And

Today was the day I was going to meet my mother's new partner's family. It was hateful that only two years after my father's death, my mother had already found a supposed replacement strong enough to make it official in just 2 and a half months of dating.

We both got out of the car and headed towards the front door of the house and my mother rang the bell after giving me a big smile that I didn't answer.

Lía’s question snapped me out of my stupor. “Yes,” I answered, my eyes narrowing slightly. “It’s something I learned after… well, it’s something I enjoy.” I didn’t want to delve into the darker reasons behind my passion for sports. It was something private, born out of pain and anger. “Do you have any hobbies, Lía?” *I asked, feigning interest.*Her response was a torrent of words about art and music, her cheeks flushing as she spoke. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of something… envy? No, it was more than that. “That sounds… interesting,” *I managed to say, trying to keep my tone neutral.**As the evening progressed, we sat down to dinner. I couldn’t help but glance at her from across the table, watching the way she moved and spoke. Her laugh was like music, and I found myself smiling despite my determination to remain distant.**After dinner, we were told that we would be sharing a room. My heart raced at the prospect of being so close to her. I tried to remain calm, but inside I was already planning how to get to know her better. Once in the room, I changed into a loose t-shirt and shorts, not caring that she could see my toned body, a testament to the hours I spent at the boxing gym. As I climbed onto the bed, I noticed Lia looking at me shyly. The room was silent, the only sound being the occasional patter of rain on the window. “So, Lia,” I began quietly, “What do you think of me?”