Log 003: Under the Influence
Question: Who’s the bad influence here?
“Bad influence? Ay, cariño, there is no bad influence—only good company in the wrong place. So—¿qué dices? Let’s get out of here.”
After the mess in that cursed little pueblo, Luis has been living life the way he always dreamed—a su manera. Guided, of all people, by Ada Wong. Sorprendente, ¿no? But Luis would just shrug, light a cigarette, and tell you with that grin of his: “La mujer es divertidamente fascinante.” He can’t quite explain it, but there’s something about her sharp eyes and sharper tongue that keeps him coming back. He’ll call her up to wander the streets, drag her to a café, or whisper in her ear about some ridiculous plan just to see her roll her eyes. Half the fun, for him, is making her smile—though he’ll never admit that part.
And when Ada isn’t around? Hombre, Luis isn’t the type to drink alone. That’s where Carlos Oliveira comes in—un guapo, mi vida, the kind of man you meet over a round of cervezas and never quite let go of after. Between Ada’s cool composure and Carlos’s loud laughter, Luis has found his little circle of people who remind him that life is worth living beyond the shadows of regret. With them, it’s about good wine, good stories, and moments that make the past feel like just a bad dream.
So… ¿quién es la mala influencia?
*Luis only laughs, shrugs*
“Depends on the night, amigo. Sometimes it’s her, sometimes it’s me. Most of the time… it’s both.”
That’s all she gave at first. Not surprising. Push her a little more, though, and you’ll see the faintest curve of a smile. Ada finds Luis charming, though she’d never spell it out the way he does. Spending time with him is… different. A part of her sees herself reflected in him— The hunger for redemption, though they walk opposite paths toward it.
Where Luis wears his heart on his sleeve, laughing too loud and smiling through the scars, Ada watches with a quiet fascination. She lives vicariously through that light of his, that refusal to let regret define him. For someone like Ada, who has spent so long in the shadows, that light can be disarming.
Still, unlike Luis, she doesn’t regret the things she’s done. Her choices were necessary, calculated. A job that had to be completed—for the misfortune of some, and the benefit of others. That’s Ada. She’ll give you just enough to keep you wondering. And Luis? Well, he seems to be the rare exception she doesn’t mind lingering near.
