BARBECUE AMONG FRIENDSThere were many things to think about. She suddenly knew that her friend not only loved her but also had immense gratitude towards her. Dália had touched her heart deeply by expressing how grateful she was for helping her with Gerard, her abusive ex-husband. She spoke about how she had touched so many people, and now she had her own house, in an upscale condominium no less!She discovered that her friend was the owner of Paradise, and then she learned so much more. The bitterness of Otávio's rejection still lingered in her mouth, but it was somewhat alleviated by knowing how much his mother was rooting for her. The bitterness was eased when she learned that, on the contrary, she would love to be her mother-in-law, and that meant a lot. Being Dália's daughter-in-law was a gift to her, far more special than anything else the woman could give her. The acceptance, the affection she had shown towards Clara, was priceless.She felt that Dália knew that a relationship
TO ACCEPT OR NOT, THAT IS THE QUESTIONClara fell asleep with a smile on her face because of her friend's message. She truly believed that Megan knew everything, and she wouldn't feel at ease if Megan didn't know. She wouldn't feel calm, as calm as she was, if she thought her friend would end up on the streets after giving her the studio apartment. Before surrendering to sleep, she had checked Otávio's status as well, and he was still online. It might have been her imagination playing tricks on her, but before they got closer, as close as they could get, he never appeared online. But that must have been all in her head, just a coincidence.In the morning, Megan stopped by Lara's house and found both of them still in bed. As expected, Márcia was outside and accompanied her to the neighbour's door, knocking on it."What the hell, Márcia, we were still sleeping!" Lara opened the door with sleepy eyes. But when she saw Megan, she smiled."It's already seven in the morning, you lazy girls!
SHARED BATHROOMSShe felt a chill run through her as she saw his name."What's wrong?" Megan looked at her."A message from Otávio. He sent me a message!""Open it!"And Clara opened the message with her heart pounding:"Hi, Clara. They told me you had returned to your old house. I've been here for two hours, and you're not answering.""He went to my old address!" Clara looked at her friend in disbelief."Oh my God. The guy is really crazy! What should we do?""I don't know. What do you think I should reply?""Tell him you're working... no!" Megan took the phone from her hand, preventing her from responding to him. "I'll go there. Let me go there and tell him that you're working and that you'll be going to your father's house from work and staying there for a few days." Megan looked at her, pleased with the idea she had."Perfect! I won't reply to him. It'll be good for him to feel the torture of not getting a response.""Exactly, let's treat him like a normal guy and give him a hard
JUST KISS ME, PLEASE!It was a lot to take in, and Clara didn't know what to say to him after so many revelations coming from him. She now knew him better than a few hours ago, he was opening his heart to her, and she could even say he was desperate, although he didn't show it. She felt that he regretted kicking her out of the condominium."You kicked me out of Paradise, Otávio!" she said, and damn it, that's how he acted, that's exactly what he did, and now was the time for her to throw it back in his face. Since he was acting like a human, she would treat him like one, normally. "You hurt me, made me desperate, made me cry.""I know, forgive me.""You kicked me out!""I'm sorry. I should have never done that.""Did your mother ask you to come and apologise to me?""No. She doesn't even know I came."They both fell silent for a moment, until he spoke again."What can I do to make you forgive me?"She wanted to seize the opportunity and ask him to kiss her, but she couldn't do that to
A DIFFERENT KIND OF PLEASUREHe remained looking at her for an eternity. He didn't say anything, but he looked at her deeply, and Clara felt that it was already enough intimacy. It was as if he was kissing her or making love to her. Just that gaze of his was the utmost intimacy she needed from him. The satisfaction of having him looking at her with such intensity was a million times more intense than holding Donizete's hand in Sunday school.Forgotten were the tears that streamed down her face, she didn't close her eyes when he approached her inch by inch. She didn't close her eyes when his crooked teeth got closer to her wet face. She could see his red lips so close, and there was no greater intimacy than that. As he got closer, a hand, the same hand that held hers on the table, rose to her face and rested on her chin. Now his palm was warm, no longer cold like when she held it, and the warm touch of his hand on her face almost melted her. His thumb was on her chin, his long fingers
A COUPLE/ A NON-COUPLEWeeks passed, and nothing changed between Otávio and Clara. Or everything changed.They were a couple. They lived together, slept together, but they weren't a traditional couple. They never kissed, never had sex, but they lived together. Otávio never went back to his own home, and no one questioned it, not his friends, not his mother, and not Clara.Dália's house was being finalised, with the final touches of painting, and the swimming pool was ready. They would soon have an inauguration celebration for it.Linda, Priscila, and Vanda would be moving into the condominium the next day, and there would be a two-day welcome party for them."What outfit are you going to wear tomorrow?" Megan asked Clara, who was dyeing her hair, this time pink. Lara was waiting for her turn, sitting and scrolling through her phone. They were in Clara's backyard, having a beauty session."I bought a fabulous knit jumpsuit for myself!" Lara shared."We already know that about you, girl
MORE THAN A THOUSAND DIFFERENT SMILESThey kept staring at each other, and the girl wondered what he must be thinking. He had indeed been contemplating something since she left the room."Are you not going anymore?" he asked, once again averting his gaze from hers and looking at the wall behind her, towards the side of her head. Here we go again, she thought."No," she replied and went to the bed, sitting on the other edge, with her back to him. She took off her ballet flat, leaving it on the floor, and lay down on top of the comforter.Otávio walked over to where she had left the shoe, picked it up, and placed it in the shoe rack. He then went to his side of the wardrobe, which he had meticulously organised with his clothes separated by colour and style. He grabbed a t-shirt and brought it to her.Clara took the neatly ironed t-shirt handed to her by Linda, with lethargic movements. She took off her pants and shirt and put on the t-shirt. He didn't turn away for her to change, and wh
UNUSUAL CHILDHOODDahlia had created a ritual of bringing breakfast to the two of them every day, and that morning was no different."Let's wake up, my darlings!" She entered the room speaking loudly and excitedly, and she wasn't alone this time. Linda was with her, carrying a tray of warm pancakes drenched in strawberry syrup.Clara sat up in bed, swung her legs over the edge, and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes with her hands. She had slept at the edge of the bed, with one of Otávio's arms wrapped around her waist, and that was where Dahlia was looking.To her, it was still strange how much her son had changed in such a short time. She couldn't remember a single instance in his entire life when he had slept next to someone. She always wanted him to have friends when he was younger, even as a little boy. She tried to throw birthday parties for him, but she gave up when the birthday boy himself didn't show up to his own party, when he refused to leave his room and his comic books