Almost a Fairy Tale

Rodrigo also pulled away from Son, turned to look out at the sea, and told her, “Look, Son, things are a little more complicated than they seem. I really do have feelings for you, but I can’t leave Lizzy. It would break her heart. She’s going through a difficult time right now. What kind of person would I be if I abandoned her when she needs me the most?” Son turned to look at him and said, “No, Rodrigo. Rather, what kind of person are you for lying to her like that?” Son ran off toward her hotel, and Rodrigo remained staring at the horizon, then decided to follow her.

Son arrived at the hotel; it was already 6 in the morning. She was in the lobby waiting for the elevator when she heard Rodrigo calling her, telling her to wait, that they couldn't leave things like this. Son turned around, they looked into each other's eyes again, and Rodrigo told her, “I promise you I’m going to fix things. I had a wonderful night today, and since I saw you a while back at the party, the truth is I haven't stopped thinking about you, and now that we’ve found each other again, I don’t plan on letting you go.” Son responded with a kiss. Just at that moment, the elevator doors opened, and when they did, Erika was right there in front of them, watching her best friend kissing her sister's boyfriend. Son pulled away from him. Erika told her, “Don't you dare get on this elevator,” closed the door, and left. Son and Rodrigo looked at each other, knowing they had made a mistake.

Rodrigo told Son that he had to go get his cell phone to call Lizzy and explain. Son agreed with him, took the next elevator, and went to her room to be able to talk to Erika.

Son took the next elevator with the intention of talking to Erika. When she arrived at the hotel room, she realized that Erika was already packing her things and looking for her cell phone, clearly flustered, with the intention of calling her sister. Son, seeing her like this, stopped her urgently and begged: “Please stop, let me explain what happened.” But Erika, hurt and confused, responded coldly: “What is there to explain? I saw it with my own eyes. And the truth is, I don't know how to tell my sister what I just saw; this is going to destroy her, and her health could get worse.”

At the mention of Lizzy's health, Son was surprised and asked, “What do you mean her health? What are you talking about?” Erika, with pain reflected on her face, sat on the bed and, after a moment of silence, confessed in a low voice: “It's a family secret; Lizzy doesn't like us telling others about her sickness. She was diagnosed with Lupus, and it’s been very difficult, but she has found great support in us, her family, and in that idiot, Rodrigo.”

Hearing this, Son felt deep shame and sadness for her actions, not really knowing what to say. She sat next to Erika and, in a quiet voice, expressed sincerely: “Erika, I am truly sorry. I swear to you that nothing has happened between Rodrigo and me. Yes, I won’t lie to you, there is an attraction, but I have always rejected him, until today when you saw us sharing a kiss. But I swear to you I didn't plan on having anything with him, much less knowing he is your sister's boyfriend, and even less so now with this news that your sister is sick.”

After listening to Son, Erika observed her in silence, visibly affected by the situation. In a gesture of understanding, despite the pain, she took Son's hand and confessed that she needed to be alone to process everything that had happened. Erika expressed her wish to go out for a walk, clarifying that she was doing it to clear her mind and also because perhaps she would talk to Rodrigo, who was surely dealing with his own emotions as well. Without saying more, Erika stood up and left the room, leaving Son immersed in her thoughts.

Loneliness invaded the room, and Son felt overwhelmed by a mixture of sadness, confusion, and anger. All those emotions hit her at the same time, making it difficult for her to find clarity on what she should do. Unable to bear the atmosphere and the weight of what had happened, Son grabbed her cell phone and, seeking comfort and guidance, decided to call her mom. She felt that she couldn't stay in Cancun anymore, even though there were still two days left before returning; she needed to go home, talk to her mother, and make a decision about how to face the consequences of her actions and the future of her relationships.