Chapter 3 Distance.

Chapter 3.

Distance.

"How do you feel today? Are you better?" he asks, noticing Alicia's lost gaze.

"Yes, I am. I have to go to class, I'm running late, I'll catch up on the content from the last few days."

"Wait." She stops, closes her eyes slightly, and turns around slowly.

"When you get back this afternoon, you might not find me. I'm going on a trip for a few days, to Milan. I hope that in my absence, you behave, Alis, I..." Alicia runs into his arms, clinging to him without thinking.

She holds him tight; just hearing the name Milan makes her world spin out of control.

"Please, take care of yourself and come back to me, I will be waiting for you."

Lucas returns her hug, and she slowly pulls away, leaving a short kiss on his cheek.

"Have a good trip, Uncle."

"Thank you, Alicia, have a good day."

Alicia walks away, heartbroken and with her spirits crushed. She sees him one last time as she gets into the car and doesn't lose sight of him until she crosses the large gate of the Jank family.

As for Lucas, he does the same, knowing that after this trip, things will change drastically.

The following days are a thread of agony and silent waiting. Alicia, at home with her Nana, waits every day for a call that doesn't come. He hasn't even seen her messages or replied. There is only one in her inbox, the alert of his arrival, which she reads day and night, as a reminder that he is okay.

Days later.

Alicia wakes up, feeling tired. She gets out of bed heavily, noticing her Nana entering the room.

"Good morning, good morning my child!"

"Good morning, Nana."

"Come here, darling, let me squeeze you. Happy nineteenth birthday!"

Alicia smiles, slightly, returning her embrace with sadness in her heart.

"Oh, but child, put away that sad face, today is a day for joy. You should go wash up, there's someone downstairs who wants to see you."

"Who, Nana? Did he return? Did he come back, Nana?"

"That's right, my child, and I saw..." Alicia doesn't let her finish.

"Aaah! I'm going to take a shower, Nana, pull out my best outfit."

"Okay, child, but..." Alicia rushes into the bathroom, without any hesitation, motivated by the big day ahead.

Every year, he makes arrangements to give her the best gifts. Aside from the small party with distant relatives and friends, Lucas sets aside alone time for the two of them and takes her to the mountain, to the viewpoint, to see the fireworks he has set off for her. Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, and tonight, it will be nineteen. A perfect moment and place, where both can share a special moment as on other occasions. But this time, she is determined to tell him about her feelings. After that kiss that seemed like a dream, she no longer wants to hide that she loves him as a man, since she has never seen him as an uncle and that he is the man she wants, because there is nothing preventing them from being together, as they are not related by blood.

With joy and her heart beating hard, Alicia runs down the stairs in search of Lucas. Her Nana, seeing her, points to the dining room. She runs in, when suddenly, her joy vanishes upon seeing Carolina.

"Alicia, good morning. Dear, happy birthday!"

The woman gets up to give her a strong hug. Alicia looks at Lucas uncomfortably, while trying to process what is happening.

"Congratulations, dear, you are a woman now."

Alicia nods, with a smile that doesn't reach her eyes.

"Thank you. Lucas? I thought you wouldn't be back for a few days."

"Yes, that was the case, but I finished my business and came back earlier. Come, sit down. Happy birthday." He expresses, placing a small box in her spot.

She takes it, noticing that Carolina takes Lucas's hand, intertwining their fingers romantically, which distracts her from her goal. In the box, there is a beautiful jade pendant and a bracelet.

"Thank you, it's beautiful." She gets up and gives him a short hug, her heart beating hard. "Thank you for coming back for my birthday."

Carolina intervenes during the emotional moment.

"Alis, sit down, dear." Alicia slowly steps away, returning to her chair, where she remains, trying to focus on the woman. "Alis, we want to give you some news."

"Yes, what's going on?"

Carolina looks at Lucas and he focuses on Alicia directly.

"Alicia, as you know, I have known Carolina for some years now, and recently, we have decided to start a relationship, I..." Carolina finishes the sentence.

"He asked me to be his partner, we're going to try it out for a while, and when we close the contract with the French, we are going to get publicly engaged, I'll be your aunt. How does that sound?"

Alicia feels her whole world spinning. She is in shock, her heart leaps, her hands tremble so much that she has to hold onto her dress not to show it. She looks at him, but what comes next is a dagger straight to the heart: Carolina kisses him on the lips, and her world collapses.

"Tell me Alicia, aren't you happy for us?"

"Yes, of course, congratulations. Welcome to the family. Excuse me for a moment, I forgot my cell phone, I'll be right back."

Alicia walks slowly, trying not to break down, but her legs are weak. She runs up the last steps, her gaze fixed on the scene that fades as she leaves. Lucas looks in her direction, but her silhouette is lost in the hallway. Meanwhile, Alicia runs, locking herself in her room, where she finally allows herself to collapse, slumping against the trembling door, letting the tears she has struggled to hold back finally come out.

"Why?" she asks in whispers. "Why are you doing this now, my love? Why?"

Alicia takes a while to come down, which catches Lucas's attention. He gets up to go check on her, but is stopped by the Nana.

"I'll go, sir, she's probably glued to her cell phone, she's been stuck to it all week, she must have a boyfriend, surely."

Her words churn Lucas's stomach, but he is relieved when he sees her return.

"I'm here, Nana. I'm sorry, I was on a call with my best friend."

"Are you okay, Alicia?" Carolina asks, and Alicia avoids Lucas's gaze at all costs, without focusing on Carolina directly, to keep from breaking down.

"Yes, perfectly. I'm going to have breakfast, if you don't mind? I'm expected in class."

"By whom?" Lucas asks, his voice sounding stronger than he intended.

She looks at him for a few seconds, noticing that it is impossible not to feel anything when she sees him.

"My friends, Uncle. They said they have a surprise for me, so I have to go, excuse me. Have a good day."