Chapter 2 Freedom

• I came to the house of a friend from the university who would receive me for a few days, she lived in a common apartment on the outskirts of campus, and we agreed that she would pay half the rent, which seems perfect to me because my budget at the moment is limited, more than that, pretty meager, almost all he had was college tuition.
• - This is your room Estefanía showed me. The place was really small, there was only room for the bed and the desk that I already had inside, not to mention the closet, not even half of my clothes would fit, I would have to adapt - I know it has nothing to do with your house, but it's all yours
• – This is now my house, indeed, it is not the same as the place where I lived before, but that place is not mine, it belongs to my father.
• - Then let's live happily - she said smiling - I spoke to the place where I work to get you a position, the owner wants to see you tomorrow at noon.
• – I don't know how I can repay you for all this, Estefanía, I have no one but you to show me the real world.
• - You know you can count on me for whatever, now I have to go to work, I left you food in the kitchen, just turn on the microwave.
• He came out and left me alone, I spent a long time trying to get my things into the small closet, compared to the one at my father's house, it looks like a box of matches, I put what I could and what I couldn't, I left settled on the desk. I went to the kitchen to enjoy what Estefanía had kindly left for me and I was very frustrated when I couldn't turn on the damn appliance, life has been so simple for me that now I'm going to cry tears of blood adapting to life at night. common people. I went to bed hungry, for the first time in my life I knew the feeling, but instead of dissuading him from my decision, it gave me more strength to face life. Estefanía woke me up in the morning with a breakfast tray.
• - Here, I saw that you didn't eat anything last night - he told me while he handed it to me - what happened?
• – If I tell you, do you promise not to laugh?
• I promise to at least try
• - I couldn't turn on the damn equipment - as I imagined he doubled over with laughter - I'm glad you're having fun at my expense - I reproached him
• - Didn't it occur to you to check the cable, apparently it was unplugged at some point - I listened to her and my face shut up in shame - don't worry, with time you'll adapt, we're going to run rather than fly, get dressed It's almost noon and you have to go find a job?
• I devoured the plate of envelopes that he brought me, and yes; Also for the first time I am testing the taste of leftovers, in my house, or rather, in my father's house. I don't know how the food is left, that's for the service. I got dressed and went to look for her
• to give me the address of his work. I found her behind the door peeking through the peephole
• – What are you looking at with such interest? – As I did not expect, she jumped in fright
• – Luna, do you want to scare me to death? – reproached me
• - I do not send you to be spying behind the door - he came towards me
• – is that a guy who is having a heart attack is moving into the apartment across the street
• - you always exaggerated - I told him
• - You say that because you haven't seen it, when you see it you'll prove me right - I laughed and went to the coffee maker, luckily she had made coffee and I didn't have to face the monster. We left the house and I could see the reason for Estefanía's restlessness, the guy was really to die for, with brown skin, he looked Latino or something like that, muscles in all parts of his body, a scared face, and the blackest eyes I've ever seen anywhere. my life. I looked at them and they reminded me of a starless night.
• - Good evening, ladies, I'm Gabriel Martínez, I just moved here - he introduced himself and pointed to his apartment, I was open-mouthed not knowing what to say.
• - you are Latin? - asked the indiscreet of my friend
• – Well – he said, a little self-conscious – as such I'm not, my parents were, Colombian to be precise, but I've never set foot in that country, so I can't say I'm Latino.
• "I'm sorry, he just asked about your appearance, it seems you're from there" she clarified, I think feeling somewhat embarrassed. If it was her, I would be - I am Estefanía Jones and this is Luna Smith - she introduced us both - we live right in front of you
• – a, so you are the ones who live there, and can I know which of you was the one who was spying on me through the peephole in the door? I ask holding back my laughter. Estefanía looked at me and we almost ran out
• - What I, Gabriel, is that we are late for a commitment - she said and dragged me the rest of the way to leave the building. When we got to the entrance I couldn't hold back my laughter.
• I don't know what makes you so funny
• - obviously you - I replied - that's what you get for being a snooper. – She became serious, I thought she was upset, but to my surprise what she said was nonsense.
• - but it is that he is dead, he has muscles even in his butt - I couldn't help but laugh even more; We were laughing for a long time, even as we made our way to the place where Estefanía worked, and I hoped I could work. We arrived at the place and as Estefanía had told me, they were waiting for me.
• – Good morning, Mr. Farrell, this is my friend Luna, who I told you about. – Estefanía's boss was a bit peculiar, he seemed to be in his fifties, but very well-preserved, he knew how to dress. But he gave me little chills the way he looked at me; maybe it's because I'm not adapted to people looking at me directly, but I still didn't like it.
• – Good morning, ladies – he greeted us and leaned back on the chair in which he was sitting – Fanny – he told my friend, that was the diminutive she preferred among all those who put her long name – go to work, I
• order from your friend – She pointed at him with her finger, as if giving him a warning and entered the premises. - Take a seat, I don't bite - I did what he asked - I know you don't have any experience, so you should start by scrubbing the floor and washing dishes until you learn. Tell me if you agree. – that washing the floor and the dishes did not seem like the best solution to me, but it was the only one for me at that moment
• – Of course, I agree – I answer, my voice greetings, unstable. I don't know if he didn't notice it or just ignored it.
• – perfect, then you can start right now. Go through the door that Fanny entered. – I did so, the place was not the luxury restaurant that she was used to, but it must be admitted that it was very nice.
• – What did the cretin tell you? – Estefanía asked me when he saw me appear.
• - He gave me the job, and he told me that while I was learning to be a waitress, he scrubbed the floor and the dishes - I told him, I didn't know he was going to react the way he did
• – what did he tell you? - Shout, her tone of voice was excessive - you're kidding, right?
• - no, I'm not doing it
• - I'll stay here a second - she threw her apron and went through the door I had just entered. I didn't want to interfere so I stayed where I was, I wasn't interested in having to clean the floor, my independence was worth it. She entered a while later with a triumphant face.
• "All resolved, you're a waitress," she said with a very picturesque and cheerful voice, like her personality.
• - how did you do it? - I asked intrigued
• – one has its tricks – he winked at me and went to put on his apron again – he also told me that an administrator is coming from today, he is going to open another branch and he needs someone to attend this one.
• – Does this coffee make so much money? - she looked at me and laughed
• – The truth is that no, if it gives money, but not for that. He takes that money from his wife, she is a millionaire – he told me in confidence.
• – oh, I understand.
• - that's right - now follow me, you have a lot to learn and fast, the new administrator arrives in the afternoon, and we don't know his character - he approached me to say these last words.
• He brought me all morning from one part of the cafe to the other, he taught me how the machines work.
• – Honestly, I didn't think that working in a cafe would be so complicated. The truth - I told Estefanía when I finally got her to sit down and let me sit down to take a break. I snorted, letting myself fall into the chair - my feet are not giving any more. – She looked fresh as if she hadn't done anything all day.
• - You are very exaggerated - he told me taking a sip of his drink.
• – exaggerated you say? I thought I was dying
• – you have to adapt, the level of work here is high, but when you adapt; it's not that bad either.
• - Hopefully - I dropped my head on the table - at that time the cafe was quiet, so I was surprised when I heard the doorbell, I turned around and was impressed to see his face, that guy is sexy.