The announcer spoke in Spanish that they would be opening the floor for anyone to dance.
Jaime stood up and offered his hand to Alma, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “May I have this dance?” he asked, a playful grin tugging at his lips.
Alma’s heart skipped a beat, and she accepted his hand as her cheeks warmed.
“How did you understand that?”
“I’ve been trying, Alma. Duolingo helps. But I do knowsomewords. I heardbailaand the notes of a song.”
She laughed. He led her to the growing crowd on the makeshift dance floor, swaying to a slower, more romantic tune. With each step, her body pressed against his in a gentle embrace, and the world around them faded away. It was as if they were the only two people in the universe, lost in the music and the magic of the moment.
But she knew he would be leaving in two days.
She needed to mention Mexico now.
But what did he mean about having real feelings for her? She didn’t want to get hurt.
As the song came to an end, their foreheads touched, their breaths intermingling. “You’re an amazing dancer,” Alma whispered, her voice a soft melody in the night.
Jaime smiled, his eyes holding hers. “Only because I have the most wonderful partner.”
They shared a lingering gaze, the connection between themdeepening with every passing second. The stars above seemed to shine a little brighter, as if the universe itself acknowledged the love blossoming between them.
The festival continued around them, but in that singular moment, it was only them. Their hearts beat in time with the music, and as they held each other close, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the promise of a love and the threat of farewell that had taken root amidst the festivities of Cinco de Mayo.
At the end of the night, she worked up the nerve to ask him to go to Mexico with her.
He walked her to her car.
She opened up her mouth to speak, but he laid a simple kiss on her lips.
“Good night, Alma.”
—
Alma stood on the balcony of her oceanfront condo, her heart torn between nostalgia and uncertainty. A gentle breeze tugged at her hair, as if urging her to let go of the past and embrace the unknown.
Her phone buzzed on the table nearby—a text from Jaime. The message was simple, yet it stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her:Meet me at Caffé Acri in an hour. I have something to ask you.
Alma’s mind raced as memories of their time together flooded her thoughts. They had shared laughter, dreams, and a love that had once seemed unbreakable. But life had taken them down different paths, and their love had given way to heartache. He wasleaving. Tomorrow. And she was staying. She had decided after thefestival against asking him to go with her to Mexico. Getting even closer to him seemed like a supremely bad idea.
As she scrolled through her phone, her mind churned with questions. What could he possibly want? Why was he reaching out after he had given her such a quick goodbye last night?
It had been so abrupt. Just like the time he dumped her in college.
Alma stood before the mirror, adjusting the sundress she had chosen for the meeting. Her heart fluttered like a butterfly, uncertain whether to soar or to retreat.
She walked down the street to the café. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the melodies of quiet conversations.
Alma entered the café, her eyes searching the small marble tables with wooden chairs for Jaime. And there he was, sitting at her favorite corner table like he could sense which one it was, his eyes lighting up as he saw her. Jaime stood and pulled out the chair opposite him, a gesture she remembered all too well.
“Alma,” he said softly, his voice tinged with a mix of nerves and familiarity. “Thank you for coming.”
She took her seat, her gaze meeting his as a storm of emotions raged beneath the surface. “You wanted to talk. What is it, Jaime? You already said goodbye.”
He looked down at his hands, fingers tracing the rim of his coffee cup, as if he was searching for the right words. “I know it’s been awkward since I came up here, and I understand if this is uncomfortable. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, about us, about what we once had.”
Alma’s heart raced, the memories of their love resurfacing witha bittersweet intensity. “Jaime, we both know that what we had is in the past.”
