034 | the aftermath

The days following Gianna's intense training session felt like a blur. Though she had given in and taken a break that day, the ache in her muscles still persisted, but it wasn't just the physical exhaustion weighing on her-there was a nagging sense of guilt. Guilt for pushing herself too far, guilt for not listening to those around her, especially Hector, who had always looked out for her.

Hector hadn't left her side much in the days since, keeping an eye on her progress while maintaining a lighthearted but protective attitude. He had taken to showing up unannounced, popping by her apartment or walking with her to training, like a constant presence in her life. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. It was comforting, but at the same time, it made her more aware of how much he really did care about her well-being.

Gianna sat on the couch that evening, her knee propped up on a cushion, nursing a cold compress against it. The night was quiet except for the occasional buzz of her phone, which she had mostly ignored in favor of the much-needed peace.

There was a knock at her door, and without even looking, she knew who it was.

She opened it to find Hector standing there, a bottle of water and a bag of snacks in his hands. His usual grin was replaced with a more serious expression as he stepped inside.

"Still taking it easy, I hope?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm taking care of it," Gianna replied, smiling but feeling a little guilty under the weight of his gaze. "You've been checking on me like a hawk."

"I'm just making sure you don't push yourself too far again," he said, lowering himself into the chair across from her. "I'll have you know I had a conversation with Marc about this."

Gianna raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? What did he say?"

Hector gave her a smirk. "He told me to take you out to lunch every day until you agree to listen to us. Said it would calm you down."

Gianna chuckled, rolling her eyes. "You two are unbelievable. Fine, I'll listen. I promise I'll stop overdoing it."

Hector leaned forward, a hint of concern still visible in his eyes. "I'm serious, Gianna. You have to take care of yourself. We're not going anywhere. You've got plenty of time to get back to your best."

She looked at him, really looked at him for the first time in a while. His eyes weren't just concerned; they were sincere, maybe even... something more. The realization hit her hard, and she quickly looked away, her heart racing as she tried to regain some composure.

"Right. I know," she replied quickly, standing up and grabbing a cushion to shift her focus. "So, what's in the bag? You bringing me snacks because I look pitiful?"

Hector laughed, the tension lifting from his shoulders as he stood. "Maybe a little, but I also figured you could use something to distract you. Some chocolate, some fruit-what else do you need?"

"Maybe a couple of hours of uninterrupted peace," Gianna said with a grin, settling back down. "But I'll take the snacks."

As Hector handed her the bag, their fingers brushed for a moment, and Gianna's breath caught. She looked up at him, her pulse suddenly quickening.

For a second, Hector seemed to pause as well, his eyes flicking to her lips before he cleared his throat and looked away. It was only a moment, but it lingered in the air between them.

Gianna focused on opening the bag of snacks, willing herself to ignore the flutter in her chest. There was no way she could have feelings for Hector. They'd known each other their whole lives. It was just friendship.

Right?

She took a deep breath and reached for a piece of chocolate, trying to calm her nerves. Hector was still watching her, and she could see the curiosity in his eyes, but he didn't say anything about what had just passed between them.

"Thanks for this," Gianna finally said, breaking the silence. "I honestly didn't think I needed it, but it's nice to have someone make sure I don't completely ignore what my body's telling me."

"Anytime," Hector said quietly, his gaze softening. "Just don't make me play nurse too often, okay?"

She laughed again, this time feeling a little lighter. "Deal."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds coming from the soft rustling of the snacks and the occasional sip of water.

Eventually, Hector stood up to leave, but before he did, he glanced at her again, his expression unreadable. "Gianna..."

She looked up at him. "Yeah?"

"I meant what I said earlier," he continued, his voice quieter. "You don't need to prove anything to anyone. You've already proven enough. You just need to take care of yourself."

A tightness formed in her chest, but she nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

"I'll see you at training tomorrow?" he asked, his eyes still on her.

"Of course," she replied, managing a small smile. "I'll be ready."

"Good," Hector said, his smile returning, but it seemed different now. Warmer, maybe. He walked toward the door, but just before he left, he paused and turned back around.

"Take care, Gianna," he said softly.

With that, he was gone, leaving her alone with her thoughts, the space between them suddenly feeling a little more charged than it had been before.

As Gianna leaned back against the couch, her heart still racing from the moment they'd shared, she couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing between them. Maybe they always had been, and she had just been too afraid to see it.

But now, she wasn't so sure she could ignore it anymore.