Estrella Berrocal stood still, her back stiffening, not because of the ripples in her heart at the sound of Jago Linares’ name, but because all eyes of those present turned to her ambiguously.
For a moment, it was a little awkward.
And the eyes of Jago Linares also fell on Estrella Berrocal.
“Star?”
Jago Linares stood up and approached her, pulling her chair back in a gentlemanly manner. “It’s been a long time, you’re looking better and better.”
Estrella Berrocal was confused and just smiled politely, “It’s been a long time.”
The people in the cabin began to take up arms.
“Looks like Jago still has Estrella on his mind!”.
Estrella Berrocal’s face heats up, not from shyness, but from embarrassment.
Jago Linares felt nothing, he was used to the flirtations of his old school friends and knew that they had no bad intentions, he just moved the people next to him and sat down next to Estrella Berrocal.
Jago Linares was in no hurry to catch up with her as the room was full of people talking and a bit noisy.
There were many male students in the cabin, but not all of them had arrived yet, and many of them had started smoking, and the room smelled of smoke, something Estrella Berrocal doesn’t usually like to smell, especially now that she is pregnant.
She gave a small nod to those around her and said quietly, “Excuse me for a moment while I go to the bathroom.”
As soon as Estrella Berrocal left the room, someone said to him, “Jago, why don’t you go catch up with her, you just called Estrella, you were so affectionate and now you don’t take the initiative?”
“Yeah, if a couple of us old buddies got married, we could all have some wedding candy!”.
“That’s right, an old-school couple would make a great story!”.
Jago Linares laughed, embarrassed by all the commotion, stood up and said, “I’m going to see.”
…
Estrella Berrocal was wearing only a thin dress, and although it was almost April, it was still a bit chilly when she left the unheated private room.
He touched his arms and sighed to himself, telling himself that he should have listened to Adam and put on his jacket when he was at home.
She didn’t know many of those high school friends, and now at most she knew Claudio Belles. She sent him a WhatsApp asking him when he was coming, otherwise she would stay inside alone like a fool.
He promised himself never to come to such a boring party next time.
More than a class reunion, it was a climbing party. All these classmates had not seen each other for years and now they were all out in the world, those who had made their status by showing off their status, those who had made money by showing off their full designer labels … The catching up with the old classmates had changed in flavor.
It was her first time attending such a class reunion and would be her last, and her personality was not inherently outgoing.
“Star.
Jago Linares followed her.
Estrella Berrocal turned to look, “Why are you out?”.
Jago Linares laughed and said, “Aren’t you cold standing there? It’s a little windy in there.
Jago Linares took off his suit jacket and put it on Estrella Berrocal’s shoulders, who leaned back: “No, I’m not cold, really, thank you”.
But Jago Linares put the blazer over it anyway.
“…”
“And you say you’re not cold, you’re freezing white.”
Estrella Berrocal: “Maybe I put on too much foundation when I went out”.
Jago Linares looks at her gently and says, “There were too many people in there, so it’s good to be out now. I just wanted to talk to you. They’re very direct, you don’t mind.”
“No, I don’t care.”
“I have not been able to get in touch with you all these years, and I have asked many of my classmates, but they can’t get in touch with you either. Also, after I graduated from high school, I went to study in the United States, so the contact with my home country was very little, but now that I have returned to China for work, we can keep in touch in the future.”
Estrella Berrocal nodded with a slight smile, “Good.”
“How have you been … these past two years?” Jago Linares asked hesitantly.
There were some aspects that were difficult to talk about.
For example, Jago Linares wanted to ask: Have you had a boyfriend in the last two years?
But when the words came to his lips, he restrained them hard, fearing to be abrupt.
“I’m fine.”
He reached up to tickle the strands of hair that had escaped his ear.
Jago Linares naturally saw the diamond ring on her ring finger.
“You… are you married?”
Estrella Berrocal said matter-of-factly, “Yes”.
The phone rang and it was Claudio Belles’ WhatsApp.
Estrella Berrocal took off her jacket and gave it back to him: “Claudio Belles is coming, let’s go inside”.
Jago Linares froze and hesitantly picked up the jacket, “… well.”
Estrella Berrocal quickly rose to her feet and advanced toward the private room.
…
Once everyone had arrived, the food began to be served.
There was a large table, Estrella Berrocal silently counted at least two dozen people.
Claudio Belles sat down next to her and asked in a low voice: “That’s Jago Linares over there, huh? I remember he liked you in high school, right?”.
Estrella Berrocal said amused, “It’s just a joke, you can’t take it seriously, besides I’m married and have children.”
“Why does he still seem to be interested in you?”. Claudius Belles shot him a prying look.
Estrella Berrocal reached out and pinched Claudio Belles: “I can’t believe you’re such a gossip.”
The table is huge, and although the glass plate in the center is always spinning, there are too many plates to take.
Jago Linares tells Estrella Berrocal and Claudio Belles: “If you can’t take anything you want, I’ll bring it to you”.
“Yes, thank you.”
Fidel Dimas, seated on the other side of the table, suddenly raised his glass of red wine and slammed it on the glass table.
“It’s been a long time coming, everyone, and I, for one, have had a little bit of guilt on my mind. I wanted to apologize to Estrella.”
“Why apologize properly to Estrella, what’s wrong?”
Some of the students began to ask questions.
Fidel Dimas continued, “When I was studying, I accidentally threw a cheat sheet at Estrella, and she was unfairly accused by the professor. This, it is my fault, and I am here, solemnly apologizing to Estrella.”
“Chit … I thought it was something, it’s old and Estrella wouldn’t remember it. ”
“That’s right, it’s all youthful ignorance, among old comrades, no need to remember that trifle.”
“Come on, let’s laugh about it.”
Fidel Dimas raises his glass, stands up and addresses Estrella Berrocal: “Estrella, I’m going to make it up to you, I’m going to drink it, do whatever you want!”.
Fidel Dimas drank the glass in one gulp.
At the table, the other students, who were good, began to call the shots, “Fidel is a good drinker, Estrella, you have to go too!”
One of the boys got up to offer Estrella Berrocal a drink, but she covered his mouth with her hand.
Fidel Dimas’ red lips curved, “Estrella, you don’t forgive me, so I’ll drink a second glass! If you forgive me and you’re not mad at me anymore, you’ll drink one!”.
Claudio Belles whispered in Estrella Berrocal’s ear: “This Fidel Dimas wants to make a scene”.
Estrella Berrocal picked up her glass of juice and said, “I can’t drink, the glasses come with wine.”
I was about to drink when Fidel Dimas let out a soft laugh and said, “Estrella, you’re looking over my shoulder.”
Jago Linares took a glass of wine and stood up: “How about this, Estrella is not here to drink, I will take Estrella’s place and have one with you”.