Page 167 of That Last Summer

Priscila:

Close, I think. According to the signs, I’m on my way to baggage claim.

Adri:

Good. Follow through to the escalators, they’ll take you straight to the first floor. The “departures” one, by the way.

River Phoenix:

Marcos, don’t play deaf. Send us your location.

Marco Polo:

You mean don’t play blind, this is a written conversation. Although truth be told, I’m a little blind right now, alcohol blind.

River Phoenix:

Fuck

Priscila:

Marcos, send the location

Okay, finally! I can see the escalators going down in the distance.

Priscila:

Found them!

Adri:

Or they found you.

I look away from the cell phone screen and focus my eyes on the floor, watching my step so I don’t end up killing myself. As soon as I put my feet on the escalator and I’m going down, I promise myself I won’t read any more messages, not until I’m at my gate. Because I could miss my flight for real this time.

Adri is typing...

Okay, fine, last one.

Adri:

Pris, can you put the fucking phone down and look straight ahead? You’re going to end up falling down. Good thing I’m downstairs to pick you up.

What?

I look up and I instantly see him. I see them. The three of them. I bring my hand to my mouth, shocked, as my body begins to tremble with anticipation. Adrián is leaning against the glass under the black rubber handrail, his feet and arms crossed, and his eyes fixed on me. Jaime is opposite him, in the exact same position. And in the middle: Alex. And I go straight to him. The escalator drags me helplessly to him while “Forever Young” still floods my ears.

So many things go through my head in the ten seconds that separate us. And as I get closer, my body turns into jelly. And I’m sweating. I’m also confused, expectant... Excited. But I don’t know why; I have no idea what Alex’s presence at the airport means.

His black eyes, fixed on me, are getting closer and closer; his face, which I’m unable to read, is so close now I can almost touch it. His arms, resting by his sides... I’d grab those arms and wrap them around my neck; his chest, rising and falling with heavy breaths...

Oh shit.

I’m already there.

I take off my headphones and hold them in my hand.

“Hi,” I say as I reach the bottom and face him.