18

Gladys' eyes revealed immediate surprise, but it was not even a quarter of the surprise that peered into the eyes of Emma and Leonardo, who offered each other a mutual look of bewilderment. A blush took hold of Emma's sweet cheeks, who at that moment thought that running away was the best alternative, evidently, she did not.

"Wh-what?" Emma asked, clenching her fists, perplexity covered by fury, "Did you..."

"Yes, I'm her boyfriend," interrupted Leonardo, earning a puzzled look from Emma, who looked at him as if a third arm was growing in his skull. The girl was forced to blink five times, as if she was in one of those strange dreams in which waking up was very complicated, in one of those dreams where everyone acted in a stupid and incoherent way, because only he could explain the words that came from Leonardo's lips, so much certainty was heard in them that Emma even for an instant, was prone to believe him.

"Congratulations, precious girl!" Gladys shrieked, with a huge smile on her