03

— Cut that out, not everyone is like that - Alex countered, accepting the glass of wine I gave him. But first, you promised you’d only have one bottle to go with me.

- They are - I disagreed, sipping another sip of the drink -, some real rascals, bastards, heartless.

We were on the carpet of the living room, sharing a pizza of calabresa - Clara’s favorite who, in Alex’s arms, was taken still sleeping to the room next to mine.

- You only say that because...

- I was dropped - I completed.

- Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.

- All right, Alex, at some point I have to take it.

- You can.

- Thank you. Do you have a girlfriend?

- I did. But it didn’t last long.

I turned to him.

- Why?

Alex scratched his head, somewhat awkwardly, and looked away to the floor.

- I’ve always been in love with another - he said softly.

- Does it correspond?

Then he looked at me and smiled.

- I’m not so lucky, Zoe.

I didn’t know what to say, I just stood there in silence, filling my body with alcohol to ward off the pain of being abandoned.

- Well, I guess I better go - he broke the silence.

- Stay - asked. - It’s late, you drank. There’s the sofa, you can sleep in it.

- My house is a little far away - said -, I will accept the invitation. I will only call my mother to warn.

- My God, is that still there? - I laugh, unbeliever.

- I told you, Zoe, I’m a good kid. Besides, my mom cares about me a lot, I can’t flinch.

- I wish I could say the same - and I turned the wine for good.

I filled the cup.

I turned.

I filled another one.

I will come again.

The sleep came, softly, the world was a blur, all blurred, I just wanted someone to make things stop spinning all of a sudden, like, pushing a button or something.

I don’t know when I went to bed, but I had the feeling that I was carried by someone, and before I fell into the darkness, I heard a whisper in my ear:

- Forget that guy, Zoe. Stay with me.

***

- Get out of here, you bastard, you bastard!

Clara’s screams reverberated around the house, invading my ears and waking me up. I jumped out of bed - a terrible idea. My head hurt, my stomach was spinning and I was in a fucking mood to vomit.

- Calm down, lady, I can explain - said Alex.

Alex?

Oh my God, I am.

I ran into the room. I found Clara with a broom and a frying pan in her hand, Alex had his hands up, as a sign of surrender. The two looked at me, my friend looking for explanation, he looking for help.

- Clara, put that away. Alex is my pizza delivery guy for a year, yesterday we drank and talked for a few hours, he ended up sleeping here.

- You invited a stranger to sleep here? - She asked, astonished.

- He’s a nice guy.

- He could be a murderer, Zoe!

- But it’s not - I contested.

- I don’t know if you remember - Alex said -, but I’m still here.

So I stared at him.

- Sorry - I did.

- All right. I think I’d better go, bye, Zoe. Bye, broom freak - and laugh.

- And the pots - I added, laughing too.

- Funny guys - Clara mumbled.

I walked him to the door.

- Thanks for yesterday, Alex. You were great company. I was at rock bottom and you reached out to me.

- Don’t thank me, Zoe. In need, you know where to find me.

And he left.

I stood there, admiring that kind, funny, polite guy. The girl he was in love with was so lucky and didn’t even realize it.

Who was that blind?

I closed the door and went back to the room. Clara had already kept the broom and the frying pan, and, staring at me, with her hands on her waist, asked:

- Have you gone crazy, Zoe?

I shrugged my shoulders.

- Alex was very nice to me, Clara.

- Okay, I’m not going to be a pain in the ass. Did you at least have a kiss?

- What? Of course not. - I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth, my friend followed me.

- Let’s face it, he’s beautiful, right?

- Yes - I agreed, putting paste on the brush -, but nothing happened.

- Why? - She wanted to know, leaning against the door jamb.

— He’s in love with another - I told him -, besides, I’m still not over Pedro. I’m not blind, Clara, I’m aware of Alex’s beauty, but I’ve fucked up enough in this relationship thing. I want to be alone for a while.

- It’s up to you.

- Ah, after breakfast go to your house get ready. We’ll have lunch at Aunt Marta today, I forgot to tell you.

- And there we go to the snake pit - Clara said, rolling her eyes.

I laughed and started brushing my teeth.

As agreed, Clara went to her house to get ready and I stayed here, producing myself. I took a good shower and, with a lot of patience, I made a beautiful hairstyle that I had seen on P*******t.

I took half of the braids and made a side bun, leaving some loose wires to give a charm. I wore round gold earrings, a denim bib and a short yellow shirt underneath. On my feet, I wore a pair of black flats.

Enough perfume to get fragrant, nude lipstick and golden shade.

Okay, everything ok for another chic lunch at the home of the rich aunt of the family.

Around 11 a.m., my friend came to pick me up. Of the two of us, she was the only one with a car.

- Ready to face Anelise’s bitch?

I let out a sorrowful sigh.

- No - I answered -, but come on.

She started and we headed towards the luxury condominium where Aunt Marta lived, in a noble neighborhood of the city.

Hang in there, Zoe, hang in there.