Giulia

Suddenly, I heard the noise of hurried steps, and soon I saw Gina and Gabriella running back towards the house. I realized that they were being chased by a playful ox, which only increased my fun.

“Giulia, run! The ox is chasing us! "Gabriella shouted, with a mixture of fright and laughter in her voice.

I laughed even more and got up quickly, following them towards the house. The ox seemed to be having as much fun as we were with that unusual joke.

We ran as fast as we could, laughing and breathless. Finally, we managed to enter the house, closing the door behind us to protect ourselves from the playful ox.

"Hey, my belly is hurting from laughing so much! "I exclaimed, holding my abdomen while catching my breath.

Gina and Gabriella were also laughing, sharing the same feeling of joy and fun.

"That was quite an experience! "Said Gina, still laughing.

“True! I think the ox was wanting to have fun with us. "Gabriella added, trying to contain the laughter.

As we recovered from the scare and fun, I realized that it was the first time I had laughed so spontaneously since we arrived at the farm. Maybe the welcoming atmosphere and the joy of my sisters were starting to break the barriers I had built over time.

Our moment of relaxation was interrupted by the arrival of Bernardo and the men of the house, who also laughed when they saw the funny scene we had starred in.

“Are you all right? The ox didn't do anything, did he? "Asked Bernardo, with a fun smile on his face.

"We're fine, it was just a harmless ox joke. "Responded Gina, still laughing.

Gabriella and I nodded, and the relief and joy of being together at that moment became evident on our faces.

That day, between mangoes, cows and the playful ox, was marked as one of the most memorable moments of that trip.

The night came, and although tired, I was ready for another challenge on the farm: to face the unwanted presence of mosquitoes. As soon as the sun set, the insects began to appear in large quantities, and I soon realized that they were hungry for blood.

In the living room of the house, where we slept, there was no screen on the windows, and the mosquitoes could enter easily. Soon I saw myself being attacked by them, and the feeling of the bites irritated me deeply.

“Oh, damn it! These mosquitoes have no mercy! "I complained, shaking my hands to push them away.

Gina and Gabriella also seemed to be bothered, but they tried not to show as much discontent as I did.

"Yeah, they're really boring, but I don't think we have much to do." Gabriella said, trying to be pragmatic.

"You're right, but that doesn't mean I have to like it! "I replied, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep, even if I was constantly being bothered.

I decided to try to use my cell phone to distract myself and forget about the mosquitoes, but, to my frustration, the signal was not available in that remote place.

"Oh, I can't believe it! Not even the cell phone is working here. "I grumbled, feeling even more isolated.

Gabriella looked at me with understanding.

“Sometimes it's good to disconnect a little and enjoy the present moment, Giulia. We will be able to deal with the mosquitoes, don't worry so much.

I knew she was right, but it was hard to ignore the insects that insisted on disturbing my sleep.

While trying to find some way to shelter from mosquitoes, Gina suggested:

“Maybe we can make a bonfire outside. The smell of smoke usually pushes them away a little.

The idea seemed good, and the three of us agreed to try. We left the house and, with the help of the men from the farm, lit a bonfire near the entrance.

The smoke, in fact, drove some of the mosquitoes away, but there were still some persistent ones. I decided to cover my body with a sheet to try to protect myself better.

Sitting around the fire, we tell stories, sing and enjoy the heat of the fire. That experience of forced disconnection, away from cell phones and the city, began to seem more special and meaningful.

While the mosquitoes were still bothering, I allowed myself to enjoy the company of my family and Bernardo, who was sitting next to me, always attentive and kind.

Throughout the night, my irritation with the mosquitoes decreased as the connection with that moment and with the people around me grew.

Despite all the inconvenience of mosquitoes, that night became one of the most memorable moments of the trip to the farm.

As the bonfire lit up the dark night, the weather became perfect for telling haunting stories. Bernardo, with a malicious smile, decided to share some scary legends he had heard from the elders of the farm. The flames danced to the rhythm of his words, and I felt chills run down my spine as he narrated the stories.

As we listened in silence, my sisters' expressions revealed the same mixture of curiosity and apprehension that I felt. Every word of Bernard seemed to create vivid images of shadows and spirits, and I felt enveloped by the atmosphere of mystery and fear.

As one of the stories reached its climax, Gina shuddered next to me, and Gabriella clung to Cadu's arm, who was sitting next to her. Both men exchanged complicit and kind looks, ready to comfort and protect the women they loved.

“Are you all right? "He asked Cadu, in a soft voice.

“Yes... Yes, we are. It's just that the stories are very scary. "Responded Gina, trying to smile to disguise her nervousness.

Pablo agreed, adding:

"Bernardo has a special talent for telling chilling stories. But remember that they are just legends, and we are all together here, safe around the fire.

Bernardo smiled, appreciating the effect of his stories, but soon changed the tone of the conversation, assuring us:

"You're right, you're just legends. And we are all here to take care of each other. You don't have to be scared.

Your kindness and calm reassured me too, and I realized that we could face the scares together, with the support of our beloved companions.

As the night continued, we decided to change the tone of the conversation and share lighter and funnier stories. The tense atmosphere fell apart, and soon we were all laughing and enjoying each other's company.

Pablo decided to make a joke, and we all had fun trying to guess the answers. Gina and Gabriella were still a little shaken by the scary stories, but little by little they calmed down and got into the light and relaxed atmosphere.

That night, with his scary stories and laughter, it became another special moment on the farm. With every challenge and every laugh, I felt our connection grow even stronger.

The next morning, while everyone was preparing for the farm activities, Bernardo asked me for help to trap the legs of a cow in order to facilitate milking. The idea of being so close to the animals and participating in such a rustic task made me uncomfortable. Besides, I had no experience with that kind of work.

"I'm sorry, Bernardo, but I don't think I can help with that." I replied, trying to be sincere and polite.

He seemed surprised by my refusal, and his countenance became serious.

"But why not? It's just a simple task, and everyone helps here on the farm. "he hit, with a slightly abrupt tone.

I felt pressured and didn't really know how to deal with the situation. The pressure to be accepted and the willingness to help collided with my discomfort.