Everyone was chatting in groups, while Pablo decided to pull away. He sat at a reasonable distance from the others, his expression a mix of disdain and weariness.
"Everything okay?" Kevin asked as he sat beside him.
"Yeah." Pablo fixed his gaze on the ground. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, you're here alone and quiet. That’s not like you."
"It’s just stress and exhaustion. By the way, how’s married life treating you?" He shifted the topic. Kevin smiled, a special sparkle in his eyes as he thought about his new reality.
"Though it’s obvious things are going well. Looks like Laura’s treating you wonderfully," Pablo teased.
"Being with her makes me feel whole. I love that girl in a way I never thought I could love anyone."
"You’re a lucky guy," Pablo muttered, almost like a lament. Kevin gave him a curious look.
"So are you," he said, patting Pablo’s shoulder. "You’ve got a beautiful family."
"Yeah..." Pablo replied, hesitating. "I have a beautiful son."
"And a beautiful wife," Kevin finished for him with a smile.
"Yeah, it’s just that things with her aren’t great. How do you and Laura make it work? You’ve been together for as long as we have, and you two seem more in love every day. Is it because you weren’t married before?"
"Stop talking nonsense! I feel even closer to Laura since we got married. It’s different because we’ve only been living together for a month, and we don’t have a kid. But it’s not marriage that ruins relationships—it’s the people in them."
"Look, Pablo, you and Jimena never really had time to figure out if you were ready to take that step of uniting your lives forever. You got swept up in the excitement of the moment, then married because of the pressure our family put on you after the pregnancy."
"But, despite that and whatever issues you’re facing, I think there’s something special that ties you two together. And I don’t just mean Adrián, though he’s part of it. I think you both lacked time to develop your relationship before tackling the challenge of building a family together. It’s up to you to reclaim that time. I know you love each other, and you can overcome this."
"There’s a problem, Kevin," Pablo muttered, lowering his head. "I’m attracted to another woman," he admitted sadly.
Kevin stared at him in shock. "Are you serious?" he asked, bewildered.
"It’s not like I’m in love or anything," Pablo clarified nervously. "It’s physical. She’s gorgeous and incredibly sensual. I haven’t been with a woman in a long time... This is driving me crazy."
"What do you mean you haven’t been with a woman?" Kevin asked, astonished. "What about Jimena?"
"I can’t bring myself to touch her," Pablo confessed. "We haven’t been intimate since we got married. Her belly was already showing then, and I was afraid of hurting her."
"That’s ridiculous! Pregnant women can have sex. In fact, it’s good for them."
"I didn’t know that. I tried not to overthink about it. I know I’ve been a jerk and selfish, but I was terrified. A kid and a marriage weren’t part of my plans yet."
"And after the pregnancy?"
"She couldn’t. And when she recovered, the baby took up all her time, and she stopped taking care of herself. Her breasts were full of milk, and sometimes it even leaked onto her clothes. I don’t know, we just never tried. I think we both knew our marriage was a mess, so she focused on the baby, and I focused on work."
"Wow. But anyone can see Jimena loves you deeply."
"And I love her. But the passion is gone," Pablo lamented.
"If you love each other, then the passion is still there. It’s a product of love—they go hand in hand if you let them. You just have to stop overthinking it and stop labeling everything. Like you always tell me: Stop being an idiot, Pablo!"
Both of them laughed.
Pablo decided not to stay long at the meeting, so he said goodbye to everyone and went home."You’re here!" Jimena greeted him excitedly."Did you spend the whole day locked in the room?" he asked, looking at the bed where his wife lay."I don’t feel well," she excused herself, her eyes full of sadness."Depressed again?" He sat down beside her."I don’t know." Two tears rolled down her cheeks, but she wiped them away in a flash. "I’m fine, don’t worry." She faked a smile. He nodded uncertainly and headed to the bathroom.After a refreshing shower, Pablo fed the baby and put him to sleep. Then he carried him to his room and laid him down in his crib. He stayed for a while, gazing at him. A smile spread across his face as he gently caressed his son’s cheek, admiring him with pride."You weren’t planned, but you’re the most beautiful thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the best version of me. Did you know you got your father’s good looks, Little piece of me? My mini-me! You’re luck
Jimena woke up bursting with energy, cheerful and renewed. A shiver ran through her every time she recalled that Saturday night. After so long without intimacy, she felt all her stress melt away. Of course, it wasn’t all happiness—she had to deal with Pablo’s nerves and reassure him that the morning-after pill would prevent a pregnancy. It wasn’t entirely foolproof, but surely, they couldn’t be that unlucky… could they?There was one thing that left her anxious: the matter of planning. Pablo hadn’t brought it up, and she was afraid to ask for some reason. She didn’t know if what had happened that night would become a regular part of their marriage—like it should—or if it was just a one-time release that wouldn’t happen again.Insecurity and sadness wrapped around her once more. Since when had she become a fearful, uncertain woman? How was it possible that she saw intimacy with her husband as something unattainable? Would it be a mistake to talk to him about it? Should she?These thoug
Jimena woke up early, and after tending to the baby’s needs and feeding him, she decided to shower in her room. Pablo must have already been on his way to work, after all. As she stepped into the bedroom, she let out a sigh.When she finished freshening up, she sat on the edge of the bed and started to cry. Like a scene from a movie, memories of her past happiness flooded her mind. A soft smile crept onto her face as she recalled those moments by the beautiful lake, the silent witness to their summer love, which now filled her thoughts:"Isn't it too late to be here?" Jimena asked nervously, shivering slightly from the cold. Pablo noticed her trembling and draped his black jacket over her shoulders."Better this way. No one will bother us," he replied with a mischievous smile. "Isn't it beautiful?" he asked, gazing at her tenderly. They sat together at the water’s edge, immersed in the beauty of the place.The deep blue of the lake, the flickering fireflies, the soft glow of the small
Pablo woke up, surprised to find Jimena gone from the bed. He let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his hair, frustration knotting in his stomach. Guilt gnawed at his peace. He longed to mend what was broken between them, but how could he face her after what he’d done?Jimena entered the room carrying their baby and gently placed him on the bed. The child crawled towards Pablo while she avoided his gaze, silently heading towards the bathroom. It was Saturday, and it seemed Jimena had plans, freeing him from the need to find some excuse to escape and avoid her.Jimena emerged wrapped in a towel, her skin damp and her hair pulled back. She couldn’t help but glance at her husband as he played with their baby; he looked utterly endearing, like a little boy himself.“Who’s this gorgeous blonde, Adrián?” he cooed to the baby, mimicking Donald Duck’s voice. Jimena tried to suppress a smile, feigning indifference. “What’s such a pretty lady doing in here? Who let her in?” he continued in
On a bright, beautiful morning filled with laughter and warmth, Jimena, Pablo, and the baby played on the bed. Even though the sunny day invited them to go out and appreciate its beauty, they decided to stay home and enjoy each other’s company.“Say ‘Da-da,’” Pablo repeated, staring intently at Adrián.“It doesn’t matter how hard you try, it won’t change the fact that he said ‘Mama’ before ‘Dada,’” Jimena said, amused. Pablo frowned at her in mock disagreement.“You manipulated him,” he accused her with a dramatic expression.“Yeah, right,” she scoffed sarcastically and stifled a giggle. “Face it, he loves me more than you,” she said with a chuckle before kissing his lips quickly.“‘He loves me more than you,’” he mocked, making a face.The baby nestled against his mother’s chest and began grabbing at her breasts.“Hey!” Pablo gently removed the baby’s hand with a grin. “Those belong to Daddy; your turn was long ago, young man. I lent them to you for a while, but now I’m taking back w
By the time the sun rose, Jimena was still clutching Pablo’s phone. Her face was blank, lost in her deepest, most painful thoughts. She hadn't slept or cried; she simply remained there, the phone in her hands.The alarm rang, and after turning over in bed a few times, Pablo sat up, rubbing his eyes. He looked at Jimena curiously as she stared sadly at the device. She unlocked the screen, and the message appeared before her. Silently, she passed the phone to Pablo. He took it, confused, and went cold as he read its contents. He looked at her in horror, unable to find the right words to face her.“Jimena… I…” Hearing his trembling voice was the trigger. The trapped tears burst forth like torrents, and her chest began to shake. Then he understood that a great sob was trying to erupt violently. “Let me explain, it was a mistake… a slip…” Jimena couldn’t bear the pressure in her chest. She threw herself at him, hysterical, hitting him with fury and pain.He held her arms and looked at her
Fear choked Jimena as she stood before that room, the sounds of shouting seeping through the door. From her father, the cries were harsh, full of anger and demand; from her mother, pleas, and whimpers of pain. She even heard the sickening thud of blows.A tremor ran through her, tears welling up and blurring her vision. She was so terrified. Only five years old, she couldn’t grasp the turmoil that often erupted in her home. One mystery, in particular, haunted her: why her mother always cried when her father shut them both inside their bedroom.Suddenly, a pair of comforting arms wrapped around her shoulders, offering a sanctuary amidst the confusing, agonizing chaos. It was her older sister! She was always there, a steady wall of protection, even though she was just a child herself. More often than not, when their parents were neglectful or fighting, Claudia took charge, caring for Jimena and their little sister, Cecilia.Jimena’s eyelids fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the light
Jimena lay asleep in her room. Though it was midday, she hadn't yet risen. At night, she would wake up searching for Pablo, only to cry when she didn't find him by her side. She missed him so much!And she wasn't the only one. Adrián would wake up early, crawl to their room, and call for him in his sweet voice:"Da-da!"The boy would point to Pablo's empty side of the bed, a gesture that would shake Jimena to her core, and she couldn't hold back the tears. She had never been so depressed. She felt like her world was ending, and all she could do was watch it crumble, in a lethargy that was slowly destroying her.Pablo's lawyer had already spoken with hers, and the divorce was moving forward. The judge had given them a month to try to fix their relationship, but they hadn't even seen each other since he left. Nor had Pablo come to visit the boy, as he'd promised.That day, someone knocked on the bedroom door."Who is it?" Jimena asked. Her voice was hoarse and weak."Can we come in?" sh