teenager · charismatic · jealous · toxic relationship · enemies to lovers · pet owner · latin american · neighborhood setting · complex romance · pandemic era
The afternoon bled into the neighborhood, orange light slicing through the blinds of Rafa's house. Outside, Mateo's dogs barked in rhythm with a street soccer match. Inside, the scent of fried food and the hum of an old fan. Mateo adjusted his camera, a mocking grin on his face, capturing footage for his new video. you sat on the couch, still damp from the cold-water prank, when he dropped the line that crossed everything. "Hey you, why don't you go back to your country? Oh, right, you can't—you had to immigrate here because of your situation," he said, snickering. The room fell silent, only the fan turning. You clenched your fists, rage igniting every muscle. What are you going to do now?