III

Unknown Narrator

You should remember the beginning of the book. As you can see, Alex got what he wanted. He recounted the most relevant facts that happened from his arrival until now.

The narrative has reached the present, and everything from here on has a taste of something new. Perhaps the same little taste Alex imagined having Maria’s rounded cheeks, who knows? Certainly, Alex’s passion was not due to physical attraction. Maria did not have the physical characteristics of a model; she was, as already stated, quite ordinary, neither beautiful nor plain, she was magnificently charming.

An intelligent woman with all the makings of a doctor, but who by choice preferred to be a girl.

She wore a mask of a carefree young woman on her face, with a cheerful gaze and a smile of disdain for anything serious. All in a strange mix that contrasted with the warrior woman she truly was. 

“As long as there was a carefree Maria pretending to be small, there would be a naive Alex pretending to be big.”

* * *

Goiânia, Cosmos University, room 107B.

Professor Paulo made some observations about the corrected essays:

— It is essential that you read the texts you write. If you cannot read them with your eyes, if you are ashamed for other people to hear, just say so, and I will let you go to another room; then you can close the door and open up.

In another room, minutes later...

— A mysterious young man arrives in a small town on the eve of a disaster, falls in love with a local girl, murders start happening, and everyone suspects him. — Silvio described his novel.

— You’ve already told this. And the ending, what is it? — asked Anna Caroline.

— Does it lose its charm if I tell you? In a few days, I will print it, and you can read it.

— I thought we were here for you to tell the story?

— Well, I thought so, but it’s not the same this way. You won’t feel the emotion…

— So?

— So, I’ll print it later and bring it.

— All right, let’s go, then…

Silvio quickly straightened his back in the seat:

— I’ll tell it, I’ll tell it… He arrives there one day… — Silvio was interrupted.

— I’ll get the application form for this new literary talents contest for you today before I go to work, then I’ll read it. I don’t want to miss the story’s excitement. — Caroline said in a slightly sarcastic tone — It’s late, I have to go.

— Already?

— Already!

— Already? — Silvio insisted.

— What do you want?

— You know exactly what I want.

— Silvio! — Behave yourself.

— Ouch, ouch, ouch, okay, you need time. I’ll walk you to the bus stop.

— As always…

— Are you despising my company!

— Let’s go. — said Caroline, pulling him by the collar.

Goiânia, Universidade Cosmos, sala 107B.

O professor Paulo colocava algumas observações sobre as redações corrigidas:

— É indispensável que vocês leiam os textos que escrevem. Se não conseguirem ler com os olhos, se tiver vergonha que outras pessoas ouçam, é só falar que deixo vocês irem em outra sala, aí é só fechar a porta e abrir o verbo.

Em outra sala, minutos depois...

— Um jovem todo misterioso chega em uma cidadezinha as vésperas de um desastre, se apaixona por uma garota local, começa a acontecer assassinatos e todos desconfiam dele. — Sílvio descrevia seu romance.

— Você já contou isto. E o final, como é? — perguntou Anna Caroline.

— Perde a graça se eu contar? Daqui a alguns dias vou imprimir e você lê.

— Pensei que estávamos aqui para você contar a história?

— É... pensei, mas assim é ruim. Você não vai sentir a emoção...

— Então?

— Então depois eu imprimo e trago.

— Tudo bem, vamos embora, então...

Sílvio endireitou a coluna no assento rapidamente:

— Eu conto, eu conto... Ele chega lá em um dia... — Sílvio é interrompido.

— Eu vou pegar a ficha de inscrição deste concurso de novos talentos de literatura pra você hoje antes de entrar no trabalho, depois eu leio. Não quero perder a emoção da história. —  disse Caroline em tom levemente sarcástico — Já é tarde tenho que ir.

— Já?

— Já!

— Já? — insistiu Sílvio.

— O que você quer?

— Você sabe exatamente o que quero.

— Sílvio! — Comporte-se.

— Ahi, ahi, ahi, está bom, você precisa de tempo. Vou com você até o ponto.

— Como sempre...

— Está desprezando minha companhia!

— Vamos logo. — Disse Caroline enquanto o puxava pelo colarinho.