Chapter 23

• I could almost hear the crashing of the waves on the far shore because of the intense silence that enveloped our table. Everybody was speechless and didn't know what to say to Agustine's answer. I could see the others carefully looking at me, guessing what the man in front of me was talking about. I felt their stares like tiny needles prickling my skin, and even though I tried to focus on the table or my drink, the attention was suffocating. My mind raced, imagining what each one of them might be thinking: Does she really date him? What’s she thinking? How did she even get him? The weight of their assumptions pressed against me, making it hard to breathe normally.
• "Do you want to join us?" Drea broke the silence.
• I couldn't avoid looking at her. I knew that she was completely aware of what Agustine just said, but she just ignored it. I didn't know if I should thank her for breaking the silence or be pissed because I could sense her rudeness and negative criticism against me. Her smile was sharp, like a knife hidden behind a mask of civility. My stomach twisted as I realized that this was exactly the challenge I had expected from her. Even in this supposed friendly reunion, there would be battles of words and silent judgments.