Episode 16

"Are you sure you don't want me to take you?"Christian has been somewhat insistent.

He smiles.

"No. It's fine like this."

"Are you going home?"

"No."

"What will you do?"

"I'll go to the flower shop, Raul wants us to meet. He has something important to tell me."

What did Christian have in mind? What kind of thoughts was he having when he looked at me?

"Okay. See you tomorrow."

"Of course! Have a good trip."

Christian walks away from me towards his car. I watch as he approaches the vehicle, Gilberto opens the door for him.

"So he's the head of this company"says Dario.

I didn't even notice when he arrived, he was very stealthy.

"Yes. It's him."

He offers me a lollipop.

"Do you want to go to the movies with me?"He proposes.

"Right now?"I unwrap the lollipop and put it in my mouth.

He nods. And suddenly, it starts to rain. Why now? It's not even the rainy season!

"Yes. Although, better, let's run in the rain."

He takes my hand, I don't understand his gesture and the water from the sky begins to caress us. When was the last time I did this? I felt so happy! It was as if my whole world had stopped.

"What about enjoying the rain like this?"Dario asks me.

The taste of the lollipop spreads in my mouth.

"It feels good!"

Our other co-workers watch us from the main entrance, Dario and I look like little kids. I am not ashamed to enjoy something as simple as rain.

After an hour, we walk through the door of the flower shop.

"And now? Did the water get you?"Raul is smoking.

"Yes."

"Hi Raul."

"Hi Dario. What a miracle! I haven't seen you in a while."

"I was just going to say the same."

They exchange greetings.

"Why are you smoking in here? The whole shop stinks of tobacco"I complain.

"Calm down Juls, I already bought the pizza for dinner"I'm surprised he uses the nickname Christian uses to call me.

"Did you buy beer too?"Dario is craving alcohol.

"Yes."

On the work table are two pizza boxes. A six-pack of beer and an ashtray. Eating with my friends after the workday is comforting.

"So why did you switch to the company where Juls is?"Raul wants to know.

"Well, the company I was at wouldn't let me do the things I studied for. What does managing a database have to do with fixing a car? I didn't study mechanics!"

I nodded.

"I didn't think that could happen. I'm so glad you switched!"I let him know.

"And I like it. I've only been there three days and I think the office environment is nice."

I smile. I bite into my slice of pizza.

"Well, yeah. Julen has been there for a month now and he's doing pretty well. Right Juls?"Raul wiggles his eyebrows and brings a can of beer to his mouth.

"Yes. Although at first, it didn't go as I expected."

"Why?"Dario is curious.

"I came in as a database administrator and ended up being the secretary to the director of the company"I admitted.

"Really?"

"And now our dear Juls is having an office romance thanks to that unexpected change"adds Raul.

"An office romance? With who?"Dario wants to know, I realize his need.

"With the director of the company. With Christian"Raul has no filter.

"The boss is gay?!"Dario is super shocked"Julen, is what Raul says true?"

I take a few sips of beer, I'm not surprised by Dario's reaction.

"Well, he's partly right, but…"

"Juls could become the next director of the company. Thanks to his position as Christian's lover"Raul is very infatuated with my emotional situation.

"That's not true! You're exaggerating"I reprimand Raul.

"So what's the truth?"Dario questions.

We make eye contact, I bite into my pizza, chew, savor and swallow. I meditate on the answer. I drink beer.

"Christian is not gay and I will not be his lover."

"What?! But you told me you liked your boss"Raul was being overly informative.

"Yes." I said that. But liking is not the same as loving. It's not the same to be attracted to someone, as to be completely willing to give your whole heart to that someone. That's why I won't be his lover!

They both stood there processing my words. I kept eating.

"But love can be born out of liking someone if you allow it to be. Dating, living with and talking to that person, can make liking turn into complete love"says Dario.

His ideal sounded good to me.

"And do you think the other party might feel the same way about me?"I wasn't afraid to ask"I suppose this will be temporary. I've been thinking about it these days and that's what I've come to see. I can't cross the line with my boss!"

Raul didn't seem to agree.

"What if your boss likes you too?" You said that he behaves differently when he's with you and that touches your heart "Raul reminds me."

"Well, yes, but…"

"If Christian feels the same way about you, I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to turn a liking into a deep love, don't you think?"

So many romantic questions made me nervous. Without hesitation, I grab my can of beer and chug it down. I drink all the contents!

"My goal is to be able to finish my internship and get my specialty diploma. Love is out of the question right now!"I pronounce with much conviction.

"And what will happen after you finish your internship? What will you do if they offer you a permanent position?"Dario questions.

"I think that's too much. Let me eat my pizza in peace. What has to happen will happen and what doesn't, life will take its course"I tell them.

...🍬🍬🍬...

It's almost twelve o'clock. I finish entering some data into the computer and feel a discomfort in my body. The air conditioner is on and I'm cold. What's happening to me?

The phone on my desk starts ringing. I answer the call.

"Can you come into my office? I need to ask you something."

"Right away."

I put the phone back in its place. I get up from the chair and feel a huge heaviness. My eyes feel tired! I knock on the door and open it afterwards. I approach his desk.

"What do you need to ask me?"

We make eye contact, I try to smile. Christian looks surprised!

"Are you feeling okay Juls?"

"Yes, I…"

"You don't look well at all."

"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired."

He gets up from his chair, walks up to me and stops. He brings his hand up to my face and feels my forehead, my cheeks.

"You're burning up!"He exclaims worriedly.

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