Giovanna

While the gentle sea breeze caressed my face, I was getting ready for an elegant dinner on the cruise ship. Sitting at the table, my sister, Gisele, and my best friend, Jussara, shared the excitement of that special night.

The dinner promised to be delicious, but my excitement was slightly shaken when I noticed the presence of an acquaintance a few tables away. Isabela was an old rival, a superb girl and full of herself. She was always competitive and loved to show herself superior to others, especially to me.

"Wow, look who's here," said Jussara, noticing the tension on my face.

"Yes, Isabela. She seems to be having fun in her arrogance as always," I murmured.

"Let's ignore her and enjoy our dinner. She doesn't deserve our attention," said Gisele, trying to calm my feelings.

I agreed with my sister and tried to focus on the lively conversation we had. However, every time I looked in the direction of Isabela, my discomfort increased. She was surrounded by a group of people who seemed impressed by her presence, just as she wanted it to be.

While dinner followed, Isabela threw provocative looks at me, as if she were trying to hit me in some way. I knew I needed to stay calm and not fall into his trap, but it wasn't easy. Our rivalry had been going on for a long time, since the days when we were students.

"Are you okay, Gio?" asked Jussara, noticing my restlessness.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just trying to ignore Isabela's presence," I replied with a sigh.

"You know you don't have to prove anything to her, do you? You are amazing the way you are," Gisele said fondly.

"I know, Gis. It's just that... it's hard to forget all those competitions and provocations of the past," I admitted.

"I understand. But don't let her take the sparkle out of this trip for us. We are here to have fun and create special memories," Jussara recalled.

They were right. I couldn't let Isabela spoil the wonderful experience we had ahead of us. I decided to focus on enjoying the moment next to Gisele and Jussara, ignoring Isabela's provocative looks.

As the night progressed, I felt more and more confident and determined not to let Isabela shake me. We talked, laughed and enjoyed each other's company, creating memories that would be kept forever in our hearts.

At the end of dinner, Isabela and her group left, and I felt relieved. The rivalry still existed, but I knew I could choose not to give power to his provocations.

The morning was sunny, and while my sister and my best friend were sleeping, I decided to take advantage of the ship's pool to relax a little. The crystal clear water reflected the sun's rays, creating an inviting scenery.

While I was swimming, I saw Isabela arriving at the pool accompanied by her group of followers. For a moment, I wanted to avoid a confrontation with her, but I could not allow her presence to spoil my moment of tranquility.

I tried to ignore her, but Isabela wasted no time and came towards me with a provocative smile.

"Look who decided to leave the den. Giovanna, isn't it? I thought you'd rather hide from the spotlight, as always," she provoked.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, but the provocation was starting to irritate me.

"I'm here to relax and enjoy my vacation, just like anyone else," I replied, keeping my voice firm.

"Of course, of course. Vacation. I bet you love this opportunity to show how perfect and superior you are to all of us," said Isabela, making it clear that the rivalry was still very much alive in her heart.

"This has nothing to do with superiority. I just want to live my life without having to deal with your provocations all the time," I replied, trying to contain myself.

Isabela laughed, with a disdainful look. "Oh, Giovanna, always so sensitive. You've always been like that, haven't you? The fragile little girl who needs protection."

Those words were the trigger for my patience to run out. I couldn't allow her to treat me like this anymore. Swimming towards her, I stared at her with determination.

"Enough, Isabela! I'm tired of your provocations and your need to humiliate me all the time. We are no longer teenagers, and there is no more room for this childish rivalry between us," I declared, trying to convey the seriousness of my words.

Isabela seemed surprised by my reaction, but soon regained her haughty posture.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Giovanna. I'm just having fun, as I've always done," she said with a cynical smile.

"Fun at the expense of others, isn't it? That's not fun, Isabela. It's cruel and unnecessary," I argued, feeling my anger mix with a deep sadness.

Isabela's eyes sparkled with anger, but she didn't answer right away. We both knew that the rivalry was not healthy, but until that moment, none of us had dared to confront it so directly.

"You've always been a threat to me, Giovanna. You're good at everything you do, and it's always bothered me. I feel like I need to prove that I'm better than you, but I know this is wrong," she confessed hesitantly.

I was surprised by her frankness, and realized that maybe she was also fighting her own internal demons.

"I don't want to be a threat to you, Isabela. I just want to be myself, just as you have the right to be who you are," he said with understanding.

Isabela sighed, looking more vulnerable than I had ever seen her.

"Maybe it's time to leave this rivalry behind. We may not be friends, but we don't need to be enemies. The world is big enough for both of them," I proposed, extending a friendly hand.

Isabela hesitated for a moment, but then smiled and shook my hand.

"You're right. Maybe it's time to move on," she agreed.

While I was still trying to process what had just happened to Isabela, an unknown boy approached me with a look of approval.

"You were amazing there in the pool, teaching that arrogant girl a lesson," he said with a smile.

Still a little confused, I looked at him and realized that he was a handsome boy, with expressive eyes and dark hair.

"Thank you, I think," I replied, not knowing for sure how to react.

He laughed, as if he was used to getting people's attention.

"I'm sorry if I'm being a nosy, but I know you, you know? Isabela. We met at a party a couple of years ago," he explained.

I felt a slight flash of recognition, but I couldn't remember exactly where I knew him from. Maybe I had seen him at some party or event, but I certainly didn't have a clear memory of that moment.

"Oh, yes, now I remember. But it's been a long time, hasn't it?" I answered, trying to be nice.

He smiled and nodded. "Yes, it was a while ago. But you're still the same brave girl I met that night."

I was flattered by the compliment, but also a little uncomfortable with the idea that someone I barely knew still remembered me after so long.

"Thank you, but I don't remember much of that night," I confessed honestly.

He laughed again. "No problem. I'm Gabriel, by the way. And you're Giovanna, right?"

I nodded with a smile. "That's right. Nice to meet you, Gabriel."

He reached out for a more formal greeting, and I squeezed her. I felt more comfortable with the conversation, and the fact that he was not only praising the fight, but also my courage to face an old rivalry, made the moment more pleasant.

"It was really impressive to see how you dealt with the situation there in the pool. You're not afraid to face problems head-on, are you?" He said, admiring.

"I think sometimes it's important to face things head-on, even if it's difficult," I replied, thinking about how I had dealt with Isabela.

He nodded, agreeing. "That's true. Life can be complicated, but facing things with your head held high makes all the difference."

We talked for a few more minutes about random things, and Gabriel proved to be a nice and interesting boy. Although we didn't know each other very well, the conversation flowed naturally and I felt at ease by your side.

While he said goodbye and left, I found myself thinking about the coincidence of meeting him there, at that moment, right after the confrontation with Isabela.