“Shut up and come here.”
Daniel reached out and pulled her towards him. Then he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and kissed her like he’d never kissed anyone before.
“Sorry I’m late, guys.” Daniel sat down on the remaining free chair.
“I don’t forgive you,” whispered Kiko behind the menu so that Oscar and Almudena couldn’t hear him. “I don’t know why they bothered coming. To spend the whole time ogling each other and not paying attention to any other human being, they could have stayed at home.”
The Christmas celebrations, the snow, the hot chocolate with churros had given way to beers, vermouths and tapas on the relaxing terraces that lined the pavements of Madrid. The boys had arranged to meet to enjoy the mild Sunday weather, although in reality, Oscar and Almudena just enjoyed each other, while Kiko was in charge of the calamari.
Daniel looked at the couple and smiled. Oscar greeted him with a nod and Almudena returned his smile before turning back to be engrossed in each other. Love.
“Seriously, when Oscar falls in love, he turns into an alien.” Kiko continued his protest about Oscar. “Look at him! I’m practically shouting and he doesn’t even realise that I’m talking about him.”
Kiko picked up some calamari, popped it in his mouth and smiled.
“These are awesome. I need another beer.”
“Me too,” added Daniel and raised his hand to get the waiter’s attention.
As soon as he came over, Daniel and Kiko ordered two more pints. The waiter looked over at the couple, who at that moment were playing with a Pixar figurine.
“Are they having anything else?”
“The lovebirds are still on their first drink,” Kiko teased. “I think they’re going to use their beers as soup. It’ll make a great stew.”
The waiter gave a half-smile and bustled off into the bar.
“Listen up, guys!” Oscar exclaimed all of a sudden. “We have something to tell you.”
“Great, they’ve decided to come back down to Earth,” mused Kiko. Daniel stifled a laugh.
“Almudena and I have decided that... we’re going to move in together!”
The four of them immediately stood up and hugged at the good news.
“You’ve finally grown up, blondie!” Kiko said. “Almu, from now on, you’re something of a heroine to me.”
Oscar returned the compliment with a wink. Leaning on the table, Almudena spoke to her boyfriend’s two friends quietly:
“Now, I just need to get pregnant and then he’ll be all mine. They’ll be super blondies!”
The friends looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes. Kiko’s eyelid twitched as if he were about to explode.
Almudena burst out laughing.
“I’m kidding! You should have seen your faces.”
She’s one of us, that’s for sure, Daniel said to himself, pleased.
“Here you are: two pints for the gentlemen,” announced the waiter as he put down two chilled glasses of Mahou on the table.
Kiko raised his glass.
“A toast!”
“One second, not so fast,” Daniel interrupted. “I also have some news.”
When he was sure he had the attention of all three, he spoke:
“You are looking at the new co-owner of El Faro.”
“What’s El Faro?” Oscar asked.
“It’s my brother’s old bar. We’re working together and we’re going to reopen.”
“With the terrace and cocktails?” Kiko, whose face had lit up, asked.
“With the terrace and cocktails.”
“That is good news. Free drinks for everyone!” Kiko joked. “Now for a toast!”
The four of them raised their glasses.
“To the new owner of the best bar in the city!” Almudena exclaimed.
“And to the craziest couple this side of the Manzanares river!” added Daniel.
As Daniel took a sip of his beer, a girl’s shy voice came from behind his shoulder.
“Excuse me... erm... hehehe... Are you Daniel Santos?”
Turning around, Daniel saw two spotty teenage girls. They were wearing shorts way too short for their age and one of them, the one who’d spoken, had a mouth full of braces.
“Yep, that’s me.”
In a matter of seconds, the girls’ cheeks had acquired a pink tone.
“So you’re the new coach of the basketball team?”
“I’m actually the coach of the second team.” Daniel made a gesture with his hand as if taking away importance. “In the first team I’m just the assistant. Eric has me as his right-hand man.”
“You’re really fit.” The one who hadn’t spoken until then had a high-pitched voice, and was quite direct.
“hehehe...”
“Right... erm... thanks,” Daniel said for something to say. “Can I help you with something?”
The girl with the high-pitched voice elbowed the one with braces, who nodded nervously before stuttering:
“C-can we take a picture with you?”
“Of course. Kiko, would you do the honour of taking a photo with my two friends?”
“hehehe...”
One of the girl’s passed her phone over to Kiko and then they both posed next to Daniel smiling. Broad, forced smiles. Happy.
Several flashes went off.
“I took a few so you can choose the best,” Kiko said kindly.
Daniel smiled. He would never admit it but he’d always dreamed of being recognised in the street. Would these girls carry the photo around stuck to their school diaries? Maybe a little one next to a photo of Justin Bieber.
“Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram,” he said and the girl’s cheeks went from rosy pink to bright red.
The little ladies skipped away as they passed the phone back and forth looking at the photo with Daniel on the screen. When they disappeared from view, Daniel looked at Oscar, who wore a Machiavellian smile and he feared the worst. His friend now had a great story to tell over the next few times they met up.
They were just finishing their third round when Daniel looked at his watch and shook his head in disbelief.
“Is that the time? I’d better go, it’s lunch time.”
“Yeah, don’t be late, the sergeant is waiting for you at home,” Oscar joked.
“Are you saying I’m henpecked?”
Daniel stood up to put on his jacket.
“As if, you’re obviously the one who wears the trousers,”
“We’re leaving too,”
“Yes, ma’am,” Oscar replied and they all laughed.
The sun had given way to dark clouds, and the first drops of rain. Of the four friends, Daniel was the only one who didn’t need to catch the metro to get home. Drenched, he put the key in the front door and went into the hall. On the third floor of that building, his new life awaited him. A normal and simple life, but one he loved.
“Hi, darling,” he announced, smiling.
Daniel never played another game of basketball. He was happy enough with shooting hoops on Saturday mornings with his friends. He thoroughly enjoyed it.
He never again stepped foot on to a professional league court, no crowd chanted his name, and he was never on the cover of any magazines. In return, his girlfriend woke him up every morning with one of those kisses that make a smooching sound, right down his ear.
He never ended up earning enough money to afford a chalet with a pool or drive a Mercedes. Instead, he trained a third division team and ran the bar which earned him just enough to get by. He went to work with his brother, who picked him up every day in his car.
He never again ignored one of Ricardo’s calls. After closing the bar every Saturday night, the brothers would lock the door and sit in the storeroom watching their favourite films with two pints of beer and a giant bowl of popcorn.
He didn’t get up every morning pretending that his father didn’t exist. Once a month, he went to Buitrago to remember the last moments t
hey had together while he was still alive and, above all, to make sure he was still following his priceless advice.
He never again looked in the mirror wishing he was someone else.
Daniel was finally on the path to finding happiness.
ACKNOWLEGDEMENTS
To all of those who believed in me and in this novel when I was just ‘an amateur writing for fun'.
To those who followed the conception of the story with enthusiasm, supporting me along the way.
To those who, in one way or another, for better or for worse, have influenced my life. This novel has a lot of personal experiences that wouldn’t have existed without them.
To those who, once the book was finished, gave their opinions and collaborated in the most critical and sincere way possible. They have no idea of how important they were. Part of the final result is thanks to them.
And to you, for believing in this novel and keeping going until the end. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.
THANK YOU.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A telecommunications and electronic engineer. A few years ago, in Madrid, I saw the light, and resolved to do more things with my life apart from what a man of my age is supposed to be doing. Alone in my flat, I learnt to offer the world a bit more of myself. I closed the door, opened my mind and let my imagination fly. I spent my free time writing and making up fictional stories as a brilliant complement to real life. Writing stories had been something I’d always wanted to do.
For better or for worse, the editorial world has been making a radical turn around over the last few years, and I had the opportunity to self-publish this eBook and show it to the world.
People’s support, the whirlwind of never-ending ideas and above all, the intact passion I have for writing, have made it possible for more novels to follow this one. You can go to my webpage or my accounts on social media to keep up to date with these projects.
From the bottom of my heart, I hope that the story in this book has reached your soul. I apologise now and take full responsibility if you have found any mistakes.
Your review and comments will always be welcome, and would be a wonderful way to show your appreciation.
If you want to stay in touch with me and receive all of my literary news, new releases and exclusive gifts via email, you can sign up to my newsletter. As a thank you for your loyalty, I’ll send you one of my novels for free.
www.luisalbertosantamaria.com
Reflections in the Mirror Page 19