Nothing in the World

By Luz Divina Malro

Synopsis

More than a decade ago, without WhatsApp, GPS or any of these smart mobile devices, in an era when cell phones were only used for calling and maybe short text messages, we always found the way to talk and communicate with our friends, family or our loved ones. Because when it is true love, there are no barriers, not physical nor digital.

The paths of Alan, a 33 years old young man, owner of a famous restaurant in Madrid, and Ruth, a 21 years old student, converged on a cold and rainy morning in the city. Their love was born between the four walls of his restaurant, but Alan seems more concerned about his business than about her, or even about himself, which lead both of them to feel ostracized and lonely. Could Alan's love for Ruth be enough to make him let everything go? Or is it better to just go separate ways? If you want to know how this love story ends, with all its humor, romance and eroticism, you can't miss reading Nothing in the World.

And now, let's go back to the past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luz
• Release date: May 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781547530052

Book preview

Nothing in the World

Luz Divina Malro

––––––––

Translated by Elena García 

Nothing in the World

Written By Luz Divina Malro

Copyright © 2018 Luz Divina Malro

All rights reserved

Distributed by Babelcube, Inc.

www.babelcube.com

Translated by Elena García

Cover Design © 2018 Kellin Maldonado

Babelcube Books and Babelcube are trademarks of Babelcube Inc.

Index       Page

Special thanks      5

Synopsis      7

Chapter 1      8 

Chapter 2      13

Chapter 3      18

Chapter 4      23

Chapter 5      26 

Chapter 6      31

Chapter 7      36

Chapter 8      41

Chapter 9      44

Chapter 10      48 

Chapter 11      53

Chapter 12      57

Chapter 13      62

Chapter 14      68

Chapter 15      74

Chapter 16      82

Chapter 17      85

Chapter 18      89

Chapter 19      99

Chapter 20      107

Chapter 21      114

Chapter 22      119

Chapter 23      130

Chapter 24      139

Chapter 25      147

Chapter 26      154

Chapter 27      163

Chapter 28      166

Chapter 29      173

Chapter 30      184

Chapter 31      200

Chapter 32      203

Chapter 33      209

Chapter 34      220

Chapter 35      229

Chapter 36      234

Chapter 37      242

Chapter 38      247

Chapter 39      256

Chapter 40      264

Chapter 41      273

Chapter 42  281

I want to thank my family, for their love and unconditional support. Thanks to you, fantastic writer, for helping me to make no mistakes on publishing this novel. And over all, to my life, my partner, my guide, for supporting me, for understanding me, for comforting and loving me. I love you forever.

Dedicated to all of you, for investing your time in reading this novel, and dedicated to them, wherever they are, I am sure they are proudly observing.

Synopsis

More than a decade ago, without WhatsApp, GPS or any of these smart mobile devices, in an era when cell phones were only used for calling and maybe short text messages, we always found the way to talk and communicate with our friends, family or our loved ones. Because when it is true love, there are no barriers, not physical nor digital.

The paths of Alan, a 33 years old young man, owner of a famous restaurant in Madrid, and Ruth, a 21 years old student, converged on a cold and rainy morning in the city. Their love was born between the four walls of his restaurant, but Alan seems more concerned about his business than about her, or even about himself, which lead both of them to feel ostracized and lonely. Could Alan's love for Ruth be enough to make him let everything go? Or is it better to just go separate ways? If you want to know how this love story ends, with all its humor, romance and eroticism, you can't miss reading Nothing in the World.

––––––––

And now, let's go back to the past.

1

Madrid. December. 2001.

Oh God! It´s chilling!

I´m here, strolling around the streets of Madrid, listening to "Los sueños locos", the new CD by Fito & Fitipaldis on my mp3, and with a terrible hangover.

Too many White Label with orange... A bad heritage from my last and spectacular failure in the fields of love: Guillermo, green eyes, blonde hair, one meter and 87 centimeters of handsome height. Too much of a guy for me, I guess.

Me? Well, I´m brunette, brown eyes, not tall, not short, practically average height... Yes, that´s it, that's what I am, average.

I am freezing, I have been living in this city for four years now, and I´m still not used to this weather; I miss Almería,my hometown, windy all year long, but not with this kind of gelid wind that makes my teeth chatter.

Last night was a long night, I went partying with my friend Almudena, she lives far from the apartment I share with my sister Noemi and his boyfriend Leonardo in Madrid. It´s a long way walking before I get there, pff! And now it is raining! Shit! Soon I will be dripping wet, I will look like a soggy chicken! And to crown it all, as my mom says, I forgot the damn umbrella!

There must be a place open where I can refugee and have something hot to drink, otherwise I will get home soaked and, of course, with a cold!

I see a restaurant half a block away, it seems to be open so I decide to get in and wait for the rain to clear. I almost fall on the entrance as the floor is wet and slippery. Luckily, two women catch me before my ass bumps against the floor. Due to their dresses I can guess they are the cooks, and for their coats I am sure they are already leaving.

The place is decorated with wood, all of it, walls, tables, chairs, stalls, the bar, even the floor, all combined with mirrors everywhere. I see a young man, short and chubby, sweeping the floor in the back of the restaurant, I guess they just stopped serving food. There is another guy eating pork chops with potatoes and eggs on a table. I stare at him and he raises his head. He has big green eyes, so clear that they remind me of the sea in Almeria, and his hair is curly, with a curl falling on his forehead. He stares back at me with his perfect face, and that nose... Those few seconds felt like an eternity.

I pull off my earplugs and ask with a tiny voice:

—is it open?

—Yes —he answers sharply—. But the kitchen is closed.

—I... just wanted a coffee — I don't understand why, but I feel intimidated. That look, his big eyes, they are so clear that make all my body tremble.

—What kind of coffee? —He asks while standing from the chair.

—No, don't worry, finish your meal — I say

And looking outside through the window I continue:

—There is no rush.

I drop my jacket on a high chair in front of the bar, close to a little chimney, maybe that will help it to dry, it is completely drenched. I go back to the guy that sweeps and ask:

—The restroom, please?

—To the right —he answers with a smile.

I thank him on my way to the restroom, while I see on the mirrors how the other guy on the table follows my movements, intimidating me with his gaze. And here I am with my awful look! Mascara all over my face, my hair making me look like a crazy woman who escaped the asylum. Oh, please! I'm not surprised he is staring at me, he must be scared or maybe he feels pity, or maybe both.

Inside the restroom, which is also full of wood, I realize there is no mirror, Oh great! Just what I needed! A restaurant without a mirror in the restroom! How can it be? What's next?

I pull out some wipes from my purse to scrub my eyes, trying to get rid of the mascara, but, of course... without a mirror, only God knows what I am doing to my face! So, there I go, out of the restroom to use one of the hundred mirrors on the walls.

He keeps staring at me. I see his face on the reflection, so I turn my face to him and say:

—What? You have mirrors everywhere except where I really need them.

And with a mild smile explains:

—There used to be one, but it's broken and we haven´t replaced it yet.

I say nothing more. I turn my face back to the mirror to start wiping off all the black stains and then I fix my hair on a pony tail. When I am done, I walk down to the bar, sit on the stall where I left my jacket earlier and this guy goes behind the bar.

—How do you want your coffee? —he asks.

—Latte, on a glass, not a cup, please.

He prepares my coffee and puts the glass on the bar. Then he goes back to prepare one for himself, a smaller glass, with a tiny bit of milk.

He finishes his coffee, drops the glass and the spoon in the sink, then says goodbye to the sweeping guy, who is now leaving, I suppose he is the waiter.

Suddenly, I see him right in front of me. My heart is beating fast! Why do I feel like this? All nervous.

—Do you live in this area? — He asks—. You don´t look familiar, I don´t think I have seen you before in my restaurant.

—No. I live near downtown, with my sister and her boyfriend.

—Student?

—Yes, senior year, University.

—You should come more often, we have good prices for students, a lot of students come here every day, some of them even on the weekends. Now that you are here, why don't you call your friends to have some drinks.

—Well, with this rain... perhaps I will end up living in here. — I answer.

He starts laughing. Oh my God! What a beautiful smile he has.

—Wow! You are laughing, you don´t look that mean now —I say.

—Why would you think I´m mean?

—Well. When I got into this place you sounded a little bit too serious, or too much, I would say.

—Come on! Don´t be silly. Call your friends and you can have dinner here. Anyways, Rain doesn't seem to clear, and your house is kind of far.

—I have been trying to get a cab, but with this rain, of course all of them were already taken.

—I´m not surprised, give me a minute... I´ll try to call a cab for you, so you can go home.

—Thank you —I answer with a smile.

He grabs his mobile and dials. After being put on hold for a few minutes, he finally hangs up and looks at me with a sad face:

—No taxis, I´m sorry. I still think is not a bad idea for you to stay here.

Here we go again!

—Pff! I went partying last night, I have a terrible hangover, my hair and my clothes have a nasty tobacco smell, I need a shower, I need dry clothes and hopefully a cozy bed to sleep.

When I say that, he jumps out of the bar and leaves. Few seconds later he comes back wearing a brown jacket and with a large green umbrella on his hand.

—Let´s go! Finish your coffee and put on your coat because we are leaving.

I look at him like... Are you nuts? But I do as he says. He grabs my hand, we get out of the restaurant and he pulls down the blinds.

Here we go, running down the street, holding hands, and then he looks at me with those amazing green eyes and says:

—By the way, What´s your name?

—Ruth, my name is Ruth.

—Nice to meet you, Ruth, my name is Alan.

He smiles, we keep running with the umbrella under the rain and a few seconds later we are in front of a shopping center. It is almost Christmas time, I see the decorations and lights in the form of snowflakes, reindeers, a Santa Claus and the three wise kings.

We go into the store. It is so warm in here! There is a lot of people buying, others carrying big boxes and bags, some others just walking around, and I am still here, wondering what am I doing? Suddenly he looks at me:

—It is the first time I close the restaurant in the evening, and for the record, I blame you!

He smiles, and still holding my hand we ride the escalator to the second floor, to the women's department. He turns his face to me and asks:

—So, what do you need?

—What? —I said with my eyes wide open.

He smiles, doesn´t say a word while the attendant gets next to us.

—Hi, we need some clothes for her. He says while pointing his head to me.

The young lady smiles at me and asks:

—What kind of clothes?

I look at Alan, he smiles and says:

—Come on! Jeans, a t-shirt, a sweater and a nice pair of shoes.

—Of course. What size do you wear? — She says.

And I answer, more scared than ashamed:

—Jeans 36, t-shirt and sweater small, shoes 38. Thank you.

—Perfect! Follow me, please— Says the attendant.

I do as she says as she walks around showing me jeans, jerseys, t-shirts, sweaters and at the end, a pair of black boots. She takes me to the fitting room where I try all the clothes, including the boots. Finally, I pick a pair of black jeans, a white t-shirt and a turtleneck sweater.

I open the door fully dressed in the new clothes and the first thing I see is Alan. He looks at me with a surprised face, looks down and says:

—It looks good on you.

I smile and answer:

—Thanks.

The lady comes by and asks:

—Do you need any underwear?

Without even asking me, Alan says yes. I say nothing, just follow the attendant to the underwear section. She shows me some beautiful sets and at the end I choose a black one made of lace, gorgeous! I look at Alan, who has been with us all the time and with a mocking tone I say

—There's no way I'll let you see me on this one, Not even crazy!

He laughs but I can see his face is as red as a tomato while he says:

—No, no, no, that´s fine.

Finally, we are done! It may sound weird, but I don´t enjoy shopping, it gives me a headache, add it to the hangover and this is only increasing. We head to the register to pay for the clothes.

The lady checks the items, one by one.

—Two hundred and fifty euros.

Whaaaaaat?! I can´t even open my mouth before Alan gets the money from his pocket and hands it to the dependant. Once we leave, with the bags on my hand I stop him and showing him the bags I declare:

—Alan, I can´t afford this, it is too much money, I think we better go back and return this to the store.

He doesn´t even answer, he grabs my hand again and we leave the shopping center.

It is still raining outside, heavier than before. It is almost seven thirty in the evening, practically night. Then he opens the umbrella, grabs my hand again and he takes me to a porch made of crystal with marble floors.

He pulls the keys from his pocket and opens the gate. We head to the elevator, he calls and when the door opens he looks at me.

—Come on, stay at my house, and if you want, once I close the restaurant I can take you home, sounds right? — he murmurs.

And I am not sure why, without thinking about being kidnapped, raped, killed, or portrayed in the news the next day as the «Twenty-one-year-old girl who goes missing in Madrid under blurry circumstances» I just answer:

—Ok.

We enter the elevator and he pushes 6. He looks at me and smiles, while the elevator goes up to the sixth floor.

I don´t even know what is happening to me, I barely know this guy but I am not afraid of him. When he smiles at me, I just melt down.

2

It feels so warm when he opens the door into his house. I suppose the apartment has an A/C unit, which is the most wonderful thing ever invented for cold places like this, but in Almeria there is none of them, we don't need them.

We walk into a long hallway with marble floors, the wood on the doors seems to be oak, everything is so nicely decorated, contemporary style, everything looks new and of really good taste. Mahogany and crystal furniture, paintings on the walls with beautiful landscapes. Really far from the stuff I have at home, not even my grandma has thing like this!

In the hall, which has enormous windows and a gorgeous view of the city, a couple is sitting on the couch watching TV. They stand up when they hear us. He kind of looks like Alan so I guess he might be his brother; she is brunette, medium height, with big brown eyes and perfect shaped lips.

—Ruth, this is my brother Adrian and his wife Margarita.

—Hello —I wave at them.

They get closer and give us a kiss on each cheek. Then Alan takes me to another hallway into his bedroom and says:

—You can use my bed to sleep for a few hours if you want to.

And I appreciate it. I feel like crap.

—And you can take a shower to wash out the tobacco smell. Right?

—Right. And this headache is killing me! — I repeat, more tired every time.

—I'll bring you a towel and we should have bought you a pajama, we totally forgot about it.

—Yeah, right! and a toothbrush and toothpaste. That's fine! I can use yours.

—Of course, but it won't fit your mouth.

—Oh, not a problem, Thank you.

He guides me to the bathroom, then he leaves and I hear them talk to his sister in law:

—Hey, could you please reach me a clean towel and an ibuprofen?

She says yes and a few minutes later Alan shows up with the towel, a glass of water and the medicine.

—Here you have it, you will feel better —he says when he gives me the medicine.

I take the pill, drink the water and then he takes the glass back and before leaving he says:

—I´m going back to work, ok?

Before he leaves I ask:

—Could you let me borrow your mobile to call my sister? Please —And showing my mobile with a dead battery I say:—By any chance you have a charger for this pone?

—No. But I will look for one. Here, call your sister —he gives me his mobile.

I dial my sister´s number and she answers:

—Hello?

—Noemi, It´s me, I am still in Almudena´s house, we partied so hard last night and with this awful weather I rather to stay here. Don´t worry, I´m fine, ok? I´m not sure what time I will be back home.

—Ok —she answers with an upset tone.

What a sister I have! She is just one year older than me, and sometimes she is worse than my mother. I know this time she is right, she is so right, as my father says. She hangs up.

—Everything ok? —Alan asks.

— Yeah, she is a bit mad, and... Thank you for all you are doing —I answer and give him back his mobile.

—Oh, that´s nothing, you are very welcome here. Now, take a shower and relax. Ok?

I nod, he leaves and I go straight to the shower. With the water running on the shower I can barely hear on the other room:

—But, Ugly boy, who is she?

—Just a girl, she came by to the restaurant, she´s a student. What´s wrong with it?

—How do you ask what´s wrong? You don´t even know her... And on top of it she could be your daughter. That is kind of wrong, don´t you think so?

I can´t hear the woman.

—You are exaggerating, It´s not like I am way older, maybe a few years— Alan replies

—How old is she? Ugly boy

—Look Adrián, I don´t know, but there is something about her that I can´t explain... She is special, and... I must go back to work, see you later.

I can´t hear nothing else. I take off my clothes and get into the shower. While I wash my hair, I sing Para toda la vida, one of my favorite songs from Fito & Fitipaldis.

After the shower I look for a hair dryer, I find one in one of the drawers. I dry my hair and go back to Alan´s room wrapped in a towel.

When I enter the room, the only light I see comes from the tiny lamp on top of the nightstand next to the bed, and Alan´s pajamas on the bed. I put on the underwear we bought earlier, his pajamas and go into the bed. My mind is empty. Only a few moments later I fell asleep.

A noise wakes me up. There is a storm. Wind is blowing so hard, you can hear the blind crashing against the Windows. I don´t know how much time I have been sleeping. I turn on the lamp to see my watch. Twelve thirty! Noemi will kill me.

I see my mobile plugged to the wall. Maybe Alan brought it and I didn´t even noticed. I turn it on and see the 10 missed calls from my sister. I am in so much trouble right now!

While I stare at the mobile, the door starts to open slowly. I see light coming in from the hallway. Must be Alan:

—Hi.

—Hi — I reply.

—There is a heavy storm out there. I think it would be a better idea for you to spend the night here, wait until tomorrow to go home. But if you think otherwise, that is fine, I can take you home right now.

Stay here? Overnight? I doubt it for a Little while. I don´t think it is a bad idea after all.

—Ok, I will stay — I finally answer.

Alan grabs his mobile and dials.

—Bernardo, you can leave, thank you.

He looks at me.

—I brought you some soup from the restaurant, you didn´t eat nothing today, you should eat, I am sure this soup will help you with the hangover.

I only nod my head and sit on the edge of the bed. I have my mobile, so I text my sister to let her know I won´t go home today. I prefer not to call her, I know it will be a disaster. I tell her I will stay at Almudena´s house and she only replies with an ok.

Alan takes me to the living room, I sit on a chair next to the table and he goes to the kitchen. Few minutes later, he comes back with a bowl of soup, a spoon, a glass of water and a pill of ibuprofen. He puts everything in front of me.

—Thanks —I murmur.

He just nods and I eat the soup and the ibuprofen. Once I am done I ask.

—How old are you?

—How many you think I have?

—I don´t know... twenty-eight?

He burst in laugh.

—No. More than that.

—How many more?

He keeps silence and then says:

—Thirty-three, I´m thirty-three. And you?

—Twenty-one.

I will not say nothing about the conversation I overheard earlier, so I prefer to switch topics.

Alan goes to get his jacket, pulls something from his pocket and gives it to me. It is a toothbrush and toothpaste. I take it and thank him again. He looks at me.

—We should go to sleep now, it´s getting late. You can sleep in my room, I will use the guest room.

—Could you sleep with me? I don´t like sleeping alone.

I can´t believe what I just said! I must be crazy!

But it is true! I have never liked the idea of sleeping alone, it is hard for me to do it. Alan looks at me with his beautiful eyes wide open. He blushes once and again... I can barely contain laughter... and before he can say nothing I say.

—Back in my apartment I have a plush toy, a Charmander, and I always sleep with it. You won´t do nothing bad to me... Right? — I ask sarcastically

—Of course not! Who do you think I am?

—Then it´s done! You sleep with me tonight!

There is not a turning point after this! I go to the bathroom, brush my teeth. Alan goes to the other bathroom on the house. Once I am done, I go to the bedroom, where the light of the lamp is the only thing I see. I go under the sheets and a few seconds later Alan shows up in a blue pajama, similar to the one I am wearing. He stays by the door for a while and asks.

—Are you sure?

—Yes — I answer.

He says nothing more. He closes the door and comes under the sheets with me.

—So, I am your Charmander tonight? — he jokes

—That´s what you are, so I will fall sleep soon —I reply trying to sound confident.

He doesn´t even get close to me!

—Have a good night, Pokemon.

—Good night — I whisper.

He turns off the light, lie son his back and his body trembles next to mine. I can feel his smell, so close to me, my heart is racing, but Alan doesn´t say a word. Few minutes later his breathing goes back to normal, and with this hangover I have, just hearing his breathing makes me fall in a profound sleep.

Next day I wake up and Alan is not there. I look at my watch, it is ten in the morning. What time does he wake up?

I turn on the light to get dressed and go back home but I see a note on the nightstand. The note is next to a business card from the restaurant and it verses:

I hope I see you again. Alan

I smile and put the note back on the nightstand.

Looking around I find pictures of Alan with a Little boy of about four years old, with a tiny nose and brown eyes and skin. They are everywhere. On the walls, in frames over the desk there is even a chalk portrait, more on the cork board on the wall.

How can it be I didn´t see them before?

My hangover might be the reason, and of course, the room was always dark, except for the light of the little lamp on the nightstand. I guess that is why I didn´t see the pictures.

Is the boy Alans son?

I know, he is twelve years older than me, but having a kid is something I can´t deal with. It goes way beyond me. I´m twenty-one. I don´t feel prepared to take care of a kid, being almost a child myself. So, I take out the pajamas, put on the new clothes Alan bought me, gather my stuff and leave the place as fast as I can with a strong will of never coming back.

Once on the street I feel the sunny day on me, just the opposite to my mood this morning. I put on the headphones and my mp3 to keep listening to Fito & Fitipaldis, I just love that band. I´m on my way home.

3

I get home and my sister is not there. At least that is good!

If she gets to see my new and expensive clothes she will kill me! And if I tell her the truth, then she will kill me first and then I am sure she will hang my body from the highest pole she can find!

Moneywise, my parents are not in a good position right now. My dad has been working hard his entire life, he is the older of eight siblings. His father passed away when he was still a kid, so he had to take care of his family, which didn´t allow him to study, he has one hectare of land, but the harvests haven´t been good lately. My mom is a housewife, so, they can barely pay our rent, they do it only because they have faith that we will graduate.

I go to my bedroom, change my clothes and hide in the closet the new clothes. I grab my mobile and send a text to Noemi.

I´m home.

She answers few minutes later:

I´m with Leonardo, we are in the coffee shop close to the house. You can come and have breakfast with us, if you want.

I go out of the house to find them.

Once in the coffee shop I sit next to them and order a coffee. Mi sister doesn´t even scold me, and I appreciate it, but if she wants to do it I wouldn’t be able to say nothing in my defense, I had it coming.

They invite me for dinner too, they are going to a new bar that just opened in the surroundings, but I don’t feel like joining them would be a good idea, I think I will better stay home, eat something and just chill out on the couch watching TV. Breakfast is done, so they go their way and I go back to the apartment.

I can´t stop thinking about Alan and the day we spent together, those Green eyes I like so much. My mind says no, but my heart says the opposite.

I am self-absorbed when my mobile rings. Is Lisa, my friend.

—Hellooooooo!!!! — she yells at me on the phone.

—Hey cutie, how are you?

I am so happy to hear from her, we haven´t seen each other in a long time but every time we are together is amazing! I love going out with her.

—I´m fine. We are going out tonight, Marisa, Ana and me. Are you in?

Marisa and Ana are Lisa´s friends. I met Lisa at the School of Arts and Trades of Madrid, my sister studies there. Lisa dropped out school a year ago, she is now studying storefront display. In this 3 years living in Madrid I have been really lucky to find people like them. If there is someone I can count on whenever I´m in trouble, it is them

—Of course! — I say.

—Ok, I´ll pick you up at nine thirty.

—Ok. See you here!

At two thirty in the afternoon, I go downstairs to the Chinese restaurant close to the apartment. I ask for a meal to-go and go back home. I am not in the mood for cooking, in fact I hate cooking. Back in the apartment I grab a Coke from the fridge and crash on the couch to keep watching TV, but my mind doesn´t seem to be working properly, I can only think about Alan, his aroma, the night we spent together, all the memories come back to my mind and his words run around my head. I know I should forget it, but I just can´t.

When I´m done eating and cleaning my mess I run to the bathroom. I knew it! My period is here! Just what it was missing!

I put in a tampon and go back to the couch, at four pm one of my favorite movies is on TV Green Card I love that movie! I cry and cry and cry every time I see it, and with my period here, I cry my eyes out at the end, when they take the guy to jail just after realizing they are in love with each other. How can I be so dramatic?

At six in the afternoon I brew some coffee to keep watching TV, but there is nothing interesting to watch. I keep zapping on the remote to see if I find something that catches my attention, but no luck! Around seven thirty mi sister and her boyfriend get to the apartment, they come from the movie theater where they watched Monsters Inc; they tell me is a funny movie:

—You should go see it. It is beautiful! —Says my sister.

I think I could go to the movies with Alan, and right on the same moment I force myself to delete that idea from my head.

—I´ll go —I reply—. By the way, I´ll have dinner with Lisa and the girls tonight.

—Don´t even think about staying out overnight again! You must come back home to sleep! — My sister declares.

It was a matter of time that she fought me about that.

—Don´t worry, Noemi, I will be back soon. I have school tomorrow and I must wake up early in the morning.

—I really hope so — she says with a condescending tone.

I leave my spot on the couch to go to the bathroom. I slip my clothes off to take a shower, then I fix my hair with the straightener. Once in my room I choose to wear a black lace dress, with black pantyhose and high heels. With a Little bit of make up on the right spots and the mirror says I´m perfect!

Marisa and Lisa live in Madrid, but Ana lives in Aranjuez.

I remember when we were little, mi parents took my sister, mi brother and me on a trip to Aranjuez. I loved it, and also King Felipe II´s Royal Palace, we have a couple of pictures taken on those gardens, they are beautiful.

It´s almost nine thirty. I go to the living room where my sister and her boyfriend are watching TV, and wait for Lisa to call me.

At nine thirty, Lisa is waiting for me downstairs, I say hi to her and quickly enter her car.

—Hellooooooo! It´s girls’ night! —I say enthusiastic.

This will be good for me, I need to get rid of Alan´s memory and this is the best way to do it...

—Helloooooo beautiful! Ready?

—Ready!

—Marisa and Ana are waiting for us at O’Brien’s; they say the food is good there, let´s see...

—Perfect! Let´s go!

Lisa found a parking spot close to the bar, once we get there we see Marisa and Ana waiting for us at the entrance. We say hi with a kiss on both check and enter the place. There is an empty table next to one of the windows and we take it.

—So, what´s up? Asks Marisa.

—Nothing important really — Lisa replies.

I want to tell them about Alan, how I met him and all that happened, but if I really want to forget him, I don´t think that talking about him would be a good idea, so, I better shut up.

Marisa just met Sergio, he owns a pub in downtown Madrid, she talks about how in love she is. Ana met another guy, they slept together once, she wants something else but of course the guy wants the opposite.

The waiter shows in the middle of the conversation, we order drinks but we can´t decide yet on anything on the menu. Lisa tells us she just met a really cute guy, a friend of her brother, but apparently, after the first night they spent together he disappeared and didn´t call back.

—For God´s sake. What happen to the guys our age? They meet you, do whatever it takes to have sex with you and then they don´t even remember your name! —I say in a loud tone.

And just on the last word I remember how Alan didn´t even touch me the night we slept together. Is he different from all these guys?

And then I burst! I can´t handle it! I tell my friends what happened with Alan just the day before. They listen to me but don´t say nothing until Lisa says:

—Ruth, I think it is not a good idea to have a relationship with someone who has a kid, that could be a problem, even if you like him so much, if I were you, I would better forget about him. Or, you can just have sex with him once and never see him again.

I prefer not to answer, I don´t want that from Alan, I want everything from him, his mind, his body, his soul and his heart. But, I promised myself I would forget about him, my life is complicated enough and I don´t want more trouble, as Napoleon Bonaparte said: «A masterly retreat is a victory itself».

Here it comes the waiter with the drinks, now we are ready to order food, a portion of Serrano ham, a Caesar salad and half a portion of homemade croquettes. Everything to share.

Marisa says her mom has a friend who met a divorced man, this guy has a kid, but the woman is happily living with him, and they even have a child together. Ana is one the same page with Lisa, and of course, Alan´s age, twelve years older than me, is not helping the conversation.

I don´t speak about Alan anymore, I better forget all this. Period! I am never going back to his restaurant and my life will go back to normal.

But I feel a burning desire in my hearth than none of my friends will make disappear.

Food is here. Everything is so good. Two Cokes and a lemon soda later and we are gone.

I don´t want to drink alcohol, I had enough Friday night.

We go to the pub where we find Marisa´s new boyfriend.

I don´t really feel like going, but I am really curious to meet him. Why are we woman such gossipy?

The name of the pub is Giovanni, and the music is nice

Inside the place I see how my friend Marisa finds a cute brown guy with auburn eyes and kisses him right on the lips.

I smile, I am glad that at least one of us is happy.

We get close to the couple and Marisa introduces him to the group. We talk for a while and then we order something to drink.

—I just want a Coke, please —I say to Sergio.

—What? A coke? Why don´t you order a drink? —Lisa remarks

—Believe me, last Friday I was about to drink vase water, I won´t drink any alcohol until I forget my last hangover.

Lisa laughs at me and gives me the Coke. I am resting on the bar when I hear a voice.

—Hi, do you have a cigarette?

I turn around and see this handsome blonde guy, perfect smile, blue eyes.

—No, I don´t smoke, sorry.

He insists: —May I invite you a drink? My name is Jesus.

I think about it and at the end I answer:

—No, thanks.

—What is your name?

—Ruth.

—Nice to meet you Ruth, I hope you accept my invitation next time.

Jesus leaves and I decide this is the perfect moment to go home. I must go to school the next day. I say goodbye to the girls and Sergio and Lisa walks me to the exit. Once I get the taxi, she goes back to the pub.

At home, everything is quiet and the lights are off. My sister and Leonardo must be sleeping. I head to my room, take off my clothes and put on my pajama with purple flowers, I go to the bathroom to clean my face.

When I get into the sheets I take my Charmander to put it by my side, but this time, the memories of the previous night will not let me fall sleep. I can perfectly reproduce Alan´s voice in my head. What is happening to me? It was just one day and I can´t forget it.

Tired of revolting in my bed, I turn on the light and grab the book I was reading Los pilares de la Tierra, by Ken Follet.

I read for a while. I like the comics better than the story on the book. Reading it distracts my mind from Alan´s memories.

Half an hour later I put down the book, turn off the light and fall sleep with Charmander in my arms.

4

Alarm sounds and I snap it.

I hate rising early but I must go to school. It is seven thirty in the morning. I wake up and go to the kitchen to get coffee.

I can´t believe how I just opened my eyes and I have Alan in my mind already. How much time until I forget it?

I sit on the couch facing the TV but I don´t turn it on. I never do.

I finish my coffee, I get dressed, fix my hair, take my backpack and leave the house. It is awfully cold outside. I sit on a bench at the bus stop. The bus doesn´t take a long time to come but it is full of people. We are a lot of students living in Madrid, so, it is an adventure riding the bus to school every morning.

I stand all the way to