Chapter 2 The romantic novel reader

Has always felt attracted to men. More so, for the tall and handsome ones. And that boy who worked in the bookstore where he bought his books had all the physical characteristics that drove him completely crazy.

Unlike Manuel, Milo never truly fell in love. She remembered having boyfriends in high school, but their relationships lasted less than a month. And every time he heard his classmates complain about their romantic relationships, he was sure that stable relationships were not for him.

From high school he went to university. There he rented a room and, during the weekends, he would go to a bar to meet some stranger who would give him a night of affection. The problem was that one of them saw him with another and, even though Milo made it clear that it was just a single night, the guy started hitting him. Luckily, Manuel saved him and took him to his apartment. After a couple of talks, Manuel offered him a room to protect himself from the harassers, on the condition that he pay half of the rent and agree to do the housework that corresponded to him. In the end, Milo accepted. He realized that Manuel was a good person, despite his bad character.

- Luis, you are so tall and handsome.

- Do not you have a girlfriend, Luis?

- Why do you like love books?

- Yeah! It's strange that a boy likes romance!

As usual, the girls couldn't stop hanging out and talking with Luis, who couldn't stop smiling and recommending the romance books he liked. Milo felt very angry. Because of those girls, he couldn't get close to her. It would look very strange, he thought with anguish.

He began to leaf through a few books, while spying on the boy with honey eyes and light brown hair. What I knew about him was that his name was Luis and that in the mornings he worked in the bookstore, since in the afternoon he attended a college entrance course. Or that was what he heard one of the boy's admirers say.

- Mister! Do you need something? - Someone asked him behind his back.

Milo was startled when he saw that it was Luis. Because he was lost in his thoughts, he did not notice that the girls left and Luis came to help him.

- Hey... I wanted to know the price of this book - Milo said, feeling his cheeks turn red - I started reading it and I got hooked on the story.

- Let me see! - Said Luis, who took the book, approached the cashier and checked the price on the computer - it is 20 dollars. You can take our catalog free of charge. And if you want to know about our new acquisitions, just call me. Here you have my card.

- Thank you. Here you have the money.

Milo received the card, which included the full name of the boy he liked.

- "Luis Hernández" - Milo read, once he left the premises - He seems like a good guy, but I'm sure he already has a girlfriend. It's better for him to be with a good girl than with me.

He was about to cross the street when he felt someone holding his arm. She turned around and found the guy she slept with the night before.

- So here you are, bitch! _ - he said, squeezing his arm harder and harder - You can't leave me like this! We were already together a couple of nights! Why don't you go out with me?

- But what are you saying? I do not even know your name!

- How not? I'm Federico! Don't you remember that you said it several times while we were doing it?

Milo got rid of his grip, grabbed Federico by the collar of his shirt and said angrily:

- Just because we did it in a couple of nights doesn't mean we have anything serious. So get lost and leave me in peace!

The pedestrians began to murmur when they saw them fighting. Milo realized that they were attracting attention and decided to flee, but his stalker grabbed his arm again and, this time, he saw that he raised his fist to hit him.

Milo regretted that Manuel was not around. I would surely scold him again if he came home with a black eye. Even so, he had no choice but to close his eyes and wait for the blow.

But that blow did not come. Milo heard people shouting in amazement, so he opened his eyes and saw that the one who stopped the attack was Luis.

- I don't like that they are making a fuss in front of my establishment - Luis said to Federico, showing him a threatening smile - with so much noise you have scared away my customers. So please leave and don't come back. Or I'll have to call the police.

Federico let go of Milo and left, without first casting a look of hatred at Luis. The boy, for his part, approached Milo and asked him:

- Are you OK? Aren't you hurt?

- "I'm fine,"- Milo responded, getting completely nervous seeing him so close. I couldn't help it, he was too handsome.

- Know? It occurred to me that we could have something to drink,- Luis continued. - My shift ends in a few minutes. Don't you have a problem with me accompanying you? I mean, in case that guy comes back again.

- I have no problem - Milo said - I'll wait for you.

Milo didn't know how to react. That boy made him feel things he had never felt for anyone else. He felt like a teenager in love, but he immediately rejected the idea. He was just shocked because Luis saved him. And Luis would do the same with anyone. They would just go out for a drink together and he would leave. In short, he could have all the girls he wanted.

- I'm ready, - Luis said, breaking him out of his thoughts. He took off his work uniform and put on a green jacket with a hood.

- Good. Come on - Milo said, swallowing with nervousness.

And they went together to a bar that was a few blocks away. Nobody said anything. Milo didn't know if he was dreaming or if they were really walking together. Still, he just hoped he wouldn't do something stupid or get into more trouble.