The next day, Sunny and Tomás were scheduled to meet with their respective guardians at school. Tomás, however, had chosen not to tell Amelie anything. He didn't want to add more weight to her shoulders or risk a conversation he knew neither of them was ready to have.
And so, punctual as rarely in their lives, Sunny and her mother arrived at the school, with Tomás walking beside them like someone heading to his own judgment.
Susan, Sunny's mother, was the kind of woman no one would have guessed had a nearly eighteen-year-old daughter. Her youthful appearance perfectly matched her inexhaustible energy. She was, basically, Sunny multiplied by ten: cloying, overwhelming, and almost impossible to stop once an idea got into her head.
While they waited for the inspector to let them into his office, Susan took the opportunity to catch up with Tomás. "My little one," she hugged him as if he were her own son, "It's amazing how much you've grown, you look like a man now!" She subtly squeezed Tomás's cheek.
"Hi, Auntie," he laughed, a little uncomfortable, but also happy to see her.
"Look at you two, giving your favorite aunt problems," She thumped her chest as if she had come to save them both.
"Oh, Mom, please don't embarrass me," Sunny retorted, seeing her mom's euphoria level rapidly rising.
"Don't worry, my little cub, everything will be fine. Leave it to me."
The inspector opened his office door and gestured for them to enter.
"Inspector! So good to see you again!" exclaimed Susan as she entered the office, holding her daughter's arm and gently dragging Tomás as if he were another one of her children. Susan holding the hands of her two children.
Tomás could barely manage an uncomfortable smile.
"Tomás's mother couldn't make it," Susan continued, quite naturally, "I'm also presenting myself as his guardian. His mom is too busy with work and couldn't get permission to come, you know, the modern world doesn't forgive."
The inspector, who could already anticipate a complex meeting, invited them to sit down. He began speaking in a formal tone, reviewing the facts, the complaints of inappropriate behavior, the playground fights, the rumors that continued to grow like mushrooms after the rain.
But Susan didn't stay quiet. She crossed her arms with dignity and interrupted him with a firm smile.
"Honestly, I don't know how you allow these horrible comments against an exemplary student like Tomás to circulate in this school. And what's even worse: against a teacher. Where are the protocols, the sanctions against the real culprits?" she said, staring directly at the inspector. He was about to respond, but she interrupted him, saying, "Furthermore, I find it very cruel that instead of looking for the culprits, you end up summoning these two children."
She gently lifted Sunny's face, holding it with both hands.
"Look at her, look closely. This child would not be capable of hurting anyone. But to defend her childhood friend, she resorted to violence. Not because she's a troublemaker, but because she has a heart. Instead of punishing her, you should reward her for confronting bullying head-on."
The inspector cleared his throat, a little annoyed by the constant interruptions.
"Madam…"
"Madam?" she replied.
The inspector frowned. "Miss, the school has not stood idly by. We have tried to control the rumors, but you will understand that the imagination of today's teenagers is… too active. They invent increasingly surprising stories. But, in view of what happened, we will withdraw the probation. We trust that this will not be repeated."
Susan stood up elegantly, adjusting her coat.
"And I hope this level of bullying doesn't repeat either, because I'm very disappointed. Now, if you'll excuse me, my little ones have to go back to class and I need to get home in time to watch my favorite soap opera."
"Of course, Madam… Miss. Excuse me. I won't take up any more of your time."
The three left the office with a sense of victory on their lips. They had gotten away with it. The threat of suspension had vanished thanks to Susan's stellar performance, who now strutted as if she had won an international trial.
But Tomás knew it. Sunny knew it too. That wouldn't stop the rumors.
In fact, just a few hours later, a new version was already circulating: that Sofía had intervened on behalf of Sunny and Tomás so they wouldn't be suspended. The story became distorted with each retelling, adorned with false but juicy details, like Sofía crying in the inspector's office or threatening to resign if Tomás was expelled.
Neither of them made any attempt to deny it. It would be useless. In a school like that, truths mattered less than the stories people wanted to believe.
But at least, for now, they had bought themselves some time. Susan planted a kiss on both their foreheads and left, full of pride.
Tomás and Sunny looked at each other, laughter on their lips.
"Don't say anything, I laugh at her sometimes too, but she's my mom," Sunny told him, about to burst out laughing.
"I won't say anything, I promise."
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Here's the English translation of the text:
Even though he had the address of the professor's daughter, the week had been so hectic that Tomás just wanted to disconnect. He'd been carrying problems, misunderstandings, and headaches for too many days. He hadn't even heard back from the jobs he'd applied for, which only added to his frustration. The only thing he knew for sure was that he needed to get some fresh air, even if the overcast sky threatened to pour rain at any moment.
Sitting on his bed, he picked up his cell phone and typed a message to Soledad. One could say that, along with Sunny, she was the only person capable of making him smile lately. But Sunny had also had a tough week, and he preferred not to burden her with his own issues.
He started typing awkwardly, not with much hope:
Hi, it's Tomás. I hope you had a good week. If you have some free time, would you like to grab a bite to eat?
He immediately deleted it, feeling stupid. Why was it so hard to send a simple message? Why was it such an uphill battle? He probably rewrote it about fifteen times before finally hitting send. When he did, his hands trembled. He put his palms to his head, embarrassed, feeling pathetic, cowardly.
But the phone vibrated faster than expected.
A notification appeared on the screen. He couldn't quite read it, but when he finally opened it, a wave of relief washed over him.
"Sure, let's meet at the coffee shop from last time. At three?"
"Yes, that's fine," he replied, almost with his heart in his throat.
"Calm down," he told himself. "It's not the first time you've talked to a girl."
But with her, it wasn't like with others. With Bella, for instance, he was already used to her bursts of affection. Sometimes he felt embarrassed when she got too close, but he could deal with that. With Soledad, everything was harder. He felt defenseless. Vulnerable. As if she could do whatever she wanted with him, without him being able to resist. That very feeling made him feel like an idiot. He knew he wasn't like that. Or he didn't used to be. This... this was what she brought out in him.
He arrived at the cafe before the agreed time and sat at the same table where they had met last time. He ordered an Americano and some butter cookies—his favorites. If there weren't people nearby, he probably would have shamelessly dunked them in his coffee, but he restrained himself. He couldn't allow himself that "mortal sin" in public. He smiled faintly, amused by the ridiculousness of the thought. Sometimes, those little details helped him distract himself from the wait.
He looked at his watch. Fifteen minutes early. A reasonable amount of time, he thought. He looked out the window: the gray sky, the winter chill, the constant threat of drizzle or downpour. Ironically, these kinds of days were his favorites. They pushed him to go out more than usual. There was something in the cold air that awakened him. Even the possibility of getting wet in the rain stirred an emotion he didn't want to admit.
As he got lost in these mundane thoughts, he saw her.
On the other side of the window, Soledad appeared with a big smile. She waved at him and walked quickly towards the entrance. Her eyes sparkled even before her lips curved. As soon as he saw her, Tomás felt better. Calm. It had been a good idea to reach out to her.
Soledad walked down the cafe aisle. Her orange hair swayed with each step, and when she arrived, she opened her coat with an elegant gesture before sitting across from him. She furrowed her brow with a feigned annoyance.
"Did you start without me?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I arrived early," Tomás replied, a bit flustered.
She smiled immediately.
"I'm kidding. Why are you always so tense?"
She casually raised her hand to call the waitress and then gave him a softer look.
"Though it made me happy that you invited me. I wasn't expecting it."
When the waitress arrived, Soledad ordered a hot chocolate and a slice of apple pie. Tomás ordered another coffee.
"Honestly, I didn't expect you to text me," she said after the waitress left.
"I didn't expect to, to be honest."
"I thought that, having fulfilled your promise, we wouldn't see each other again."
Tomás nodded, looking at her frankly.
"I wondered that several times before texting you. But I guess I wanted to see you again."
She looked at him in silence. There was something in the way he said it that made her stomach flip. It was awkward, yes. But also genuine. He wasn't trying to impress, or soften his words. He was simply honest.
They talked for a long time. About trivialities. About Soledad's clients, about the jobs Tomás had applied for, about study plans and things of no great importance. Tomás, however, was careful not to mention anything about the school rumors. He didn't want to contaminate the moment.
When they left the cafe, he thought that would be it, but Soledad held out her hand.
"Do you want to walk for a bit?"
He took it gently. Her hand was warm. She squeezed tighter, as if telling him she wouldn't let go.
They walked through the city, looking at shop windows, entering a couple of stores where Soledad pretended to ask for her "boyfriend's" opinion just to embarrass him. He couldn't help but blush. It was part of the game. Part of the charm.
They gradually moved away from the center. They walked in silence for a good stretch, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Soledad's hand was still there, reminding him he wasn't alone.
When they reached the coastal path, she broke the silence.
"What are you doing next weekend?"
"I'm going to San Sebastián. I have to look for someone."
"Look for someone? A family member?"
"Something like that. I'm looking for the family of a friend who is sick."
She didn't ask any more questions. She sensed he would tell her when he was ready.
"What a shame. I thought we could go to the movies."
"I'm sorry. Actually, I was going to go to San Sebastián today, but... I didn't find the strength, I guess."
Soledad let go of his hand and stood in front of him, hands on her hips.
"Do you want me to come with you?"
Tomás stood still for a second. In her eyes, however, there was no hesitation. She was serious.
"Are you sure? We might encounter something sad. Or... unpleasant."
She arched an eyebrow, amused.
"Unpleasant? Are you looking for the family of a serial killer?"
Tomás smiled. He stepped forward with an outstretched hand. She took it immediately, as if she had been waiting for it.
The cold winter air seemed to calm for a moment, as if the world also wanted to give them some peace.
"My friend is older. He's very sick. I'm trying to find his family so they can visit him in his last moments."
"I understand," she said softly. "He must have done something for them not to visit him... right?"
"That's right. But if, despite that, you still want to come with me, it will be a pleasure to have your company."
"Of course, I do. I won't back down for something like that," she smiled, lightly but tenderly. "Besides, I haven't been to San Sebastián in a long time. It's a beautiful city."
"It is," he admitted. "I guess we could hang out after..."
"After what needs to be done, of course," she nodded. "I'll look forward to it."
And for the first time in several days, Tomás felt something inside him settle. That something in his world made sense.