Chapter 27 - Wait For Me

Mia walked into Realcafé Bernabéu attached to Leo’s arm. It was a bar on the terrace of Real Madrid’s soccer stadium that opened during the summer when the team wasn’t playing. It really felt as if you were actually inside the stadium and the way it lit up at night was truly spectacular. MBS had rented the entire space out for a few hours, so it would be a great opportunity for all the students to be together for one last time.

Mia spent the night chatting away and taking countless pictures with her closest friends, and even some people she wasn’t that close to. She couldn’t help thinking how bittersweet the feeling was. While she was proud of everything she had accomplished during the last year, she felt like she was leaving something momentous behind. All her struggles, tears, and defeats, mixed with triumph, laughter, and happiness.

And then there was Leo. How she would ever be able to say goodbye to him, she didn’t know. She knew it was the risk she had taken to be with him, but never imagined it would feel this way when it came to an end. Like she would be leaving a part of herself behind.

They were immersed in a private conversation and laughter, when Johan approached them. Leo immediately tensed and stood in front of Mia.

“You can relax Leo, I’m here to apologize,” Johan stated.

“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?” Leo replied icily.

“Look I know it’s long overdue, but I don’t want this weighing over my shoulders anymore. I’m really sorry for what I did.” Johan looked over Leo to find Mia and he partially stepped out of her way. “I know it’s not an excuse to say that I was drunk out of my mind, but I never meant to intentionally hurt you, Mia. Either of you.”

“You really got some nerve, you know that?” Leo said.

“I don’t expect you to forgive me. I know what I did was completely wrong, and nothing will ever change that. I might be an asshole but I’m not an idiot. I recognize my mistakes. I truly am sorry, please know that.”

Leo was about to tell him off again when Mia stopped him. “Apology accepted. You can run along now,” she stated simply.

“Thank you, Mia. It means a lot to me,” Johan replied. He was about to leave when he stopped to speak again. “You two are really meant to be together. I can see that now.”

He quickly disappeared into the crowd and Mia looked over to find Leo with his jaw dropped.

“I can’t believe you forgave him.”

Mia inhaled sharply. “I know, me neither. But I got to thinking I’m never going to see him again for the rest of my life, so it’s best to just forgive and forget.”

“I guess you’re right. It’s so strange how we’re probably never going to see most of these people here ever again.”

“Yeah…it’s sad if you think about it. I guess it’s just by default. Everyone comes from a different place, and that’s where they’re going back to. But I know who my true friends are, and I’ll be seeing them again,” she smiled.

“You’re such a bigger person than I could ever be. You don’t have a single evil bone in your body, do you?” Leo asked incredulously.

“Don’t get me wrong, I still want to punch Johan in the face…or worse. But I guess having some type of closure works out better.”

“At least he was right about one thing. We are meant to be together.”

She sighed at the thought of that statement and looked out at the view of the stadium, as if she could find the answer somewhere in the horizon. Even if it were true, how could they ever be together living in separate continents? It just seemed so unattainable to her.

Leo tenderly reached for her arm and opened up her hand. He placed something she couldn’t see in it, and closed her fingers over it. “Just like they do in the movies,” he said with a chuckle.

She stared at him curiously for a moment, and then opened her hand. It was a bracelet. She picked it up with her other hand to inspect it. It was absolutely gorgeous. It had golden links with diamonds embedded in it and sparkled when the light hit it. “Leo, it’s beautiful,” she said in awe.

“Like you,” he said taking the bracelet from her and clasping it around her wrist. “Elegant…but understated. I wanted you to have something that would remind you of me.”

“Leo, I don’t need a bracelet for that. I’ll always think about you.”

He smiled. “Well, I still want you to have it. I’ve been a lousy boyfriend in this department. You deserve much more than this.”

“No, you haven’t. Thank you for this, Leo. It’s really thoughtful. I’ll wear it all the time.”

“Will you wait for me, Mia?”

She turned to look up at him, and he had the saddest look in his eyes. The question had caught her off guard and his expression almost made her knees buckle. It reminded her of that solemn night they had broken up, and she couldn’t stand to see him like that.

“Leo, I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking…”

“I believe in us. We can make this work. I just need to know you would want this too.”

Mia thought about what he was asking her for. A relationship. A long distance one, no less. She had been in one with her boyfriend in high school when she moved to New York from Mexico and it had been really difficult. It was the main reason they had broken up.

She thought about all the famous sayings they had in Spanish making fun of it. “Amor de lejos…es de pendejos, felices los cuatro, por carta te mandan los cuernos.” The list just went on.

At the same time, Mia knew of so many other people that had been in long distance relationships at one point or another. It just seemed like it was a part of every modern relationship these days. It was difficult, but not impossible.

“You know what that entails right? It’s a pretty big commitment and a lot of effort you have to put in. Not to mention the six-hour time difference. By the time I’ll get out of work you’ll already be sleeping.”

“We’ll work out a schedule. I’ll call you during my lunch breaks, it’ll be in the mornings for you before you go to work.”

“I know. It’s just not that simple. Things start getting…complicated, to say the least.”

“I promise I won’t be one of those overbearing, melodramatic long distance boyfriends. I trust us. I trust you.”

“When would we see each other again? In three months, for the December graduation? I don’t even know if I’ll be able to make it.”

“Before that, we can visit each other. I know it won’t be easy, but I still want to be with you. Really commit to you. I’m in love with you, Mia. I’ll do anything for us to be together.”

His eyes started to water. She could tell he really meant his words and it was as painful for him as it was for her.

“Please, Mia. Say you’ll wait for me. Say you still want to be with me.”

Mia couldn’t bear to see the anguish in Leo’s face any longer so she kissed him tenderly. When she opened her eyes again to look at him, his expression had turned hopeful and she smiled.

“Is that a yes?” Leo asked.

“Yes. I’ll wait for you. I want this, too.”

Leo held Mia’s face and she held on to his arms. “We’ll be together again, Mia. We’ll find a way. I’ll make sure of it. I promise.”

“I believe you,” she said, sadly. Just the thought of losing him again had her heart bleeding. She knew exactly what that felt like and never wanted to feel that again. “I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye to each other.”

“No, baby. This isn’t goodbye,” he said grabbing her face in his palm.

“How come it feels like it?” she whispered, her throat getting tight.

“I know. It hurts me, too. But there are no goodbyes between us.”

He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, a lone tear ran down his cheek. Mia nodded as she brushed it away. She was comforting him for a change, and she found something oddly thrilling in that.

“I’ll see you soon, Leo. I promise.”

As if on cue, Mia heard Temper Trap’s Sweet Disposition playing in the background, and at that moment she knew with bone-thick certainty they would be okay.