Summary:

ACT II: GABRIELA
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Gabriela takes the plunge and connects with her mysterious admirer at the bar.

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The theme song for this chapter: Levitating by Dua Lipa

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"This is stupid." Gabriela muttered to herself, trying hard not to fidget in the far corner of the room. The bar was packed again tonight, and while she was (strangely) elated to see the mystery man by his usual spot, she also knew the inevitable was coming.

She was thankful for the crowd that they blocked her from his view but provided a safe space for her to snoop.

"That's the nerves talking." Carmencita giggled while discreetly handing Gabriela a drink. "To be fair, I would be tongue tied in the presence of a man as good-looking as that."

The two ladies took a moment to observe the man whom José was busy serving. His hair was neatly styled back, and he had on a simple, deep green button up. The muted lighting by the counter highlighted his features, and it was obvious that anyone with two eyes would notice him immediately.

He was very good looking indeed, and it made Gabriela even more nervous.

"Don't let Javier hear you, he'd get jealous." Gabriela teased, deflecting her own embarrassment towards her companion. She hid her face behind the glass, trying (and unfortunately failing) to tame her flamed cheeks. Ávila was out of town on business, so José elected Carmencita, the only female staff working tonight, to accompany Gabriela instead. Gabriela was more than grateful for the company — while she wouldn't mind getting close and personal with strangers, someone whom she already knew (and became fast friends with after a few nights hanging around the bar) made it easier to let herself loose.

Sometimes Ávila's eagerness scared Gabriela to bits.

"What?" Carmencita instinctively tucked her hair behind her ears. "What are you saying?"

"I just noticed that ever since you changed out of uniform, he's been hanging around watching us both."

Right on cue, Javier looked their way and winked. Gabriela had to hold herself from laughing when Carmencita turned pink. "Nevermind that!" She huffed. "He's just doing his job, which, by the way, includes making sure the patrons are having a good time. And, also, tonight isn't about me. It's about you. When are you going to talk to that mystery man?"

There was no way for Gabriela to escape the fact of what she was supposed to do. "I don't know." She gulped thickly. "What am I going to do? What am I going to say?"

"Really lost some of your touch, I see."

Both ladies turned in surprise and Carmencita almost smacked Javier square in the jaw. "Woah, Karma." He mumbled, grateful to have dodged the attack. "Almost knocked me out there."

"Why does everyone think it's a good idea to pop out of nowhere and give me a fright tonight?" Gabriela groaned, just as Carmencita leered at Javier. "I've got this, Javier." Carmencita hissed. "And how many times do I have to tell you to call me Carmen instead of some weird nickname?"

"But I like Karma. It's fun."

"Okay, lovebirds. I'm going to need a drink if this keeps up." Gabriela ignored the strange tension between them and downed the contents of the glass she had in her hands.

"We're not lovebirds!"

"Not yet anyway."

Carmencita smacked Javier on the arm, making him wince. Gabriela just shook her head and swirled a finger around the rim of her empty drink. "As I was supposed to say, what do you mean I lost my touch, Javier? I am really at a loss here. I haven't tried introducing myself to another guy since my ex and I…nevermind."

"You used exude confidence. Appeal." Javier stroked his chin, contemplative. "I know! We need…La Diosa."

Gabriela had to resist the urge to strangle Javier. If she had a peso for every single time someone brought up that moniker, Gabriela would probably be rich. La Diosa was only part of her true personality, a mask of some sort.

Sometimes the persona becomes bigger than the person itself.

"I think the mood here isn't right."Javier's eyes sparkled with untamed mischief, and Gabriela wondered if he and Ávila were related in some way. They both had the same devious look when they were about to cause some mayhem. "We need something to bring her back to life."

"What are you planning?" Carmencita's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Javier. "You better not do anything stupid."

"Trust me, it isn't. Just leave it to me and keep doing what you guys are already doing, and I'll take care of the rest. José didn't make me his second-in-command for nothing." Javier flashed a bright smile at Carmencita. "And dare I say, you look lovely in that dress. Makes me want to take you out to dinner sometime."

"What?" Carmencita gasped before Javier left them and made his way towards the DJ's booth. She rolled her eyes when she noticed Gabriela with a cheeky grin. "What's with that look?"

"Now I'm even more curious than ever."

"Shut it."

The chill music suddenly changed into a reggaeton mix that completely changed the atmosphere. The crowd hollered, signaling that the party was on, and some started to fill up the dance floor. Gabriela couldn't help but hold herself to contain the laughter bubbling up her throat, realizing what Javier was doing.

Of course.

She had been moping for god knows how long that she'd almost forgotten what she lived for. And maybe, the intervention helped, because that was the moment something magical happened.

Gabriela felt the music move her, and just as she turned her head to look at the bar, she realized the man had been staring, in awe of her presence that she found herself beaming.

It's now or never.

"Carmen?"

"Yes?"

"Go have some fun with Javier. I'm going to go for it."

…

If he was good-looking from afar, he was certainly stunning up close. Gabriela found it amusing that he pretended not to notice her, though there was obviously a faint pink blush on his cheeks. She knew José must have whipped out the bar's signature drink, fresh out of his secret vault that was a surefire way to get someone talking.

After all, it was what got Ávila to go out with him in the first place.

Gabriela noticed José's mouth twitching into an upward smirk out of the corner of her eye, and she resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him.

She would make him dance. Her competitive nature wouldn't let her lose this bet.

"I've noticed you've been checking me out." She started with the first thought that popped into her head. It seemed to get her mystery man's attention, because he immediately stiffened. "José tells me you're here almost every night. You sometimes go big or go home and it's interesting, to say the least. Why is that?"

He sat there with his back turned to her, stunned. "José?" He asked, confused for a moment before he managed to find the courage to face her.

She could've sworn his eyes glowed green, or maybe it was the light. She fought hard not to swoon. "Oh, yes, José's the bartender. Good man. Did you know this bar was a gamble?"

"Hm."

He seemed to be at a loss for words. Gabriela could feel the heat of his gaze on her, making it difficult to concentrate. She somehow felt vulnerable, and he had not even attempted to make a move yet. Her racing heart threatened to leap out of her chest. "He thought it wouldn't last very long, but I told him that he's too much of a genius for it to fail…um, excuse me, my eyes are up here."

Humor seemed to do the trick. "Ah, lo siento, I didn't mean to…" His eyes that had been admiring her heels met hers once again, and he panicked.

Gabriela immediately liked him after seeing his reaction.

"I'm just messing with you!" She cracked up, her shoulders shaking. "But, I've got to ask, why are you here every night? You're not some raging alcoholic, are you?"

"Me? No, no." He waved a hand, stumbling over a few of his words, just as nervous as she was. "I'm sorry. I hope I don't sound like a creep, but I've seen you dance before and I was immediately smitten with you."

"Sounds like something a creep would say. Is that your pickup line?"

"Was that a terrible one? Sorry, should I go back out and head in again?"

"You're funny. I like you."

"Thanks, I try. ¿Me das tu número?"

"Hm, I don't know. I don't hand it out to every cute guy that looks my way…but maybe, if you buy me a drink, I'll reconsider?"

…

They had spent the first half of the night talking. Gabriela still kept her guard up, but she knew she was well and truly floored by him as he told her stories from his childhood. Talking to him felt easy, like they had known each other for a long time, and she was just catching up with an old friend.

"And then, our Mamá screamed in horror when she realized what had happened to my hair. I think we were banned from the kitchen shortly thereafter, and I had to rock a bald head for the rest of the summer. The other neighborhood kids called me egg head for weeks. It sucked!"

"I can't imagine what young you looked like, but as an adult you could possibly pull it off!"

"Not a chance!"

She was enjoying this moment, and while José's bet remained at the back of her mind, Gabriela found herself wanting to know more about this man who made her laugh so hard that she almost doubled over, twice.

"So, Mojitos, huh?" He asked animatedly as their laughter died down. "Let me guess. You travel a lot, have a tattoo or two, and like being mysterious?"

Gabriela almost spat out her drink. "Do you judge people's drink orders for a living?"

"Not really." The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled made her wonder if he was fucking with her. "Am I correct?"

She decided to go along with it. "How would you know that?" Gabriela playfully tapped him on the shoulder, and she noticed him melt under her touch. "Amazing. I am indeed an avid traveler, and I do have tattoos."

He whistled in appreciation as she showed off the small tattoo on her wrist. She had gotten it when she was in college, to remind herself what she wanted out of her life. The memory was so long ago, but to Gabriela, it was like she was eighteen all over again.

"That's just one tattoo, though." He pointed out. "You said, 'tattoos'."

"It's a surprise where my other tattoo is. I have two." Gabriela felt her cheeks heat up at the prospect of something else, but she shooed the thought away. "Anyway, my turn to guess. Are you…a coffee snob?"

"Me?" He sputtered, looking abashed at the comment. "I'm not even drinking coffee right now. What would make you say that?"

"Oh, you've got a reputation here. I've heard you only ever order Carajillos…that, or you'd take the whole bottle of Amarillo and slam it down." Gabriela quoted. She didn't even know if the last part was true, though she doubted her friends would lie about something unbelievable like that. José had ethics, but he also loved seeing mess sometimes. "So, maybe not a coffee snob…you're a full-on hipster!"

"I'm not a hipster! I…I just happen to appreciate a good cup of coffee, and when I want to get blackout drunk, the traditional is the way to go! At least, that's how we did it back in my hometown."

"Oh, you're from the countryside, are you?"

"I am, but enough about me. What about you? Besides the wanderlust and the ink and the way you're making me curious, wondering if you're flirting with me, what do you drink when you want to party?"

Gabriela was caught off guard, but when she thought about it hard, he had been flirting with her, and she reciprocated it back.

I don't need love right now…but a distraction would be nice. But what if?

"Is it not yet that obvious? I'm flirting with you alright."

That left him speechless.

"I don't drink often, but tequila all the way." Gabriela continued. "Then, of course, I follow it up with some dancing!"

As the music blasted all around them, Gabriela had a feeling that she couldn't explain. When was the last time I had this much fun? Ever since she called it quits and fell off the face of the earth, Gabriela had locked herself up in her own prison filled with self-loathing over something that wasn't her fault to begin with. Javier had been right. Ávila and the rest of them as well. Gabriela had lost her touch, forgotten who she was to her core — an unstoppable force.

La Diosa might only be the side most people saw, but she had been fighting her battles in silence for just as long.

She wasn't ready to love just yet, and maybe she didn't want it at the moment, but for the first time in a long while, Gabriela wanted to know where her night with this beautiful and charismatic man would end.

With José's bet truly forgotten, she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the dance floor.

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