Chapter 7

• Melissa
• After reliving that shitty moment, I burst into tears. Like the weak person I was, I ran straight to the pantry and grabbed everything I could, taking advantage of the fact that the nanny had taken Mario to karate. Packages of cookies, cakes, chocolates, milk, and ice cream from the fridge. I stuffed myself with all of it like I hadn't done in months, only to run to the toilet and get rid of everything that had entered my body. Lying on the bed, I sobbed and cursed intermittently until I fell asleep, losing consciousness. When I woke up, I saw on my phone 6 missed calls, 3 messages from Andrés, the address of Daniel's company that Diana sent, and a message from an unknown number. I quickly deleted the calls and couldn't help but open the messages.
• *Please respond, I swear I don't want to hurt you " Andrés"
• *Are you okay? I will never try again " Andrés"
• *The truth is, I liked you from the first day I saw you in class and I couldn't help but kiss you. But I understand if you don't like it. I don't want to hurt you. At least forgive me and let's be friends " Andrés"
• *Don't ask how I got your number, it took a big lie that you have to cover up. I just wanted to wish you a good night and remind you that you owe me a coffee " Unknown"
• Of course, I didn't respond to the idiot Andrés. Surely the bastard bet with his "friends" that with his pretty smile, he could conquer anyone, even the bitter Melissa.
• On the other hand, I couldn't help but smile when I read the last message.
• " Could it be Daniel...? Oh, I don't think so " I said to myself, but curiosity got the best of me and I had great hope that it was him, so I replied.
• *I think you may have mistaken me unless you tell me your name " Melissa* The possible Daniel replied a few minutes later."
• *I don't think I've mistaken you. How many men have spilled coffee on your suit and how many dates have you run away from, miss? " Unknown* The teary-eyed girl forgot her tears and smiled broadly to herself, sure that it was Daniel.
• " Did he say "dates"? I can't believe it. Surely he's playing with me. You're wrong, Melissa, this can't be happening to you. It's probably just another one of your dreams."
• *To be honest, I'm very clumsy. Maybe I don't remember how much clothing I've ruined " Melissa*"
• *If you buy the next coffee, you'll have the honor of knowing who I am. There's a small, inconspicuous restaurant on Cayetano Díaz Avenue. You'll recognize it right away. Let's meet there tomorrow at 4 " Daniel, probably*"
• *It's not safe to have coffee with strangers " Melissa*"
• I wrote, completely sure it was him. His company was just a stone's throw from the restaurant he mentioned, and Diana had told me about having coffee there... But tomorrow he would have dinner with Diana, right?
• *Just when I was considering the idea of kidnapping you ;) I have to work, I'll be waiting for you " Daniel*"
• " Damn, one idiot ruins my night and another, even worse, fixes it, " I said to myself as I walked to the closet for my pajamas and underwear to take a shower.
• " I don't know what this guy is planning. Does he want me to pay for the coffee accident? That must be it " I rambled like a crazy person in the shower, letting the water run and with it the memory of what happened with Andrés. " I really can't think of any other reason for his insistence on seeing each other and he even got my number, probably through Diana. What did she tell him?... Damn these fleeting thoughts again, I start in Chile and end up in Japan. And now what am I talking about?... Just shut up and take the shower, Melissa."
• It was 9 pm and as usual, my parents weren't home. I think the nanny took Mario to his room to sleep, and I covered myself up to my head, hoping to get some sleep.
• Narrator
• The alarm clock went off at 5 am, and the girl put on her workout clothes to start an exercise routine that ended at 9 am. She ran for an hour around the garden before heading straight to a part of the house that was set up as a gym and was only used when her parents went on vacation.
• She crossed paths with her mother in the breakfast nook, taking an apple that she would probably discard later in the trash can, and questioned,
• " And the job, Mom?"
• " It's not your business, dear, but your father and I have talked and decided to hire someone to replace me at the company so I can spend more time with you."
• "Damn, it's probably because of what they told them at school," thought Melissa, pretending not to care.
• " That's great, Mom, although you don't need to sacrifice your life for us," she said, with all the desire to annoy.
• " I didn't know you woke up so early when there were no classes " her mother spoke, quite surprised, changing the subject. In reality, she was hurt by what Melissa said.
• " Just sometimes, there's a lot you don't know about me "The mother looked disapprovingly at the girl who was biting her apple, but deep down she knew she was right and felt guilty. However, as always, she couldn't express it, so she finished her coffee and announced,
• " I'll be at Nani's house, after dropping Mario off at school in case you need anything or want to come with me."
• " Hmm, no, I'm going to have breakfast with Didi, but I'll see you in the afternoon, I suppose."
• Melissa was heard going up the stairs, and without much interest, she went straight to her closet to get rid of piles of clothes that were too big for her and search among all that for something that didn't look too bad on her. Perhaps something her mother bought for her and she never wore. In the end, she decided on light blue jeans, her white sneakers, a gray t" t-shirt, and a faux leather jacket. She put her wallet and phone in her bag."
• She called an Uber to go directly to the company where she would meet Diana, hoping to run into Daniel. The driver arrived, and she got into the car, distractedly looking out the window as they drove.
• At the reception, she asked for Diana and was told to wait. She was sitting, staring into space when suddenly she saw Daniel pass by at the end of the hallway in a neat suit similar to the one she had ruined, which she found damn sexy.
• " They all react the same way," said the secretary, without Melissa understanding a thing. Putting on a face of not knowing what she was talking about, she looked at the woman.
• " When they see him!... The boss... forget it, girl."
• " Okay," said Melissa and looked down the hallway, waiting for Daniel, who appeared sometime later and walked towards the reception where Melissa was. She didn't know whether to run, smile, or what, and she stood there paralyzed, looking in another direction, trying to hide her feelings.