POV: Semiel
The chat cursor blinked on a black background. I had typed and deleted the same message at least five times. —Can we talk tomorrow?— sounded too cold, too distant.
I rested my forehead on the desk. The smell of old coffee mixed with the hum of the computer. Just a week ago we were laughing until we couldn't breathe. How did we end up like this?
I opened the streaming software just to stare at the empty screen. The switched-off microphone reflected my tired face. —Great —I murmured—. I even look like a ghost.
I thought about Saval. He's probably trapped in his own thoughts too. I wish he knew I don't want this to end.
My phone vibrated. A notification from the group chat. David: —Guys, everything okay? Your silence feels weird.— Mía: —Yeah, I'm worried. Let's talk tomorrow, okay?—
I didn't reply. The idea of putting into words something I didn't even understand myself was paralyzing.
I closed my eyes. The memory of our last kiss appeared, vivid and clear. That moment when I thought nothing could separate us. A pang of fear mixed with the warmth of the memory. What if I'm wrong?
The ringtone of my cell phone interrupted my thoughts. An unknown number. I hesitated, but answered.
—Hello?—
Silence. Then, a deep voice, barely a whisper: —Take good care of Saval.—
—Who is this?—
The line went dead.
I stared at the screen, my heart pounding. A prank? No, the tone had been too calculated.
I paced around the room, trying to calm down. This can't be a coincidence. First the rumors, now this.
I picked up my phone and called Saval. He took a while to answer.
—Hello?— he said, his voice hoarse, tired.
—It's me. We need to talk.—
—Semiel…— there was a long silence —…I was just about to text you.—
I took a deep breath. —Someone wants to split us up. It's not just my paranoia.—
—I know —he replied, and I felt the weight of his exhaustion—. I feel it too.—
We're not crazy, I thought. There are hands behind this.
—I got a call today. They didn't say who it was. Just that I should take care of you —I explained.
Saval exhaled sharply. —Xavier… or Santiago. Maybe both.—
—We can't let them win —I said, with a determination that surprised me—. No matter what happens, we can't.—
I heard his breathing on the other end, a rhythm I recognized even from a distance.
—You're right —he finally said—. Let's not let them break us.—
A wave of relief washed over me. He's still here. We're still here.
—Tomorrow —I proposed—. Let's meet before class. We need to plan how to deal with this.—
—Yes. Tomorrow.—
The silence that followed was different, warmer.
—Semiel…— his voice softened —…I miss you.—
I smiled in spite of everything. —Me too.—
I hung up and left the phone on the desk. The room was still in shadows, but now the fear didn't weigh so heavily.
They won't be able to break us.
Yet, as I turned off the light, a persistent thought slipped in like a shadow: If Santiago and Xavier are really behind this, this is only the beginning.