02

- Change my dentist? - I asked Clara, just as she stormed into my house.

Her red cheeks and swollen eyes indicated that she had cried.

- Alessandro is gay! Gay!

- Really? Are you sure? - I screamed from the kitchen, I was busy doing the dishes.

She came towards me and sat on the red bench behind the white tile counter.

- Zoe, I was in that damn chair with my mouth wide open, and the guy just tells me that if I had any friends to introduce to him, I wouldn’t be shy.

- What the fuck!

Clara let out a groan and bent her head over her arms.

— Friend, do not get like this - I advised -, go to my dentist if you want. Maria Eduarda is one of the best in town, she was apprenticed to Aristeu, from what I researched, the guy is fucking.

- Yeah, I’ll think about it. How was your day?

I closed the tap, took the sink wheel and began to dry it.

- Shit - I answered, focused on my task -, besides Pedro kicking me, my mother came here.

- I bet you spoke highly of Anelise’s cow.

- It wouldn’t be her if she didn’t talk - I said ironically. - You were right, Clara, I need a drink.

- Yay! - Jumped from the chair and hugged me from behind. - Let’s drink so much until we make a huge mess.

- Nor comes - I said, smiling -, I will not do anything stupid.

- We’ll see, Zoe. We’ll see.

After everything was done, we made popcorn, went to the living room, turned on the TV and put it in a horror movie. Although I was afraid - and I was all the time putting the pillow in my face - I wouldn’t stand by and watch a romance when my love life was a real disaster.

Not dead and buried!

— I knew this idiot was going to die! - Clara exclaimed, sticking a handful of popcorn in her mouth as soon as the movie was over. - So, Zoe, have any companies contacted you?

- No - I answered in a muxoxo -, I sent curriculum for everything that is singing, Clara. It’s bad.

— Don’t give up - kind of asked, kind of ordered -, will paint a nice job soon.

- Hopefully. So, how’s your job?

Clara worked as a manager at a convenience store. We met there five years ago when the place was robbed and we were at the mercy of the bandits for two long hours.

It even ran in the National Journal.

The friendship came instantly, when I found myself, we were already venting to each other, crying our pitangas and laughing at our problems.

Friend like she didn’t have.

- Oh, you know, kind of stressful, but the salary at the end of the month pays off.

- In the end, everything is worth it.

- It is - agreed. - What is the schedule for this Saturday night besides getting drunk?

- Lots of pizza! - Exclamei and Clara laughed.

- You’re so predictable, Zoe.

- Maybe that’s why I got my ass kicked.

- Stop! - She scolded me, slapping my leg. - I forbid you to think so.

I lay on her lap and she began to caress my braids, wrapping them in her fingers. The tears fell silently.

- It will pass - Clara promised -, it will pass, Zoe.

Later, around 8 pm, I ordered pizza at my favorite pizzeria - since I found it, I never ordered it in another. Clara did not leave, as she had clothes and toothbrush here, ended up staying.

Together, we spilled five bottles of wine. I was already dizzy, laughing for nothing and with a huge desire to cry.

And sing.

And dance.

And sing even more.

The world was spinning. I was sad and happy at the same time.

I had been dumped.

Hahahahahaha.

I had a beautiful cousin that my mother loved and that would go down with the dream guy.

Hahahahahaha.

No one but Clara knew about my breakup. I would have lunch tomorrow with my maternal family and nothing would go as I planned.

Ah, and my father’s gone. Forever.

Enough, the fun’s over.

- Fuck, I’m dizzy - said my friend, throwing herself on the couch.

I was standing, trying to roll to the sound of a random funk, something like: "Push, lock and go down, go down, go down". Then the bell rang.

I went to meet, I knew it was Pedro, sorry, and asking me to come back. Only I would not give in so easy.

Not even a stick!

I’d make him sweat.

On the way, I stumbled upon something - the remote, I realized later - and ended up falling forward.

Ri.

- Hold on - I told myself, still laughing. - Good girl.

And I opened.

No, it wasn’t my ex-boyfriend. But why would it be? He shouldn’t even remember me.

On the other side of the door was the motoboy, holding my two pizzas.

I’ll be honest, the guy was a Greek god. Black skin, green eyes, curly haircut, rosy mouth, full lips and a beautiful bearing.

He wore a red shirt, with the name Boa Pizza engraved in yellow letter, a black pants and jacket of the same color.

Holy shit, what a handsome man!

- I know you? - I asked, frowning. He laughed, showing white teeth and perfectly aligned.

— I’ve been your delivery boy for a year, Zoe - replied. - I know that your favorite pizza is the Portuguese, without olives, and for a while you order a cold Coke to accompany, as long as it comes with lemon, because your boyfriend prefers it that way.

- I... I... I... and fell into compulsive crying.

- Hey, what happened? I said something wrong? - He asked, all worried.

I cried even more. I sobbed. I threw myself into his arms, which staggered, but managed to trim me, still with the cardboard boxes in my hands.

- Did he attack you? - There was anger in your tone.

- N-no - I was able to answer. - He left me. He left me. He kicked my ass. It’s over.

- I’m really sorry...

- Why are you like this? - I interrupted him, hurt. - Appear, promise the world and fall away. Tell me, motoboy, why?

- Alex - he did.

I got rid of his arms - strong by the way -, and faced him.

- What did you say?

He smiled.

- My name. - Explained. - My name is Alex.

- It’s a nice name. I’m sorry, Alex, I got drunk and...

- It’s okay. It happens.

- Come in, please. I’ll get the money, it’s cold out here.

Alex acquiesced and was walking behind me, all polite.

- I would even tell you to sit on the couch, but... - I pointed to Clara, who was already snoring. - She was always weak for drink.

- I understand, I don’t drink either.

- You’re so straight - and I laughed, I was so smiling.

- I’m a good kid - he joked.

I opened my wallet and took the money, I gave it to him and he handed me the pizzas. Our eyes met for a few moments, and there was a kind of connection, I didn’t quite understand what that was, but I was sure it was something dangerous.

Broken heart + beautiful man + wine = wild sex.

Perfect match, but that would be a disaster the next day.

- Are you better? - He wanted to know, already outside.

Maybe it was the effect of the drink acting on my body and leaving me vulnerable, needy and sad as hell, so that, once again, I began to cry.

- Don’t cry, Zoe. He doesn’t deserve it.

- Am I ugly? Dumb?

— You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen - Alex said, tenderly -, and you’re certainly fucking smart. Don’t let this asshole make you think otherwise.

He turned his back, but I called him. Alex turned to me, and I couldn’t believe it when I saw myself asking:

- After work is done, you come back here?

Her beautiful green eyes sparkled, and a small smile stretched on her plump lips.

- I return - he assured.

And I didn’t really know why, but I was sure he would keep that promise.