VII
Tuesday, after much hesitation, Alex called Maria at ten o'clock at night, summoning her to come to his house on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, tired from a long day of work, Maria rang the doorbell. Alex was waiting for her. The flowers were still in the refrigerator. And, contrary to Alex's pleas, Leo had locked himself in his room.
"What is it..." Maria said, too tired to formulate a question.
"I wanted to talk to you?"
Maria remained standing, waiting right there, in the doorway, for the surprising revelation. Alex continued:
"It's nothing like that, like that..."
Maria sighed, disappointed in advance.
"Come in," Alex said, walking towards the kitchen.
Maria followed him, hearing some comments about the night, the pleasant weather. In the kitchen, as soon as she entered, she pulled out a chair and sat down. She was exhausted.
Alex took the tulips out of the refrigerator and put them on the table.
"They're yours."
"Thank you."
"It's a tulip, it has a curiosity. Did you know that it..." he said a lot of things about the refrigerator, ice, soil, and water, all of which went in one ear and out the other of the young woman until she couldn't hold it in and let out her first yawn.
"Is there anything else I should know?" Maria asked, even with some enthusiasm, although tired.
"Do you want to ask something?"
"What would I ask?"
"So that's it..."
"Thank you," Maria repeated, her tone much more disappointed.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes... what should I do?"
"Well... I'll walk you to the bus stop."
"Please do. And where is Leo?"
"He locked himself in his room."
"I can imagine why."
At the bus stop.
"Maria, do you think I'm strange?" Alex asked as he saw the bus approaching.
"I'd say you're very nice..."
"That's quite enlightening."
"Yes..."
"Yes..."
"Goodbye, Maria."
"Goodbye, Alex."
They shook hands, and Maria got on the bus and left. Alex's head drooped, his shoulders slumped, and his joy faded.
* * *
Back home, Leo was waiting for him in the yard near the pool.
"I hope something better happened between then and the bus stop," Leo said.
"Nothing."
"Why do I feel like you didn't say anything?"
"Yes..."
"Yes?"
"Yes..."
"Damn it, you got the girl all worked up and didn't say anything."
"No."
"Why?"
"I have my reasons."
"Of course, you must. The time you spent being silent like an ox must have given you time to think of a hundred of them."
"It's not exactly like that, I'm not sure if she loves me."
"Ah, so that's it..." Leo said with ironic calm.
"You understand..."
"You idiot!" Leo shouted. "The poor girl, after a tiring day, came all the way here. After you summoned her for the most stupid reason, if you even gave a reason. And now you're telling me you're not sure if she loves you. Even if she hates you! Where will you find someone who, in their right mind, would have this consideration for you?"
Alex thought for thirty seconds and let himself fall into the pool. And so, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and half of Saturday went by...
The other half of Saturday.
"It's today!" Alex stated with total conviction.
"Finally," Leo said with a happy sigh.
"I'm going to call her."
"That's right!"
"And I'm going to tell her!"
"That's right!"
"I'm going to ask her to come here."
"No, man! Are you crazy? She spends the whole week here. If you want to please her, go to her!"
"Good idea, really good idea. I'll go."
"Let's go to Goiânia."
* * *
Already in Goiânia, the friends went to a small flower shop and bought a single red flower. Upon arrival, Leo went to his parents' house, and Alex headed to Maria's house, which was next door.
The flower was held behind his back for a short suspense. After a few knocks, a man answered at the gate.
"I'd like to speak to Maria, I'm Alex."
"Alex? Are you a friend from college?"
"Not from college. I'm a friend from Anápolis," he replied with excitement.
"Well! She's there... in Anápolis."
