I reached home that night, tired but content. After dinner, I was just about to crawl into bed when I heard the familiar ting of a notification.
I grabbed my phone.
đź“©Message
from Antonio: Hey, you home?
Without hesitation, I typed back:
📨
To Antonio: Yeah, just about to sleep.
Seconds later, my phone buzzed—he was calling. I picked up.
"Hey, Selene," he said, his voice low and warm.
"Antonio? Why are you calling me this late?" I whispered.
"Why? Can't I call you now?" he asked, teasing.
"You can, just... not at this hour! What if someone hears me?" I whispered back, glancing at my bedroom door.
And right on cue, my mom walked in. Panic surged through me—I hung up instantly, heart pounding. I prayed she hadn't heard a word.
She looked at me, suspicious. "Who was that on the phone?"
"Uh... just Luna," I lied smoothly. "She needed help with something."
Mom frowned. "Don't let anyone disturb your sleep. And stay off the phone. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," I murmured, barely hiding my relief.
As she left the room, I let out a long breath and sank back into bed, a small smile tugging at my lips.
I stared at the ceiling, my phone still in my hand. Antonio's name lingered on the screen like a secret waiting to be revisited. I debated calling him back, but the risk wasn't worth it—not tonight. Still, a part of me wished I'd had just a few more minutes to hear his voice. There was something in the way he said my name that made everything feel a little lighter, a little warmer.
I turned off the screen and tucked my phone under my pillow, hoping the sound of it wouldn't wake me if he texted again. As I curled under the blanket, thoughts of him filled the quiet spaces of the night. Maybe tomorrow I'd ask him why he called... or maybe I already knew. Whatever it was, sleep finally came, wrapped in the echo of his voice and the tiniest thrill of something that felt like it was just beginning.