Part 4: Antes de irme
Valentina finally reveals the real reason she left for Barcelona — a cold discovery on Diego's phone she never confronted — and Diego, for the first time, admits the truth about what those messages were. Neither of them is innocent. Neither of them is the villain.
Barcelona. 18:44. Valentina is still leaning against the wall of the clothing store, with the evening cold coming through the gaps in her sweater. On the screen, Diego's message: "Me too." Two words that weigh a ton. She breathes. And she starts to write.
wait. I need to tell you why I left
it wasn't just work
tell me
Valentina writes for two minutes straight without deleting anything. It's the first time all day that she hasn't deleted.
a few months before I left for Barcelona, one night I took your phone to put on music. you had an open conversation
with a female colleague of yours from work
Diego's typing dots appear. And they stay. They don't disappear this time. He is writing for a long time.
I didn't read much. just enough
I went cold, Diego. I didn't cry, I didn't say anything, I gave the phone back to you and put on the music and we continued the night as if nothing happened
and I never asked you about it
instead of asking you I started looking for job offers in other cities
Diego writes nothing for three minutes. Valentina doesn't either. The chat is still like it has never been before.
I know which conversation you're talking about
I know
do you want me to tell you what it was?
yes
Valentina listens to the audio once. Just once. She stays with the phone in her hand, looking at the pavement floor. One minute. Two. Then she sits down on the steps of a doorway.
I sat down
good
do you know the weirdest thing?
what
that I'm not angry. I mean, I should be. but I'm not
I think I can't get angry with you for something that I also did in my own way
you looked for a way out. I looked for... I don't know. something I shouldn't have looked for
yes
how long have you known?
since January
my god valentina
I know
I didn't know how to name it. it wasn't a huge betrayal, it wasn't anything I could show anyone and say 'look, this'. it was just... a coldness
and instead of asking you what it meant, I built a life where it wouldn't matter
—
In Valencia, Diego has stood up from the bench. He is walking slowly down the street — going nowhere, just like Valentina before. In the friend group, Lucía has been reading the thread for twenty minutes. Marcos has entered the group again in silence.
Lucía sees that Marcos has returned. She writes nothing. Marcos doesn't either. Both read in silence.
The group says nothing more. The silence is absolute.
and I did the same. in another sense, but the same
when something hurt me or worried me, I looked for another conversation instead of having the one I should have had with you
I ended it, valentina. months ago. in case you needed to know
I needed to know
There is a long pause. Neither of them writes. Neither of them disappears. They stay online, both of them, in different cities, carrying the same thing at the same time.
not now, ele. please
ok. here I am
Valentina returns to the chat with Diego. She's still sitting on the steps. The street is darker now. She writes slowly.
then both of us have been lying to each other
Diego reads the message. He doesn't write. He stays online. Valentina sees it. Twelve minutes pass.
Yes. But you are the first person to whom I have never wanted to lie.
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