Chapter 2

Sergio

The next morning, Sergio woke up with a smile on his face. He kept replaying in his head the events of last night when Raquel actually struck up a conversation with him after several minutes of silence. They both shared their occupation with each other and he'd be lying if he said it didn't surprise him to learn she was a police inspector. He could already tell she was the finest at her division. He, on the other hand, shared that he teaches college students at the University of Madrid.

"So that's why Denver calls you professor."

"Not quite, Inspectora. Sergio here got that nickname because he wouldn't stop lecturing us about…absolutely everything."

He laughed when he remembered that part of their conservation when Denver joined the two of them later on.

When the night came to an end, they exchanged phone numbers. He was so tempted to offer to drive her home but decided against it. Too bold, he thought. Instead, he wished her a good night and said it was very nice meeting her.

It is the weekend so he didn't have to go to the university. He's planning on doing some reading and researching at the public library but deep inside, all he wants to do is contact Raquel, invite her for a cup of coffee and talk with her for hours. But she said she'd call so all he could really do is to wait for her to actually call. He contemplated for a second. Should he wait? Or should he call her instead? What if that's a thing that girls say but actually meant otherwise? What if she's the one waiting for him to call? But Raquel isn't just any other girl. What if she meant what she said? He shook his head and cleared his mind and decided to freshen up so he could start the day good. He got up from his bed and fetched his towel. It is going to be a long day anyway so there's going to be plenty of time to think about Raquel.

Raquel

It was Raquel's day off from work so she released a grateful sigh knowing she gets to break loose from all the tensions at work today. If only she could also catch a break from all the tensions of her personal life. Realizing that she did catch a break even if it was only for a few hours with a man she just met, she smiled. The momentary smile that escaped from her lips while thinking about Sergio was snatched away by a voice that just entered the dining area where she was having her morning coffee.

"What time did you arrive home last night?" Marivi, her mother, asked.

"Not sure. I think around 11PM." She answered before taking a sip of her coffee.

"And? Something good happened, yes?" she looked at her mother with the coffee mug covering half of her face. Her mother had grin on her face and her left eyebrow raised as if suspecting something. Meanwhile, the question rendered her confused.

"No not really. What made you ask?"

"Well, you were smiling alone a while ago."

"Oh." It was the only thing she was able to say.

"Did you meet someone? Perhaps…a man?" her mother continued to interrogate.

"Maybe."

"Did you sleep with him?"

"Mother!" she gasped in surprise. Her sex life wasn't exactly her favorite thing to talk about with her mother. She could already feel her cheeks burning.

"What? I mean it's obvious because you're smiling like an idiot when I entered. It was that good?" her mother insisted. Why do mothers like to embarrass their children?

"Oh my god, stop it! I didn't sleep with anybody!" she doesn't even know why she's being defensive.

"Are you lying? You don't have to be shy about it, mija. You're already a mature woman and quite frankly you have my good looks and perfect features."

"Again, stop it."

"And I also think that it would good for you start dating again." This time, she gave her a sharp look that says she's serious and her mother raised both hands in surrender.

Last night couldn't be something good, right? It was just a friendly conversation with a stranger- a handsome, sweet and intelligent stranger, who she couldn't get out of her thoughts. But then why does she blush every time she thinks of him? She bit her lower lip when she remembered how hot Sergio was while talking about something she doesn't even recall now because her eyes kept drifting to his mouth, and how his Adam's apple move whenever he would take a swig of his beer. Then she genuinely smiled when she remembered how the lines beside his eyes wrinkle when he laughs, how his brows furrow when he listens to her speak as if digesting every thing she has to say, and how he adjusts his eyeglasses every now and then when he speaks.

"Mija!" her mother's call startled her. She shook her head when she realized her thoughts wandered aimlessly once more to Sergio.

"Yes, Mama?"

"I asked if you want a refill of your coffee?"

"Oh, yes please." She slid her mug on the table towards her mother who poured a freshly brewed coffee. Her mother got up to prepare a toast of bread for the each of them.

"Uhm, by the way…Alberto went by last night. Good thing you're not here."

Raquel gulped the hot coffee in her mouth too quickly that she started coughing- her heart began beating rapidly. Her mother put the breads down and strode forward to her daughter and massaged her back to ease her from all the coughing.

"Don't worry. I told him to fuck off."

Alberto- a name that terrifies Raquel by the mere mention of it. She hated how much fear her fucking ex-boyfriend had instilled in her. The nightmare she experienced with that man kept creeping in no matter how hard she tried to move on. She can still feel the pain of every beating she took from that bastard. She unconsciously touched her cheeks when she felt the sting of every slap from that monster's hand. Her breathing became shallow that she felt like she was choking. Her chest suddenly tightened that she had to hold onto the table to keep her body steady and then closed her eyes in an attempt to focus on calming herself down.

"Breathe, Mija." She felt a hand caressing her back in a soothing motion. She tried to breathe in and out until she was sweating.

"That's right, calm down. Breathe." Her mother whispered to ear while breathing with her and repeatedly kissed her hair.

"It's okay. You're okay. You're here with mama."

Raquel released a muffled sob. She grasped her mother's arms tightly that's hugging her from around her shoulders, and then she cried her heart out.

Sergio

The entire morning had passed and Sergio had lost count of how many times he checked his phone. He had spent his morning at the library doing just as he planned and now he is on his way to Hanoi.

"Professor!" Denver greeted him.

"Two coffees and a box of empanadas for to-go please." He ordered as he took a seat on his spot.

"Two coffees? Are you meeting with someone? Let me see…a pretty brunette, perhaps?" Denver teased while moving his eyebrows up and down.

"No, I'm on my way to my brother's house." He said disappointingly because to be honest, he would prefer Denver's guess.

"Oh that's fine professor. Tell you what, when Raquel comes by here at the shop, I'll make sure to give you a call." The young man said probably noticing his disappointment and giving him a pat on his shoulder.

"I appreciate that, bud. But don't bother. She said she'd call and if she doesn't…" he ran out of words and he can see Denver waiting for what he is going to say next. However, he let just out a sigh.

"Is my order ready?" he tried to save himself from any further embarrassment.

"Yup, here you go."

"Bye bud. See you tomorrow. And thank you again for the offer." He said as he went for the door, but not before seeing the sympathetic look on the young man's face.

As he drove away from Hanoi he immediately regretted not accepting Denver's suggestion about giving him a heads up when Raquel happens to come by the shop. It was a twenty-minute drive from Hanoi to his brother's house and he swore that time just slowed down because he still kept on checking his phone. He cursed in frustration when he saw that there's still no call, not even a message from her.

He honked twice when he parked in front of his brother's house. He got out of the car and walked along his driveway while balancing in one hand the box of empanadas and their coffees so he could ring the doorbell but then the door suddenly opened and revealed a redhead dressed only in a man's polo shirt, which he assumed is his brother's.

"Hi." The redhead greeted while sucking on what seemed to be a lollipop. Sergio eyed the woman carefully.

"Hello. I'm looking for Andres."

"And who might you be?" before he could answer, his brother's voice greeted him from inside the house.

"Ah! Hermano! You're quite early"

"No, Andres. This is what you call being on time."

"Oh come on you don't have to snap on me. I see you've met Alicia?" His brother said with a smug look on his face and wrapped his arms on the woman's waist.

"Alicia Sierra" the redhead extended her hand to Sergio and he mindedly took it and shook her hand.

"Come on in."

"I only bought two coffees." He whispered to his brother while stepping inside the house.

"Don't worry about it."

"I'm going to be in the bedroom if you need me." Alicia said to Andres and put the lollipop on his mouth, which of course made Sergio want to vomit.

"Oh please. When you start having a girlfriend, you'd also start to find that sexy." His brother teased and led him to his dining room.

When both man finally settled in their sits, Andres asked what this impromptu visit was for.

"I have to ask you something important." Sergio started.

"And this couldn't be done on the phone?"

"You wouldn't answer your phone. Now I know why."

"Well? What is this something important that you couldn't wait for me to finish having sex?"

"Okay did you really have to specify? I already said I now know why right?" Andres just laughed and took a sip of his coffee. He waved his hand urging his little brother to go on.

"When a girl said she'd call you, would she really?" his brother almost spitted the coffee out upon hearing what he just asked.

"What?!" Andres asked with an amused look.

"Don't make me say it again. I'm embarrassed enough to come here seeking for advice."

"Are you having girl problems?"

"Maybe." Sergio started fidgeting his glasses. "Well?" he followed up.

"I've never been told that." His brother answered.

"Okay…" he tried to process. "Have you said it to anyone you've dated though?"

"Yes. A lot." Okay that's a good thing, he thought.

"But that's after sex. Did you have sex with her?"

"No! I don't sleep with a girl I just met. So what do you mean when you say you'd call? Do you call her?"

"No, hermano. That's what you say when you won't call her."

"Oh." his hopes were dashed off immediately upon hearing what his brother had just said.

"But hey, this is from a man's perspective. I can't speak for women." His brother said trying to find some silver lining on his situation and he appreciated that. Still, he could feel his chest tightened from dismay.

"It's fine, Andres." He tried to dismiss.

"No hey look. You guys didn't have sex so really there's nothing to run away from so why would she even say it. Come one, tell me about this girl. When did you meet her?"

"Last night. We just talked all night over beer."

"See it hasn't even been a whole day yet. She'll probably call you tonight and ask you to meet her again."

"You think so?"

"Maybe. And if she doesn't, then you give her call."

"But I don't want to impose myself on her."

"You're not imposing. You're just asking her out. That happens to people all the time."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm absolutely sure." He said in a firm voice. "It's called dating." He shook his head when he realized that his brother is making fun of him.

Then again, he's thankful for the words of encouragement. If his brother thinks it's okay to make the first call, then he'd do it. Because if there's someone who is expert in this thing called "dating", it would definitely be the one and only, Andres de Fonollosa.