence.
I am thinking about today's day. Then I realize that the time is late and that I have to get up early in the morning. I should also call Andres and apologize for my outburst. Ah, it doesn't matter. I don't want to talk with him. Soon, we drive to our building, where we park and without words we walk inside.
"Thank you for the ride," I thank at the door. "No problem, sweetheart," she smiles at me, "do you need anything else?"
"Do you have any sleeping pill? My head is full of thoughts and I doubt I can sleep."
"Wait a second," she said and disappeared into her apartment. In a minute she returns: "Here. It is very strong, take it with a lot of water."
"Thank you very much, I owe you. Good night," I say and hug her.

I walk to the bathroom and undress myself. Then I step under the shower, brush my teeth and put on my pajamas. I lie in my bed and take a pill. I fell asleep in few minutes.

*

Raindrops that run through the window wake me up.
I look at a clock - 6:30am.
I slowly get up, I open the closet and pick clothes for today. I walk to the kitchen and put a water for coffee on the stove. While I wait for it to boil, I dress up. I open the window and fresh and cool air blows into the apartment. I pour coffee and start eating a croissant, then check the bus timetable. The next one takes in ten minutes.
I clean up the cup and wipe the crumbs, then I take the bag and umbrella and slowly head out to the bus station. I usually love the rain, but today it's getting me on my nerves.
A few women are sitting at the station and chat about politics.
»¡Buenos días,« I greet them, then I watch traffic and rain drops.

When the bus comes, I step in and sot on the farthest seat. I look through the window and when we drive pass a café, I think of Jorge and his today's meeting with that... Laura.
Will they reconcile? Should I ask Adrian if he knows anything about her?
The last moment I realize that we are approaching the station on which I must exit. I get up and press the "stop" button. The bus stops at the station and I get off a bus. I walk few meters down the street and get to school. A few pupils are jumping on the puddles and squeaks with joy. When I walk past them, they all greets me cheerfully.

The school is still quite empty, because the lessons starts in 45 minutes. When I get to the staff room, there's nobody else. I sit for my desk and prepare for classes. Ten minutes to the beginning of the class, I decide to call Andres.
"Yes?" he said sleepily. "Hey, it's me. Are you still sleeping?" I ask. "Oh, it's you. Yeah, I just woke up," he said and I hear his yawn.
"Sorry, but it would be nice if we could talk."
"Yeah, sure. When do you finish at work?"
"At one," I say when I look at the schedule. "Okay, we can meet at lunch," he suggests. "Um... yes, we can."
"Okay, there as usual?"
"Yeah, it will be great," I agree. "Okay, so I'll see you at half past two?"
"See you," I say and hang off.

Julia is not at work today, so I walk to the classroom by myself. Everyone in the classroom is present today, so we start with the repetition of the old matter. Today, Adrian is very talkative and works with his classmates.
During the break, he comes to me.
"Hello, Miss. Alba," he greeted me. "Hi, Adrian. How are you?" I ask him. "Excellent. In thanking you for coming to dinner with us yesterday, I draw you a drawing," he said, at put it on the desk.
I look at it. A family is sitting at the table and having a dinner.
"This is me, this is you and this is my uncle," he points out. A heart is drawn between me and Jorge. "O, how nice. What does this heart mean?" I ask.
"Promise you won't tell my uncle?"
I nod: "I promise."
"I couldn't sleep yesterday, so I got up and wanted to come to you in living room. When I got there, I saw you two kissed," he says quietly and his eyes are sparkling. I feel how I get pale. "I just turned around and went back to bed. I didn't want to disturb you," he chuckled. "Ehm... Adrian... me and your uncle are just friends," I say and emphasize words just friends. "It's okay, I won't tell anyone. This may be our secret," he said and smiled. "Okay," I smile to him now. Even though I am worried. Very worried.
"He brought you to school today, right?"
He nods: "Yeah, then he went to coffee with Laura," he said and wrinkle his forehead. "Laura? It looks that you don't like her," I say. Oh, Tina, what is wrong with you? You cannot interrogate a child.
"I don't. She's mean. In a message, she wrote to him that she don't like that he's taking care of me."
"A message?"
"Yes, before the breakfast I played a game on his phone when she wrote him. I don't want that he'll be back with her again. I hope they won't reconcile. I like you and my uncle was so happy yesterday when you called him to join us to dinner."
The bell announces the end of the break.
"Look, Adrian, these are adult things, okay? Uncle will decide for himself what is best for him. You don't have to worry about it. Thank you for the drawing, it's wonderful," I say and caress his top of the head. He nods cheerfully and returned to his seat.