Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Mateo's Past

Mateo's eyes gazed out the window, his mind wandering to a time when life was simpler. Growing up in a small town in Mexico, Mateo had always been fascinated by the world beyond his borders. His parents, both teachers, had instilled in him a love for learning and a desire to explore.

As a child, Mateo would spend hours listening to his grandfather's stories about the family's history and the struggles they had faced. His grandfather's words had sparked a sense of resilience and determination within Mateo, driving him to pursue his dreams.

After completing high school, Mateo had moved to the United States to attend college. He had worked multiple jobs to support himself, all while maintaining a stellar academic record. His hard work had paid off when he landed a prestigious internship at a top tech firm.

Just as Mateo's thoughts began to drift back to the present, his phone buzzed with an incoming text from an unknown number.

"Hey, Mateo. It's Sofia. We met at the coffee shop yesterday. I wanted to follow up on our conversation about the app. Are you free to meet up today?"

Mateo's eyes widened as he read the message. Sofia? He didn't remember meeting anyone by that name yesterday. He racked his brain, trying to recall the conversation.

Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Mateo, it's me, Alex. I brought lunch. Want to grab a bite?"

Mateo hesitated for a moment before responding. "Yeah, sure. Come on in."

As Alex entered the room, Mateo couldn't help but wonder who Sofia was and what she wanted to discuss about the app. Little did he know, Sofia's arrival would set off a chain of events that would change everything.Alex set the food down on the coffee table and plopped down beside it. "So, what's new with you? You've been pretty quiet lately."

Mateo shrugged, still distracted by the mysterious text. "Just busy with work and stuff. You know how it is."

Alex nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I do. But you're not fooling me, Mateo. Something's on your mind. What is it?"

Mateo hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But Alex had always been a good friend, so he decided to confide in him.

"I got a weird text message from someone named Sofia," Mateo said, showing Alex the message on his phone. "I don't remember meeting anyone by that name, but she seems to think we talked about the app yesterday."

Alex's eyes widened as he read the message. "That is weird. But maybe you just forgot? You have been pretty stressed out lately."

Mateo shook his head. "I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I would remember meeting someone new, especially if we talked about the app."

Just then, Mateo's phone buzzed again. He looked down to see another text from Sofia.

"Hey, Mateo. I hope you're free to meet up today. I really need to discuss the app with you. Can you meet me at the coffee shop at 2 pm?"

Mateo looked up at Alex, a sense of unease growing in his stomach. "What do I do?" he asked his friend.

Alex's expression was serious. "I think you should go. If nothing else, it'll be good to clear the air and find out what's going on."

Mateo nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. What would he find out at the coffee shop? And who was Sofia, really?