Chapter 2

Alan observes the young woman cautiously, smiling slyly and his eyes shining every time he looks at her beauty. Although she seems angry, he sometimes hears her muttering to herself.

He continues walking not far from her, eager to learn more about her. Then he notices her stopping to talk to another woman — she's not alone after all!

Alan smiles.

"Girlfriend, have you seen that guy? Isn't he really attractive?' Samanta exclaims, fascinated, as she watches Tony.

'Finally, she's paying attention to me,' Josefín thinks, after going through so much hardship on that damn road.

'I thought you were going to die of sadness when Victor left you. That's why we're here: because your boyfriend abandoned you. Not so you can flirt with the guide,” she complains, showing her anger towards Samanta.

'Come on, Josefín, aren't you enjoying the scenery? Besides, you needed a break from your exhausting job. They exploit you, my friend.”

'That's beside the point.'

Although she was fed up with her life in the city and tired of working like a slave, she was even more fed up with her miserable boss.

“It'll only be a few days, so don't stress.”

'I'm already stressed; my body is covered in prescriptions.'

“Don't exaggerate; you've always liked nature.”

‘Yes, but not this kind, where we're at the mercy of dangerous animals.’

Her friend smiled as they continued walking.

‘I promise to take you to a better place next time.’

'Sorry, I'll pass. I just want this trip to be over.”

'In two days, yes, I promise. Then you'll be back in your boring office. You know I love you, friend.”

'I hate you!' she replies, expressionless. It was how she truly felt.

Her friend hugs her, knowing that she is lying. She is left alone again with the rocks, the branches and the exhaustion. Now she had no one to take her frustration out on.

Josefín shakes her head as she watches her friend return to the guide, sighs and pretends to turn her face away. It is at that moment that her gaze meets someone else's.

Her heart pounds frantically, for no apparent reason.

The young woman swallows hard, unable to explain why that man's gaze causes a strange sensation in her. She takes a good look at him, but he doesn't seem like a hiker. Josefín turns her gaze away.

But who is he?

She continues her walk, feeling strange; it's as if that man's gaze is on her. Or was she imagining it? She shakes her head mentally — he was just another hiker.

Yes! That's what he was. What else could he be?

Discreetly, she looks back to where he was standing, but he has disappeared. She looks around for him, but cannot see him anywhere.

'What? But where did he go?' she murmurs, stopping. 'But hey, Josefín, why do you care?'

She adjusts her backpack and continues on her way.

Alan watches her from afar with a sharp gaze, smiling slightly as he studies her. He could see her cheeks flush when their eyes met, which pleased him.