Episode 9

Andres

"It's good that you're not asleep yet," she says playfully.

I had never seen this side of Liz before; I'd always regarded her as a little girl, like a sister. But now, I'm questioning everything, and not just because of the sexy lingerie she's wearing that awakens my sexual desires. It's because, for a while now, I've felt things for Liz, probably due to living together.

I hope so...

"Can I sleep with you?" she interrupts my thoughts, approaching me slowly.

"Liz... you're drunk, and you don't know what you're saying," I stop her just as she's about to touch me with her body.

"I am drunk, but I know what I'm saying, and I want to sleep with you. You are my husband, aren't you?" As she spoke, her eyes never left mine.

"Liz..." I say, a bit nervously, still holding her back, she laughs loudly, leaving me confused.

"I want to sleep with you, in the most literal sense," she indicates the bed with her eyes, I let her go, and she jumps to the bed, leaving me space. Even though I laugh, for a moment, I thought she was referring to something else.

"Andres, I'm sleepy, come!" she pleads. I lie down next to her, and as her eyes close from the drowsiness, I can't help but smile, feeling really good beside her, an experience I've never had before. Liz opens her eyes, damp as if on the verge of tears.

"I'm sorry," her voice cracks a bit. But why? "It's my fault you're not with her... But I promise you, as soon as you find a solution for our divorce, I'll leave quietly," her hand caresses my cheek tenderly, offering me a smile while looking at me with teary eyes.

"Why are you bringing this up now?" I wait for a tear from her to wipe it away and mimic the gesture she is doing to me, but I see she's holding back her tears strongly.

"Because..." her voice breaks again, "Because I don't want to be a bother... Because even though they forced you to marry me, you regard me with great affection and take care of me, when you should, I don't know, hate me," she says the last part more calmly, and her voice is steady, her hand no longer on my cheek but on my arm. In some way, this should make me feel good because she is promising to continue with the agreement we had; it should make me feel calm or secure, but I don't feel calm or secure.

"I could never hate you; you are the most special person I've ever met, and I promise that as long as you give me the chance, I will take care of you. Not because of this favor you're doing me, but because I care about you," I hug her and pull her close to me, pressing her body against mine. I give her a kiss on the forehead, and her arm wraps around my torso. We stay that way until we fall asleep.

...

Liz

My eyes are heavy; it's quite a struggle to open them, and the light coming through the window doesn't help at all. I sit up in bed and rub my eyes to wake up. I realize that I'm not in my room but in Andres's.

"What am I doing here?" I ask myself, getting up and seeing my clothes—or rather, the lingerie Rosa gave me.

"What happened last night?" I cover my eyes, scared.

"Good morning, Liz!" Andres enters his room, fresh from the shower.

"Andres!" I cover myself with the sheets.

"What happened? Don't you remember anything?" he asks, laughing. Of course, I remember; don't think I was that drunk. It's just... I'm so embarrassed. How could I have dressed like that and gotten into his bed or said all those things?

"Of course, I remember," I say from beneath the sheets to hide how red my face has become. I get up, still covered by the sheet, intending to return to my room, but I accidentally trip over his nightstand.

"Ouch!" I exclaim in pain, and Andres laughs at me, mostly at my clumsiness.

"Don't laugh, help me," I say angrily.

"All right!" he comes over to me and takes my hand over the sheets, leading me to my room. I throw myself onto the bed, utterly embarrassed, not wanting to come out. I can't face him after everything that happened yesterday.

"Liz!! Breakfast is ready," Andres calls from the kitchen.

"I'm not hungry!" I yell back.

"If you don't come out in two minutes, I'm entering your room," this time I hear him right behind my bedroom door. I'm sure he'll enter if I don't come out.

"Ok, ok, I’m coming," I relent, leaving the room to find breakfast ready, and I'm prepared for more embarrassment. I sit at the table, which is set for one, and then Andres comes with a jug of juice, sitting next to me, and serves me some. I want to say so much but don't want to ruin things further, especially after yesterday.

"Liz, eat. It's going to get cold, and you don't like it cold," he says while taking a bite of his arepa.

"Andres, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have drunk so much yesterday and done all those things. I really am sorry," I say without looking at him but staring straight ahead, redirecting my gaze into his eyes.

"You don't have to pretend it didn't happen. It's a bit uncomfortable," I finish. He takes his glass and sips some juice.

"I'm not pretending. I'm very aware of what you said last night, and I'm glad that you were honest with me, even if it was the wine that made you that way. Liz, I care about you, and I will fulfill what I said last night. I'll take care of you for as long as you allow me," he concludes.

"It's nice what you're saying, but I'm not apologizing for what I said but for what I did," I shrug, and Andres lets out a laugh, causing me to get annoyed as he seems to be mocking me. I get up angrily from the chair - "I mean it, don’t mock me" – I start to head to my room but feel him take my arm.

"I'm not laughing at that, but at your face, which is all red. Besides, I have nothing to forgive you for," he hugs me, leaving me unable to move away. Thankfully, now I'm slightly less embarrassed. He makes me sit down again, and I start eating.

"You're washing the dishes, Liz," he tells me as he gets up from the table.

"It's your turn—you're cheating," I protest, laughing.

"Aren't you my wife?" he teases, recalling what I said last night just to sleep with him, making my face go red again. I try to play it cool not to give myself away. He walks out of the kitchen and toward his room, but before entering, he turns to me and says, "I know you remember." He winks at me and enters his room, leaving me utterly red with embarrassment.

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