The Devilish Empanada Affair

1. The secret to making your food taste DAMN good (part one)

The Fateful Night

Lucas's POV

Madrid is a restless city, especially around Puerta del Sol. This historical semicircular plaza, once a peddlers' square, is now a hub for cultural events, celebrations, and gatherings. At any time, be it 6 PM or midnight, the plaza is alive. Worldwide music performers entertain while the smell of roasted beans fills the air. The city government designed it this way, with benches and grey granite tiles, inviting people to enjoy the historical buildings surrounding it.

The "Kilometer Zero" point, from which all radial roads in Spain are measured, is where Madridians celebrate New Year's Eve and where many stories begin. It's also where Lucas met his ex-husband, Jacob, and sought solace after storming out of what he thought would be his forever home, now broken.

At the metro station entrance in Puerta del Sol, a little coffee stall served good coffee, donuts, chicken empanadas, and chocolate bread. He whipped the remains of the tears he had shed until then and focused on looking for the comfort of these simple pleasures. A young girl attended the booth, smiling. Her sole presence made Lucas feel calmer. Somehow, her eyes reminded him of someone who understood him when he needed a moment of respite.

Sitting on a bench outside the metro station, Lucas sipped his coffee. "Delicious," he thought, savoring the aroma like the forest ground after rain. The sweetness of the espresso and the chocolate bread created a perfect balance, bringing back memories of his grandmother, Isabela. Her kitchen was a sanctuary where she taught him all her recipes despite his father's interference. "The secret to good food is balance," she would say.

Isabela's wisdom echoed in his mind: "Our taste buds enjoy a mix of different tastes and textures. Think of it as having something crunchy, soft, or salty with something sweet. When a meal is balanced, every taste can shine." The bittersweet nostalgia and warmth of his drink provided solace amidst the chaos.

But that night, there was no balance, only chaos. Despite the secrets he kept from everyone, he clung desperately to the desire to find a home and a person to love. He lost everything as a result. 

Lucas was gay but never felt he could reveal his nature to his father or brothers, who tended to make fun of him for small things like his cooking hobby. He was encouraged to study medicine, and as soon as he could, he left his hometown for the big city, determined to forge his path, find acceptance and love, and become a doctor.

"Could I have ever come out to them?" he wondered, munching on chocolate bread. "Would they have accepted me or mocked me more? Leaving was my only choice. Medicine was my escape."

After graduating as a doctor, Lucas used his first paycheck to go on holiday in Spain. In Plaza del Sol, frustrated by failed attempts to connect to Wi-Fi, he met Jacob. A man on a bench helped him connect, guided him through the metro, and accompanied him to a bar. To Lucas's surprise, Jacob was from Ambato, their hometown, though seven years apart—Lucas was 26, Jacob 33. Jacob had moved to France to study economics and stayed there, keeping his sexuality a secret from his family.

Despite their similarities, Jacob's life had been different. He had many male lovers, none lasting long, while Lucas had only three. Dancing to an old salsa song, their movements grew feverish, and their first kiss sparked an electric connection. It was love at first sight.

After a passionate night, they parted, but not before Jacob gave Lucas a water bottle. They exchanged numbers and promised to stay in touch. During his trip, while drinking from the bottle in a park, Lucas had a revelation: He would marry Jacob one day.

Sometimes, Lucas had moments like those, when something that occurred at that moment had happened before—moments where the hairs of his neck shivered or his heart somersaulted. It was as if the future brushed against his senses, leaving traces in his mind. When Lucas asked about it, his grandma told him he shouldn't worry since it only meant something important would change his life. Grandma always knew when something would happen, even before he did; she considered it a gift that would allow her to prepare in advance.