Beneath the Disguise

Chapter 9: Unraveling Emotions

The morning after the kiss was filled with a heavy silence, both physical and emotional. Lita awoke with a headache, the remnants of alcohol clouding her thoughts. She lay in bed for a few moments, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together what had happened. Diego’s kiss had felt real—too real to ignore—but she wasn’t sure if it had been a moment of weakness or something more.

She rolled out of bed and went through the motions of her morning routine, preparing a quick breakfast for Junior. The usual comfort of caring for him was somewhat muted, her thoughts lingering on the events of the previous night. She hadn’t expected things to unfold like this—at least not with Diego, of all people.

As she arrived at the office, the tension in the air was thick, even more so than usual. She caught a glimpse of Diego through his office door, standing by his desk, looking pensive and distracted. His gaze met hers for a brief moment, but there was nothing warm about it—just a silent acknowledgment, a shared understanding of what had transpired.

Lita felt an odd knot in her stomach. It wasn’t guilt; it was confusion. She couldn’t tell if the attraction she felt was a product of the alcohol or something deeper, something she had been denying for a while. She had to remind herself that the attraction was dangerous, and she couldn’t afford to let it take over.

After a few minutes, she steeled herself and knocked on Diego’s office door.

“Come in,” he called.

Lita opened the door cautiously, stepping inside. Diego was seated at his desk, staring at the screen, his posture stiff. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of the unsaid words between them was almost tangible.

“Mr. Velasco, about last night…” Lita started, her voice hesitant.

He turned his chair slightly to face her, but his eyes were focused on something just beyond her. “Lito, we need to talk,” he said, his tone a mix of uncertainty and frustration.

Lita took a deep breath, bracing herself. “Yeah. I think we do.”

There was a long pause as both of them seemed to be searching for the right words, but nothing came immediately. Diego finally spoke, his voice lower than usual.

“I don’t know what happened last night,” he said, his words slowly coming together. “I don’t know what came over me. I’ve never been like this before. I thought maybe I was... just drunk. But waking up this morning, I realized it wasn’t just the alcohol. I—”

“Mr. Velasco, you don’t have to explain yourself,” Lita interrupted, though her voice wavered slightly. “I’m not mad, if that’s what you’re worried about.” She forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil inside her. “We both know what happened, and we can just forget about it.”

He looked at her, a frown creasing his brow. “Forget about it? You think that’s possible? This isn’t just some casual mistake, Lito. I’ve never felt anything like this before.”

Lita felt her heart race at his words, but she had to maintain her composure. “I think you need to focus on your work, Mr. Velasco. We both know how complicated this can get. I don't want to be a distraction for you.”

Diego sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck as if trying to shake off the tension that had built up inside him. “But what if this is something more? What if I don’t know how to deal with this? What if I’m just...” He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Lita looked at him with empathy, but her own confusion made it hard for her to offer concrete advice. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. But I also think we need to acknowledge what happened—what we both felt—and take it from there.”

Diego nodded slowly, his eyes dark with conflicted emotions. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I don’t know why I kissed you. I don’t even know what it means.”

Lita felt a pang of disappointment, though she knew it wasn’t his fault. He was just as lost as she was. “You don’t need to apologize. We were both drunk, and honestly, I think it’s okay to feel confused. But for your sake—and mine—we should probably keep some distance.”

His expression shifted slightly, confusion evident. “Distance? Why? I thought we had something.”

“We do. But that’s exactly why we need to be careful,” Lita said, her voice firm. “You don’t know me like that. I’m just a worker here, and I have a lot on my plate with Junior. I can’t let this complicate things.”

Diego’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Okay, I get that. But it doesn’t make this any easier. I don’t want things to be awkward between us.”

Lita smiled faintly, the weight of their conversation still hanging between them. “Neither do I. But right now, I think we both need some space to think. It’s probably for the best.”

As she turned to leave, she glanced back at him one last time. The unspoken connection between them was undeniable, but it was a connection neither of them was ready to explore fully just yet. It was the calm before the storm, and neither of them knew what the future would hold.