THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ANDROMEDA AND US

That summer of 2017, cicadas could be heard singing in the meadows; the heat made the air shimmer noticeably, with the sky stretching out in all its vastness. The old radio was tuned to Mateo’s favorite station.

Below the terrace, Julián sat with a makeshift fan to cool off, while Mateo sipped a soda.

Both sat silently in rocking chairs.

It was comfortable to sit there with the sound of music in the background; the sweltering heat at 3 p.m. was exhausting, and the sweat made everything worse. Still, being with Mateo made the summer bearable.

—I’m roasting! And this fan is useless! —Julián complained irritably and began fanning himself desperately.

—I think I’ll have another can —he said after wiping the sweat from his forehead.

The sticky feeling on his skin bothered him more than the heat itself.

—Pass me one too —Julián muttered in a annoyed voice.

He grumbled under his breath and then pulled one out of the tiny cooler he was carrying.

—So what happened to your fan? —Mateo asked, turning to look at his friend with a blank expression.

—It broke… Again. —Julián rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink; the icy liquid ran down his hot throat, making him let out a sigh of relief—.

—Why don’t you ust throw it away already?

—Don’t be mean! We have to give it a chance —protested Julián in an exaggerated voice, as if he’d really been offended—.

—That thing breaks every week. Have some dignity and get a new one; I’m not lending you mine.”

—It still works! —he said indignantly.

—Dramatic. —Mateo made a face of annoyance and crumpled the empty can.

—Hateful. —Julián narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Mateo, and spelled out the word.

They stood there for a long moment, then burst out laughing; both realized they’d been arguing over something as ridiculous as an old fan. Mateo clutched his stomach as he laughed, and though he tried to speak, he couldn’t help but laugh even harder when he saw Julián with tears in his eyes—tears of happiness as he writhed in his rocking chair. They’d been friends for ten years, and this kind of fight was normal; it never turned into anything serious.

After finishing his drink, Julián reached out to grab another one from the ice bucket. However, at that moment, Mateo did the same, so it was inevitable that their hands would brush against each other.

They stood there for a long moment, and then they burst out laughing; they both realized they’d been arguing over something as ridiculous as an old fan.

Mateo was clutching his stomach as he laughed, and though he tried to speak, he couldn’t help but laugh even harder when he saw Julián with tears in his eyes—tears of happiness as he writhed in his rocking chair. They’d been friends for ten years, and that kind of fight was normal; it never turned into anything serious.

After finishing his drink, Julián reached out to grab another one from the cooler. However, at that moment, Mateo did the same, so their hands inevitably brushed against each other.

A gentle touch that allowed Mateo to feel Julián’s body heat, which contrasted with the damp cold of the can.

For a moment, the world faded away for both of them. Mateo was the first to quickly pull his hand away; he laughed a little nervously and looked away.

—Looks like we’re running out of drinks. I’m going to the store,” —Julián murmured, leaving Mateo alone.

Mateo nodded.

But he remained silent.