Chapter 6 Pablo

• Tears come immediately, and I embrace my legs, releasing the frustration of everything that has happened. If there was already a jerk in my life before, now there are two. I know that can be resolved, but it doesn't change the fact that I will have to avoid them.
• I still feel a bit hurt by what happened with David. Since we started university, he seemed like a handsome guy to me. I've never been prudish, but I'm not promiscuous either. Being open-minded doesn't mean I'm a slut. David was the complete opposite, despite his long list of conquests, he knew how to make me fall in love and wait for me to be ready for sex. It's normal in a relationship, especially when you believe you're in love.
• Last year, I had decided not to go to the student day party since it coincided with a big event we had at the restaurant. For me, it was preferable to stay and work because it guaranteed me a good salary, which I needed for my vacation. In the end, the event ended early, so I decided to stop by the party pool. I called an Uber as usual, and it dropped me off in the parking lot. I was a bit worn out from the event, so I decided to touch up my makeup before going in. I put my bag in the trunk and took out my makeup. I was in the middle of that when I heard some loud noises. I figured someone had started the after party inside a car, so I decided to ignore those noises. It was his voice that made my blood run cold, an "oh baby!" that I knew all too well. I packed everything up, put on my bag, looked for the source of the noise, and as expected, his truck was a few cars ahead.
• A few months ago, David had lost the keys to his truck, so he gave me a spare in case something like that happened. Who would have thought they would come in handy? As I got closer, a knot formed in my stomach, the blood stopped flowing through my veins, and I felt my heart shatter.
• Despite being a large truck, it was moving, and with each step I took, the noise they made while having sex increased. I couldn't see anything in the front, so I took out the keys and opened the back door where they were. My best friend and my boyfriend were having sex in the back of the truck. She was riding him while he buried his face in her breasts.
• That's where his great love for me ended. Buried inside Cristina's vagina, my so-called best friend. I didn't stay to ask for explanations, it wasn't necessary. Everything was visually explicit. I avoided him for days until I had no choice but to confront him and ask him to stop pursuing me. Fortunately, we went on vacation and he left the city, so I didn't have to see him for the next few months until today.
• The vacation helped me reflect on what happened. It's true that my self-esteem was crushed. Once you've been cheated on, you can't help but wonder, "What does she have that I don't?" or "Where did I go wrong?" It took me a while to understand that I shouldn't compare myself to her and that it wasn't me who failed, but him.
• Undoubtedly, Aunt Rita, my mother's sister, helped me with that. She is a woman who experienced adultery and infidelity firsthand. Her husband cheated on her with none other than the neighbor. They had been having an affair for years, taking advantage of when she came to visit us, and they even had a child together. Living through that is not easy, something inside you breaks. Everything you thought was your life as a couple is no longer. You wake up one day and realize that the person you used to talk to about even the silliest things is no longer there. And not because you wanted it, but because that person decided to be with someone else. It's very sad, yes. Even more so when you're a mother.
• "Are you okay?" that voice sounds familiar to me, I lift my head and confirm that it's who I think it is.
• "Yes, yes," I try to wipe my face with my blouse, "everything is fine."
• "Here," he hands me a tissue, "you're not okay. That's obvious. Do you want to talk about it?"
• - I don't want to. Thank you - I point to the paper I start wiping my face with.
• - You're welcome, it's the least I can do.
• Pablo sits on the grass beside me.
• - How come you were in my class? Now you seem like a potential stalker to me - I say, trying to laugh and change the subject.
• - Well, they offered me a scholarship here to graduate and stay as a teacher. I wasn't going to miss the opportunity, it's an excellent university.
• - Oh, that's great. I'm happy for you. At least when you graduate, you'll already have a guaranteed job - I say sincerely. The way things are in the country right now, it's very difficult to find a decent job.
• - Yes, it is. The truth is, I didn't imagine running into you. Although I confess that I did think about it, but not to the extent that we would be in the same class - he declares with a beautiful smile.
• - Neither did I, what a surprise I've received. But what made you think we would meet?
• - Well, I noticed that you were carrying that backpack and then you work nearby. So there were two options, seeing you at your workplace or at school. However, I'm glad to see you here.
• - I'm glad to see you too, well, I barely know you, but I like you, I think we could be good friends.
• - Just good friends? - he pouts.
• - Yes, only that. Right now, I'm not up for anything else - sadly, it's the truth, even though he's attractive.
• - Is it because of that guy who cornered you on the stairs?
• I ponder for a moment whether to tell him or not, but in the end, it's his silence that motivates me to keep talking.