Dear Journal, Ughhhhhh. The heat has been unbearable lately!!! And today was no exception. I’m officially over it—melting like an ice cream cone on the sidewalk. Thankfully Marco had the brilliant idea of escaping the heat by heading to the cinema. He suggested we watch In the Heights, which was pretty hilarious considering it’s a movie about a blackout in the middle of a heatwave. Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up! I’ll admit, I was a little nervous. There’s just something about being in close quarters with someone you’re still getting to know that brings all your insecurities to the surface. You know, the classic “Is my hair frizzy? Do I have popcorn stuck in my teeth?” kind of thoughts. But Marco’s laid-back, easy-going nature quickly put me at ease. His smile is infectious, and soon enough, I was completely lost in the movie—and the glorious air conditioning. After the film, we strolled through the park, ice creams in hand, trying to cool off in more ways than one. We talked about everything—his family, growing up in the city, and how much this summer heat reminds him of visiting his relatives in Puerto Rico. It was refreshing, not just because of the ice cream, but because the conversation flowed so effortlessly. It’s been a while since I’ve let my guard down like this, and honestly, it felt... good. Marco has this way of making me feel like I don’t have to put on a front. I’m still getting used to this whole “letting people in” thing, but the more time I spend with him, the more comfortable I am just being myself. He doesn’t pressure me to be anything other than who I am right now, and it’s... kind of a relief. There’s something about his energy that feels easy, familiar, and yet completely new. And as we said our goodbyes, I couldn’t help but smile at how unexpectedly wonderful today had been. Who knew a hot, unbearable summer day could turn into something so... nice? Looking forward to more spontaneous moments like this. Catch you later, Alex xoxo
