POV: Antonella
The chilly evening breeze greeted me as I stepped off the bus. Months had passed since I last set foot in this city, yet everything smelled the same: like dust, cheap coffee, and memories I would rather bury.
I walked slowly down the main avenue, my bag slung over my shoulder. So many things I swore I would never see again. The facades were still faded, the trees just as crooked. Only I had changed.
I stopped in front of the café where we used to spend hours during university. Through the glass, I immediately recognized Xavier behind the counter. He was serving coffee with that half-smile that never inspired trust. Still here… of course.
I didn't go in. I watched from the corner, my heart tight. I saw Mia and David leaving with two cups in their hands, chatting animatedly. They're still together—that makes me happy. But they weren't the ones I came to find.
I continued on to the central park. There, in the distance, I spotted a figure that stopped me in my tracks. Saval. Sitting on a bench, his phone in his hands, the same relaxed posture I knew so well. A pang shot through my chest. I didn't come for him. I didn't come for us.
I hid behind a tree, watching him. His hair was a little longer, the sleeves of his jacket rolled up. He was smiling at something he was reading on the screen. Is Semiel the reason for that smile? Of course he is.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to look without letting nostalgia overwhelm me. I pushed him away myself. I manipulated him, hurt him. And yet, seeing him so serene hurts more than I thought it would.
A couple of children ran near me, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned away to avoid being seen. I didn't want him to recognize me—not yet.
I'm not here to reopen old wounds. I'm here because something smells like danger. A call from an old contact brought me here. They spoke of strange movements, of a guy named Santiago seeking revenge. And of Xavier, always in the middle of the chaos.
I took out my phone and reread the message that had convinced me to come: "Santiago won't stop. Protect Saval if you care at all."
I bit my lip. I don't know if I can protect someone who learned to live without me. But I can warn him.
I looked back at the bench. Saval was already standing up, putting his phone in his pocket. He walked away without looking back, and I felt a strange sense of relief. There's still time.
—Antonella…— I whispered to myself, as if my name could anchor me—. Don't ruin this.
I followed his silhouette with my eyes until he disappeared among the trees. The sun was setting, painting the clouds orange. It was time to make the first move.
This time, I'm not here to destroy. I'm here to repair, even if no one believes me.
I turned around and walked toward the boarding house where I was staying. Each step echoed like a reminder: the past can't be erased, but maybe, just maybe, I can still do something to keep the future from shattering completely.