Chapters 23 - Ayumi Clarck

***Result and Outing -Part 1***

Several days have passed, and I received the DNA test. The result came back positive, and Mrs. Ruth was overjoyed – well, she already knew, of course – after reaching out to me and telling me she was my mother. My relationship with Mayke is amazing. I truly feel good, and he treats me with such tenderness. It's nothing like what I had before. I truly didn't know what it meant to be cared for, loved, and happy.

Last week, he took me to a beautiful little town called Tijuana, a city that borders the USA and Mexico. We traveled thirty-five kilometers from downtown San Diego, so we visited not just one city but another country. My dream was to be in two places at once, and Mayke made that happen for me, since Tijuana marks the border between two countries. So, I can add another country to my list of visited places, as I'm passionate about traveling and haven't been able to do much of it due to everything that happened.

Our first stop was downtown Tijuana, a historic attraction and a must-visit place. In this area, I found many buildings that represent different eras and define Tijuana today: the Cultural Center, City Hall, avenue Revolución, Plaza Río Tijuana Mall, and Sixth Street.

Considered one of Tijuana's main tourist spots, avenue Revolución is bustling with clubs, bars, nightclubs, and strip clubs – needless to say, we passed by them. I believe if it were Kaléo, he would have rushed right in and wouldn't have left anytime soon. Another thing that fascinated me about avenue Revolución were the various souvenir and memento shops in the area. They are great, especially because they offer very attractive prices, perfect for anyone who wants to come back with lots of 'knick-knacks' from the trip – and in my case, I love these little things that remind me of how fantastic my visit to that place was.

As for the Cultural Center of Tijuana, it's one of those places that has everything in one space – a complete structure that only the Cultural Center of Tijuana can provide. There are so many cool things there, and of course, I brought my sketchbook with me. I started drawing things I like after my therapist gave me that idea. So, I made a few drawings of the Museum of Californias, the botanical garden, the aquarium, event halls, exhibitions, screenings, and so on. I truly loved the Cultural Center, which houses a lot of art, culture, history, leisure, and entertainment for those who know how to appreciate it.

Mayke was with me every step of the way, and he even tried to draw a few things that caught his attention. I loved that moment by his side.

After returning to our hotel rooms, Mayke was so sweet and thoughtful. I had panicked, thinking we would be staying in the same room, but he had already thought of everything. The next day, we went to the Plaza Río Tijuana Mall in Mexico. Who in their right mind travels abroad and doesn't come back with some new goodies in their suitcase, right? I myself bought several things! After lunch, we visited some beaches to enjoy, relax, and take numerous photos amidst the paradise-like scenery. So, we took advantage of a visit to cove Beach, which is close to our beachfront hotel. We also visited the neighborhood called Playas del Tijuana, which gave us glimpses of incredible beaches, and finally, Rosalito. We couldn't miss visiting El Popo Market, considered a very traditional market in the city. It's a colorful place full of flavors, where we tried and bought some products that made the trip worthwhile. At El Popo Market, you can find cheeses, sweets, typical Mexican dishes, as well as various herbs and different spices.

On our second-to-last day in Tijuana, we went to Morelos Park, which is beautiful and has a large, pleasant green area. Mayke brought a towel and a picnic basket. There, we also found some restaurants, kiosks, ecological and cultural tours, a mini zoo, and walking spaces. We also visited Cerro Colorado, a natural and cultural reserve with vast hectares of red soil and green areas. It's well-preserved and open to tourists, and we had the opportunity to see various birds, fish, and reptiles.

On our penultimate day, we visited the magnificent Museo el Trompo, which is famous in the area. It's an interactive museum that promotes science, technology, and various knowledge. It features a cinema space, thematic rooms, and various activities that engage all five senses. It was hilarious when Mayke touched a sphere and his hair stood on end. His expression was so funny that it made me smile. In the evening, we explored the bars of Tijuana to have a drink and try the traditional Mexican tequila. We went to several bars, of course. Mayke left the car at the hotel, and we traveled from place to place in a taxi. We went to Zone Rio, which is considered the main business district of Tijuana and where the city's most sophisticated bars are located. The Center is a historic area with many bar options at the intersection of Calle Six and avenue Revolución. Finally, the North Zone is a bustling area with countless bars along Calle Coahuilla. Mayke didn't drink much, but I tried various drinks at each place we visited.

There were a few bars that enchanted me, one of them being Dandy del Sur Cantina: super well-located in the city center, this pub features a jukebox music machine. La Mezcalera is another one, with multiple spaces and a wide selection of delicious beers. And the last one is Theorem/Lúdica Co: a brewery with various craft beer options.

On our last day, we explored the restaurants in Tijuana, which were very pleasant. They are located in Zone Rio, Zone North, and Center. At Villa Marina, we had our breakfast, it's a very family-friendly place known for the best seafood in the region, since we had already had lunch there when we first arrived in Tijuana. Then, for lunch, we went to Mision19, with a sophisticated ambiance and dishes ranging from pasta to meat and fish. And in the evening, we had dinner at La Querencia, a restaurant that combines Oriental and Mediterranean cuisine in great style.

So we returned to San Diego with the promise that we would come back to Tijuana for more than a week. I look at one of the thousands of photos we took once again and smile, it was a wonderful week, and Mayke truly is the best company. I place my phone on the table and head to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. Kaléo is on a business trip, and when I told him I was in Tijuana, he got furious, saying I could have waited for him to come back, so we could go together. And when I mentioned being with Mayke, it only made things worse. He said I've been spending too much time with Mayke and neglecting him.

No, I haven't actually told anyone about us yet. No one knows that we're together, and when we're all together, we treat each other as we always have, just friends. I know it's not right, but I still don't feel ready to announce our relationship to everyone. I take the lasagna out of the freezer and remove the plastic, placing it in the microwave. My phone rings, and I press the defrost button for the food as I rush to grab my phone, seeing that it's Mayke.

“Hey,” I say as I answer the call.

“Hi, love, how are you?”

“I'm good, and you? Have you gone home yet?”

“Not yet, looks like I'll be here for a while. It's been a busy day, and…” He pauses, and I hear someone saying that a house caught on fire, and they need to go. “Love, I need to go, but I'll call you later.”

“Okay, take care.”

“Don't worry, love you,” he says, but I can't say it back. That word still brings me insecurity and memories I want to forget.

“I really like you too,” I say, and I hear him smile.

“Talk to you later,” I hang up and return to the kitchen, retrieving the now ready lasagna.