We had been together for a long time. Our relationship had always been the kind that everyone on the national team envied a little. Gilberto and I almost never argued; he was always attentive, hugging me for no reason, holding my hand, and finding any excuse to make me smile. That’s exactly why what happened that morning hit me like a bucket of cold water.
It all started when he left his phone unlocked on our Airbnb bed. I wasn't the type to snoop, but something made me curious. I picked it up thinking I wouldn't find anything… until I saw a saved chat under the name Paula.
There was no "I love you" or overtly romantic messages. That was the worst part. They were normal conversations, but just too… close.
"When will we meet?" "Let me know when you arrive." "It was nice seeing you today."
They weren't enough to prove he was cheating on me, but they were more than enough to let a thousand thoughts run through my mind.
I didn't say a word.
I put the phone back exactly where it was and acted like nothing happened.
Hours later, we all went out to the plaza. Alexis Vega, Mateo Chávez, Brian Gutiérrez, Armando “La Hormiga” González, El Piojo Alvarado, and several others from the team were there. Through laughter, food, and jokes, Gil was his usual self with me.
He held my waist as we walked. He stole kisses from me when nobody was looking. He asked me what I wanted to buy. He made me laugh at every little thing.
And for a moment, I managed to convince myself that it was all in my head.
Until he vanished.
Suddenly, he said he had to make a call and walked away for several minutes. From where I was, I couldn't hear a thing. I only saw him pacing back and forth with his phone pressed to his ear.
I didn't know who he was talking to. I didn't know if it was some coach… His family… Or Paula.
And that doubt settled back into my mind.
When he returned, he acted completely normal, as if nothing had happened. I tried to do the same, but I couldn't look at him the same way. I responded with small smiles, spoke less, and avoided eye contact.
He didn't seem to notice.
Or so I thought.
When the outing ended, we were all returning to the Airbnb in vans. The atmosphere was calm until Gil’s phone started to ring.
A name appeared on the screen that made my stomach churn.
Paula.
He saw the call… and let it ring.
Seconds later, another call came in.
Paula.
I looked at him out of the corner of my eye.
"Aren't you going to answer?" I asked, with a tone much more serious than I intended.
He shook his head.
"No."
That was it.
He gave no explanations. He didn't say who it was. He didn't say why she was calling twice. He just put the phone away.
I nodded slowly.
"Okay…"
And I turned my gaze toward the window.
The silence between us began to feel heavy.
For the rest of the ride, I barely responded when he spoke to me. He tried to make conversation, asking if I was tired or if I wanted dinner when we got back, but I answered in monosyllables.
Because, although part of me wanted to believe him and hug him as always…
The other part couldn't stop wondering why a girl named Paula was texting him to meet up, why he walked away to talk on the phone, and why, specifically that day, he had insisted so much on calling her.
Gil still didn't understand what was happening.
But I couldn't stop thinking about it.