Caray, Caray!

Repeat: Two-faced Carmen disses Paloma, then acts sweet when Iñaki shows up. They and Romina all chit-chat awkwardly, Iñaki not grasping that Paloma and his mother have not hit it off. After Paloma and Romina leave, Carmen tells Iñaki that Pal is pretty but not his type. He swears she’s perfect for him.

Romina is furious and wants Paloma to tell Iñaki what a liar meanie his mother is. Paloma is just upset and can’t understand why Carmen hates her so much.

Macarena and Rufi are in the kitchen fretting about Paloma. Rufi assures Mac that Paloma will get over her anger and things will return to normal; it’s just that young girls in love feel like their world will end if they can’t be with their novios. Mac is afraid that as soon as Paloma is 18 she’ll leave with Iñaki and never return. Rufi thinks that would be great for Paloma, to get away from Carlota and be in love and happy. Mac says sometimes love isn’t enough.

Diana tries to start off Rafael’s day with indigestion, as he eats his breakfast and she gripes at him for not having made coffee for her, which is a natural lead-in to talking about how she thinks Romina is perfect for their son because she’s pretty and rich. Rafael thinks Romina and Emiliano aren’t getting along so well, but Diana thinks money can fill any relationship void. Rafael is offended that she thinks their marriage would be different if they had more money.

Emiliano takes Chava shopping for new shoes.

Romina actually shows up for her meeting with Angélica. She is serious about that birthday party. Not serious enough to pretend to have any interest in school, however. Romina says she is rich and won’t need to work, so what’s the difference? Angé suggests that there are reasons to work other than economic necessity. Romina isn’t interested. Angélica says she’s in danger of failing, and if her grades don’t improve she’ll have to report the situation to Camila.

Meche visits the Little Shop of Art and is warmly greeted by Camila. Cami first suggests three days of cleaning per week, but when Meche says she is available for more time and is willing to do anything, Camila senses her need and says she’ll find more work to keep her busy.

Emiliano encounters Iñaki, who is heading out with his résumé to look for work, and says he’s jealous of Iñaki for being so smitten that he’s willing to endure so many obstacles to be with his lady love. Emiliano wishes he had someone he felt that way about. “So things aren’t great with Romina?” asks Iñaki. “Not good, not bad,” says Emiliano. He doesn’t think their relationship will last long.

Paloma spaces out in math class, wondering why everyone is so against her relationship with Iñaki and why his mother lied, and is chastised by the nun.

Macarena is in church, praying for guidance as to whether she’s doing the right things for Paloma, and worrying that Paloma isn’t mature enough to deal with the world on her own if she leaves, and asking for help accepting Paloma’s leaving if that is best for her. Wow, it’s like she actually understands what prayer is for, unlike Cruelota, who seems to believe that the Lord is her personal henchman.

Carmen sits in the pew behind Macarena and also prays. She acknowledges that she’s behaving poorly to Iñaki, but thinks it’s for the best and pleads that he won’t ruin his life with foolishness. At the priest’s prompting, Carmen and Macarena pass the peace, not realizing they are at war.

Iñaki walks all over town looking for work.

Romina sits in a tree in a most unladylike manner and gripes to Paloma about that metiche school psychologist. Paloma begs Romina to try to pass her midterms.

Carlota quizzes Macarena as to the effectiveness of her new medicine. Mac says some days she feels good, and other days it seems like it does nothing at all. Carlota says she’s going to pick up Paloma at school; she thinks Paloma’s current resigned attitude is hiding the fact that she’s scheming (tramar = to scheme) something. Macarena says the only one scheming is Carlota, and she’s going along to the school.

Romina and Paloma are somehow still finishing lunch, although Mac and Cruel are in route for fetching, and Romina begs Paloma to help her study for the exams. There are mentions of making an acordeón (accordion), which I’m guessing is some kind of note system? Paloma agrees to help. Then she worries some more about the situation with Iñaki and says she doesn’t want to cause problems between him and his mother.

Iñaki takes a phone call from Romina on his way into Germán’s office. We don’t get to hear it but he says, “fine.” Then he reports to Germy that his dad wouldn’t give him a job because he wants him to finish his degree, but the only thing that matters to him is Paloma. He gives Germy his résumé and asks whether Germ’s company might have a job opening, and Germy says he’ll see what he can do.

Emiliano tells Orlando he has some ideas to help them get the loan they need, but enough about business, he’s having problems with Romina. Orly is all ears. Emiliano says he isn’t in love with her so he thinks he should end things rather than leading her on, but he doesn’t know how to go about it because he doesn’t want to hurt her and ruin her birthday party. Probably he just fears for his life. Orlando says there will always be some excuse to put it off, and he should just get it over with.

Cruelota and Macarena walk Paloma home from school, and she thinks they’re more like prison wardens than company. As they reach their gate, Romina calls to Paloma asking for homework help. Mac lets Paloma go and gets an icy glare from Cruel.

Paloma walks into Romina’s house and is surprised to find Iñaki there. He says Romina told him that Paloma had something to say to him about his mother. Paloma is stunned into silence.

After the break, Iñaki insists that she tell him what is going on. Paloma excuses herself for a moment to hiss at Romina for meddling in her affairs. Romina is unrepentant and says it’s for her own good. Paloma goes back to Iñaki and twitches and stutters, but eventually tells him what his mother said. He looks very sad.

In her room, Romina rants that Paloma doesn’t appreciate her help. She calls Emiliano at work, leads off with sweet talk, then whines about her problems until he tells her he’s busy and doesn’t have time to talk.

Carlota gripes to Macarena about Paloma spending time with Romina. She’d prefer that Paloma be friends with that nice young man she hand-picked, Aron. Mac says that God gives you your family, but you get to pick your friends, so it doesn’t matter who Carlota wants Paloma to befriend. Then, as always, their conversation devolves into the usual insultfest regarding Paloma’s not following in her mother’s footsteps and what she’d think of Macarena if she knew the truth. Also it seems Carlota is still mad that Javier didn’t marry the woman Carlota wanted him to marry, and everything bad that happened to him was because he didn’t follow Carlota’s orders.

Paloma tells Iñaki she agrees with his parents; he should finish his schooling. He says it’s his decision and he wants to stay in México with her. He doesn’t think a long distance relationship would work, and he loves her. Paloma says she loves him, too (when did she come to that decision?) but doesn’t think he should risk his future. She breaks up with him and says if he still thinks of her after the year in Spain, he should come back to her. She runs out and he chases her into the street, calling her name. Poor Iñaki is not having a good day.

Camila runs into Rafael at the bank. He tells her he’s there for a loan because his partner wants out of the ceramics business. She wishes him luck and says she admires those who fight for what they want. He starts to bring up the idea of her investing in his business, but stops himself. She looks thoughtful.

Inés is for some reason at Diana’s house, raving about what a perfect happy couple Diana and Rafael are, and Diana is turning up her pert little nose at the nerve of some people, who dare to be divorced. Watch out for that anvil, Di. Inés reminds her that one reaps what one sows.

Paloma sits in the park crying and watching a happy couple kissing. Emiliano sits on the other side of the fountain, with the happy couple blocking his view of Paloma.

Iñaki confronts his mother about her meddling in his life. She admits to her complicity with Carlota and tells him that Carlota thinks he’s a mediocre musician (how would she know? Has she been listening to his music on the internet which she won’t allow in her home because they have books there and that’s good enough?) Carmen says she just wants what’s best for him. He says he loves Paloma and he isn’t giving up so easily. From the captions, I learn that a door slam is called a portazo.

Rufi reports to Macarena that Paloma isn’t at home and Romina doesn’t know where she is. They nudge and wink and think she must be with Iñaki.

When Paloma stands up, Emiliano sees her and rushes over to ask what’s wrong. He gives her a really long hug. His phone rings and he glances at the display, looks disgusted, and ignores the call.

Romina is at home, actually studying. Well, studying magazines, anyway. She calls Germy, who is in a restaurant with Liliana and her parents eating espagueti. He must not care about making a good impression on the suegros, because he answers the call at the table, but tells Romi he’ll have to call her back later. Romi throws a fit. She starts composing an email to Liliana.

Paloma apologizes for always needing comforting from Emiliano, but says that she trusts him. He says she’s welcome to keep leaning on him. Emiliano recommends that she and Iñaki strive to have what they want and not give in to the pressure. He sounds like he’s struggling a bit as he tells her not everyone is lucky enough to have such a strong love, and the music crescendos to tell us that this is a Spark of Something Special and she kisses him on the cheek and says goodbye. As she walks away he stares at her and touches his cheek, then looks conflicted.

Romina is not happy to hear that Camila had the nerve to encounter Rafael at the bank, but is appeased when Camila says she went to the bank to make the deposit on the space for Romi’s party.

Cruelota yells at Mac and Rufi because she doesn’t have control of absolutely everything in the whole world. Specifically, because Paloma is out.

Iñaki packs a suitcase and tells Carmen he’ll find a friend to stay with. Paloma calls him and he rushes off to meet her.

Emiliano tells Romina they have to talk about something very serious.

Paloma and Iñaki meet by the fountain and hug and kiss. Paloma asks what’s up with the suitcases. Iñaki asks Paloma to marry him.

Avances: Carlota schemes her evil schemes.

Labels: amor