Chapter Text
Nina closed the laptop. The words seemed to start tangling in her mind and that was her sign that she should take a break and go grab something to eat.
She left her desk, locked the office door. She was alone now that her co worker Anna was on holiday in Italy. How she wished she could also be in Italy, maybe in Naples, or Portofino. She would really like to stay a few days at the beach, relaxing with an Aperol Spritz in her right hand and a good book in her left one. She could take the train to Milan to see the famous Cathedral, or she could go to Turin to see those famous museums.
While her thoughts flew away to Italy, she grabbed a chicken sandwich from the vending machine down the hall and went to her favourite bench outside to eat it. Her co workers often invited her at the company s cafe but she politely declined almost every time. She really needed those 20 minutes just for herself, not surrounded by those idiots whom she often had to work with, or do their work because they’re too stupid and incompetent to do the easiest task. Just thinking about how Anna had left her three projects before going on holiday, how Mark had forgotten to send the manuscript or that Emily had once again asked Nina to proofread a document she should’ve finished herself made her head spin.
Their company wasn’t the biggest in the world but it wasn’t a “no name” either. When she choose to apply for a position here, she expected to be surrounded by experts, whom she could learn from… in reality she had to do all the work because they were lazy and most likely just stupid.
She made her way back to her desk, she knew she couldn’t miss another minute of work, when she opened the file with her clinent’s latest script sent, her phone buzzed. She looked at the screen, smiled and answered. “Luna.” Nina smiled sadly. She haven’t had time to call her best friend recently, and now that Luna called her, she felt guilty, her friend was the sweetest person alive, and she didn’t have time to talk and catch up as much as she wanted. She her her friends exited voice. “Nina. Ay. How are you? We haven’t talked in so long! I miss you so much! Why haven’t you called this month at all? All good?” Luna bombarded her with questions, she smiled, but felt even more guilty. Luna was worrying about her, she made a note in her mind to call her more often, at least once in a few days. “Luna! I’m fine. Yes all good! I miss you too my friend, so much! I’m sorry i haven’t called you in a while it’s just… i’ve been so busy at the firm with my dad’s doctor appointments, and paying rent I just… “ she sighed “my head was in the clouds, literally” she joked. Luna sounded even more concerned “Nina… I told you, if the hospital bills are too much I will always come and help, i’m serious, I could help you right now if you let me—“ Nina interrupted her “I know, but I really don’t need any help, I’m fine, how have you been?” Luna stayed quiet for a few seconds and Nina could feel her smile and excitement through the phone “Nina I… I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone but I realised you will not come back home for a while so… I’m getting married , in 3 months!” Her breath stopped for a few seconds, then she responded “Luna! Luna that’s amazing! Congratulations! I’m so sorry i’m not there to celebrate with you, I’m so happy for you two, really!” She really was, this was the best news she received in a while. Nina really needed some good news, and her best friends engagement and wedding was the perfect gift she could receive. “And..” Luna continued “I know you work so much, but, would you want to help me with the organisation… maybe?” “Always, you send me your ideas and details and I’ll help you with anything, my friend!” They talked for a few more minutes, Nina congratulated her again then told her she had to go back to work, or she’ll be behind with the manuscript.
She finished it. Stayed 2 hours after her shift ended but she made it! She could have a few hours free tomorrow. She texted Luna and they started chatting about the wedding immediately. Luna, the exited person she always was, created a group with all her girl friends because she talked to all of them about ideas and started forgetting them, as always. They immediately started sending photos of locals, flowers, dresses and everything.
She looked at her apartment, empty, lonely, sad, just like her. Sometimes, she regretted the decision to move away from home, but she knew staying there would mean she hasn’t moved on, from… she didn’t even want to say his name in her mind, it was still a sensitive situation for her. “It’s been 5 years” She spoke to herself. “I should have been over it by now, I moved away, dated Eric for a year, got a job, and I still find myself thinking about…” She couldn’t finish her thought before her phone started buzzing. Her mom was calling.
“Hi mom!”
“Nina! My darling! How are you?”
“I just got back from work. Is everything all right?” She heard her mom’s tone , it wasn’t good, when she used that tone she was scared and tried to hide it. Nina always pretended like she didn’t know that already, but she always did.
“Yes, yes, me and Mora got your dad from the hospital, I cooked for all of us and-“ Her mom tried to sound casual but Nina interrupted her.
“Hospital? Again? What happened?” She was panicking. She knew the reason, but she wanted to hear it. Her mom sighed.
“He drank too much again, collapsed and…that’s history.”
Again. He did it again, after he promised not to drink anymore, after he said he understood he has a heart condition, after he reassured her that she can leave and go back to work, that she had nothing to worry about, he collapsed again. Nina sighed , she wanted to cry, but not on the phone with her mother. She knew her mom too well, she would start crying too, and that would be too much for a day.
“Is he all right now?”
“He s stable.” She didn’t say yes, so it was worse than she assumed. Like she could hear her thoughts Anna said “You don’t have to come back home honey, we can deal with it.”
“Mom… I have to come, you and Mora are already tired and-“
“You are tired too.” Anna interrupted her. “You work every day, without any days off to take care of yourself and of your dad’s medical bills, believe me honey, me and Mora got it under control , you don’t have to stress yourself so much, you sound tired and sad, I called you so you can know, you don’t have to sicken yourself with your fathers decisions, he’s a grown man, he knows what he’s doing, all right?”
“Yeah, thanks mom.” There was no room for arguing. She knew her mom was right, but she couldn’t stop worrying. Maybe she was right, Nina would go and buy some sleeping pills and calmants. “Good night mom! Tell Mora I said hi!”
“Always. Good night Nina, we love you!”
“Love you too” She put the phone on her night stand.
Since her dad got diagnosed with a heart condition, her world fell apart, her salary was split in two, her expenses and his medical bills and pills. Her social life dissapired because she had to work every single day, so there was no time for hanging out and what could she say about a boyfriend or at least some sex? No time for neither of them.
That’s how she started functioning. Woke up, coffee, a few biscuits, work, home, shower, coffee, extra work, some sleep. She looked bad, circles under her eyes, her weight, thank goodness hasn’t changed, she was well structured, but her face changed , she looked older, tired and depressed, exactly how she felt so two months before Luna and Matteo’s wedding she decided she needed to change that. Her father was better, and her mom was right, she felt sad admitting that, but her father was a grown man, and except the fact that she will always love him, take care of him and would do anything for him and his health, she needed to be healthy first so she could do those things. She started eating properly, going on short walks, still doing extra work and all, but she took one hour or two per day for herself.
When she looked in the mirror, she saw the same girl from high school. Insecure, sad and exhausted. When Luna will see her, she was going to slap her for how she neglected herself.
—————————————————-
She was right. Two weeks before the wedding, when Nina came home to help Luna with everything, her friend cried when she saw her face.
“I told you I can handle all the expenses Nina, i wasn’t joking.” Luna cried. Seeing her friend cry two weeks before the happiest day of her life shattered her heart, but Nina stood by her side and said “I know you can, but I can handle my families problems by myself, okay? Thank you so much Luna, for everything!” They had their moment of crying and catching up. Nina told her how she started taking care of her body, and Luna told her about Matteo, the wedding, about how her grandmother, Alfredo wanted ice statues of Luna and Matteo at the reception. That one made Nina laugh with tears. “Yeah, Luna I can’t wait to see your face melt into the room.” Nina laughed. Luna laughed too. “I barely convinced him to let it go”. She could only imagine. Nina finally felt at home. She missed it. So much. That night she, Luna, Ámbar and all their old friends had a sleep over at Luna’s house, like when they were in high school. Monica, Luna’s mom cooked for them, they watched movies, laughed and ate all night, but the wedding was the main topic.
“Luna, did Matteo chose his best men yet?” Yam asked. Nina’s breath stopped for a full second, she knew what her best friend was about to say.
“Of course, it will be Gastón, they were always best friends.” After the words left Luna’s mouth, all the faces turned to Nina. “Nina, I forgot to tell you this.” Luna had an apologetic face.
“No, no, it’s all right, I assumed it was going to be him. He’s… coming home from England?” Nina knew her words stumbled and she felt her checks burn, but she had to ask, her curiosity got the best of her.
“Yes, tomorrow morning”
Just amazing.