LOGINSofia lowered her head, her cheeks burning. "I know. It's crazy. I hate myself for it. But... I couldn't hold back anymore. It was like everything I've been feeling for months just exploded. And now, he wants us to forget, to not talk about it. But how?"Mia took a deep breath, placing a hand on Sofia's forearm a supportive gesture that almost made her break down again. She wasn't judging, not really; her gaze was filled with empathy, tinged with a hint of maternal concern despite their similar age."Look, I'm not going to lie to you: this is a shitty situation. Your dad, the age gap... it could blow everything up if it comes out. But at the same time... you're an adult, Sof. So is he. It must be exciting, right? That tension, that secret. You're two people feeling something strong, even if it's twisted."Sofia looked up, surprised. "Exciting? Mia, that's not... I mean, yeah, maybe. But it's wrong. He pushed me away, he was horrified."Mia shook her head gently. "I'm not saying 'go fo
Sofia waited on the porch, her crossbody bag knocking gently against her hip with each nervous step she took back and forth. She'd put on a pair of sunglasses to hide the traces of her restless night her eyes still a little swollen, her pale complexion betraying the hours spent tossing and turning in bed, haunted by memories she wished she could erase. The lingering smell of breakfast coffee still hung around her, a bitter reminder of that morning when she'd fled the table, pretending to take a call to avoid the looks especially Pedro's, that unfathomable mix of confusion and interest that had left her bewildered.In her head, thoughts swirled like a swarm: *He's seeing Brooke tonight? How can he move on so easily? And what am I to him? A passing mistake, an impulsive kid to console and then forget?*The hum of an engine pulled her from her spiral. Mia's little red car appeared at the end of the street, honking cheerfully as if to chase away the invisible clouds above Sofia's head. Mi
The words fell like stones into the calm water of the kitchen. Sofia felt a pang in her heart, an acidic jealousy that surprised her with its intensity.*Is he serious?* she thought, staring at her plate where the scrambled eggs suddenly seemed flavorless. *He's moving on just like that? He doesn't even seem a little shaken. What is this?*After what had happened in that room, after her confession, her tears he was already planning a date with Brooke? As if she, Sofia, was just a regrettable incident, a mistake to sweep under the rug? Her appetite vanished; she poked at a croissant with her fork, the flaky pastry crumbling under her fingers, but she didn't swallow a bite.Javier laughed, shaking his head. "You're incorrigible, *compadre*. But be careful, yeah? These girls, they're just a flash in the pan."Pedro shrugged, again avoiding Sofia's gaze. "Yeah, yeah. It's vacation."The rest of breakfast passed in a feigned atmosphere of normalcy: Diego told a stupid joke about a clumsy s
The first rays of California sun filtered through the slats of the shutters, casting dancing patterns on the white walls of Sofia's room. She'd slept restlessly, her night interrupted by feverish dreams where images from the night before blended into an indistinct chaos: the heat of an unknown mouth, a horrified look, endless tears. When she opened her eyes, reality hit her like a cold wave shame, regret, that hollow feeling in her stomach that refused to fade.She lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling fan spinning lazily, as if the outside world didn't exist yet. But the smell of coffee was already rising from the kitchen, accompanied by the clatter of utensils and the muffled voices of the men downstairs. She had no choice: she had to face the day, act as if nothing had changed, even if everything inside her screamed otherwise.She got up slowly, her limbs heavy as lead. A glance in the bathroom mirror returned an image she barely recognized: red-rimmed eyes from last night
His words pierced her like blades. She nodded, tears threatening to fall again, but she swallowed them down, forcing a whisper: "Understood. I... I won't say anything."He pulled his hand away, as if the contact burned him too, and they crossed the threshold of the house together. The inside was quiet, almost too quiet, with that familiar smell of polished wood and sea salt that permeated the walls. Sofia felt her pulse quicken when she heard footsteps in the living room. Javier appeared, a glass of water in hand, in his pajamas, his eyes half-closed with sleep. He looked at them in turn, one eyebrow raised as he saw Pedro behind her."Ah, you're coming home together?" he asked, his voice tinged with amused surprise, but with that edge of paternal vigilance he always had. He set his glass down on the coffee table, crossing his arms. "What happened?"Pedro forced a smile, scratching the back of his neck in a gesture that betrayed his discomfort. "Turns out we were at the same party. I
The taxi stopped in front of the house with a discreet screech of tires on the gravel, breaking the oppressive silence inside. Sofia felt her stomach knot even tighter, as if the familiar walls of the villa with their blue shutters and purple bougainvillea climbing up the facade were already judging her. The night was deep, a blanket of indifferent stars above them, and the salty ocean breeze carried a cool wind that made her shiver despite the residual heat from the party.She got out first, her sandals clicking on the ground, carefully avoiding looking at Pedro as he paid the driver. Her body felt foreign to her lips still sensitive, her heart beating at an erratic rhythm, as if each pulse was a reproach. Why had she done this? Shame gnawed at her, a slow venom seeping into every thought, making her doubt everything: her feelings, her impulsive audacity, that forbidden thirst that had driven her into that room. She felt small, ridiculous, a kid who'd played with fire and burned hers







