Twenty-four (I've returned, inspired by the gray eyes of the most handsome boy around, who had the kindness to send me a photo)

- Good morning, Fran! How was your weekend?

He looked at me with deep affection and, as I handed him the gym bag, he hugged me tightly and started sobbing.

- Come on, little one, you're going to make me sad, what's wrong?

Without letting me go, he said:

- I don't know how to thank you, I don't know what I can do to make you understand the good you do for me, I don't know…

A knot formed in my throat, again. I dropped the bag and returned the hug while whispering in his ear:

- Fran, you give, you give to Laura and me, much more than we could have ever expected. By being you, you've made us very happy, and we only hope you'll stay the same and always be by our side. Nothing more… and nothing less.

I separated from him, kissed his forehead, and looked into his tearful eyes. He smiled and lowered his gaze.

- Did you have a good time?

- It was wonderful, fun, exciting, and liberating. Manu is an impressive guy, and he also admires you a lot, he's got a crush on you, in the most platonic sense of the word.

I noticed how I blushed.

- Certainly, he's a great guy, like you… I think I can grow old thinking that I won't be an abandoned grandfather with no one to take care of me… Because that's what I expect from you, you're just an investment.

He understood the joke, and his smile lit up the day.

- Well, well, I don't know if we'll take care of you or torture you with secrets like you do… And we'll say many bad words in your face. We'll treat Laura like a queen, of course.

We laughed heartily. I wiped away the tears that still moistened his cheeks and kissed his forehead again.

- I think you need to recompose your face. And I need a coffee. This week is going to be tough, but it can catapult the company. Alva… Mr. Gómez has to travel to Berlin for three days to finalize some details, and I'll stay here with the rest of the project, which is a huge responsibility but also an exciting challenge. If everything goes as expected, this company will become a top-level European company.

My confusion with the name had caused him a ironic smile. He abandoned it as he responded:

- If you're in charge, it'll be a success, for sure.

- We'll have to work many extra hours…

- I'm yours 24 hours a day… with Mr. Gómez's permission, of course.

I gave him a affectionate slap on the back of the head and smiled, although I noticed I had blushed. On the other hand, I saw that Fran was more relaxed, and that calmed me down: with luck, he would soon forget what had happened.

- Let's get to work, you little rascal, I don't know if I like that you're so smart!

We laughed heartily and resumed our routine.

The week was intense, wit...