Mama came into my room and shook me awake.
"Eugenia, time for breakfast," "You're becoming a lazy pig," she said.
I opened my eyes slowly as the sun pierced through my window, burning my skin.
Suddenly, I remembered yesterday; Marco asking for my number.
I smiled. Looked at my phone Marco had sent me a message, "Let's go on a date today".
With excitement, I jumped out of bed, freshened up, and put on my best dress. "Marco had asked me out on a date," I said to myself.
Excited, I ran to the kitchen and kissed Mama on the cheek.
"Bye, Mama."
"¿No vas a desayunar?" she asked. (Aren't you having breakfast?)
"I'm going on a date!" I said, rushing out before she could say another word.
Marco was already outside waiting for me.
As I walked toward him, I noticed he was staring intensely at the house opposite ours, like something was going on between him and the building.
The house had been rented out a long time ago, but no one truly lived there. Or maybe they did, only sometimes.
Some nights, you'd see a flashlight moving around inside, unstable and restless. Yet, no one ever came in or went out.
"Marco?" I called.
No response.
I called his name three times before I tapped his shoulder.
He turned suddenly, his face tight with anger, then it disappeared.
"Oh, Eugenia," he said calmly. "You look beautiful. It's almost like you've been waiting for this day."
He smiled, but the smile felt wrong. Strange. Unfamiliar.
"Marco… are you okay?" I asked. "You look tense. Is something going on between you and that house?"
He chuckled softly.
"Nothing at all. Maybe because I've just been under the sun since morning. That's all."
Then he clapped his hands lightly. "Enough talk. Let's go."
I hesitated for a second before getting into his car. Then we drove off.
We stopped at a restaurant.
The funniest part? He owned it.
"What?" My mouth fell open in awe.
Throughout the date, Marco talked a lot about himself, almost too much, that i begin to wonder. "Is this the same Marco I knew?" Then a thought crossed my mind.
"Are we… dating?" I asked a bit shyly.
(Author's thought; Being shy is not her, but with him, she can be anything.)
He looked at me, amused.
"Aren't we"?
The day felt too perfect. I laughed more than I had in a long time, and for a moment, I forgot all the strange things.
But then my eyelids began to feel heavy.
"Oh…" I murmured. "I think I'm feeling sleepy." Can we go home now?"
"No," he said, smiling.
Then he laughed!!, loud and sudden. The sound sent a chill down my spine.
Minutes later, my body felt weak.
"What the heck is happening to me?" I thought.
Everything went dark.
Just before I lost consciousness, I knew one thing for sure.
Something very bad was about to happen..