Chapter 4 The Name That Changes Everything

The days passed slowly, but intensely. For Valeria, each hour without news from him was like walking with her body present but her mind anchored in another dimension, where that night was still happening: the wild kiss, the weight of a body that imposed itself without asking permission, the touch of the uniform that sent shivers down her spine just remembering it.

Outside, the world continued its usual rhythm. Inside, everything had changed.

Valeria clung to the only thread that could still keep her close: Iván.

He hadn't stopped looking for her since that night. His messages were constant, with that tone somewhere between playful and protective that she once found charming, but now, compared to Elías's indomitable confidence, felt lukewarm.

"How did you wake up, darling?"

"Will you stop by the security fair? I'm on duty, but I can get away for a while..."

"I miss you."

Valeria answered. Not enthusiastically, but she answered. Because he needed an excuse, a bridge. He knew that if he wanted to find the other, he had to keep Iván close.

One afternoon, while they were sharing a coffee near the police station, Valeria probed more decisively.

"And your partner? The one who appeared out of nowhere the other night... What's his name?"

Iván looked up slowly. His jaw tightened, and his fingers played with the cup as if he didn't quite know what to say.

"Why are you asking that again?"

"Because you haven't told me. And the least I could do would be to know the name of someone who... kissed me like he did."

The sentence came out more directly than he'd intended. Iván blinked, clearly hurt.

"Was it that bad?"

Valeria held his gaze. She wasn't going to soften it.

"Yes. It was that bad."

He leaned back in his chair and sighed. He wasn't pretending to be okay anymore.

"Look, I don't think you should mess with him. He's a... complicated guy. A loner. He's not like me."

She crossed her arms defiantly.

"Maybe that's why I'm interested in him."

Iván smiled, but not graciously. It was a bitter grimace.

"Are you really interested? Or is it just morbid curiosity? Because what happened that night was... wild. It wasn't love, or affection. It was impulse."

"Yes. And yet, I remember it more than anything else."

Iván lowered his gaze. His tone changed, becoming almost paternal.

"You shouldn't look for him, Valeria. Honestly. He has his story; he's not someone you can talk to like you talk to me. He's a wall. He doesn't get involved. And if he does, it's not for the best."

"And you are for the best?"

He didn't reply.

That night, she couldn't take it anymore. She wrote to him one last time, bluntly:

"Tell me your name. Or don't write to me again."

Hours passed. Dawn arrived with its usual silence, and the phone vibrated just as Valeria had lost hope.

It was a call. From Iván.

"Are you going to tell me his name?" she asked as soon as she answered, without saying hello.

"Just promise me you won't look for him."

"I can't promise that."

A sigh on the other end. Slow. Pained.

"It's okay. His name is Elías M. But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Warn me what?"

"That he's not an easy man. Not free. Not even safe. He's not like me, Valeria."

She closed her eyes when she heard it. She felt something close to guilt, but it didn't last. Because as soon as she hung up, she repeated in a low voice, as if savoring every syllable:

"Elías M."

That name was a door. A trigger. A validated obsession.

Now that she knew his name, anything was possible.

But Valeria wasn't satisfied with just knowing. She wanted to see him. To talk to him. To feel the weight of his hands again and the madness of that kiss.

Now desire had a name. And that was more dangerous than anything.

Without the slightest dissimulation, Valeria cut off the call with Iván. She didn't even answer his last "Are you there?" No. She wasn't there anymore. She was no longer there for him.

With her heart pounding in her throat, she searched for the police station number on her phone. Her hands were shaking, not from doubt... but from adrenaline.

She dialed.

"Police headquarters, good evening?"

"Hello, good evening," she said, trying to sound casual. "Could you transfer me to Officer Elías M? I think he works in the events security division or something like that..."

There was a slight silence on the other end, barely a few seconds. But for her it felt like an eternity.

"Reason for the call?"

Valeria improvised without hesitation.

"Personal matter. They told me to ask directly at headquarters. I saw him recently during an operation, and there was something pending. I just need to talk to him for a moment."

The operator hesitated, but agreed.

"Just a moment, please."

Valeria swallowed, feeling a current run down her spine. What if he answered? What if he didn't?

But there was no turning back now.

She had taken the first step toward something she didn't know if she could control.

And deep down, that was the part that excited her the most.