2 Three Years

Madrid, Spain

MATEO

Mateo showed up at Diego's house with two bags filled with beer.

The two had been friends since they were ten, and there's practically nothing they didn't know about each other. They may not hang around the same circle of friends but somehow they always end up talking out their problems with each other.

That night, Mateo needed to have a drink because he had just broken up with Sonja.

" ¡¿Qué?!" Diego opened a can of beer, "Why did you break up with her?"

Mateo chugged an entire can before responding, "It wasn't right anymore. I didn't feel the same way."

Diego shook his head, "Estás loco, tío. Sonja loves you."

Mateo nodded slowly, "Lo sé."

"She didn't take it well, did she?"

Mateo raised his eyebrows and took another sip from a new can, "That's why I'm here."

Diego laughed, "What did she do when you broke up with her?"

***

Mateo had been contemplating breaking up with Sonja for a few weeks already. But every time he thought he had the guts to say it, he would doubt himself and wouldn't go through with it.

That day, he asked Sonja out to lunch and promised himself that he wouldn't leave without saying how he really felt.

They met in Sol and made their way up to the rooftop restaurant of El Corte Inglés. The waiter led them to a two-person table, overlooking the busy streets.

The awkward silence between them was evident as the people around them chattered and laughed. The only noise that came from their table was when the waiter came by with their ordered drinks.

"¿Cómo está su mamá?" Sonja asked, breaking the silence.

She did not have a good feeling about today. Since Mateo's accident, she has been trying hard to help him regain memories of their relationship.

Memories of his feelings for her. Something. Anything.

For the last year, she was the one making the arrangements for their dates, picking out new restaurants to try, and planning trips they had done previously. All this effort, just for the chance that Mateo would realize his previous feelings for her.

But nothing really progressed with Mateo. He was very kind and caring to Sonja, but it was evident that he wasn't fully invested in their relationship. He hasn't called her his girlfriend, hasn't invited her to family outings, and hardly started any conversations with her.

When he asked her to lunch that day, her stomach dropped to the floor. She didn't want to believe what she suspected, but if it turned out to be true – she was not going to accept it.

Mateo smiled at Sonja, "Mamá is doing well. The hospital is always busy, so I hardly see her but I stop by on her off days."

Sonja nodded and the awkward silence fell on the table once more.

Suddenly, Sonja clasped her hands and beamed, "You know Tío Hernán has a house in Málaga, right? He's going on a business trip for two weeks next week – let's go down south!"

"Sonja, I -"

"It'll be nice to go to the beach, change of scenery." Sonja smiled, but did not meet Mateo's eyes, "Plus the seafood is fantastic."

Mateo was silent for a minute – the last thing he wanted to do was commit to a trip with Sonja. He did not want to lead her on any longer.

"Come with me." Sonja finally said, looking at Mateo with near-desperate eyes. She was willing to do whatever it took to bring back the Mateo she loved.

"No." Mateo said, "No puedo."

"¿Por qué?" Sonja asked, "¿Tienes planes?

"Sonja. I can't give you what you want."

Sonja tried to laugh it off, "I just want you to come to the beach with me. We can reschedule or -"

"I can't love you the same way."

Sonja looked at Mateo with dead eyes. Her light blue eyes lost all color and began to well up.

"Mateo, I...you can't -"

"I don't want to keep leading you on, Sonja. This year has been really hard and frustrating, and I can't lie to you or myself anymore. We need to separate."

Sonja didn't respond – what could she say? He was right, after all. This past year has been exhausting, not just for her but for Mateo too.

But how could he just give up like that?! They had been together almost two years before the accident – how could he just throw all of that time away? Sonja didn't know if he was just scared to try or what, but she was not going to just let him walk out like this.

Mateo begun walking to the front to pay for the bill when he heard yelling from behind him.

"¡TRES AÑOS!" Sonja yelled, unbothered by the stares and side-eyes from other patrons, "Tres años, Mateo. Te di tres años de mi vida."

Mateo quickly ran to her to try and calm her down, "Sonja, please – let's go downstairs."

Sonja only looked at him, holding her drink.

"You're a fucking coward." And she threw her drink at Mateo's face. That was not going to be the last time Mateo would hear from Sonja.

To her, there was still so much worth fighting for.

They had talked about marriage before the accident, though Sonja knew that Mateo was not fully prepared to marry. He was still starting his business and she couldn't ask him to give all that up for a life with her.

But how could three years of being together be left to dissipate in history? Surely there was something left to do to try and salvage their time together.

Mateo, on the other hand, left the restaurant...relieved. Despite being drenched in alcohol, he did not feel a shroud of guilt or embarrassment.

Instead, he felt free.

***

When Mateo finished telling the story, Diego couldn't help but laugh.

"She – she threw her drink at your face!" Diego was in hysterics.

"Cállate." Mateo wanted to be angry, but he found himself smiling. She sure did, he thought to himself.

Diego collected himself and cleared his throat, "OK – so what now? You'll date around, what?"

Mateo shrugged his shoulders, "I have a restaurant that's opening in two weeks – I don't really have time to date."

Before the accident, Mateo was in the process of opening a restaurant in downtown Madrid. He was on his way to his lawyer's office to discuss paperwork when a car ran a red light and crashed into his motorcycle, sending him twenty feet ahead. The helmet and clothes took most of the scathing, but it did not save his memories of Sonja.

Now a year after the accident, he was finally able to finish what he started. Surely, he would not have time to entertain puppy love.

"Pfft," Diego snickered, "People always say that same shit. Then someone comes along and boom – suddenly, you're digging yourself a hole you promised not to dig."

Diego was not wrong; in fact, he couldn't be more right. Mateo might have been convinced that there was nothing and no one that could divide his attention, but life had a different plan.

And it was going to run its course, whether Mateo liked it or not.

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