EPISODE 4

''I don't believe you're going to make me go. I want to stay here, quiet'' I talk about getting up and walking to the bathroom while I complain. 

''I will, and you go pretty much! You need to have sex to see that Lucas isn't the only man on the face of the earth, and life needs to go on; there are much better men he knew. That can lead you to madness; without effort, I am living proof of it.'' Tina talks laughing

I put my head out of the bathroom and face Tina, who's laughing. ''Then you want too much for a country girl! I don't go out there having sex. This, for me, has to be done with love. You have to give yourself to someone because you love that person! I loved Lucas.  I don't think I'll ever love someone the same way again,'' I say, whining, going back into the bathroom.

''My God, how tacky! What love what, Beatrice! We're just talking about fun without this commitment thing. To marry, to have children, and to live happily ever after. You have to change your idea of Prince Charming. Because that only exists in movies. It's because you believe that you're out in this situation. Now come on, wear that dress! This is perfect for the kind of man anxious to meet you!'' Tina says, admiring the dress 

What do you mean? What kind of man? You talk like you already know I'm going to find someone!'' I say, stretching out my hand to get the dress.

''It was just a way of talking. This dress means I'm interested in having sex, and I'm not an innocent country girl who believes in Prince Charming.'

''ha, ha, ha, you're crazy.'' I mean, laughing out loud.

''I'm smart and don't fall into that little bit of love. Love is only beautiful in history books. Oh, look at you. Learn one thing, Beatrice, man only serves so that we have everything we want. Is that it? Now you can get dressed.''

It seems there is nowhere to run, Tina has helped me a lot at this challenging time, and I do not know how to say no to her. My ex-fiancé threw me out of his life when he got tired of me. I didn't have anywhere to go. And she was the only person I had to help me. I came from the farm in the country to live with him; I believed in the whole conversation about getting married, having kids, and the entire happy thing forever. And now I'm here, with nowhere to go, and I can't even call my dad; he never saw me forgiving for running away from home with Lucas.

I take a deep breath, seeing the image reflected in the mirror. '' Tina is right, Beatrice, you need to forget all this that happened; there has to have a way out of this hole that you got stuck in,'' I talk to myself.

I take a bath and put on the dress that is a black tube with shine; I wear my hair and decide not to wear makeup. '' I'm ready.'' I say, getting out of the bathroom

Tina turns around and stares at me for a few seconds until she talks. ''Oh, but it's not; let's change it. Sit here. Valeria will kill me if she knows you were like that.''

''Why? Will she be there too?'' I ask as Tina pulls me to sit in a chair in front of the mirror.

''No, Beatrice. But she's got people in these places, so if she sees me with you dressed like that, she's going to think she can tarnish my reputation. That could hurt me at work. You don't want to hurt me, do you?'' She pouts.

I fight against the idea, but I end up yielding. I don't want to hurt Tina, who's being so wonderful to me by taking me in here at her house. And I don't want to bring her any trouble at her work either. Then I can only agree.

 She does. I look a lot like Tina. Baby is in my hair and well-loaded night makeup.

''Ready, now you're ready.'' She speaks with a smile on her face. ''You're perfect; today, you don't end the night unaccompanied. You're going to get a guy who will make you forget about Lucas. I wanted it for myself... I interrupt by turning to her, '' You wanted what? Are you suffering like me? You say some weird things sometimes. Now let's go before I give up.'

MARK

''Well, moved this place. Just like Valeria told me, the concentration of the Carioca ballad'' I speak with a smile.

''Who is Valeria? You can start looking for your suitor; she must be lost somewhere. Something tells me you're going to need a lot of time, so how about you buy me a DRI; she and their arrears numerous women here, that's right.

'' Valeria is a person I met. My phone beeps, and I look. I give you a malicious smile. ''HAHAHA, but you're right. I'm going to get a drink.'

''Water. Someone needs to drive back. Do you know if you need to remember? By the number of people, you have in this morning. She is perfect.

''I'll pay another. I'm keen. Can you walk me to the bar?'' She looks at me suspiciously. I smile. '' It's so that you can order the same drinks again.''

She looks everywhere like she's looking for someone. '' I don't usually go out chasing strange men.'' 

''Pleasure, my name is Marco. Now I'm no longer a strange man,'' I say, reaching out.

She looks at my hand and me. Until finally, she says the words I've been waiting for. ''Pleasure, I'm Beatrice''

''I want to apologize to you again. I get distracted; I have no habit of going places as crowded as this. And with so many lovely women.'' I look at her with a slight smile, and she turns red with shame.

''You're not Brazilian, right? I know because of your accent, I can tell you that. Italian, right?  My father is also Italian.''

'' Haha, haha, you're right. I'm Italian; I'll spend a few days in Brazil. Let's get the drinks.'' I try to talk; it's not the time for her to know more about me.

''Of course.'' She says and starts accompanying me until we get to the bar. She orders the drinks, and we wait.

 ''You don't seem to have the accent of the other ones here either; it's different.''

''Oh yes, it's because I'm not from Rio de Janeiro; I'm from the countryside.''

''A country girl, lost in the big city?'' 

 She lowers her head ''Actually, I came to live with my boyfriend; I dropped everything, believing in this shit they call love. And as soon as he got sick of me, he put his foot right in the middle of my ass. I am now alone here, with no job or place to live. I think I've told you my whole life. Mark your name, isn't it?''

''Yes, Marco. And I didn't know anything I didn't already know. I turned around to pick up the drinks at the bar.

'' Did you know? How can you know about me if you don't even know me?'' When I turn around, I realize I've talked too much when those beautiful honey-colored eyes are staring at me with curiosity

''Yes...., I mean by your sad face I imagined. So, that's why I said I already knew.'

She's silent for a few seconds, and by her countenance, she's trying to figure out if I'm telling the truth. ''I get it, you'd make a good psychologist,' she smiles, giving me a Lie. I almost lost everything.

''Thanks for the drink, Marco! She takes the glasses and leaves; I notice when she looks back and finds my eyes, watching closely. She's perfect. I need to take her to Italy; she's perfect for my parents.

Valeria told me she had the perfect woman. I stare at her disappearing into the crowd and pay attention to every detail: a beautiful, disappointed woman. I couldn't have had better luck. I pay for the drinks and run back to where David is waiting for me.

''You delayed; I thought you were to go married!'' He speaks with sarcasm

''You won't believe David, but I think I've already got lucky the first time. I just met a beautiful single woman. And you don't know the best. Completely disappointed with love. She's from the country, she came believing in love, and her boyfriend broke up with her. She's perfect,' I speak enthusiastically.

''Do you already know all this about her? You're setting it up, aren't you? I knew that this trip to Brazil was not without a purpose.'' David talks.

''Of course not! It was fate that wanted to give me a push. She told me that while we were getting the drinks, I ended up knocking over of the ones with her. Why can't you believe me? Now we have to find out where she is. I need to get her phone number. Come'' I lie to David because I know he's scared to death of my father, all my father has to do is put pressure on him, and that's it. He might turn me in. David is loyal to me, a thousand times more dedicated to my father. 

''I'll make sure I believe you. How long have we lived together? I know you're lying, but I respect you if you don't want to tell me. But look at this place; it's too crowded; it's going to take all night until we find it.'

''I'll find. She's a tall girl with dark hair and a black dress. Come on, David; you need to help me find her.'' I walk out front like I'm looking, but I already know where she is. It takes little time. I see her at a bistro table, and she must be the friend.

''David, she is there. Let's order a table nearby.'' I say by pulling David to my side.

''Look, you thought, what a coincidence. Because you managed to come to the exact place, in a crowded place like this. You're lucky today,'' He says in a sarcastic tone.

'' Fuck, David''