Hunting

Having Carlos' number at the same time is a bonus, is also a burden. What excuse would I used to talk to him? No doubt Carlos was going to ask how I got his number... After many days of thinking, the only plan that seemed workable could only happen after the return of classes. So I spent another fifteen days with the phone in my hands while I realized the idea. Carlos seems to be the man who helps damsels in distress, and that’s what I’ll be about to conquer him, even though I don’t enjoy being a helpless little girl.

Then on a beautiful, hot afternoon, I sit with my cell phone in my hands. It’s time to put my plan into practice. I dial Carlos’s number and with every touch, my heart races. It passes a thousand things in my mind, from listening to your voice to the fact that it forwards the call to the message box. Then the touches cease, and that space between the end of the touch and the expectation of hearing your voice makes me nervous. I take a deep breath with my eyes closed.

—Hello?- answers the thick voice of Carlos. I open my eyes to make sure he is not inside my room. He breathes and says. — Hello?

—Hi... – I respond with my voice choked. I hate when I’m nervous and my voice is fine. I take a deep breath and say: — Hello, Carlos.

—Hello...–replies Carlos with a tone of doubt. —Who am I talking to?

—How rude of me.–I say seductively. — Here is Dalia Penedo. We met at the party of Julio Castillo.

—Ah... of course.–says Carlos, with little enthusiasm. His tone irritates me, because my memory for him is as significant as that of any other guest.—How are you, Dalia Penedo?

— Very well. - I reply, cold. I take a deep breath and forget the formality of asking how he is , because I decide to go straight to my plan, change my tone to a sweeter , without being annoying. —I picked up your number with Julio these days, because I have a project from the school about the Barcelona fishing market, and he told me you work in the area. I wonder if you could help me? - the next words end my bait: — I’m already desperate, because I have no one who can help me.

—Of course I can help you. - answers Charles most solicitously and confirming my suspicions: He is a prince who does not refuse to help a helpless maiden. — What do you need?

—Many things.–I say. So I decide to make a risky move. I know he can refuse, but I’m really desperate... to see him:—Wouldn’t it be possible for us to meet in person? I think it would be better even to show how the project would be... What do you think? When is it available?

— I think it’s a great idea. - says Carlos, excited. — How about tomorrow?

—Excellent! –I say, promptly. I think about how easy it was to attract him. —What time?

— Let me just make sure my fiancée is available. - replies Carlos, almost making me fall off the chair. Bride? What do you mean, he’s taking his fiancée? You can’t really count on the egg before it hatches... — You know, her parents also work with fish. It’ll be great to see our area valued...

— Wow!- I say, almost screaming on the phone. I need an excuse to get out of this mess: — I just remembered that tomorrow will not give... I have to study calculus... for the exam...

— Seriously, what a shame. - says Carlos with a disappointed voice. — Well, see a day that suits you and let me know. I will be at your disposal.

—Of course, I see, yes. - I answer sweet. You can be sure that it will be a day when your bride will not be present. I breathe, relieved for him to listen and thank him. — Thank you, you do not know how grateful I am for you helping me.

— I’m happy to know. - says Carlos shy. I keep listening to his breath and end up losing track of time. — Well, call me and set us up. See you.

—See you soon, Carlos. –I say, hanging up my phone.

My heart’s about to come out of my mouth. I throw myself on the bed, looking at the ceiling, take my phone and fill it with all the kisses I wish I had given Carlos personally.

***

Of course, the excuse of the school project had an expiration date, but every time he tried to score with Carlos ,he always wanted to put his blessed bride in the middle. And in all of them I used a different excuse: illness, travel, school... that really is already taking me seriously. So, getting that excuse out of play, I ask him to send me everything he had on the fish market to my e-mail.

He, like a good gentleman he is, promptly sends a huge email with everything that was needed. If my project was real, I would certainly take a ten. I thought I’d keep that e-mail until I read the end:

"Sincerely,

Carlos Salazar and Antônia Vegas"

I can’t believe that, even in the email, she had to appear. I immediately throw the email in the trash and clean it. That was an affront I didn’t intend to tolerate. I take a deep breath and take my phone and text him:

"Thank you for the email. You saved me, and I will be in eternal debt to you."

It didn’t take five minutes and my phone buzzes with your message popping up on the screen:

"Always at your service, Miss Penedo."

I bite my lips and then I write:

"Call me Dalia, Carlos. I hope to return the time one day..."

Your message comes soon after:

"Dalia..."

And so for the next three months we exchanged messages. But usually I couldn’t resist and ended up calling him. Trivial matters, as it was in school , or his work, almost every kind of subject was talked between us. Almost ,because the subject bride was out of the question. Whenever he quoted it, he made sure to show my dissatisfaction, but he was either very naive or very good at it, because he never contested it.

Our "friendship" was going very well, apart from the fact that we never met after the new year. Not even when I said I got ten on the fake project, I couldn’t celebrate with him. It’s already killing me when, on a beautiful Friday, my phone rings. When I see Carlos' name, my heart races, I run from the living room, where I was watching television with Valeria , to the bedroom. I answer my phone, before I even catch my breath:

—Hello ...

—Dalia?- asks Carlos. — Are you okay?

— Yes... - I answer panting. — I ... I was working out... doing some sit-ups...

—Since when do you work out?- asks Carlos, suspicious. In fact, I am a real sedentary blessed by fast metabolism.

—I started these days... I did not tell you because I did not know if I could continue with this new routine... but you did not call me for this, right? - ask, nervous.

— No... – says Carlo, mysterious. He gives a low laugh and continues. — I’m calling to see if you want to go out today?

—To go out... Today?- I repeat, surprise. For a few moments, I feel myself floating in my room. It seems like a dream, the dream I wanted so much. Now it is happening.

—Dalia , are you sure everything is okay?- asks Carlos, worried.

— I accept... I accept to go out with you. – I answer as quickly as I can... almost with all my despair and relief.

—Great. I’ll meet you in Mallorca in an hour, right? - asks Carlos, excited.

—No doubt- I answer, excited.

—I wait for you, even more. - says Carlos, hanging up.

I throw my phone in bed and run to the closet. I need to find something to match. I disregard jeans and blouses. I don’t want to be too casual. However, I have to eliminate half of my dresses too. I don’t want to look like I’m making things easier.

So what I have left is a flowery white dress and a purple dress. From what I know of Carlos, the flowery white is the best, since I have to be still the helpless girl. I take a shower and make a beautiful braid in my dark brown hair, leaving my bangs loose. When I go back to my room, I get a fright. My mother is looking at all my clothes thrown on the bed.

— What’s going on here? - She asks in the face of a few friends.

—Nothing... I was looking for my dress that was practically hidden.- I explain, making light of the situation. I sit on my dressing table and swipe a lipstick. I notice my mom is analyzing me. — What’s up?

—Are you going out? - she asks, crossing her arms.

—Yes, I will. I have a school paper to do with Alicia. – I lie by putting my best friend Alicia in the middle.

Don’t worry, she always covers for me and knows all the excuses I use. Not to mention that her house is very close to Mallorca. The perfect crime.

—And you go like that? - my mother asks, suspicious. — All dressed up?

— Yes. – I reply by putting on my pearl earrings. Okay, I’m the perfect princess. —You always said we need to be ready for everything. Will her parents invite me to dinner? I can not keep coming and going, is not it?

—That’s right.– my mother replies, not very convinced. —Do you want me to take you?

— Yes. – I say, trying not to show how much it would disrupt my plans.

But if I refused, it would raise a lot of suspicions. Not to mention that I know that this could be a bluff from my mother. She hates driving downtown, so we always take the subway.

— If it’s not to disturb you, you know how terrible traffic is on the weekend.

—True... on second thought you better go by subway - agrees my mother touching my shoulder — Just do not delay getting home, me and your father will go out and I need you to stay with Valeria.

—No problem, Mom. I’ll be back before you know it.

But I hope she does not count on it much, because if it depends on me, I will spend my life in today’s meeting.

***

That Friday is beautiful , I had never seen a sky so blue and the streets so quiet. Around me people walk joyfully. I take the subway and in front of me sits a very young couple. They seemed so in love... the way I would like to be with Carlos. I got off at the station that is two blocks from the restaurant; I check my look in the escalator's mirror. My heart is racing, I feel short of breath, I’m turning the corner leading to the restaurant. I see him sitting at a table, distracted. It is exactly when I saw it in the new year. I smile speeding up my steps. , when I think of waving, I widen my eyes. Elson sits at the table where Carlos is. I almost have a stroke of anger, decide to leave, when Carlos waves at me, smiling. He had to come towards me... with that relaxed smile...with those greenish eyes...

— Hi, Dalia. - says Carlos without grace. — I’m glad you came.

—Hello. - I say ,irritated. I can’t help but wonder — What is Elson doing here?

—I invited him too .- Carlos replies, saying goodbye to his friend. — I came to bring Antônia in the service and then, as I have to wait for her to leave, I called Elson. And, of course, so do you, since we’re always scheduled to leave. Are we?

I pass him, annoyed. That wasn’t quite the afternoon I had planned to spend with him. As we talk, I wonder if he is so pure that he does not realize my real intentions. Elson sounded like a crow talking nonstop, while I kept myself monosyllabic. I thanked immensely when the beautiful day became windy , showing that a storm would come around.

— I have to go - I say getting up , hurried. I think that was the biggest phrase I said during the conversation- I promised the parents that I would get home early.

—All right. - says Elson. He winks at me and says. — A pleasure to talk to you.

— A pity that you already go... - says Carlos, making a disappointed face. I almost give up the idea of leaving when he talks. — I was planning to introduce you to my fiancée. I tell her so much about you, I think it’s time you two met.

—Bye. - I say, cold turning towards the street.

It crossed all my limits. I just can’t stay close to Carlos for another minute. How dare he treat me like I’m... I'm... a friend of his? The raindrops fall and I have to run to get to the station. Inside the subway, my tears of anger fall. I had never been treated with such indifference to anyone, as I was by Carlos.

My anger doesn’t go away until I get home. I pass my parents and go straight to my room. I rip that stupid dress off and throw myself on the bed, punching my pillow like it’s Carlos' face. Three months waiting for him and nothing..., but the anger remains, until I decide to pick up my phone and call Carlos... I’m done waiting, it’s time to play the real one with him, even if it destroys everything I’ve built. He takes his time, but picks up and before he says his famous hello, I shoot:

—I don’t know if you noticed, but I don’t want to be your friend. Our relationship will never be friends. I want to be with you! So when you get rid of your fiancée, call me! Because I’m sick of this game of cat and mouse!

—Dalia...-starts saying Carlos, but I don’t care. I hang up on him.

I lie in my bed and take a deep breath. Even if this direct approach, take it away from me, I don’t care. In fact, I don’t care about anything else.