"There's something I need to tell you," he whispered as he looked over at her, his mismatched irises filled with mischief.
"Well can it wait?" she huffed as tried to move away from him, upset that he had disturbed her work area carelessly, tossing her paperwork aside before taking their place on the side of her desk.
"No, there's something I need to tell you…Cereza…it's very important." He repeated, never taking his eyes off hers as he spoke briskly. His voice had risen in tone, and without another word she sighed as she slammed her laptop shut, turning to face him.
"Well?" she fussed as he smiled, sliding off the desk to kneel in front of her, her eyebrow raising as her breath caught in her throat.
All this week, she'd been too busy to hang out with him, to give him the attention he needed and deserved. But not once had he fussed, or complained about the late nights.
All he did was smile and soothe whatever had set off her already volatile moods at the end of the day.
"I'm not proposing, so don't think it." He chuckled teasingly, sitting down on the soft rug, taking his eyes off her as he adjusted on the hardwood floor.
"Well that good," she tittered sarcastically as they met gazes again, his eyes smiling up at her.
"I think we should talk," he started, Cereza crossing her own legs in her desk chair, leaning back as she ran a hand though her hair.
"About?" she asked as she sighed loudly.
What was he up to NOW?
The mischief in his eye faded, the vibrant colors turning dull as they filled with uncertainty.
"I mean…CiCi…we….you know…a few days ago." He started again, Cereza chuckling to ease the rising tension.
"We did what? Mateo please get to the point." She snapped as he dropped his eyes, staying silent for a while before he spoke again.
"We had sex, made love, fucked, did it, went heels to Jesus…"
"We had sex, yes." She interrupted, Mateo wincing at the tone in her voice.
"…..So you didn't feel it too? You didn't…" he stammered as he stood up from his place on the floor, flustered as he pulled his gaze from her.
Cereza watched him as he paced in front of her, her legs still crossed, trying to keep the illusion of disinterest on her face, despite the telltale signs her body were giving off.
Her heart rate had increased and she swallowed to move the lump that had grown in her throat, his words running through her mind.
She had tried to forget that night, the night she'd fallen into his arms, trying to remind herself that they were just friends.
To deny what they both knew was there.
Was it fair to keep it inside? To pretend it doesn't exist for the sake of not being hurt?
She'd been hurt so many times before, and she didn't want to hurt him or be hurt by him.
Or anyone else.
That's why she'd kept her distance.
That why she had built up a wall, to protect her heart.
They sat in silence, Cereza watching as he paced nervously, closing her eyes as she waited for him to speak again.
"Mateo…" she sighed, meeting his gaze once again as he stopped in his tracks.
"I love you Cereza." He said simply, cutting her off before she could speak.
He was now watching her intently, saw the way his words had affected her as her eyebrows' raised in surprise.
"I love you. And I don't want to be friends with you. I don't want to be your…pet…I want YOU. I always have and I have been in love with you from day one." He fished as he walked over to her, Cereza gasping as she tried to breath, closing her eyes as tears threatened to spill down her cheeks, gasping her hands against her chest.
"It was just sex Mateo," she whispered after a while, Mateo shaking his head as he chucked incredously.
"Is that what you think? Do you honestly expect me to believe that?"
Without another word he reached down and pulled her into his chest, surprising her as fragile tears fell down her face.
"Why are you saying that Cereza?" he asked as she closed her eyes, not wanting to meet his gaze.
Why…WHY did he have to say those words?
"Why are you crying?" he continued, his voice softening as he kept her in his embrace, moving a hand to caress her face, pulling her chin towards him.
"No," she finally squeaked out as the tears fell faster, Cereza trying to pull away from him in vain as he tightened his grip.
"Cereza…"
"No…"
"Cereza…Ci LOOK AT ME!" he yelled as his anger grew, Mateo shaking her slightly until she meet his gaze.
It was only sex right?
That was the" agreement that they wouldn't fall in love.
But as she stood staring at him, she knew he couldn't deny it any longer.
His eye were filled with question, seeking the answer to what he had confided to her as they stood in silence.
"Tell me you don't love me and I will never press this on you again…"he whispered as he positioned his face for a kiss, only to be interrupted by the door bell to her apartment.
Cereza felt her tears dry as he ignored the bell, wiping away her tears with his fingers.
"Just tell me…its not that hard," he joked as he placed a hand under her cheek, once again lowering his lips to hers as her eyes widened before closing as their lips met. He pressed his lips urgently against hers as the doorbell grew silent, replaced by a loud beating at the door.
"Fuck," he huffed as he groaned, pulling away from slowly, his eyes still on her as conflict showed on her face. He knew…that's she loved him too, but she didn't know if she could trust his with her most heavily guarded possession.
"I'll be back," he whispered as she pulled away, Cereza opening her mouth to peak.
"Mateo,"
"Babe hold on," he said as he walked to answer her door, Cerza following a few feet before she stopped and at on her floor.
"Mateo…I…"she started a he reached to door in front of them, reaching  it with annoyance as he peered out her privacy hole.
"Were you expecting someone?"
"No," she answered, sitting in silence as he heard the door squeak open, the noise instantly annoying her.
But her annoyance was quickly replaced but another sound.
One more frightening.
A single gun shot rand out, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor.