Tomás stared at the phone in his hand. He had promised to call soon. It wasn't that he minded doing it, but the truth was he wouldn't have done it if he hadn't had so much free time now. Between being suspended from work and his routine on pause, he had no excuse to postpone it any longer.
He dialed the number, bringing the phone to his ear.
"Well, calling so soon?" Soledad answered with a slight laugh.
"You said to call, didn't you?"
"Yes, but I thought you'd have to gather some courage before doing it."
Tomás sighed, hearing the sound of scissors in the background. "Are you busy?"
"Not really. You can come to the hair salon if you want."
"What for?"
"To keep your promise," she said in a tone that felt like a trap. "Keep me company for a while."
Tomás hesitated but ended up accepting. Better that than pacing around at home.
✦ ✦ ✦
The hair salon was small but cozy. Soledad gestured for him to sit in the chair in front of the mirror, a playful smile on her lips.
"Let's touch up your cut."
"I don't think it's necessary."
"Of course it is, don't be stubborn. Besides, last time you were so nervous you barely let me touch you."
Tomás didn't argue further and let her do it. Soledad worked calmly, trimming the contours of his hair with scissors.
"You were moving around a lot, remember?" she commented with amusement. "You almost made me cut more than I should have."
"It's the first time I've had my hair cut at a salon."
"That explains a lot."
Soledad continued her work with light hands until, without warning, she wrapped her arms around Tomás's shoulders and rested her chin on his head.
Tomás immediately trembled.
"Didn't I tell you that you should be more trustworthy?" she murmured with a mischievous smile.
"You surprised me."
"It's not like this is the first time we've been like this. At the cafe, we held hands the whole time."
"That was fake."
Soledad laughed softly. "It wasn't fake."
Tomás blinked, feeling the heat rising to his face. "What...?"
"It was practice. For when you have a real girlfriend."
She looked at him in the mirror's reflection and burst out laughing. "Look how you blushed! You can't be that easy."
Tomás pressed his lips together, feeling the heat on his face. "Stop teasing."
"I can't help it, it's fun to see you like this."
Soledad continued her work, carefully trimming the small loose hairs on his forehead. When she was almost finished, she leaned in a bit and placed a kiss on his cheek.
Tomás froze.
"Have you ever kissed anyone?"
He silently shook his head.
Soledad said nothing, just smiled as she brushed the remaining hair from his face with a brush. Just then, the hair salon door opened and a client entered.
"Wait there for a moment," Soledad said before turning with her best professional smile to attend to her.
Tomás stood up, still feeling the warmth on his cheek, and sat in the waiting area seats.
He couldn't help but think that Soledad enjoyed making him blush too much. He slumped into the waiting seat while Soledad attended to the client. Before turning completely, she winked at him, as if telling him to watch her in action.
He, still feeling the warmth on his cheek, returned a small smile, though he was still embarrassed.
Soledad worked skillfully, handling the scissors and comb with ease, while holding a light conversation with the woman, who seemed to be a regular client.
"So your daughter is getting married," Soledad commented. "How lovely! And is the groom a good catch, or do we need to go put him to the test?"
The client laughed, shaking her head. "He's a good boy, very hardworking. But of course, there's always a little nervousness."
"That's normal. Imagine, if getting your hair cut is scary, imagine getting married!"
Tomás, who was listening in silence, couldn't help but smile.
"By the way," the client suddenly said, looking in the mirror, "are you two a couple?"
Tomás felt his heart stop for a second.
Soledad smiled mischievously. "Why do you ask?"
"Because of how you were looking at each other in the mirror. There was a complicity between you."
Soledad tilted her head and, without missing the opportunity, said with exaggerated sweetness: "Well, of course, isn't that right, darling?"
She turned slightly to look at Tomás, awaiting him with a charming smile.
Tomás felt his mind racing a mile a minute. He didn't know whether to deny it, play along, or simply sink into the chair and disappear. But if he said no, he might embarrass Soledad in front of the client.
So, with all the dignity he could muster, he nodded. "Yes..."
Soledad placed a hand on her chest, feigning emotion. "Awww, how sweet you are! Always so attentive with me."
Tomás sighed, resigned.
Soledad continued the joke while finishing the client's haircut. "You see, madam, he's a bit shy, but he's actually an adorable boyfriend. He always accompanies me when I ask him to, even if he protests a little."
"That's love," the client said with a smile.
"Exactly! Love is when someone puts up with you even when you annoy them a little bit," Soledad said dramatically. "Right, my love?"
Tomás sighed. "Yes..."
The client laughed heartily.
When Soledad finished the cut, the woman looked at herself in the mirror and nodded, satisfied. "It turned out beautiful, as always."
"Thank you, thank you, always at your service here."
The client stood up, brushing loose hair from her shoulders. Before leaving, she gave them one last smile. "You make a lovely couple."
Tomás, who had already regained some composure, opened his mouth to clarify the situation, but Soledad was quicker. "We know!" she replied with a big smile.
When the door closed behind the client, Soledad turned to Tomás with a mischievous expression. "See? We already have people's blessing."
Tomás covered his face with a hand. "You're impossible..."
Soledad burst out laughing. "But I admit I was surprised you played along."
Tomás looked away. "I didn't want to embarrass you."
Soledad leaned in slightly, observing him with interest. "And why do you care about that?"
Tomás opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer.
Soledad smiled, amused. "You're interesting, Tomás."
She turned and began to clean the area, as if nothing had happened.
Tomás remained in his seat, looking at his reflection in the mirror. He couldn't help but wonder if she was really just teasing him... or if there was something more. His mind was full of questions he couldn't answer. Was Soledad just joking or was there something more? The possibility that it was something real caused him an uneasiness he didn't fully understand. But in the end, he decided not to dwell on it too much.
It's just how she is, he thought. Cheerful, spontaneous... she must be like this with everyone.
Meanwhile, Soledad continued to clean the remnants of hair from the seat and the floor with the same nonchalance with which she had been teasing him. But she kept glancing at him with a mischievous smile.
Tomás shifted in his seat and, with a hint of fear of the answer, asked, "Why do you do it?"
Soledad paused for a moment, resting her hands on the broom. "Do what?"
"That..." Tomás murmured, avoiding her gaze. "Treat me as if... well, you know."
Soledad tilted her head curiously and, after a second of silence, sighed with a slight smile. "You should relax a bit. Not everyone has hidden intentions."
He frowned slightly, but didn't retort. Soledad went back to her task, but her comment stayed in his mind longer than he would have liked.
After cleaning, Soledad took out a couple of cups and made coffee. "Here, while we wait for another client to arrive."
Tomás accepted the cup with a small "thank you" and remained silent, letting the warmth of the drink help him calm down.
"You know what I think?" she suddenly said, stirring the spoon in her coffee. "That you take everything too seriously."
Tomás glanced at her. "You think so?"
"Uh-huh. You have a too rigid way of looking at life. Always careful, always measuring what you do or say."
"I don't see what's wrong with being cautious."
"There's nothing wrong with it. But you can also allow yourself to enjoy a little more," she said with a smile. "Some things don't have to have a purpose. Sometimes things just are what they are."
He didn't know what to answer.
Soledad told him a couple of stories about clients and anecdotes from the hair salon. He, little by little, relaxed and participated more in the conversation. Although every now and then Soledad would treat him as if they were a couple again, which made him shrink in his seat.
A couple of hours passed and they attended to several clients in the process. Without realizing it, he had enjoyed his time there more than he expected.
When it was time to leave, he stood up and straightened his jacket. "I have to go to work."
Soledad, who was attending to a new client at the moment, turned to him with a big smile. "Oh! My love is going to work," she said in an exaggeratedly sweet tone.
Tomás felt his face flush. "S-Soledad... please."
"Have a good one, my love," she added unperturbed.
The client watched the scene with curiosity and an amused smile.
Tomás, his face burning, could barely murmur a goodbye before hurrying out of the hair salon.
When the door closed, Soledad smiled to herself before returning to her work, as if nothing had happened.