In the Garden of the House
Max returned home to find his father in the garden, speaking quietly on the phone.
John (on the phone):
• Yes, yes, don't worry. I'll tell him now. Goodbye.
Max (approaching):
• Who were you talking to, Dad?
John:
• It's an old friend of mine from college.
Max:
• I heard you say you would tell him something. Were you talking about me?
John (hesitantly):
• Yes... the truth is, he wants to marry his daughter, and he asked me if you'd be the groom.
Max (shocked):
• What? Dad, but...
John (interrupting):
• I know, I know your mother's will was that you should be happy, but I don't understand how you can think about marriage now when you're just friends with Maria.
Max (firmly):
• Dad, there's something you need to know.
John:
• What is it?
Max:
• I proposed to Maria, and she accepted.
John (shouting):
• What?! How did this happen?
Max:
• When we went out together.
John:
• Why didn't you tell me earlier?
Max:
• I didn't know how to say it.
John (angrily):
• And how am I supposed to tell my friend now?
Max (calmly):
• You can tell him whatever you want, Dad.
John (sighing):
• Oh my God, Max... Alright, don't worry. I'll talk to him.
⸻
In the Evening – At the Girls' House
Julia (sharply):
• Can I understand how you trusted such a criminal so easily?!
Maria (angrily):
• Stop calling him a criminal!
Julia:
• So you're defending him?
Maria:
• Of course I am!
Julia:
• I can't say anything anymore.
Juli (interrupting):
• Julia, why all this anger toward Maria now?
Julia:
• Because she wants to be with someone like him.
Juli:
• But they're already together.
Julia (sighing):
• Unfortunately.
Maria (grumbling):
• Stop talking now, let me sleep. And don't forget we have university tomorrow.
Juli (smiling):
• The only thing keeping me going is that I'm about to graduate.
Maria (sarcastically):
• Are you mocking me?
Juli:
• Of course not.
Maria:
• Shut up!
Maria throws a pillow at Juli, who responds by throwing another one, and they continue this pillow fight until sleep overtakes them.
⸻
Midnight
Max decides to call Maria after missing her. He calls several times, but she doesn't answer. He feels worried and goes to her house.
Max (knocking on the door):
• Maria?
Juli opens the door, her eyes filled with resentment.
Juli (coldly):
• What do you want?
Max:
• Where's Maria?
Juli:
• Maria is sleeping.
Max:
• Alright, I'll come back later.
Juli:
• I hope you don't come back at all.
Max (sadly):
• Why do you hate me like this, Juli?
Juli (sharply):
• Because Maria's mental state has gotten worse because of you!
Max (shocked):
• What?
Juli:
• Yes, she wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, as if she's seeing a recurring nightmare.
Max (worried):
• That can't be true...
Juli (coldly):
• Are you going or should I close the door in your face?
Before he can answer, she slams the door shut.
⸻
Outside
As Max walks back to his car, a speeding car suddenly hits him hard.
The girl (panicked):
• Oh my God! What did I do?!
She calls for an ambulance, and Max is rushed to the hospital.
⸻
In the Hospital
The girl (to the doctor):
• Please, save his life!
The doctor:
• Don't worry, we'll do everything we can.
The girl (in tears):
• I hope nothing happens to him.
When her father arrived at the hospital, he tried to calm her down.
Father of the girl (Victor):
• Calm down, Nina. He'll be fine.
Nina (crying):
• But how can I face his family?
A little while later, the doctor comes out.
Doctor:
• He's out of danger. You can go in and see him.
Nina enters the room, crying.
Nina (choked up):
• I'm sorry... I didn't mean to.
Max (weakly mumbling):
• ...
Victor enters, shocked.
Victor:
• Max!
Nina (surprised):
• Do you know him, Dad?
Victor:
• He's the son of a friend of mine.
Max (weakly):
• Please, don't tell my dad.
Mr. Victor:
• How can I not tell him?
Mr. Victor calls John, who rushes to the hospital.
John (worried):
• Max! What happened?
Nina tells John everything that happened, and he listens in shock.
——
Julia: I'm going out for a walk for a bit, since Maria and Julie are asleep.
(While walking in the neighborhood, she hears the neighbors talking about a car accident involving Max).
One of the neighbors: I heard the young man who comes here, I think his name is Max, was in a car accident!
(Julia is shocked by the news, but decides to take advantage of the situation for her own benefit).
(She rushes home and wakes Maria up).
Julia (shakily): Maria, wake up!
Maria (half-conscious): What's wrong?
Julia: Max... he's dead!
(Maria collapses in tears upon hearing the news).
Maria (broken voice): How?!! How could he leave me? First my family, now him...
Julie (trying to calm her): Maria, dear, please stop crying, we're here for you.
Maria (crying deeply): My love... he was my fiancé... and before he became my husband... he's gone!
Julia (pretending to be sad): Maria, my love, we have to think about what's best for you now.
Julie: Julie, are you crazy? How can you think like that?
Julia: Listen, traveling will help her forget.
Maria (trembling voice): I can't forget him no matter how hard I try, but I don't want to stay here... All of France will remind me of him.
Julie: And what about the university?
Maria: University?! I don't want anything right now...
Julia: Honey, we'll always be by your side.
Maria: Then let's leave.
Julie: What about me?
Maria: Of course you'll come with us, I won't leave you.
(Weeks later...)
(Max fully recovered and started searching for Maria. He tried calling her repeatedly, but her phone was always off. He decided to go to her old house).
Max (to the neighbors): Do you know where Maria went?
One of the neighbors: We don't know anything, she left suddenly and didn't tell anyone.
(Max returns home, deeply saddened, and calls Leo and Matthew to help him search for her).
Max: Have you heard from Julie or Julia?
Leo: No, every time I call Julie, her phone is off.
Matthew: Same with Julia.
Max (angrily): Where could they be?!
John (observing the sadness in his son's eyes): Son, she'll come back... I'm sure she will.
Max: But how could she leave without telling me?! I'm her fiancé, we were about to get married!
(Suddenly, Nina enters to check on Max).
Nina: Max!
(Max turns quickly, as the name brings back memories of Maria, since she was the only one who called him that).
Max (coldly): Hello.
Nina: How are you now?
Max: Fine.
Nina: Why do you look sad? Since I met you, you've always been like this.
Max: Because I miss my fiancée.
Nina (nervously): Oh... I'm sorry for reminding you of her... She's in a better place than all of us.
Max (surprised): What do you mean?
Nina: Isn't... Isn't she supposed to be... dead?
Max (sharply): How did you know that?
Nina: I don't know anything about her, I just said what I had.
John (interrupting): Nina, don't worry, she's probably fine, but we lost contact with her a while ago.
Nina (embarrassed): Oh, I'm sorry.
John: It's okay.
Nina (trying to change the subject): Max, what do you think about going out for a bit?
Max: I don't want to.
Nina: How long are you going to stay like this?
Max: That's none of your business.
John: Son, go out a bit... fresh air will help you.
Max (firmly): I don't want to, Dad.
(Max goes to his room while Nina feels frustrated).
.
.
In London, inside a quiet apartment:
Maria sits in the corner of the room, holding Max's ring between her fingers, lost in memories.
Maria (crying): I miss you so much... Why did you leave me and go?!
Julie watches Maria with sadness from afar.
Julie (sighs): Since we got here, she's been like this... what can we do?
Julia (trying to hold herself together): With time, she'll be back to how she was. Don't worry.
Julie approaches Maria and notices the ring in her hand.
Julie: She won't even take off the ring he gave her... she really loved him, with all her heart.
Julia (annoyed): Yes... well, I'm going to bed.
Julie: I'll stay here with Maria.
Julia: As you wish.
Each goes to her room, and Julia sits on her bed, lost in thought.
Julia (to herself): Why does he appear so much in my dreams? Is it because I hate him? Or because I feel guilty? Was what I did to them the right thing?
At Maria and Julie's room...
Julie approaches Maria and gently holds her hand.
Julie: Maria, my love, you haven't eaten anything since morning. Come, let's eat together.
Maria (crying): I don't want to...
Julie hugs her gently.
Maria (crying bitterly): Why, Julie... Why did he leave me alone?
Julie: You're not alone, I'm here, and Julia's here too. We're always with you.
Maria sighs and says hesitantly:
Did Leo tell you about him?
Julie: Maria, I changed my number as soon as we got here, and so did you. But... do you remember Max's number? You can call him.
Maria (excited): Yes! How didn't I think of this idea?!
She grabs her phone with a trembling hand and calls Max's number. After a moment, Nina answers confidently:
Nina: Hello, who's this?
Maria freezes and doesn't say a word. She quickly hangs up the call and throws the phone aside.
Nina (curiously): Who was that?
Max enters the room and looks at Nina with curiosity.
Max: Who was the caller?
Nina: I don't know, it was a number from outside Mexico.
Max feels something strange and speaks to himself quietly:
Could it have been her?
Nina interrupts him with a wide smile.
Nina: Where were you lost in thought? Come on, let's go out.
Max: Yes... let's go.
At Maria's apartment...
Maria sits, drenched in tears.
Maria: It was a girl... Could the number have been sold?
Julie tries to calm her, but she looks worried.
Julie: Maybe... but don't think about it too much.
Maria breaks down crying loudly, holding the ring.
I miss him... I miss him so much!
Julie grabs Maria's hand and tries to comfort her.
Julie: Maria, I can't see you like this... Please, hold on.
In the next room, Julia listens to the conversation, feeling guilty.
Julia (thinking): But... Max deserves this! Still... Maria... Was what I did right?
.
.
The next morning...
Max sits in the living room, waiting for Nina to arrive. When she comes, she says with a smile:
Nina: Good morning! How are you today?
Max: Good morning. I'm fine, and you?
Nina: For the first time, I see you this happy! What's the reason?
Max: I don't know, maybe it's just a feeling.
Nina: Well, let's go have breakfast at our usual restaurant.
Max: As you wish.
While they were having breakfast, Max tried to show happiness, but his heart was heavy with the thought of Maria's sudden disappearance.
Nina (enthusiastically): The food here is so delicious, isn't it?
Max (coldly): Yes, delicious.
After a moment of silence, Nina looked at Max nervously and gently held his hand:
Nina: Max... I want to tell you something.
Max (looking at her surprised): What is it?
Nina (hesitantly): I... I love you.
Max was shocked and couldn't respond immediately.
Nina: I know you don't love me, but I love you! I don't know when or how it happened, but I can't deny my feelings.
Max (pulling his hand away): Nina, we're just friends, and you know my heart belongs to Maria.
Nina (nervously): But Maria is in the past. Let me be your present and future.
Max (harshly): In your dreams, Nina.
Nina (in a low voice): But why?
Max: Please, stop talking like this.
Nina went silent and tried to hide her tears. Suddenly, Leo entered the restaurant:
Leo: Good morning! Did I interrupt
Max: No, no problem.
Nina (with a forced smile): Good morning, Leo! How are you?
Leo: I'm good. And you?
Nina: I'm better than ever.
Leo: How about going to the amusement park today?
Matthew (suddenly appears): What? You're going without inviting me?
Max: Matthew! When did you get here?
Matthew: Just now. Of course, you're not going without me.
Max (in a low voice): ...
Leo: Max? What are you thinking about?
Max: Nothing, I just spaced out for a moment.
Nina (to herself): Maybe he's thinking about what I told him... Maybe he'll consider giving me a chance!
Suddenly, Nina screamed without realizing.
Leo and Matthew: Nina? What's wrong?
Nina (laughing shyly): Oh, nothing! Sorry!
⸻
Nina (excitedly): I'm ready! Let's go!
They arrived at the amusement park. As they entered, Max was hit by a wave of emotional shock—the place was full of memories with Maria.
Nina: Max, come on! Let's ride the rollercoaster!
Max: Alright.
They all got on the rollercoaster.
Matthew (nervously): Are you sure we'll make it out alive?
Nina (boasting): Of course! I'm not scared.
But as soon as the ride started, Nina began screaming.
Matthew (laughing): Who's scared now?!
While she was screaming, Nina grabbed Max's hand tightly, unaware that her long nails scratched him.
After the ride ended:
Matthew: That wasn't scary at all, right, Nina?
Nina (angrily): Shut up, Matthew!
Matthew: Look at your hair—it's a mess!
Nina: What?! Oh my God!
As the evening came to an end, everyone seemed to have enjoyed the day—everyone except Max, who seemed trapped in his memories. When they returned home, Max lay on his bed and noticed his hand bleeding from Nina's scratch.
He headed to the kitchen to find a bandage. While wrapping the wound, his father walked in suddenly.
John: Max? What are you doing in the kitchen?
Max: Nothing, Dad.
John: Your hand is bleeding! Let me see!
Max: It's fine. Just a small scratch.
John: A scratch? Your hand is bleeding badly! How did this happen?
Max: I guess during the ride at the amusement park. Nina's nails were too long.
John: Son, you need to move on with your life. Maria wasn't meant for you.
Max (angrily): How can you say that, Dad? Maria didn't just disappear—something is going on!
John: Maybe. But I don't have the answer for you. Goodnight.
Max: Goodnight, Dad.
-
To be continued...
-
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