To Love You Again | c.v

07

07 - NINA

"What time do you get home?" Nina's fiancée asked through the phone, taking her off guard with the question.

"Nine," Nina inhaled softly. "Why?"

"Que pena, amor, I go home early today. I wanted to have dinner together." His gente voice made her regret accepting staying after time. She chose the perfect time to work late.

"What?" She lamented to herself breathlessly. "I have such bad luck."

"It's okay, Nina. Maybe tomorrow?"

"Yes, please." She moaned pouting though he couldn't see her.

"Ok amor, I'll try for you. I have to go now but I'll see you at home?"

"Will you wait for me?" She spoke with a painful aching yearn developing in her chest.

"If I don't fall asleep," he chuckled before adding: "I won't waste more of your time. Adios, Nina."

"Bye baby, I love you."

There was a moment of silence between the two, a silence that grew agonizing to her. Though it was just a few seconds, his silence threw her off, telling her that maybe things weren't the same. For that, she was terrified.

"Chris?" She gulped nervously feeling her breathing pick up with each second of silence.

"Sorry amor, Jimena had came in. I love you too, nos vemos." He said in a rushed manner, leaving Nina frozen.

What was she to do? It disheartened her that she was believing less in him as the days went by. All that trust that took time for him to gain was now being destroyed in matter of days. She didn't want to think the worse of him but his double-takes and his new distance had her heart pumping with uncertainty. It was only a Thursday, it had only been a week and a half but Nina was already fearing the days as they drew closer. What if it was too soon? What if the reason Chris was acting that way is because of the wedding? Did she rush him?

"Nina, what's wrong?" Donna, a friend of hers, whispered as she approached the awfully still girl.

"Chris comes home early today and I can't even see him because I told Nélida I would work extra hours today. Donna, Chris barely gets to come home early and the one night he can, I can't."

Sadly sighing, Donna rubbed Nina's shoulder sympathetically. "That's sucks, I'm sorry. There will be other days, of that I'm sure girl. Have some faith."

-

8:00 PM

"You're gonna eat right now?" Donna questioned, astonished at her friend's announcement.

"Yeah, I wasn't hungry earlier." Nina confessed with a shy smile. "I kinda ate a lot in the morning."

"Well then, I'll leave you to it. I'll be heading out."

Nina hugged her friend goodbye before walking to the small shared fridge. Her eyes quickly scanned the space for her medium purple lunchbox but it was nowhere to be found. This time taking her time, her eyes individually glanced at each container but none of them were hers.

"Carajo," she cussed with a light stomp. "I forgot my food. Now what am I gonna eat?"

As if mocking her, her stomach dramatically rumbled in response to her question. Just as she was going to give up and starve until her shift was over, she remembered her fiancée.

bebe 😍
Hey baby are you home yet?

If he was home, he could drop her food here while simultaneously using it as in excuse to see each other. She would feel guilty but she wanted to see him.

amor 😻
No. Since you're coming home late I didn't see the reason to leave work early.

Not bothering to respond at the disappointing text, Nina opened the group chat she had with a group of friends. She had some time to kill since her lunch break was officially ruined.

nina
I forgot my food 😭

perla
Are you at work?

nina
Yeah. I think there's a dinosaur in my tummy bc it's roaring pretty loud.

zabdi
How can you forget food?!

joey
I'm near you! I'm at Michael's for some paint which is right across from your plaza. Want me to order some nuggets for you?

nina
Omg really?

joey
I'm on my way

nina
Thank you so much joey. I owe you one too many 💙

joey
Always a pleasure

It didn't take much time for the dark-curly haired boy to show up with a bag from McDonald's and a large cup in hand. The angelic smile that graced his lips had her jumping from her seat and practically into his arms.

"Eres mi héroe, Joey." She mumbled into his ear before pulling away and planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Dinner time!"

The lingering effect of her kiss lured Joel to stay with her. It was a weird feeling but after that he just wanted to talk to her and be with her.

Clearing his throat, the boy softly grinned at the girl's eagerness. "Do you mind if I stay with you in your break?"

Her faint dimples bounced as she nodded enthusiastically, pointing to the seat in front of her. "Please do."

"So Nina..." he began with a teasing smirk. "Tell me about your day."

"Humph!" She puffed, her mouth full with fries. "Crazy!"

And as the girl began to spill her heart out, she felt good. It had been some time since Chris and her had a heart to heart or a simple telling of how their days were. Nina found herself comfortable with Joel, a level of comfortability she thought she only had with Chris.

And her heart warmed up because there wasn't a single second where Joel's attention wasn't on her.