VIII

— Why would she spend the weekend in Anápolis and not tell me? — Alex asked, returning the same day.

— We were in Goiânia. Maybe she tried to let you know. — Leo consoled.

— She might be waiting for us, we have to get there fast.

— Your family... she has uncles there.

— When we get there, I'll show you her aunt and uncle's house.

— Alright!

— You're head over heels for her.

— I believe we have the right to give ourselves a chance so we can see our affinities.

An uncontrollable urge to laugh took over Leonardo, and he burst out laughing as everyone on the bus looked at his fit of laughter.

As the sun's last rays faded, Alex and Leo got off at Avenida Brasil, near the Industrial District. They walked three kilometers west, arriving at Maria's aunt and uncle's house. Alex spotted her with a young man sitting on a long bench under a large avocado tree.

— See you later! — Leo said, turning a corner.

Who could that boy be? — Alex wondered.

He was pleased to see that Maria was removing her arm from the young man who dared to put his arm around her. The rose was put in his pocket, and Alex hurried forward, seeing that they had already spotted him.

— Hi, Maria! — he said enthusiastically.

— Hi, Alex! What are you doing around here?

— I came to see you.

— Come on, Alex! What are you doing here?

— I came to see you. — he insisted.

— Fine, if you don't want to say why you're here, you don't have to. This is Arthur, my friend.

Alex stared at him, whispering a few words.

— What did you say? — Maria asked, not understanding what was whispered.

— I'm thinking out loud, but it's nothing important.

"I love her," he thought.

— How is residence seven, on twenty-first of April street doing? — Maria asked, referring to the young people's house.

— I can't complain. Leo is a great friend, the house is comfortable. Besides, I can say I've met many nice people here.

— Have you written anything yet?

— I'm studying a lot. The store still hasn't delivered the computer, can you believe it? But it's not about that, it's about the story. I have many in my head, but none please me, none encourage me to keep writing.

— Why don't you tell about your arrival here? Why you traveled, how you met Leo...

— How I met you...

— And everything that happened. It wouldn't be a bad idea. I wouldn't stop buying it.

— And would anyone be interested in something like that?

— If anyone else would be interested in something like that, I don't know, but I certainly would be.

— Then it's decided. Today I'll start writing about my days here. Let's see what comes out... and if it's not interesting, at least you'll read it.

— I'm waiting.

Arthur, the aforementioned friend, remained silent until this moment, when he went to Maria and hugged her.

— As I said, I can't, I'm sorry, but I have to go.

Alex remained frozen as he watched the two hug. He knew he had never hugged her, never felt her in his arms. A hug! Something so simple... something so precious.

As his friend left, Alex fixed his eyes on the first stars of the night, feeling happy. Am I ready? There were no answers, so he waited.

— What are you going to do tonight? — he asked, turning his gaze to Maria.

— Nothing, now...

— Want to go to the movies?

— I'm tired... but okay, let's go. Go in, quick shower.

Maria introduced her aunt, who greeted him with a big smile and a strong hug that, in a way, relieved his restlessness.

* * *

The 9 PM showing was starting. The couple, having arrived early, chose good seats in the center. They watched the movie enthusiastically and didn't hold back their comments. Shortly after the showing, they walked for thirty minutes, during which the mood was maintained. Maria showed contentment and rationality, hoping the young man would say what seemed inevitable.

They sat on a bench in a small square, where Maria gazed at him as if seeking to motivate him to say what he had to say.

There was nothing more than casual comments about the day or something that happened.

— I'm going to my aunt's house, I have to go back early tomorrow. — Maria said, overcome by tiredness.

— Okay. — Alex said, confused by his thoughts.

Maria stood up impulsively, maintaining a weak joy. Alex had long since been downcast.

"Amo-a, pensou".

— How is residence seven, on twenty-first of April street doing? — Maria asked, referring to the young people's house.

— I can't complain. Leo is a great friend, the house is comfortable. Besides, I can say I've met many nice people here.

— Have you written anything yet?

— I'm studying a lot. The store still hasn't delivered the computer, can you believe it? But it's not about that, it's about the story. I have many in my head, but none please me, none encourage me to keep writing.

— Why don't you tell about your arrival here? Why you traveled, how you met Leo...

— How I met you...

— And everything that happened. It wouldn't be a bad idea. I wouldn't stop buying it.

— And would anyone be interested in something like that?

— If anyone else would be interested in something like that, I don't know, but I certainly would be.

— Then it's decided. Today I'll start writing about my days here. Let's see what comes out... and if it's not interesting, at least you'll read it.

— I'm waiting.

Arthur, the aforementioned friend, remained silent until this moment, when he went to Maria and hugged her.

— As I said, I can't, I'm sorry, but I have to go.

Alex remained frozen as he watched the two hug. He knew he had never hugged her, never felt her in his arms. A hug! Something so simple... something so precious.

As his friend left, Alex fixed his eyes on the first stars of the night, feeling happy. Am I ready? There were no answers, so he waited.

— What are you going to do tonight? — he asked, turning his gaze to Maria.

— Nothing, now...

— Want to go to the movies?

— I'm tired... but okay, let's go. Go in, quick shower.

Maria introduced her aunt, who greeted him with a big smile and a strong hug that, in a way, relieved his restlessness.

* * *

The 9 PM showing was starting. The couple, having arrived early, chose good seats in the center. They watched the movie enthusiastically and didn't hold back their comments. Shortly after the showing, they walked for thirty minutes, during which the mood was maintained. Maria showed contentment and rationality, hoping the young man would say what seemed inevitable.

They sat on a bench in a small square, where Maria gazed at him as if seeking to motivate him to say what he had to say.

There was nothing more than casual comments about the day or something that happened.

— I'm going to my aunt's house, I have to go back early tomorrow. — Maria said, overcome by tiredness.

— Okay. — Alex said, confused by his thoughts.

Maria stood up impulsively, maintaining a weak joy. Alex had long since been downcast.

— Why would she spend the weekend in Anápolis and not tell me? — Alex asked, returning the same day.

— We were in Goiânia. Maybe she tried to let you know. — Leo consoled.

— She might be waiting for us, we have to get there fast.

— Your family... she has uncles there.

— When we get there, I'll show you her aunt and uncle's house.

— Alright!

— You're head over heels for her.

— I believe we have the right to give ourselves a chance so we can see our affinities.

An uncontrollable urge to laugh took over Leonardo, and he burst out laughing as everyone on the bus looked at his fit of laughter.

As the sun's last rays faded, Alex and Leo got off at Avenida Brasil, near the Industrial District. They walked three kilometers west, arriving at Maria's aunt and uncle's house. Alex spotted her with a young man sitting on a long bench under a large avocado tree.

— See you later! — Leo said, turning a corner.

Who could that boy be? — Alex wondered.

He was pleased to see that Maria was removing her arm from the young man who dared to put his arm around her. The rose was put in his pocket, and Alex hurried forward, seeing that they had already spotted him.

— Hi, Maria! — he said enthusiastically.

— Hi, Alex! What are you doing around here?

— I came to see you.

— Come on, Alex! What are you doing here?

— I came to see you. — he insisted.

— Fine, if you don't want to say why you're here, you don't have to. This is Arthur, my friend.

Alex stared at him, whispering a few words.

— What did you say? — Maria asked, not understanding what was whispered.

— I'm thinking out loud, but it's nothing important.

"I love her," he thought.

— How is residence seven, on twenty-first of April street doing? — Maria asked, referring to the young people's house.

— I can't complain. Leo is a great friend, the house is comfortable. Besides, I've met many nice people here.

— Have you written anything yet?

— I'm studying a lot. The store still hasn't delivered the computer, can you believe it? But it's not about that, it's about the story. I have many in my head, but none please me, none encourage me to keep writing.

— Why don't you tell about your arrival here? Why you traveled, how you met Leo...

— How I met you...

— And everything that happened. It wouldn't be a bad idea. I wouldn't stop buying it.

— And would anyone be interested in something like that?

— If anyone else would be interested in something like that, I don't know, but I certainly would be.

— Then it's decided. Today I'll start writing about my days here. Let's see what comes out... and if it's not interesting, at least you'll read it.

— I'm waiting.

Arthur, the aforementioned friend, remained silent until this moment, when he went to Maria and hugged her.

— As I said, I can't, I'm sorry, but I have to go.

Alex remained frozen as he watched the two hug. He knew he had never hugged her, never felt her in his arms. A hug! Something so simple... something so precious.

As his friend left, Alex fixed his eyes on the first stars of the night, feeling happy. Am I ready? There were no answers, so he waited.

— What are you going to do tonight? — he asked, turning his gaze to Maria.

— Nothing, now...

— Want to go to the movies?

— I'm tired... but okay, let's go. Go in, quick shower.

Maria introduced her aunt, who greeted him with a big smile and a strong hug that, in a way, relieved his restlessness.

* * *

The 9 PM showing was starting. The couple, having arrived early, chose good seats in the center. They watched the movie enthusiastically and didn't hold back their comments. Shortly after the showing, they walked for thirty minutes, during which the mood was maintained. Maria showed contentment and rationality, hoping the young man would say what seemed inevitable.

They sat on a bench in a small square, where Maria gazed at him as if seeking to motivate him to say what he had to say.

There was nothing more than casual comments about the day or something that happened.

— I'm going to my aunt's house, I have to go back early tomorrow. — Maria said, overcome by tiredness.

— Okay. — Alex said, confused by his thoughts.

Maria stood up impulsively, maintaining a weak joy. Alex had long since been downcast.