Encounters

'No, not yet.'

Claudio knew his friend was talking about the moment to get off the bus, but there was something in Catalina's big blue eyes, in her way to comb constantly her hazel curls, in the reasons why they were ending the trip taking hands, their lips only inches away, testing the limits of their friendship. That evening was the first time they saw each other just as they were, man and woman, leaving behind the veil of the unexplored feelings.

Given the moment, he offer Catalina his hand to help her got off the white and green machine, but she didn't let go when they started walking, nor was in her a gesture to give away the warmth in her friend hand. She just stared at him, caught in his brown eyes and his pale skin, which seem unalterable in contact with sunlight. A gust of wind disheveled the hair of both, but this time she didn't rush to comb hers, stupefied by the gentle face of Claudio.

Night found them in front of Catalina's home. Still taking hands they gaze at each other, charmed by the feelings they were experimenting. They both felt the need to let go, to surrender to the passion that started boiling under their skin; however, they were petrified. They weren't even capable to pronounce any word, captive by the fear of being wrong and risking the lost of years of friendship for a moment of untamed lust.

The sound of a distant alarm took them out of their troubled lethargy. Fearful by the situation they let go each other's hand, nervous and restraint by feeling so close to change their relationship forever. In the rush of the farewell, Claudio and Catalina started the ritual of the hug and the kiss, but they also touch the sides of each other's lips, making them felt more ashamed. When Catalina entered the house, her friend couldn't stop thinking about what happened and finally walked away whispering something almost inaudible.

'No, not yet.'