052 | suprise?

The evening had settled in, and the warmth of the meal lingered in the air as the Guiu family gathered around the table, the remnants of their Sunday lunch now cleared away. Everyone had drifted into their own activities, leaving the house quiet except for the soft clinking of dishes from the kitchen.

Gianna stood at the sink, rinsing plates under the steady stream of water. Hector leaned casually against the counter nearby, his arms crossed, watching her with a soft smile. Their usual playful banter filled the air, but tonight, there was something different—a subtle shift in the way they interacted.

"You know," Hector said, his voice low, "you don't have to do all the dishes by yourself. I could help."

Gianna smirked, glancing over her shoulder at him. "Oh, I'm sure you'd be a big help," she teased, rolling her eyes.

Hector chuckled, pushing off the counter to move closer. "You never give me enough credit," he murmured, his tone playful yet serious. He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Gianna froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat at the sudden closeness. She turned to face him, her hands still wet from the sink. "Hector..." she started, but her voice trailed off when she saw the way he was looking at her—intense, yet impossibly tender.

Before she could say anything else, Hector closed the small gap between them, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. His lips met hers in a soft, lingering kiss, the world around them seeming to fade away.

For a moment, Gianna forgot about everything—about the dishes, the quiet house, and the weight of the years they'd spent as best friends. All that mattered was this moment, the warmth of his touch, and the way he kissed her like he'd been waiting forever.

The sound of the kitchen door creaking open broke the spell. Gianna quickly pulled away from Hector, her cheeks flushing a deep red. She turned her head just in time to see Marc standing in the doorway, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

Marc glanced between the two of them, his lips curling into a slow, teasing grin. "Well," he said, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe. "I leave the two of you alone for five minutes, and this is what I walk into?"

Gianna groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Marc, it's not—"

Marc held up a hand, cutting her off. "No, no, don't bother explaining," he said, his tone light and dripping with amusement. "I think I've seen enough."

Hector, to his credit, didn't look the least bit embarrassed. Instead, he gave Marc a small, unapologetic shrug. "Surprise?" he said with a crooked smile.

Marc let out a laugh, shaking his head. "You know, I always had a feeling about you two," he said, pointing a finger at them. "But wow, I didn't think I'd actually catch you in the act."

Gianna glared at her brother, her face still flushed. "Marc, could you maybe not make this into a big deal?"

Marc smirked, clearly enjoying himself. "Oh, come on, Gianna. This is huge. Hector and my little sister? This is gold."

Hector stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Gianna's shoulder. "Alright, Marc, you've had your fun," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Maybe give us a little space?"

Marc held up his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you lovebirds alone. But don't think for a second I'm letting this go."

As he walked out of the kitchen, Marc called over his shoulder, "Just know, Hector, if you mess this up, you'll have me to answer to."

The door swung shut behind him, leaving Gianna and Hector alone once again. Gianna let out a heavy sigh, covering her face with her hands. "I can't believe he just saw that."

Hector laughed softly, pulling her hands away from her face. "Hey, it's not so bad," he said, his voice full of warmth. "At least now we don't have to hide it anymore."

Gianna gave him a skeptical look, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "I guess that's one way to look at it."

Hector leaned in, brushing a kiss against her forehead. "It's going to be okay, Gianna. Trust me."

And despite the lingering embarrassment, she found that she did.