Hi! Tanuki-chan here, I'm soooo sorry I didn't post the new chapter yesterday. My bestie really needed me, so I took her to the movies to cheer her up <3
She just went through a breakup this week (ugh boys) and guess what? The guy literally broke up with her in the exact same spot he confessed his feelings to her like, a year ago. Can you believe that?!? Who does that??!
Anywayyy, she's doing a bit better now, and I promise I'll post the new chapter tonight!! Thanks for being patient, love you all
Enjoy the chapter!!
...
The park had grown quieter as the afternoon faded. The children had left with their laughter and shouts, and now only dog walkers remained, a few scattered students, and the occasional vendor pushing an empty cart back home. The air smelled of damp grass and melting vanilla. Saval and Semiel walked without hurry, the ice cream cones almost untouched in their hands.
Semiel still remembered Saval's warmth, his hand resting warmly on his own.
—Thanks —murmured Saval.
Semiel nodded, letting go slowly. It wasn't clumsy or abrupt. Just enough so the moment wouldn't feel longer than it should have.
They kept walking.
A dachshund got tangled in its own leash in front of them, and its owner bent down to fix it while laughing. The two boys watched for a second before turning their eyes forward again.
—Did David text you today? —asked Saval, breaking the silence with a voice that sounded more relaxed than before.
—Yeah. This morning.
—And?
Semiel hesitated. He could dodge it. Say it was nothing important. But he thought about the tone of the message, the words David had chosen carefully, and decided not to.
—He said Xavier sent him a voice message yesterday at dawn —he finally said—. That it was weird. He sounded choppy, like he was in a hurry. Said we should be careful. That lately, there are people asking about you. About both of us, really.
Saval frowned.
—What kind of people?
—He didn't say. Just that. And then he didn't reply again. He blocked him.
Sometimes I feel like we got ourselves into something without realizing it. Like we're playing a game where we don't know the rules, but everyone else does.
I've felt that way since the whole Santiago case started, said Semiel quietly.
Yeah.
The park suddenly seemed quieter. More intimate.
In the distance, a vendor announced the last donuts of the day with a tired voice. A couple of kids ran along the path's edge, shouting something about a squirrel. The world kept going, as if nothing was happening. As if they weren't standing there, face to face, their hands touching for just a second too long.
—Do you want to sit for a bit? asked Semiel, pointing to an empty bench.
—Yeah.
They walked over and sat down. Not as close as before, but not as far apart as they'd been at the start of the afternoon.
Do you think David is exaggerating? asked Saval, not looking at him.
—I don't know. Xavier's weird, but when he gives a warning, it's usually because something's coming. The problem is we never know when, or what.
Or if he's the cause of it, but better not say that to avoid worrying him.
Saval nodded slowly.
—I don't want to live in fear either.
—Nobody does.
They fell silent again.
Semiel glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Saval's profile against the orange light of sunset. There was something in him that hadn't been there a few days ago. A kind of calm that didn't seem to know if it wanted to stay or run away.
—Thanks for coming today, said Saval at last.
—Why would you thank me for that?
—Because I knew you could've said no.
Semiel gave a small smile.
—I'm never going to say no to a walk. Or to an ice cream.
—Yeah. But still, thanks anyway.
There was a moment when neither of them spoke.
Semiel thought about all the times he had imagined being like this—sitting together, talking as if things didn't hurt. As if the wound of rejection didn't still bleed a little at night.
But he also thought that maybe there was no need to force anything. That if things were changing, they could just let them change on their own.
I'm still by his side, I have a chance.
—Hey, said Semiel, without thinking too much. If Xavier were right… if something happened… would you and I be okay?
Saval looked at him. Not surprised, but with that direct kind of honesty he only brought out when he had no other choice.
—I don't know. But I don't want you far from me. Even if I got confused. Even if I hurt you.
Semiel swallowed hard. His heart did that small leap no one chooses. He looked at him for another second. Then nodded.
—Then I'll stay close. No matter what happens.
Saval smiled. It wasn't a big smile—just a small one, but it showed, and for Semiel, that was enough.
And even though they didn't talk about Xavier again that afternoon, they both knew the warning wouldn't be completely forgotten.
That something was moving at the edges of their lives. Something they didn't fully understand.
But they also knew that, at least for that moment, they had each other close.
And that was enough.