When Erica was a child, she learned about couples and love. One of her teachers asked her if she liked someone, she said her dad. To her it was obvious, for there was no one who made her feel as happy as he did.

When she was about ten years old she began to feel attracted to one of the boys in her class. This was because, once she jumped from the second floor and scraped her knee, the boy took her to the infirmary. Erica felt loved, pleased that someone cared so much about her, though she couldn't put it into words at that age. Eager to see more of that concern, she began orbiting the boy at recess. Erica, however, was never subtle. Soon the rest of the class became aware of their closeness and began to tease them whenever they came near.

One day, after more than a week without speaking to him, Erica approached this boy for a little chat. She missed him, however he had had enough of his friends' teasing, so he pushed her in frustration, as hard as he could. This caused her to fall into a puddle of water behind her. Seeing her get up with a soggy butt, the rest of the children laughed as loud as they could, for a good while.

Pushed, she approached the boy she liked and slapped him with all her might. His neck described a complete turn, the boy died before he hit the ground. Other children had to be hospitalized, even one of the teachers left with a broken arm while trying to stop her tantrum. The next day she and her dad moved out of town.

At thirteen, Erica learned the difference between homosexuality and heterosexuality. This confused her a bit, as several men and women seemed attractive to her and she wasn't sure who to choose. It wasn't until several months later that she understood the term bisexuality, but by then she had stopped caring and followed her dad's advice: "go for whoever makes you happy".

At fourteen she plucked up the courage and went to confess to the boy she liked, who coincidentally was the boy that all the girls in the class liked. However, he declined with relative cordiality, since he already had a girlfriend. Erica was filled with frustration and embarrassment. She realized that getting a partner was not so easy.

At fifteen she went to an elegant party, where the rest of her classmates were going to be, but no one dared to ask her to dance for fear or dislike. Erica was pretty, but a bit rough and brutish. She had already broken a few bones in her class and people kept their distance.

At sixteen she found herself friendless, no one called her, no one invited her home. She could talk at school with her classmates, they did not reject her completely, but they did not try to establish a relationship with her beyond what was necessary. Erica, for her part, invited a few girls to her house and tried to go out somewhere with someone, but she was turned down each time. After failing for the fourth time that same year, she gave up. She preferred to be comfortable and alone than frustrated and lonely.

At seventeen she realized she was still in love with her dad. She had been all that time, after all, he was the strongest, smartest, most interesting man she had ever met in her life, she just hadn't realized it until she started comparing him to other guys. She seriously thought about telling him, fantasized about him telling her it was okay, that he wanted her that way too, that he would fulfill her every wish... but she never dared. She wondered how far she should worry, whether it was a normal phase or a psychological illness.

That same year she learned that most of her classmates at school were no longer virgins, some for longer than she would have thought. She wondered if something was wrong with her.

"I'm almost of age and I've never even kissed anyone" she said to herself.

Man, woman, young or old. She didn't much care anymore, she felt that at some point in her life she had made a terrible mistake, that she should go back in time and change it, that she was wasting her youth. Her classmates would start making jokes about kissing, then about bikinis and condoms. Suddenly all the girls had boyfriends and all the boys had girlfriends. Then one of them asked her:

—And do you have someone?

—No— Erica answered.

—Oh, that's too bad. And how long have you been single?

That felt like a steel ball in her stomach. From time to time she remembered that conversation and felt worse, because time went by and she didn't make any progress.

—About five months— she lied, hoping with all her might that girl would swallow the lie and not make her non-existent romantic and sex life public.

"What am I lacking?" she wondered "What am I missing that everyone else has?"

Doubt gave way to worry, and from worry she was beginning to move to despair. If she reached her twenties without kissing anyone, she wouldn't know what to do with herself, perhaps it would mean that she would never have anyone by her side, that she was missing something essential to function as a human being.

At eighteen, during her last year of high school, she met a boy: Ocko. He was a funny and charming young man, who knew how to handle himself with girls. Erica quickly fell in love and tried to get closer to get something with this boy, even if it was just a measly kiss. However, she was never able to get it. She finished school with no youthful romance.

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Erica woke up the next morning, shortly after Liliana and Arturo.

—What...— she mumbled— What happened?

Arturo shrugged his shoulders. They both looked at Liliana, who was massaging her eyelids.

—First of all, let's get up and go down to breakfast.

Once at the table, she told them what had happened between her and Maria, but she left the episode with the mysterious man to herself.

Suddenly Erica stood up, so quickly that she startled her friends. As they looked at her, they noticed that something was bothering her very much, but they did not dare to say anything for the moment.

—Maria...— Erica muttered— She was an assassin?

Liliana nodded.

—And she wanted... she wanted the three of us to...— Erica pressed a hand to her forehead, upset— She wanted to turn us in for money?

Her anxious tone was not lost on them.

—Are you all right, Erica?— Liliana asked.

The brika left the table with a soft gesture, like a breath of wind.

—I have to go see something— she said.

Worried, her friends called out to her, but she ignored their voices and hurried toward the exit.

They stared at her, confused. Arturo understood that this was a delicate situation. He turned to Liliana to see her reaction, she knew how to handle this kind of tense moments.

—Let's go after her!— she said.

Without thinking twice, they left what they had on the table to chase after Erica. They hurried downstairs and hurried to the hotel entrance. From there they saw her running, her powerful legs breaking the floor tiles to accelerate hard. Arturo raised a hand to raise a platform to get on and follow her, but Liliana stopped him with a wave of her hand.

—It won't be necessary. Come on, I think I know where she's going.

The boy nodded and got off. They continued on their way at a normal trot.

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After a few minutes they arrived at the square, the same one where Maria had made Erica sleep. Erica was found standing in the middle, right where she had been when she lost consciousness. Her back was to them. With bated breath, they slowed down.

—Erica?— Liliana called out to her.

But she did not answer. Already quite worried, her friends approached her and held her shoulders. However, Erica removed herself with a wide gesture, quick as a snake, and ran towards the park where Liliana had fought against Maria.

—This is bad— said Liliana— It's possible that Maria is still there. Arturo, get ready to fight.

—Of course.

Liliana pulled Brontes off his mark and they continued into the forest at a fast pace. Upon entering, Liliana went to the place where she had left the assassin, already empty. It didn't look like she had spent the night there, nor did it look like she was coming back.

They found Erica crouched down, again with her back to them, clutching her head and sobbing. This time they approached her from one side each, but did not dare touch her for fear she would run away again.

—Erica... did you like her that much?— Liliana pleaded, no longer able to bear to see her like in that state.

The brika paused, still sobbing. Liliana was about to continue talking, but Erica finally answered; she stood up and turned around, showing her face wrinkled from crying and her teeth clenched in anger. She was so angry that she looked like she was going to attack them at any moment, as brutally and savagely as one of Nudo's monsters. Next she opened her mouth, but all that came out was a cry of rage and frustration. At last, she had thought she had finally gotten someone, after so many days of longing for someone who wanted her. She wanted to explain to her friends, to tell them her feelings, but the rage was such that it prevented her from expressing well.

She clenched her fists, hating herself, because somehow she knew she would never experience that young love she saw so much around her. She was missing something, an important piece that would open the doors of love for her, but she would never find it. She was a broken, incomplete, horrible person. In that moment of extreme frustration and anger she realized she was going to explode, that she needed to explode, so she exploded.

She screamed with all the rage she carried, hit the ground with all her might and opened a crater. She kicked a tree, which flew out and crashed into a car in the street. Erica became a force of nature and smashed everything within a few steps.

Arturo grabbed Liliana by the hand and pulled her hard to get her to safe ground. From there they saw huge logs and rocks flying from the forest, heard explosions and screams. Several tense minutes of shattering passed, until the trees stopped flying and the explosions became small bangs. Finally the disaster ceased.

They returned. They found her sitting in the middle of what little was left of the forest.

—Erica?— Liliana called out to her.

She lifted her face from her hands, the marks of tears running down her entire face. She still looked a little upset, but the anger was gone for the moment. They came over and sat down next to her.

—Erica... — Liliana looked at her, so worried that she also felt like crying— Erica, I'm sorry. It was my fault.

The brika noticed Liliana's sadness, and her stomach shrunk at the thought that she had kept her like that for so long. Then she felt her hand being held, and when she looked up she found Arturo, who also looked worried.

—No, it's not your fault— Erica argued, her voice breaking with tears.

Liliana hugged her tightly, Arturo wrapped them both in his arms. Erica took a deep breath to calm down and speak properly. When they separated, Erica felt ready to speak.

—It's... funny, really. I don't think I would have minded if she'd just tried to kill me. Just another enemy, who cares. But she looked so magical, so mysterious— she put a hand to her forehead— By Father, she was beautiful! She told me that nothing mattered that night, that she would be mine and I would....

She paused to suppress another wave of tears. Somehow she managed to swallow them.

—I believed her. That... that woman manipulated me like a toy and wouldn't even give me a kiss— she gritted her teeth for a moment— It's so frustrating. If I'm not horrible on the inside, if I'm not a psychopath, if I'm not ugly, what is it about me that's so repulsive?!— she paused to breathe— Why doesn't anyone love me?

As she said this her frustration reasserted itself. Her crying returned, but Liliana raised her hand to stroke the side of her head, calming her.

—No, Erica. You lack nothing... you are a bright and beautiful girl.

Erica knew those words were meant to cheer her up, but they only made her feel worse; if she lacked nothing, then she had wasted her youth for no reason, no cause. Liliana noticed the tears beginning to return.

—She's in a vortex of frustration— she thought— each new idea pulls her down further. I have to do something to pull her out, I have to show her that there is more to her than she thinks.

—There is one solution— Arturo thought.

Then they both grabbed her shoulder and brought their faces closer to her, but they bumped into each other halfway. Erica stared at them in surprise, not understanding what they were trying to do. At the same time, Liliana and Arturo looked at each other and knew immediately that they had intended to do the same. Then they closed the distance with Erica and kissed her on both cheeks.

—Oh, thank you— replied Erica— but it's not necessary...

However, Liliana cut her off by kissing her on the lips. Erica turned red as a noni and froze. When she pulled away from her, Erica looked at her in bewilderment.

—Lil...

But before she could say more, Arturo cut her off with another kiss on the lips. By the time he had finished, Erica collapsed on her back on the floor, dumbfounded.

Then her two friends lay down next to her, smiling.

—We both like you— Liliana told her— so whatever it is you think you're missing, it's just your imagination.

—Love is complicated— observed Arturo— it doesn't happen to everyone. Even the people you think understand it, don't understand it. But now you have us.

Erica raised her head and looked at them both as if they were ghosts.

—But you're okay with that? Both of you?!

—Well, our situation has always been a bit peculiar— Liliana revealed— we are more into enjoying people than establishing relationships.

—We have always thought that friendship can be stronger than a romantic relationship— Arturo assured.

Erica sat down and looked at Liliana.

—Weren't you straight?— she pleaded.

Liliana shrugged her shoulders.

—I thought so too, until I met you.

Erica put a hand to her heart, overflowing with tenderness. Then she turned to Arturo.

—Are you okay with someone like me?— she asked.

—What do you mean "someone like you"?— he pleaded— I told you you're pretty, didn't I? I like you, get it through your head.

Erica covered her red face with both hands, embarrassed.

—It can't be! Are you kidding me?! If it's a joke, I'll kill myself right here— she said.

—Oh, by Father!— cried Liliana.

She also sat down to give her another kiss. Erica squealed in excitement. Then Arturo kissed her on the neck and made her jump with surprise.

—You guys are going to kill me!— she exclaimed with joy— You're going to kill me! Stop!

They both smiled, satisfied. Erica, somewhat agitated, smiled at them. Then she calmed down and her sorrow vanished. She put a hand to her head, still puzzled.

—I didn't expect...— she mused— Ever since we met I wondered how long it would take you two to hate me. I was sure you would abandon me. But suddenly you said you didn't want to leave me and that you planned to travel with me and...and I...— her eyes brimmed with tears, her throat cut again, her face crumpled with weeping— I never thought I would ever have such wonderful friends. I love you guys so much.

Then she started crying again, but now Liliana and Arturo celebrated her and hugged her with joy.

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They needed several more minutes to calm down again. After she stopped crying, Erica dedicated herself mostly to taking deep breaths. She was fine now. Liliana and Arturo talked about trivial matters. From time to time they asked her opinion, but they made sure not to ask her complicated questions.

After almost an hour lying there on the grass, Erica sat up again. Her friends looked at her expectantly.

—I've made a decision— she told them.

They both nodded. Erica gave them each a smile, then swallowed, looked up at the sky and sighed for the umpteenth time.

—I want to be with you two— she announced— go on dates, get romantic, have... sex...— she cleared her throat— but before that, I want to get a partner of my own. I want to have that experience, to know that I'm capable. Until then... well, I guess I'll still like both of you, but we won't do anything!

Arturo shrugged his shoulders.

—Whatever you want, sweetie.

Liliana didn't quite understand her reasoning, but she wasn't going to "correct her" in how she wanted to handle herself. Liliana thought that whatever Erica decided, it was fine.

—If that's the way you want it— she said— but keep in mind that if at any time you want to get intimate, you'll always have us.

—Not anytime. At least give us an hours' notice— pointed Arturo.

—Yes, well, that's not a bad idea— agreed Liliana.

Liliana and Arturo stood up. Erica, with a smile from ear to ear that nothing could erase, took them by the hand. Together they walked happily back to the hotel.