Almost a Fairy Tale

Son returned home, feeling the sadness that had weighed on her for the past few days finally begin to fade. Although she was painfully aware that she had lost an important friendship, she found a strange comfort in the fact that there were no longer any secrets between her and Erika. The relief of not having to hide anything or pretend made her feel lighter, as if a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders. However, despite that partial freedom, Son knew there was still one incredibly difficult conversation left: she had to face Rodrigo.

Alone in her room, Son was lost in thought about what she was going to say to him. Fear crept in; she worried that the moment she saw him, her resolve would crumble and she wouldn't be strong enough to stand by her decision. The thought of simply blocking his number and ignoring him crossed her mind—leaving things exactly as they were—but she knew that wasn't her style. Son needed to close this chapter definitively so she could start her life after high school with a clean slate.

Finally, she picked up her phone and dialed Rodrigo's number. It rang only once before he answered eagerly. "Son, I'm so glad you called. I have to tell you, I'm finally free. We need to see each other; there are no more excuses," he rushed out. Hearing his voice made Son's heart pound against her ribs. She still had deep feelings for him, and if just a phone call could make her feel this way, she was terrified of what would happen when she saw him in person. Noticing her silence, Rodrigo asked, "Hello? Son? Are you still there?" pulling her back to reality. Son took a breath and replied, "Rodrigo, we need to see each other. I've made a decision." He told her to meet him at his brother's apartment, quickly setting the stage for their awaited encounter.

Son arrived at the apartment feeling a tangled mix of nervousness and anxiety. When she knocked, Rodrigo opened the door with a look that reflected pure affection and admiration; his lovesick eyes made it clear that, to him, Son was the only person in the world. Now that he was free from his commitments, he looked relaxed, unburdened by the heavy secrets of the past.

Insecure, Son stepped inside, immediately doubting if she should have come. She thought it would have been safer to meet at a café or somewhere public. Yet, a traitorous part of her had wanted to be alone with him, to feel that familiar electric nervousness and experience, just for a moment, what it would have been like if things were different.

Rodrigo offered her a drink, but Son declined and got straight to the point. “Rodrigo, I’m sorry, but I didn't come here to socialize. I just came to clear things up; I don't want to leave everything up in the air. I met with Erika this afternoon and she told me what you did. I appreciate it, even though it wasn't enough to save my friendship with her.”

Rodrigo, his face falling at her sadness, stepped closer. “Son, I am so sorry. I know I didn't do things right, but that doesn't mean my feelings for you weren't real. You have to understand, I didn't know how to end things with Lizzy. With her being so sick, I didn't want to hurt her... and that is exactly what I ended up doing anyway.”

Son looked at him sincerely. “I know. I don't think either of us knew how to handle the situation. I should have trusted Erika. But we aren't here to dwell on what we should have done differently. The damage is done. There is no way to fix it, we just have to move on with our lives.”

Rodrigo nodded softly. “Right. Move on with our lives.”

In that moment, Rodrigo stepped into her space, gently took her hand, and placed it flat against his chest, looking intensely into her eyes. Just as he leaned in to kiss her, Son pressed her hand against him to stop him. “Yes, our lives. But going our separate ways, Rodrigo. Not together.”

Rodrigo refused to let her go. His voice was a desperate whisper. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't feel what I feel.”

Tears welled in Son's eyes as the truth finally spilled out. “Rodrigo, of course I feel the same as you. You're all I think about. But this... this just cannot be.”

They stood there, locked in each other's gaze, until Son, caught between tears of joy and profound sorrow, finally leaned in. The kiss they had waited for, the one that had been so strictly forbidden, finally became a reality. That undeniable pull led them to the bedroom, culminating in an intense and deeply romantic experience for both of them—even though, for Son, it was also a final goodbye.