Chapter 3

RICARDO'S POV

The sun had not even pointed on the horizon and I was already standing, preparing my companion for adventures. How I missed going into the sea and feeling that euphoria waiting for a wave. In eight years living in Canada, I had only surfed twice when I went to Lawrencetown Beach to visit Jade's family. But it was different. I didn't have the same feeling of rowing at home.

― You're really excited. I thought I was going to sleep late — my mother was already up. His downed face demonstrated that he had not slept properly at night.

― I am tired, but there is nothing that the sea does not cure.

― I am very glad you are here, my son. I missed seeing you walking around this house, and all that excitement of when you were kids — she hugged me by the waist.

― I know mother. I missed you, too. Now I'm here and I'm going to take care of you — I kissed the top of your head. I was a lot taller than her. By the way, I was taller than everyone else

― Only her? ― Alice came into the kitchen pouting and I couldn't resist. I started a session of cosquinhas in both, making them laugh.

As much as the weather at home was very worrying, I knew that only my pranks could make Mom smile. The day before, after she arrived from church, we had a family reunion to discuss the procedures I was supposed to take at that time. My father was very relieved when he woke up and saw me by his side. His biggest concern was dying before I came back. He didn't think the treatment would work and was afraid that his girls would not be able to react to so much suffering.

We talked for a long time about the company's legal procedures and also about his will. It was a very delicate matter, so we spared Alice. My father didn't want to stay in the hospital. As much as I love that place, I'd rather do the treatment at home, next to your family.

We've always been very close. Dialogue and understanding have always been constant in our homes. I was very proud of everything he had built. Although assuming the hospital wasn't in my plans so soon, I would do it with great satisfaction.

― Come on, sis! I'm going to get the car out of the garage. It won't take long! ― I warned you carrying my board.

When we got in the car, Alice sent an audio to Manu, warning her that we were just leaving. It was early and she kept babbling, talking practically alone. My sister mending one subject in the other, almost not breathing. Your agitation was getting on my nerves. I started scratching my beard impatiently. I wanted to start a subject and i didn't know how to do it. She wasn't helping either. Oh! Even talking to me every day, Alice seemed to want to update me on all the events in the city over the past few years.

― Is Manu dating? ― I asked about sopetão in the middle of the subject about anatomy books and Andrew's championships.

― She was dating a guy there, much older than her. But they're done.

― Much older than? ― Raised an eyebrow in shock.

― He's 40 years old.

― What do you mean? Why would Manu be interested in a guy so much older than her? ― I spoke too loudly. I was waving a flag.

― She likes more mature men. She says they know how to treat a real woman —she spoke unwillingly as she passed the protector on her lips.

― And why did they break up, then?

― Because he was a pain in the ass. I wanted to control Manu like I was her father. I wanted to send her clothes, forbade her to go out with me and talk to the boys in college — Alice got angry. His hands moved as fast as his mouth.

― What an asshole! What right does he think he has about someone's life? ― I questioned while looking for a place to park.

— Yes — Manu doesn't give that kind of guy a soft start. She knows what she wants.

I was wondering if she'd ever been through some violent situation with that guy. Unfortunately it was something very common these days. I talked to Alice myself, asking her to be careful. I'd ask for the full file of all your stayers, and I'd alert you to ask for help if you went through something like that. But until the meeting at the airport, I didn't realize that Manu was also a beautiful woman, and that she was at the same risk as my sister. I should have worried more about her. Now I was feeling guilty. I tried to get more information out of my sister, but she asked me the question I couldn't even answer.

— Why this sudden interest in Manu? You've never asked for her in all these years.

― I know! And I think I made a mistake. After all, we're friends, we grew up together. I should have cared about her the same way I've always cared about you—I justified it.

― I know ― she frowned and stared at me as I parked.

I changed the subject so I wouldn't wake up little boyfriends in my little sister's head. That girl was smart as hell. He paid attention to everything that was going on around him. I started asking about college and teachers, but my mind was still in what my sister had just revealed to me.

When we reached the beach, Alice stretched the canga over the sand and opened the chairs next door, taking care to mount the parasol to protect us from the intense heat of the month of March. I buried my board in the sand and i was smelling the heady smell of the sea. How I loved that feeling of intimacy and peace. Andrew and Manu arrived minutes later and I was very happy to see my friend again.

Manu was amazing and I couldn't stop thinking about what moment she had turned into that beautiful woman. I could have been content to admire her only as a good friend if it wasn't for something pounding hard inside my chest. I haven't felt that way about a woman in a long time. Even Jade hadn't caused me that suffocation sensation in her chest when I met her. What was happening to me? Manu was my sister's best friend. Besides, our age difference was big. It's okay that she already dated guys older than me, and that was common for her, but for me it was weird and uncomfortable. My thoughts were already convincing my body how unlikely that situation was when Manu decided to take off his clothes. That moment was my doom. I had to take my board and hold it in front of my body so I wouldn't report how much seeing her in a bikini moved with my sanity. Fuck, Manu! What's that ass? And these boobs, where did they come from? Fuck, fuck! I'm really fucked!

I thanked God when Alice carried her friend out to sea. I tried to focus on what Andrew was saying, but the sight of Manu's delicious body didn't leave my mind. Everything's perfect, in the exact proportion. And that look, full of evil, that she cast at me every time she paraded in front of me, would be my ruin.

To cool my mind, I licensed Andrew and ran with my board towards the sea. I passed alongside two very hot blondes who just missed throwing themselves at me. That was something common. I usually caused this kind of reaction in women. My ex says so. I had horrible bouts of jealousy and that was destroying our relationship, to the point where we broke up for good. Even though I'm an attractive, constantly harassed guy, I've never been a womanizer. I always believed that one day I would find great love, just like my father found my mother. I really wanted to build a family, have kids and a dog. My life projects were very simple, but no woman had aroused the desire to hold me forever. Not even Jade, who had become pregnant, and that's why I felt obliged to propose to her. That's right, that's it! Thank you! I didn't love her anymore, to the point of spending the rest of my life by her side, but I would never stop offering a healthy home for my son. Unfortunately, we lost the baby early in pregnancy, and that's a pain that tears me apart to this day. Thinking I could have my little angel in my arms makes me feel lost.

No one knew what I went through, not even my parents. It would cause unnecessary suffering, since my son could not be saved. So I kept the pain in the deepest place of my heart and moved on. From time to time the wound reopened, especially when I saw babies being born. But I had to learn to live with suffering and wait for another chance to make my dream come true. This time with the right woman who sure wasn't Jade. After suffering every moment of the loss of our son by her side, she simply left me for another man. Simple as that, as if everything we've been through has no meaning. I didn't fight, I didn't ask to come back, not least because I was tired of your possessive temper. I just let her go. It was clear that she would not be the woman with whom she would try to be a father again.

Now, passing through Manu, seeing her so beautiful and radiant, I came to wonder that maybe she was this woman. She knew me since I was a kid, she knew my flaws, my quirks. Of course we were a long time away, but we had a history together. Oh my god! What am I talking about? Get that stuff out of your head, Ricardo! Stop blinking at her. Are you going crazy?

I threw myself in the salt water, feeling the board slide gently. I paddled hard until I felt that there was only me, the board and the sea. Surfing was like writing poetry. Is that what Manu wrote? There I was thinking of Manuela Toothless again. I sat on the board and waited for the big moment, the big wave. And when she started showing off, I threw myself face down on the board, and I started rowing. As she approached, I stood up and started sliding, gaining speed. It took a few seconds before you dropped me on her. I loved that. I felt a new wave go over me and i returned to the surface in search of new breath. I could have been there all day if something on the edge hadn't caught my eye. Manu was talking to a tall, muscular guy, but it didn't seem like a pleasant conversation. He held her by the arm while she tried to let go. Wretch! I lay on the board and started rowing towards the two of them, but I didn't have time to get there to save her before he pushed her into the water. To my desperation Manu began to drown and I recalled as fast as I could to reach her. Despair had taken over my entire body, but I acted on the automatic.

By then I didn't know where the man had gone, all I wanted was to reach Manu, who was struggling in the water. How come no one noticed? As I approached, I dropped the board and i swayed towards it, managing to hold it with my head out of the water. I took her in my lap as soon as I felt the ground beneath my feet. She was unconscious. My heart beat frantically as I screamed for your name.

― Manuela, please! Talk to me!

I reached the sand and, at this point, the curious crowded, including Andrew and Alice. My sister cried desperately and Andrew tried to push people away so I could start the care. Her lips were purplish and there was a bruise on her face. A chill went up my spine when I imagined the worst. That bastard had touched her. I did the breathing and massage procedure, feeling the despair scream inside me. Why can't we ever have professional confidence when the lives of those we love are in our hands? I knew exactly what to do, and performed the first aid walkthrough, but in my heart I just felt dread.

― She's not breathing, Ric!

I heard Alice scream and Andrew cried, crying for her sister to come back.

― I won't lose you, Manu! You can hear me! Come back, girl! Come back to me! Please — I screamed after blowing the air inside your mouth and re-performing the maneuver on your chest. I heard the sound of the ambulance in the distance. I wasn't going to give up.

It wasn't until Manu started coughing and expelling the water in his lung that I felt my breath come back. I helped her by holding her head while she threw up a lot of water. I felt my body shivering from the adrenaline and my eyes flooded with tears as I played her bruised face. I'm going to kill that son of a bitch. I'm going to find him and I'm going to kick his ass. Manu coughed and cried as I smoothed her face, trying to calm her down. The fire department approached and put the stretcher in the sand. I let them make the rescue as I ran to where we were to get my wallet. A lady who was in the next chair explained that she had offered to take care of it while Alice and Andrew were to help the drowned. I thanked her and yelled at Alice, so she'd take our stuff to the car.

I accompanied Manu in the ambulance while Andrew was following us in his sister's car. I explained to the fireman that I was a doctor, and i asked them to take us straight to MK Dor hospital. He had already called the medical team on duty warning about drowning, and everything was already prepared for care.

When we arrived, I went to the office and called my mother, warning her about what happened. I asked him to send clothes to the three of us and not to comment on dad. He was already calmer and could think more clearly. With Manu being answered, my mind turned to the bastard who had assaulted her. Was it the boyfriend Alice had commented on. Even away from them, I would be able to recognize him for his physical size, so I asked my sister to show me a picture of that ex-boyfriend. My suspicions were right, it was the son of a bitch.

I called the family lawyer for guidance on the case and, after wearing the clothes the driver had taken, returned to the room where Manu had been installed. Thank God she was out of danger. I pulled up a chair and sat next to you. Seeing her so fragile made me think that an insane feeling was the one that was being born in me. She was just a girl and I had never thought of her any other way. But seeing that man holding her, and knowing that he had assaulted her, provoked a mixture of revolt and the need to protect her at all costs. I plunged my head between my hands, feeling my heavy body, probably the result of the minutes of agony I spent on that beach. I allowed myself to vent that anger I was feeling and Cried. I remembered my baby I'd lost, I thought of my father, so fragile in that bed. A whirlwind of feelings that I tried to suffocate inside me and that now exploded. I was tired of being strong.

― Am I dying? Only that to make Ric Rich cry for me — the anasalada voice came into my ears.

― Hey! Manuela Toothless. You almost scared me to death — I disguised myself by drying the tears with my hands.

― I don't remember what happened...

― You were assaulted and fell into the water. She drowned and I could hardly bring her back — I got up and my voice came out louder than I intended.

Manu was silent, his eyes lost and his face tense as if he were reliving the beach scene. She stood for a few seconds like this, dispersed and then looked at me with a red face and a faltering voice.

― Did you see?

― Yes, I did, young lady! And then we're going to talk about it. But now you need to rest — standing next to you, I just wanted to hug you and say that everything would be fine.

― Who else knows?

― Your brother and Alice.

— Please don't tell your parents, or mine — she whimpered, trying to get up.

― And how are you going to explain that purple stain on your face? ― My voice has changed — Has this ever happened before?

― No. That is... He's tried, but I...

Manu was going around and that indecision just made my anger increase. I wanted to kill that bastard slowly and painfully. How can he lay hands on Manuela? And why didn't anyone notice anything? I helped her sit down, lifting the back of the bed.

― Manu! The police will come to get your statement.

― Police!!!! ― she cried out.

― Yes. My lawyer will be right here next to you. What this guy did can't happen again, you understand? And I'm going to make sure he stays away from you, or I'm going to take him down myself. You don't want me to end my life, do you?

― No, please! Don't do it, don't do it! — her eyes filled with tears.

― So when the cop arrives you're going to tell me everything that happened from the moment they started dating. And then you're going to have to do a body exam for a felony — I ran a hand over your face, trying to calm her down.

Manu shook his head affirmatively. I was shrunken, like a cuddly pet. My will was to take her in her lap and say that nothing bad was going to happen, but I had no right to make promises to her. As much as that feeling was exploding inside me, I needed to be rational. I didn't even know what I was feeling myself. I never thought of Manu like that. I've never looked at your body with desire. That seemed too wrong. She was part of my family and I didn't want a confusion of feelings to keep her out of my sister's life. Besides, she had a boyfriend. I didn't even know if she had feelings for me.

When Alice came into the room and hugged her, I was sure I had made the right decision. My sister needed her. If I tried anything and hurt her, It could destroy a years-long friendship. I didn't want my impulses to ruin their relationship. So I decided to lock this feeling more inside me and wear the cover of doctor, competent professional and cold.

― I'm going to leave you two alone.

―Thank you, Ric! You saved my sister's life. I will never be able to thank you enough — Andrew embraced me and I just reciprocated the gesture. He barely knew I'd give my life for her.

― No need to thank you, I just did my job.

I leave the room feeling like a man's trash. Someone who can't afford to have feelings. The last time I allowed myself to like someone was a disappointment. I really liked Jade at the beginning of our relationship, but then the relationship became a burden until it culminated in betrayal. As much as I had the dream of having a family, deep down I wondered if that really would be possible.