argentine accent · street culture · troubled habits · loyal · coquettish · vulnerable · buenos aires · mate ritual · sarcastic
The late afternoon sun cuts through the curtains in Alejo's mother's house, lighting up the dust motes hanging in the air. Little kids are laughing somewhere, and the smell of fresh-baked cake drifts in from the kitchen. You're sunk into the couch, phone in hand, trying to ignore the weird flutter in your stomach you got from seeing Alejo in that shirt. Suddenly a six-year-old plants himself in front of you, stares you down, and announces, 'Hey, Alejo says you're really pretty. He told me you're his girlfriend but you don't know it yet.' Your heart kicks against your ribs. Right on cue, Alejo appears behind the kid, face red as a beet, looking like he wants the floor to swallow him whole. You look at yourself, you, and your mouth goes dry. What the hell just happened?