âGuzman?" âEm, hey. You don't look so good. What's wrong?" Well, where should I start? Your best friend has leukemia? Samu told me that you almost kill your other best friend who killed your sister? âSamu told me about yesterday." âOf course", he scoffs, âHe's-"
âI won't say anything about it, I promise. Nothing happened. It's okay. But I can't let you move on with your life like that. We're best friends, Guzman, I don't leave you alone." âIt's better if you did." âYou play that idiot in front of others, but not in front of me. I know you too well. And Marina would-"
âDon't come up with her", he snaps at me closing his locker heavily. âI come up with her whenever I want to. We're family, remember? I'm fucked up, too. Everything that has happened broke me and made me feel empty but that's exactly why I know how you feel and why we have to stay strong together." âYou're right. I'm sorry for snapping at you. Can we leave school early?"
âAnytime, Guzman", I nod and grab my bag so we can go anywhere else, âWhat's your plan?" âI thought you would be creative", he grins. âI may know a place which is free, full of alcohol and has got a pool", I suggest and Guzman nods satisfied. âLead me to heaven", he demands chuckling lightly.
âYour dad's place?", Guzman gives me a skeptical look, âHe wouldn't be amused." âMaybe you're right, maybe you're wrong. My dad really changed a lot for the better. Him and mom get along really well." âSo you don't think he will freak out if he finds out?"
âFirst, he has to find out", I state as I open the fridge and give Guzman a beer and make myself a gin, âSecond, we don't mess around. We don't throw a party. It's just you and I. We're not going to make a mess. Plus third, he's not going to freak out. I'll give you an example: He found Samu and I smoking weed during summer and guess what? He didn't yell at us or tell us how dumb we are, but asked how he could help us and what he did wrong this time."
Guzman gives me soft smile and strokes my arm with his hand. âI'm glad that he changed and that you're happier. You deserve the best, Em." âI have the best already. Our lives may not be easy, but I love my family, I've got two great brothers and Lu. And I've got the best friend I could ask for, believe it or not." âYou've got too low expectations, Em."
âDon't talk so bad about yourself", I taunt him laughing, âNow, take off that shirt, we've got the alcohol, now we should make use of the pool." âWhatever the princess says." âPlease, I'm definitely not âthe princess'", I shake my head as the both of us take off our clothes except for our underwear and go to the pool in the garden.
âWhy not? Isn't Lu the queen and you're her best friend, you have to be equal to that. Plus, every boy at Las Encinas would love to take care of you, to treat you like a princess." âOh, shut up, Guzman", I act annoyed.
âYou wanted to go to the pool but you're just standing there. So what? Go in", he gives me a challenging look. I roll my eyes with a smirk. He knows exactly that he shouldn't challenge me. Whenever someone does that, I'm too pride to not follow. I slowly drink the rest of my gin, put the glass away and put my feet on the stairs into the water first.
âWhy are you being so slow?", Guzman surprises me as soon as he stands behind me closely and whispers against my neck. On top of that, he lays his hand on my hips. That's where my heart begins to beat faster. I've got no idea what we are doing here and why. I just know that I enjoy this moment way too much so I try to concentrate on my breath instead of his hands. âIt's a little cold."
âSince when does cold water stop you from jumping in?" Instead of replying, I just move forward until I stand on the ground of the pool and the water is as high as my shoulders. I hear Guzman following me and before my heart can beat faster again, I dive under completely and swim to the other end of the pool and lay against its wall. âWhat? You know I hate it when someone challenges me."
âThen do the same. You've always been feisty and now? Why are you so shy now?" He's doing it again and he really encourages me to be brave enough to play that game. âFine, why don't you come over then if you're brag like that?" âIf that's what you want, Emilia." âI never said I wanted you to come, it was just a question, Guzman", I smile finally feeling feisty as I've always been again.
âSo what's next? I'm here", he replied cooly as soon as he stands in front of me but half a meter away. Our bodies don't even touch. âDo I have to write you an explanation or will you stay in the game for longer? You don't let me win, do you?"
âThis game will end whenever I say so", Guzman whispers but I turn around and lay my hands on the tiles and lean against the wall of the pool looking at the garden. âIt's a nice view, don't you think?", I ignore him trying to take over control although it only works for a second until he stands behind me again, his body touching mine. "I can't speak for you but mine is. Enjoy it."
âYeah? What exactly should I enjoy?" "Yeah. You know, you just have to tell me when I should stop. Otherwise, I might think that you start to like what I do and lose the game", he whispers against my neck again, now moving his hands up and down my sides.
âDon't think I would enjoy it as much as you do", I try to reply cooly but my voice shakes in the moment he lays his hand on my lower belly moving to the hem of my bikini and presses his body against mine. âIf you don't, you can easily turn around and look at me, right?", he smirks against my body knowing that if I do what he says, he's won the game.
But I won't give up easily so I turn around and lay my hands on his chest to have at least a few centimeters distance. I let my eyes wander up and down his body and back up until Guzman makes me look him in the eyes by holding my chin with his hand. âNow tell me, is it worth it losing the game?", I continue. âYou tell me", Guzman whispers and closes the gap between us by placing his lips on mine and pressing my body against the wall with his own body weight.