El sol brilla con fuerza.
La gente, cada vez con menos ropa y más colores,
desfila por la calle.
La primavera ha llegado a la ciudad.
Delafé Y Las Flores Azules.
VÍCTOR - I'M ON MY WAY.
Thank you.
VALERIA - WHAT DID YOU PREPARE?
VÍCTOR - I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
VALERIA - I'M INTRIGUED.
VÍCTOR - ARE YOU THERE ALREADY?
VALERIA - ON MY WAY.
-Hello. -Hello, my darling.
-How are you? -Very well. And you?
I wish this was a present for you, but these are some blueprints for Dad.
-Why don't you give them to him? -I haven't had time this month, Mom.
-I haven't seen him. -I can hand them off.
VÍCTOR- I'LL BE THERE AS SOON AS I CAN.
Let's have lunch. Are you hungry?
MOM - FOR ME? VÍCTOR - ARE YOU THERE ALREADY?
MOM - YES. HURRY UP.
-Good afternoon. -Hello. How are you?
VALERIA - WHAT DID YOU PREPARE? VÍCTOR - I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
-I'M INTRIGUED. -ARE YOU THERE ALREADY?
VALERIA - WHAT DID YOU PREPARE? BRUNO - A LITTLE SOMETHING.
Uh… this one.
-I'M INTRIGUED. -ARE YOU HOME?
ON MY WAY.
Thanks a lot.
BRUNO - YOU HAVE AN EMAIL TO READ, BUT YOU'D BETTER OPEN IT AT HOME.
BRUNO - I KNOW YOU'RE IGNORING ME AND CHECKING YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW,
BUT READ IT AT HOME.
BRUNO AGUILAR SHORT STORY, PDF
GODDESS
BASED ON THE NOVELS BY ELÍSABET BENAVENT
-It's heavy. -What is it?
3.5 TASTE YOU
-Oh, is it a love note? -No.
Some kind of invitation to a presentation?
No.
-Tell me it's a dick pic. -What? No.
-Well, then I'm not interested. -Fine. Okay.
Are you prepared?
"I couldn't take my eyes off her."
"We were exhausted after the battle."
"She was taking me to a place which looked safe."
"I should have been watching every corner,
but my gaze was trapped on her figure."
"Strong."
"Confident."
"Protective."
"She looked at herself. Her gesture showed no apprehension."
"And I understood. She was a goddess."
"A goddess of war, born to see men prostrate at her feet."
"Men like me."
"She moved closer to me,
and, grabbing me by the neck, thrust her wet mouth onto mine."
"Everything was ready."
"She simply climbed on top and mounted me, and I penetrated her slowly."
"We tried everything."
"Everything I ever desired, and everything I had never even imagined."
"Everything, depraved or not…"
"…became tangible in her body."
"It was her."
"Valeria."
Mm!
Ah…
-Wow! -Okay, Val.
This is a whole lot better than a dick pic.
It's kinda weird, but I was a bit turned on by this dystopian Valeria.
-Yeah? -Oh?
-I mean, are you gonna answer? -Yeah, but what do you even say to this?
"Well, thanks a bunch for that story. I masturbated three times reading it,
but now I'm more confused than I was."
Wait, why are you confused?
Because this makes me like Bruno even more,
but I've still got Víctor running through my mind.
-Ugh… -Hey, hey, hey. Okay.
Víctor treated Valeria really badly,
but it might be in bad taste to go "Ugh," no?
-No, it isn't that. -Oh.
That's not what I'm doing. My stomach feels awful.
With the wedding, and now the extra work…
-I keep my nerves in here. -You have got to relax.
-Yeah. -You're this stressed out now.
What will happen when you advance in the company?
I don't know. An ulcer?
-Come on, take this. -Thank you.
So what are you gonna do about Bruno?
No idea.
Also, tomorrow, I'm meeting Chus, and my writer's block will freak her out.
-I could unblock you in no time. -Really?
-What? -After that email?
Fuck that man in every corner of this house, if I'm honest.
If he fucks like he writes, it's a no-brainer.
Something wrong?
I don't know.
Look, lately, you've been acting… a little raunchy, if I'm being honest.
Mm. Yeah, and for you that's a lot.
-Are you not seeing Rai? -What do you mean?
I don't have a future with a guy who thinks red wine, Coke,
and blackberry syrup is a cocktail.
Well, you did say he was mature despite his age.
-Why don't you just give it a try? -No!
But I do want to be friends with him.
-Hmm. -Okay then.
The other day, I was talking to a colleague,
and that colleague encouraged me to do it.
The problem is that my colleague's relationships are the craziest.
-Although my colleague made sen-- -I know that colleague is Víctor.
Don't worry, it's fine. It's about time I hear about him without being affected.
-Yeah, girl. Well done. You are a goddess. -You're a warrior.
Exactly. Thank you.
And maybe what I need to completely be able to get over him
is to hear he's moved on, he's dating other girls--
He's moved on. I think he's dating other girls.
-Oh jeez. -Fuck's sake, Lola!
-That was harsh. -But you said you needed to hear it.
Val, just be like me.
If Víctor doesn't have what you want, just get him out of there.
Or you could just go with Bruno, so you're not weeping all alone like her.
Let me remind you I'm not the only one who's single in this house.
Touché.
I can't believe it.
You're so obsessed with having a partner or getting laid.
Come on, Carmen, you're the only one who can fuck whenever you want.
Are you reading it?
-Yeah. It's a book Valeria gave me. -Yes, yes, I remember.
Everything okay?
Yeah. Yeah, but I'd better be going.
Mom, may I remind you I'm not one of your patients,
so your silences are never gonna work with me.
Valeria and I broke up, but everything is fine.
-Am I allowed to go now? -Oh, darling.
I know what you'll tell me. It'll be fine, you love me very much.
-Thank you, but-- -You are an asshole.
Well, shit.
As your mother, you know I'm obligated to tell you
that I think you're really fucking this up right now.
It was a mature decision. We made it thoughtfully, together.
I've realized that I'm not what Valeria wants.
Víctor, you have to grow up, and you have to do it right now,
or you will become whoever that person is that you want us to think you are.
I know the kind of person I am and the things I need.
Sure, you can fool yourself that your thing with Valeria is just sex,
but you'll see that she moved on
and is with someone who's less of an asshole than you
and who prefers to make her happy rather than gazing at his own navel.
Hmm?
Ay.
I do love you.
These are the samples for the petal bags and…
Sorry.
Please, everything we choose has to be entered into the wedding journal.
Okay. Maybe you can show me the photos of the estate? I feel bad I wasn't there.
Poor thing. She had to go around Paris with a croissant, suffering, you know?
Ugh! Well.
-All right, they're right here. -Ooh!
And this is the entrance.
-We do the banquet in the back. -Okay. Uh…
-What is this? -It's a photo booth.
So guests can take silly pictures of themselves.
Ooh…
A photo booth.
Hmm. Okay, a photo booth. Good. Very, very modern.
Good. I'll go get my iPad, okay? But keep going. I'll be listening.
Well, since the reception will be outside, we'll have the chairs done in white linen
and with some arrangements of gardenias.
Mm. Fine, fine. I think that's fine. Yeah.
-Look. -Sorry, yeah.
I thought this could be a good place for a candy cart.
A… cart full of candy?
-Hmm. -A whole one?
Of course.
Sorry. I have to answer this email, but go ahead. I'm listening. Go ahead.
Okay. Well, for, uh… the first dance, we were thinking that we'd, uh…
-Hmm. -Yeah?
We thought we both could do a reggaeton and twerking.
Yeah, that suits us. Good.
Absolutely, and we were also thinking maybe for your grand entrance,
we might rent an ornate carriage that's pulled by horses.
-Just like El Rocío. -Just like El Rocío.
-Olé! -Very good, guys.
Good job. I mean, what a wedding!
And also, to cut the cake, we would use a big sword, you know?
-Like this. -Ooh! Doves will come flying out.
-Ooh! -In different colors. 200 of them.
-Right? -Yeah, a flock. A bunch.
-That's, uh… That is incredible. -Incredible? It would be so tacky!
-Why did you get it, then? -Carmen, we haven't gotten anything yet.
We need you to focus when we have these meetings,
and it would be helpful if you could be present.
If I can't be there when I have to,
I don't want to be a stereotypical ball-breaker.
You have to stop feeling guilty about that promotion.
-I know, but-- -But nothing.
You deserve it. You worked very hard for it.
And besides, thanks to your raise,
we'll be able to pay for the wedding of our dreams.
Okay. Thank you.
Ah!
I almost fell for the candy-cart thing!
Well, the candy cart, I actually thought was a good idea…
Did you?
-I think it is. -Um… I don't…
I'm not sure. What is it?
-I made a match! -Who?
-Nuria. -The perfect one?
-What perfect one? -Mm!
The future mother of my kids,
with whom I'll organize the best wedding on the planet, that one.
She's saying… the second-best wedding on the planet, Borja.
The candy cart isn't happening.
-See you tomorrow. -All right.
-Reviewing chapter two of the textbook… -Hey! Do you have an exam right now?
If you need more guidance, schedule a meeting…
Should I ask you in Spanish?
"¿Tienes el examen ahora?"
Or do you prefer Chinese? "Ni yu--"
Well, I still can't say that.
Would you behave like an adult and answer me, please?
Oh, no, it's just… I thought that the adult thing was not to answer,
since you didn't answer my call or the texts I sent.
If you had important things you wanted to tell me, you could have insisted.
Listen, Lola,
I… may be a kid,
but one thing is clear, I'm not someone who begs for attention.
I'm sorry?
I don't know what you're used to,
but if a girl doesn't answer my calls, I'll take the hint. I won't call anymore.
-But I… -That's called respect.
If you don't mind, I'd ask you to show me the same.
And yes, I have an exam.
I've gotten used to bad relationships, okay?
You mentioned that you don't know the relationships that I'm used to. Well…
I'm used to bad ones.
A relationship where he'd call me up whenever he wanted to
or when his wife wasn't around,
who, when I didn't answer the phone, would just send lots of messages,
way too many messages.
Well, I don't want that.
Yeah, me neither.
AINA - I HEAR MOM GAVE YOU THERAPY ON A TERRACE. WANT TO TALK?
The keys to my house.
-What's up? -Come on.
I can't stop thinking about you.
Wow.
Oh!
Mm…
That was great. I needed a fuck like that.
Yeah.
"Lolita made us meet one night, and suddenly, everything got complicated."
"I hope you never regret letting me into your life."
-"Someday, when you wake up…" -Did she give it to you?
What?
The girl you were thinking about while we were fucking.
-No, I wasn't, I-- -Don't worry.
You and I were looking for the same thing. To forget.
Pain goes away with time, you know?
And you forget it.
Or you adapt to it.
I don't know.
And in the meantime?
In the meantime, this.
You're on the right path.
-Oh, that's such a relief! I thought-- -Mm, although…
Oh my God.
I have some notes about the main character's relationship with Víctor.
Hmm!
-It's getting a little… -Complicated?
No, it's toxic.
I mean, toxic?
The problem is just that they want different things. Right?
She needs to forget about him and focus on herself.
I remember there was another writer we got some clues about in the draft, right?
Yes. Well, I mean, they really like each other,
but they need to get to know each other more.
They could do all that in a third novel.
What if they're not a match?
Oh, they are. I've seen it.
In the pages of the first draft.
Yeah!
Mm. But, uh…
we're talking about fiction, right?
Of course we are.
What if it's bad? And she ends up getting hurt again?
That depends on her.
She can't repeat the same mistakes she made.
Which ones?
Attempting to save a relationship that doesn't work,
like she did with her marriage.
Oh.
So you think she should try and see where her opportunity goes with the writer?
Mm-hmm.
But the main character's Víctor.
No, that would be Valeria.
She has the power to decide what happens to her.
Hmm.
Maybe, in the next draft I turn in,
the main character will have made her decision.
-Mmm. -Mmm.
It was a pleasure.
A pleasure for me too.
-See you later, Cristina. -See you later.
-Hello. -Hello!
See you later.
Bye!
Uh, red wine?
Oh, don't play the sommelier. I wanna hear all about it.
I need to know two things. One, who was that girl?
Two, that you didn't fuck on this sofa, please, Víctor.
Her name is Cristina, and she's just a friend.
Yeah, sure.
I'm also a friend of yours, and you don't talk to me butt naked.
-I just took a shower, Lola. -You weren't wet.
I'd already dried off.
Then I recommend you change your routine
because your body wash smells like condoms.
I slept with her, okay?
All right? And the only thing I have to show for it
is realizing I can't get Valeria out of my head.
I'm sick of it.
Did I fuck it up with Valeria?
Yes. You fucked it up with Valeria.
But thinking about all this just after fucking another girl
is a bit strange, right?
What am I supposed to do?
Well…
You'll figure it all out.
What do you want with Valeria?
Then leave the girl be, Víctor.
Live your life.
Hmm…
A NEW PATH, LEAVE VÍCTOR BEHIND
LOSS OF HOPE, MOVE ON, FORGET
A NEW PATH UNFOLDED BEFORE ME…
LOSS OF HOPE, FORGET
FORGET, DISAPPOINTMENT, KNOW WHEN TO STOP, MOVE ON
CHANGE, STOP, HELP
DISAPPOINTING, DON'T LOOK BACK, HEARTBREAK, FEAR
FED UP, TIRED, START OVER, CHANGE, FORGET VÍCTOR
-Hello? -Tell me, Férriz.
Sensual or erotic?
Mm… Sensual?
Uh… Obscene?
-Lecherous. -Li… Libidinous.
Lewd?
Pornographic?
Oh! That's lovely!
-Mm. -What do you think?
Beautiful.
Yeah, you're also beautiful with that tomato sauce on your face.
Where?
-I don't have anything. -On your face.
-I don't have anything here. -Here.
-Here, right here. -No. Oh!
-There! -It was on the other side.
IMPOSTOR
BRUNO - I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU
Oh!
Yeah.
Because I looked it up. Sure, I look everything up.
-Hello! -Hi.
Let's see, as your Moneypenny, I have your planner.
At 10:30 this morning, you have a call with the catering company, okay?
At 12 o'clock, a meeting for a wedding,
and at four o'clock, you'll visit venues for the publishing-company event.
Hello? Shall I use my Siri voice for you to pay attention to me?
I… I was talking to Nuria.
Ohh, she's obsessing.
Yes, after a few days of chatting, we're gonna meet.
Ooh! Hallelujah, hallelujah!
-I want a report from you first thing. -Hold on! Who's the one in charge here?
Oh, by the way, Georgina's coming now.
Just for a moment, to proof Carmen and Borja's photos.
Surprise, she's running late.
I hope she conducts herself professionally.
Why? Did something happen?
-No. -Come on, tell me, girl.
Come on, you have to tell me. What's wrong?
-Okay, don't tell anyone. -Of course.
I think that she's got a bit of a crush on me because…
because the other day, we slept together, and… well, well…
I can't believe it. What cologne are you using?
-I want some. -No, no, Georgina was a mistake.
Very satisfactory, but a mistake.
Good morning! I'm sorry I'm late.
Let's see, I preselected the best ones.
-We can take a look at them together. -Mm-hmm. Ah, huh.
-Which ones? -Look here.
There aren't many, but some are very good.
All right, I can manage.
-Oh, you were going-- -I was gonna unlock it, yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Look.
Hmm!
Ah, well, then. I'm into this one…
-Okay. -This one.
-And this one as well. -Mm-hmm.
-Yeah. -Uh, you're blocking the light a little.
-Are you okay? -Yes, she coughed.
She's, uh… not feeling well.
-Mm-hmm. -The weather's terrible.
Well, then I'll start retouching the ones you told me to.
Yes. I must say it was a good idea to do Carmen and Borja's photos again.
They're much better. Hello?
-I'm up here. -Sure.
You've just got a spot of coffee there.
Well.
Uh, this is definitely decided, right?
And hurry up because I don't wanna be responsible for any delays.
-Then let's get to work. Right? -Yes. I have a lot of meetings.
-I'll see you later. -Mm-hmm. Goodbye.
-Bye, sweetie! -Bye!
Not even a word.
I'm going to fall!
-Ah! -Don't!
No, no, no, no!
We could've met up to do something, I don't know, call me crazy, seated?
-Yeah. -This is more fun, Carmen.
-How are you doing with your diarrhea? -It's not diarrhea. Only a stomachache.
It went away when I talked to Borja.
-Now I have a headache. -Maybe a virus?
Yes, a virus made of somatic insecurities.
Since you started talking to Nuria, you're more arrogant, aren't you?
-I wrote to her to meet up. -Oooh!
I mean, she's the one. I know it. She's perfect.
For example, when we talk over DMs, she's always on time.
-Georgina's always late. -Who?
-The wedding photographer. -And you can talk about anything to Nuria.
Books, politics, film.
I mean, some people only have one thing to talk about, like Georgina.
-Is she cute? -No, she's appalling.
-I thought she was posh, right? -Hmm?
I was thinking you meant Georgina. No.
Nuria's beautiful, and she's not posh. She just puts time into her appearance.
-She's pretty great, then? -She's amazing. We talk about everything.
-So she's perfection! -Mm-hmm.
Even though she's not Georgina, who you don't stop talking about.
Bruno is coming to Madrid tomorrow.
He'll stay at my house.
-Ooooh! -Are you excited?
-I'm nervous. -Wait for me!
Everything we've done has been long distance.
What if in-person doesn't work?
He ate your pussy in person, and that worked, right?
Hey, uh… what did I miss?
Bruno is coming to Madrid tomorrow to have a hell of a time with Valeria.
-Ah. -I mean it.
There are things that you can't tell from far away,
and, oh shit, we'll be spending two whole days in my house, "cohabitating".
But the times you did see each other in person, did you feel that connection?
Yeah, very much.
OK, then you have nothing to worry about.
Yeah.
-Oh… -What is it?
-Oh, Nerea… -What's wrong?
-I'm gonna fall. Hold my hand? -Oh, Lola, I think I like him.
Well, honey, then… enjoy it.
-Mm… -Yes.
-Save your worrying for some other time. -Yeah.
By the way, Nerea digs Georgina.
-She does, right? -Of course.
-Even though she gets upset with herself. -I'm gonna let go.
-Hey, I bet you ten euros they fucked. -No.
-Balance. -Not too bad.
It's a deal.
-I have the pre-wedding photos, finally. -Oh! How are they?
-Just incredible. -Okay!
-Also I have gift ideas for the guests. -Uh-huh?
Ballet flats for the women.
-For the men, canvas sports shoes. -Right.
-Another idea, the same shoes, but unisex. -Just a minute.
-One second-- -They're very reasonable.
-What's happening? -I feel sick.
You need some air.
-Carmen! -You're all right.
Oh!
Are you okay?
I just mentioned the wedding to her and… bleurgh.
Carmen, this whole somatic thing… Your stress is getting unmanageable.
-Don't you think? -Yes.
It's really time to see the doctor.
You might be waiting between heaves to say, "I do".
-No, not that. -I feel terrible.
-Here you are, honey. -Oh, thank you, my love.
Ow.
-Excuse me. -Oh. Nuria.
-Hi. -Hi!
-How are you? -How is it going? It's a pleasure. Oh.
Never mind.
Coming!
I was so eager to see you,
I didn't know if I should ring the bell or break down your door.
-Come on in. -Thank you.
Hello.
I love your voice.
I could eat you whole.
I love your touch too.
Let's try taste, then.
Oh God.
This is much better than through a screen.
Yes, much better.
No, please, wait. I'm not done writing. Come on, my love.
-Please-- -Lie down. Come on. Lie down.
-To both of us. -To us!
Fucking holy shit, God damn it!
Mmm…
Voilà.
-Here you are, your scrambled eggs. -Hmm.
Do you want a piece of bacon?
-Yes. -Yes?
-Yes. -Well, we really should go get the bacon.
I have to… I gotta make a call.
-All right. -Okay?
-Perfect. -Yeah.
I hope after your night with Bruno, you won't be able to sit down for a month.
And good morning to you too.
Was it good? How was it?
Hmm… Yeah, everything was great.
And we spent the whole night just…
That's my girl.
-But… -But? Is there a but?
I mean, when he comes, he does something really strange.
Does he start laughing?
-He cries. Please don't tell me he cries. -What?
Once I was with a guy who cried.
Since I like fucking so much, you can imagine the drama.
No. No, no, no. It's just that
when he comes, he… he says sort of… a lot of swear words.
To you?
No. Not to me. No. In general.
What do you mean?
"Fucking holy shit, God damn it!"
-And did you say anything? -No. I didn't.
Seriously, everything else is perfect.
Sex was amazing.
He… He's super loving.
I don't know, I mean…
I can finally see I could have something good and healthy
and get out of that endless loop with Víctor.
Totally! I'm so glad that you finally decided to get over…
Víctor?
Also Bruno is very funny.
-He's ironic, grown up… -Val, I'll call you back later, okay? Bye.
Wait… what? Lola?
I wanna be with her.
Hah! So what happened to that little boy
whose dick would shrink when he heard the word commitment?
-Is that coffee yours? -That one.
I've been thinking about it, and I'm sure it'll work.
I know that I was an idiot. I wanna take her somewhere special.
-I'll ask her-- -Stop, stop. Stop it. You won't do that.
Of course I will. I'm certain.
-I know the things I'll tell her-- -No!
She is seeing another guy.
-What are you talking about? -Val met someone, and she's happy.
She's happy with this guy.
But I… Uh…
Víctor, the other day, at your house,
when I asked if you knew what you wanted, you were silent.
-I was-- -No. I will ask you another question.
I want you to answer me.
Do you want Val to be happy?
Then let her be happy, okay?
Mm.
And so, to introduce our brand to the northern European market,
it is essential for the image of the brand to be an…
Sorry. Uh…
To be… an attractive image.
I'm sorry. And to be adapted to the idiosyncrasies of each country.
I'm sorry, I have to…
I'm sorry.
Ah! Because it has been proven
that if the client perceives the brand as local,
the attachment to the brand… expands.
Hmm… Done?
-Very well, then. -Thank you.
Well done, Carmen.
-Wonderful. -Yeah!
Fuck.
Come on!
No.
12 DAYS LATE CHANCE OF PREGNANCY
It can't be.
No. Impossible…
It can't…
-Carmen? -Yes?
Are you okay?
Yes! Fine!
Won't you stay a little bit more?
-I want to beat you at Scrabble again. -Excuse me?
I wish, but I have two cats in Asturias, and, if I'm not there to feed them,
they will eat each other, and that's just not pleasant, you know?
-No. -Hmm.
It felt so short.
It did to me too.
But I'll come back soon.
I'm gonna go.
-I'll see you. -Bye.
-Did you forget something? -No.
Would I seem like a psychopath if I told you I already miss you?
We're both psychopaths then.
I don't think I'll be able to wait until my next trip to Madrid.
Neither will I.
Would you like to come to Asturias?
Uh…
Bye!