Chapter One - Olíviah

- But this is absurd! - The woman screamed in my face - Do you know how much I pay for this school? I pay too much dear! You think you can fail my son? What you earn as a teacher, my husband as a businessman earns in a day.

- Ma'am? Your son can't keep up with the class - I tried not to get the spirit of the bully girl. - And I'm happy for your husband, it just proves how undervalued teachers are in this country.

That mother had been yelling at me for a long time and I couldn't stand it any longer having to explain to her that her son would have to fail because he was in no condition to keep up with his classmates, the boy knew absolutely nothing.

- Dear? How much do you want my son to pass? - How is that? This lady was crazy - Tell her a thousand, two thousand? I'll pay!

No, but what is it? Ah now the spirit comes...

- Look lady, with all due respect, take your money and shove it up your ass," I shouted in revolt.

That's all I needed! Five years as a teacher and I had never seen or heard such absurdity. A mad and angry mother because I had simply failed her son who knew nothing. It was too much.

- Olíviah," Marcia, my principal, shouted, "in my classroom now!

There! That's all the witch wanted to ask for my head. The woman was making my life a living hell and certainly seeing me arguing with that student's mother was a good enough reason for her to sign my resignation. I was already feeling that I would be fired from the São Joaquim School.

- It is unacceptable what happened," I said, damned witch, "Have you lost your mind? Sending the mother of a student...I won't even repeat it. Well, Olivia, get your things and go home.

- But... I was right," she smiled, giving up.

- No more, dear! The São Joaquim School doesn't need you anymore.

It was absurd! I had just lost my job because of a mother who tried to bribe me. I had worked at the school for years, the school was part of me. I spent more time there than in my own home, I dedicated all my time to that school.

- Ok ok ok! - Oh but before I left, Macia was going to listen to me - I couldn't stand to look at your sour face anymore, you unloved old woman. Have a nice day. Witch.

I left the Satan's sample room more relieved, after a lot of cursing. But also out of a job. It wasn't possible, this was the school where I liked to teach the most and from one moment to another everything was lost.

After gathering all my things and saying goodbye to my co-workers, I picked up my car and drove away aimlessly. I needed to put my mind to thinking for a while.

I finally stopped at the Copacabana beachfront to feel the sea breeze for a while.

I needed this time alone to think about the things around me. The hours went by and when I looked at my cell phone it was already late. Soon my cell phone rang.

- Hello? - I answered when I saw that it was my mother - Calm down mom...it's ok...mom...- I rolled my eyes - I just lost track of time.

- Do you realize how worried I was? - She was shouting from the other side, "I thought someone had kidnapped you! Or that something had happened.

- Mom? - I tried to calm her down, to no avail - If it was Chris Evans or Henry Cavil kidnapping me you'd love it and so would I...right?!

- Olivia, no kidding!

- Ok! I'm already going home ok?

I lived with my parents and my brothers in Rio de Janeiro. We were the typical carioca family with a pinch of craziness and some confusion in our daily lives.

Mom was that black woman, with a beautiful body even though she was 56 years old. My father was white, tall, and looked very much like a Hollywood leading man. My brothers and I were born with the same color as our mother. What differentiated me from my middle sister Rebeca was my hair, which she wore straight and I always wore it curled. My brother Diego, the eldest of them all, had greenish eyes and was quite a copy of his father, actor style.

I walked to my car and started it. I had to get home and explain to everyone what had happened, I had to tell them that I had lost my job because I was impulsive.

Everything was fine until during my ride home someone hit the back of my car. That was all I needed. It seemed like a prank. The traffic light was closed and even so the idiot behind hit mine. I took a deep breath and got out of the car, huffing and puffing, ready to get satisfaction from that human being. Anyone who was inside the vehicle was going to hear a lot.

Even if it is Obama or Beyoncé...I will kick their asses.

- Ôoo idiot - I hit the window that was tinted and prevented me from seeing the guy's face inside the car - Open this damn thing, look at the damage to my car? - I shouted.

How could a person with a Porsche just ram into the back of a Palio? I kept on knocking until finally the door opened. It was a split second. My mouth went dry and my legs trembled. Wasn't it possible that after all this time this idiot was standing right in front of me? No, no! I blinked my eyes trying not to believe it, but it was real. It was Miguel Henrique, right there in front of me.

- Look at me... - He started to speak and then got scared when he saw me - Olivia, is that you?

- That's all I need?! What have I done wrong, my God! - I shook my head in disbelief - Look what you did to my car, you idiot!

- Blind me? - He raised his eyebrow debauched - You're the one who stopped the damn car, crazy!

- Oh, you mean stopping the car at a red light is wrong? - I shouted - You don't change, do you, idiot? Always thinking that being right is wrong.

- And you're still the same crazy freak as always, who in their right mind stops the car at a red light at this hour? Even more in Rio de Janeiro.

- A normal person - I kept screaming and shouting with hate - Not an idiot, right Miguel Henrique? Look, I'm not going to stay here arguing, I have better things to do than stare at your face.

- You're still the same old bitch, you don't change. - I felt that ironic tone in his speech.

Hatred rose up in me. At the same time I bent down and picked up a rock and threw it at Henry's car window.

I made sure to leave my mark on the idiot's car just as he had done on mine.

- You're wrong Miguel, I'm not the same old troublemaker," I smiled as he looked at me in awe, "I'm much worse! And you better not get in my way again. Have a nice day.

I left that idiot standing there staring at me angrily and cursing at my last generation. I left his window smashed so that every penny he would pay to have it fixed, he would remember me.

I got in the car and started, if I stood there another second it would be his face I would break. And rub 10 years of hatred of that damned goalie on the asphalt.