That Friday afternoon Esteban returned exhausted to his apartment. He had worked from six o'clock on an inventory of his company´s warehouse and had to climb to the high racks loaded with merchandise. As he was the youngest and most agile in his working group the boy had done most of the effort.
He had dived into bed fully clothed and was immediately in a state of dozing. After what seemed like a few seconds a sharp and recurrent sound startled him. With narrowed eyes the man groped the cell phone that in the absence of a side table was on the floor and took the call. Just as he saw the time on the screen Esteban realized that he had slept almost an hour.
“Hello! Yes, Luz. No, I was lying because I had a lot of work. I'll take a shower, eat and sleep ... You're moving tomorrow? ... Yes, count me and my car ... What time do you need me? ... Well I'll be there at eight. You have much stuff to move?
Esteban parked in front of Luz cousin´s home. He had been several times in front of the door when took the girl back home after their meetings but had never entered it. Now he had to do it to pick up the luggage and other packages and then met Teresa's cousin and her husband Tomas, a typical product of the Buenos Aires slums. Among all filled the small Fiat with Luz` belongings. Then the girl said goodbye to her cousin in a scene that according to Esteban was excessively full of tears.
“You're going to live a few blocks away and you can see them any time you want.” Expressed the boy in a critical tone after starting the auto. “You are not moving to another city.”
“I’ve lived with Teresa since I came to this country. Actually she brought me here and gave me shelter from day one. She also helped me get a job.”
The young man slightly changed the subject.
“I could see the look of relief of her husband when he saw you leaving.” Said Esteban mockingly.
“You carping bastard!” Replied the woman punching him in the shoulder. “Angel loves me.”
“Has he some illusions about you?”
“That I cannot know. But he never got anything. Or are you jealous now?”
“No, no. I know for sure you have not had sex before meeting me by the way you squeeze me.”
“Plaintive as all Argentineans. If you are not up to my standards let me know and I'll find another who is.”
The exchange of sarcasms and ironies lasted until she told him they had arrived at her new home, no more than fifteen blocks away from her cousin´s. Luz got out of the car and rang the doorbell of a house of dilapidated appearance, actually like almost all the block. Esteban started to take some of the bags and packages out of the car for entering them in the house when he saw that the door opened at last and a young and thin woman of blackened skin peeked. Her face and figure shocked the young man who froze for a few seconds staring at her. Luz and the black girl kissed each other and the former called Esteban. He reacted depositing some boxes on the floor and approached the women.
“Let me introduce you to Valentina. Valentina, he is Esteban, the friend I told you about.”
After a few moments of uncertainty the young man approached the woman, not knowing whether to shake hands or kiss her as is the custom in Buenos Aires. The girl settled the question by offering her cheek; Esteban's lips could experience her smooth and soft skin.
“Well, has she left you speechless? Tell her something.” Goaded Luz.
“ It is my pleasure Valentina.” Stammered the boy.
“Come inside.” The aforementioned answered with a velvety voice. “It's not safe to stay so long in the door with the bags on the street.”
Among all transported Luz personal belongings to the courtyard. From there Esteban could see the interior of the housing. Two bedrooms, a living room, the bathroom and the kitchen communicated with each other through the courtyard. A staircase led to a small room that was on the top floor, at the same level as the neighboring terraces. The courtyard was clear and had well cared flower pots. In contrast to the exterior façade, the interior of the small house looked neat and well maintained despite its age. Esteban transported the luggage to what according to the girls was to become Luz bedroom; then he stood in the yard watching the women carrying smaller bundles to the room and the kitchen. Esteban could stare at Valentina while remaining unperceived. She was likely a little over twenty years old, tall and slender, despite what she had a very well shaped rear as all women of her race. Her skin was so dark that in the imagination of the man had bluish reflections. She wore her curly hair pulled back behind her head. Her oval face was of a perfect cut and her eyes reminded Esteban those of a gazelle. The young man was immediately enraptured contemplating the girl. Luz voice called him to reality once again.
“Come and give us a hand to carry these packages to the room upstairs.”
By late afternoon they completed the installation of the moved staff. Although it was Saturday night the youngsters were very tired and decided not to go dancing or to carry out another evening program. Valentina and Luz invited Esteban to dinner, partly with provisions that were already in the fridge and partly with food ordered on a nearby delivery store. The conversation became widespread after dinner. Its focus was Valentina, who was completely unknown to Esteban and of whom Luz had a recent and superficial knowledge.
“I was born twenty two years ago in a small village in the Department of Cauca, on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Most people of my hometown are of quite pure African origin like me and their families have lived there for generations. The first blacks were brought as slaves from Guinea and were already there in 1580, so we call ourselves Afro-Colombians quite rightfully. I never knew my father and my mother raised six children by working as a maid and as a washerwoman.”
Victim of an emotional outbreak the girl had to make a stop on her exposure.
“I came to Argentina four years ago, after passing through Lima with my aunt. She decided to return to Colombia and I continued my trip to Buenos Aires to study at the Faculty of Medicine.”
“What are you studying?”Asked Esteban.
“ BS in Nutrition. I have yet a couple of more years to go.”
“And you work?”
“Yes, in a public hospital and I am now about to enter as an assistant in a nursing home.”
“Do you have time for both works?” Asked Luz.
“Barely. I'll probably have to quit one of the two jobs in order to continue studying.”
“How did you get to rent this house?”
“ The owner is a Cuban, also a black woman. She has a ladies’ hairdresser five blocks from here and as soon as I arrived in Buenos Aires I spent short time working with her, so she took me affection. When she married an Argentinean she moved to his apartment. She has not asked me sureties or guarantees of any kind to rent the house, that I obviously don´t have; just to pay her a reasonable rent.”
Esteban looked at the woman with a spellbound expression, what caused some disapproving looks of Luz. Valentina finally got up to go to watch television and Luz asked her with complete candor.
“We are very tired from the move. Doesn´t it upset you if Esteban spends the night here with me?
“Not at all. You have every right to have fun after the heavy work. I just hope you will not make noises, because also I need to sleep.”
Luz pushed the man on the bed and fell upon him lifting her skirt.
“Do not think I did not see you staring at Valentina like a fool. I'm going to erase her black ass from your mind.”
"Easier said than done." Thought secretly Esteban but was careful not to show his thoughts in his face.