We Belong Together

(XI.) New York, New York

He said he loves me.
Jorge Lorenzo loves me!
I didn't shut my eyes all night because of that.

Now I am standing in front of the principal's office and waiting to accept me.
"Miss Alba, you can come in," the secretary said, as I smile to her foolishly then I knock on the door and enter the office.
"Good morning, Mr. Soler," I say, when he stands up and gives me a hand: "Hello, Cristina. Please sit down. How can I help you?"
"I would like to take a holiday for two days. On Friday and Monday," I say when I sit.
"Of course. Do you have any special plans?"
"Ahm... family trip," I say quickly. "Wonderful. No worries, two days of vacation are marked on a calendar," he smiles and write a note on a calendar. I smile: "Thank you very much." I slowly stand up and wants to leave. "Someone told me that Jorge Lorenzo has visited you many times," he said. I quickly look at him and with a difficulty swallow a big lump in my throat: "He's one of my pupil's uncle. His parents left for several months, so Mr. Lorenzo took a temporary role of caretaker," I say when he nods: "Of course, I understand. Don't listen to the evil gossip. Every single teacher in this school want to be the teacher of this pupil, now that they know who his uncle is."
"What are the gossip?" I ask.
"Just the nonsense, Cristina. I know you're engaged and I am sure you won't risk losing a perfect relationship and excellent job," he said and look on the watch: "Excuse me, another meeting is waiting for me," he said and smiled. "O-of course, I am already going," I nod and open the door. "Have a good time on the trip," he called after me and waved at me. I smiled at him and closed the door.
"Cristina, are you fine?" secretary asks me and puts a glass of water in my hand: "You're very pale, drink some water."
I drank a whole glass and sat on the chair: "Thanks. Can I ask you something?"
"Of course," she nods and puts the glass on the table. "The principal mentioned me about some gossip. About me and Jor... I mean, Mr. Lorenzo. Can you tell me what this is about?"
"Two teachers came to the principal and said they had seen you several times together," she quietly says.
"Isn't it normal? He's my pupil's uncle and he is his caretaker, so he has every right to come for the meeting," I sharply said when she nods: "Of course. They saw you when you were pretty close..."
"Bullsh*t. Who saw this?"
"Cristina, I cannot tell you," she calmly answered.
"Fine, thanks for the information," I thank her and leave.

*

I am sitting on a plane, with Adrian on one side and with Jorge on the other. We're in front of the several hours flight and Adrian soon fall asleep. I have my eyes closed and my thoughts are zigzagging all over my head. "Are you sleeping?" Jorge quietly asks me. I shake my head and open my eyes. "Is something wrong? You haven't talked to me for hours," he said. "I shouldn't go with you," I whisper. He doesn't say anything, just waiting for me to continue. "There are some gossip in the school. About us. The principal warned me. He doesn't believe this, but... soon it will be all clear. We'll stop seeing each other when we return from New York," I say and look at him seriously. "Everything will be fine, Tina. Don't think about it now."
"Promise me, that everything will end," I say. He's quiet. "Jorge..." I start, but he kisses me. A tear slip down my cheek and he wipes it: "Everything will be fine," he repeated. I trust him, so I let myself to a good feeling and forget about the rest. It's a wonderful weekend ahead of us.

When we land, we take a taxi to the hotel, where we change. Jorge is in constant contact with Adrian's dad and agreed to get in the restaurant for dinner. Again, we take a taxi, when I look through the window and keep quiet. Jorge takes my hand when I look at him. "Are you okay?" he asked and I smile: "Yeah. I am little nervous."
"Why?" he laughs. "What is it?" Adrian asks. "Cristina is nervous because she will meet your parents," Jorge said to him and the boy laughs: "Don't worry, Miss Alba, my parents are very cool."
I smile: "I believe. And call me Tina, okay? We're not at school, you don't need to be formal. Besides, I am Jorge's friend." They both exchange looks and Jorge winks at him. "Okay, Tina. My uncle's friend," Adrian laughs and look out the window: "Will we be there soon?"
"Yes, Adri. Just a little more."
The tension in me is rising and when we step out to the restaurant, I feel sick. Cold November wind blows and ruffles my hair when I fix it and breathe deeply. Jorge takes my hand as we enter. At the last tables, two couples are sitting. One elderly and one younger. The man raised his eyes and waved to us. Jorge waves back and Adrian runs against the table: "Mum, Dad!!"
We follow him to the table, where Adrian already hug his parents. "What a beautiful surprise," his mother said and squeezed him closer. "Hi, how are you?" Jorge shakes hands with Adrian's dad. "Sis," he said and now hugs her. "Good evening," I say when his sister looks at me. "Oh, brother. Who is this?" she asked and smiled widely.
"Cristina. Cristina, this is my sister Laura," he said happily when I offered her a hand. Laura again? She hugs me: "It's nice to meet you. I hope this is serious, Jorge," she said and tap his shoulder. I smiled awkwardly when I introduce myself to her husband. "Hi, I'm Miguel," he said and we shake hands. We sit down at the table and start chatting. "Adrian, how's school? Is everything OK?" Laura asks. My heart fastens up and I quickly look at Jorge. "It's fine, mum. My uncle helps me a lot with homework, my classmates are very funny. Oh, I have a new teacher. She's the best," Adrian said cheerfully. I froze, because I don't know how it will continue. Jorge leans to me and whispers: "Relax. Adri will never betray you."
I exhale and smile.
"Great. You would tell me if there was anything wrong, right Jorge?" Laura said and looked at us. "Yes, of course he'd tell you," I replied instead of him. Miguel and Adrian laugh. "Yeah, Laura. Don't worry," Jorge said, "everything is fine and the new teacher is really hot."
I roll with my eyes. "How dare you! You have such a wonderful girlfriend and you're talking about another," Laura said angrily. We all laugh. She has no idea.
"It's okay, Laura. I trust him completely," I say and Jorge caresses my thigh. "For how long have you been together?" Miguel asks. "One month," Jorge said, "we have an anniversary tomorrow," he continues. Oh, God.
"Really? On my birthday? How wonderful!" Laura said.
When we end with our "relationship" talk, we continue to talk about Jorge's career and his transfer to Honda. Later we talk about their job and the weather in New York. I am quite relaxed when we finished our dinner.
"Jorge, there's a great karaoke bar," Miguel said. Karaoke bar? "Have you hear him singing already?" Laura asks me when we step onto the street. I laugh: "No. I didn't even know you like singing, darling," I say when we hold hands. He laughs and swings his hand: "Hidden talent."
"Can I sing too?" Adrian asks, when Laura and Miguel take his hands. "Of course, sweetheart. We'll sing together," Miguel said.
We walk to the bar. I and Jorge are few meters behind them.
"So... are we playing a good game?" he asks me. I nod: "Yeah, and we sing a karaoke."
We laugh when we cross the road and finally arrive.
We sit at the table near the stage and some older man is grumbling a ballad from the nineties. "Jorge is way better," Laura laughs. When we order a drink, Miguel and Adrian jump on the stage. They pick the song La Cintura.
"It seems that all men in our family have an ear for music," Laura said proudly and drank little beer. When they're done, the whole bar rewards them with a great applause. "Uncle Jorge, now you!" Adrian shouts as he ran to the table. "I didn't drink enough," he replied, drinking a little beer. "Are you now?" the boy asks him, taking his bottle from his hands, then grabs his hand to stand up and pushes him towards the stage. "You can do this, brother!" Laura shouts, when we hear the music. "Ah, not that song again!" Adrian said.
"Oh, I like it," I say and lean back on the chair.
Eros Ramazotti. La Cosa Mas Bella.
Jorge begins to sing and I get a goose bumps. A smile appears on my face and tears collects in my eyes.
"Como comenzamos, yo no lo se. La historia que no tiene fin, y como llegaste a ser la mujer, que toda la vida pedi. Contigo hace falta passion, y un toque de poesia. Y sabudiria pues yo, trabajo con fantasias..."
I only see him, singing to me. With a microphone in his hands and his sparkling eyes that are looking me.
"That was for you, my love," he said in the end and he blows me a kiss.
We all give him a huge applause. I am standing and applauding, when he jumps from the stage and comes to us. I hug and kiss him: "No one has ever sing to me. Thank you," I say when he smiles perfectly and kisses me again.