LEAP | Javi Gomez de Liaño

January 1, 2020

I knock on the door.

I'm a nervous wreck.

What are the chances that my Bumble match is in the same resort as I am.

I'm not really a Bumble user, this is actually the first time I used the app. But when the fireworks have turned to smoke and the noise of the trumpets have died down, I was bored as hell.

And here I am. I still can't believe I actually agreed to meet the one I matched with after two hours of banter.

Oh, did I mention that we'll meet at his room? What am I getting myself into?

He opens the door, according to his profile he's name is Joaquin and is 21 years old. He may be a bit young but I guess the 6 year age gap does not really matter if he swiped right.

I look at the man who opened the door. He is a full foot taller than I am, his hair short and curly, and his beard trimmed but still very visible.

What caught me with his physical appearance was his eyes and how the sides crease up when he smiles.

He actually just invited me for a drink over to his room. Over our conversation on Bumble, he told me he broke up with his girlfriend six months ago.

"Hey! Come in! I prepared us some drinks already," as he opens the door to give me space to come in.

He was only wearing a pair of boxers and a plain shirt, obviously ready for bed already.

I enter his room, only wearing a pair of simple dolphin shorts and an oversized, printed shirt. Looking around his room, observing that he is alone in his room.

In front of the small couch is a table with a bottle of red wine. He sits on the couch and pats beside him on the free spot.

"Hey" I sound like a fucking mouse. I really am at lost for words.

He chuckles at this, his laugh deep and sexy. "Are we just going to say hey to each other the whole night?"

"I'm sorry, I really do not know how to approach this. This is the first time I used Bumble ever." Letting him know just how much this affects me.

He fills in the two glasses with wine as I was speaking. Joaquin hands one to me with a slight smirk. "And what are the chances that we are in the same resort tonight?"

I face him excitedly, finally we have something to talk about and let this awkwardness die down a bit. "Yeah, I'm actually here with my friends? How about you?" I take a sip of wine to fill in the silence before he answers.

"I'm here with my parents and siblings. My parents gave us a room each so we can relax and do what we please." Wow! A room each? This resort ain't cheap.

"How are you by the way? Our last conversation on Bumble left me thinking that you might be breaking down in your room." I smile while saying this to him to make it lighter. I want to make sure that Joaquin's fine. The reason why he invited me here was because he was letting out his frustrations with his ex.

"You know what, I felt better after talking to you. I told myself I'll leave all the frustrations behind in 2019 but after talking to you, I actually felt the weight lifted of my chest."  He says this while refilling his glass with more wine.

Joaquin turns to me and wordlessly asks me if I want another refill. I forward my glass to him and he pours more wine to my glass as he continues, "Thanks for listening to my drama, by the way."

"Hey, we all have our moments. I get it." As I drain half of my glass. I'm starting to feel hot and dizzy. It did not help that I've already had some alcohol earlier and here I am, still drinking at 2am on the first day of the year.