Chapter 2 Six Months Earlier

The warm afternoon light filtered through the apartment windows, bathing the living room in an almost unreal calm. Ana and Sebastián sat across from each other at the dining table, like two perfectly aligned puzzle pieces. Their conversation flowed, yet it felt empty-like they had learned to navigate these waters without ever truly touching.

-How was your day? -Sebastián asked, glancing up from his phone for a brief moment, only to sink back into the screen.

Ana gave a weak smile, staring at the untouched plate of pasta in front of her. She wasn't hungry, but she didn't know how to express what she truly felt. Something in her chest tightened every time their conversations took on this monotonous tone, as if they were living in parallel worlds that rarely crossed.

-Fine. Just a normal day. -she replied, searching for something to say but feeling like her words were mere echoes.

The apartment was beautiful, without a doubt-modern furniture, neutral colors, and a minimalist style that exuded perfection. But that perfection couldn't hide what lay beneath. Ana could feel how the routine of their days was closing in on her, pressing the walls of her life tighter and tighter.

From time to time, her gaze met Sebastián's, and in those fleeting moments, she felt as if he was there-yet at the same time, so far away. His face, handsome but impassive, always so calm, so calculated. What had happened to the man who once looked at her with passion? Ana couldn't remember. Or rather, she didn't want to.

The discomfort became more palpable as time passed. They no longer knew how to fill the silences. The laughter had faded, and the "I love you's" no longer felt genuine, merely part of a routine they were expected to follow.

-You know, I was thinking about vacation. -Sebastián changed the subject, but Ana noticed the slightly distant tone in his voice. As if he was talking about something that didn't really matter to him.

-Vacation? -Ana lifted her gaze, surprised by the sudden mention of the topic. Vacation? Really?

-Yeah. Somewhere quiet. Maybe an island or something like that. I mean, we've been working a lot. -Sebastián didn't lift his eyes from his phone, as if the suggestion had nothing to do with him, just an obligation to be met.

Ana thought for a moment, then nodded without saying anything. "Vacation." It all sounded so distant, so foreign. At first, she considered that it might be an opportunity to regain what they had lost, to reconnect-but deep down, she knew any attempt would be futile. Something deeper, something irreparable, had already begun to fracture their relationship.

-Ana, are you listening? -Sebastián finally looked up, a hint of concern in his voice.

-Yeah, of course. -Ana stared at him, feeling a sting of frustration. Why didn't he see what she saw? Why didn't he notice the cracks, the whispers slipping between them?

-You don't seem too excited about the idea... -Sebastián observed her carefully.

Ana hesitated, then let out a small, joyless laugh. "I don't even know if we could share a place like that. Right now, we'd be just as far apart as we are now."

Silence filled the room, trapping them in a bubble that grew more suffocating by the second.

That night, Ana and Sebastián were invited to a family dinner. His parents' house was filled with people, laughter, and conversation, but Ana felt like a ghost, drifting through the lively atmosphere. The conversations revolved around trivial topics while Ana remained quiet, observing from her corner.

At some point, Sebastián's aunt-a robust woman with a contagious laugh-began talking about the past.

-Did you know that Sebastián and Gabriel were inseparable when they were younger? -she said, pouring red wine into their glasses, unaware of the immediate shift in Sebastián's expression.

Ana noticed it instantly. Sebastián froze for a second, and his eyes, which had previously shone with indifference, darkened slightly. The mention of Gabriel's name triggered a subtle, almost imperceptible reaction in him. As if a shadow had passed over his face, his lips pressing into a firm line.

Gabriel? The name lingered in the air like an echo. Ana repeated it in her mind, but she couldn't fully grasp Sebastián's reaction. Who was Gabriel to him?

-Yes, Gabriel. Always together... like brothers. They spent all their time at my house, remember, Sebastián? -the aunt continued, while the others at the table smiled fondly.

Ana watched Sebastián closely. Something in his posture shifted. He straightened slightly, but his gaze never met hers. Was it just her imagination, or did Sebastián seem uncomfortable? As if he wanted to distance himself from that part of his past.

-Yeah, of course. -Sebastián murmured, taking a sip of his wine and looking away, as if trying to avoid delving deeper into the subject.

Ana felt a pang in her chest. Gabriel. That name kept echoing in her mind, and for a second, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something more between Sebastián and this Gabriel. Something she hadn't been told.

The conversation carried on, but for Ana, the air in the room grew heavy. She felt as if something important was slipping through her fingers-something she couldn't fully understand yet. Why did Gabriel's name cause such unease in Sebastián? The more she repeated it in her mind, the stronger her unease grew. Something was hidden, something neither she nor Sebastián wanted to unearth.

The night ended without further incident, but Ana couldn't stop thinking about that moment-about the shadow that had crossed Sebastián's face. Something was wrong, and she knew it. But what?