Chapter 2 Unexpected Surprise

We started dating during our senior year of high school, and how we enjoyed every moment of it! The planning of the prom, every detail of the trip we would take later during the summer, the anticipation of saving money together... Everything was incredible with him.

Murilo was my safe harbor, my home, my place in the world, with him I felt I could be whoever I wanted to be, soar to the highest heights, and dream beyond what reason told me was possible. My life finally had color, had joy.

We had an insane year of pre-college preparation, Murilo decided to start doing some odd jobs to earn extra money for our trip, we spent the little time we had off together, dating and dreaming about the future we had ahead of us.

Time seemed to drag on, until finally the prom was approaching, the girls were talking about nothing else but their dresses, hairstyles and make-up, and at that moment I could feel like them! I wanted to look beautiful, I wanted to impress my boyfriend, but I also wanted to surprise him!

"Maísa! This red is gorgeous on you!"

"Oh, my friend! I agree with Bê, it highlighted your skin tone!"

At that moment, trying on that dress, I felt like a celebrity ready for the "red carpet", I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, until I saw my boyfriend's disapproving look, who showed up at the studio by surprise.

Murilo looked at me as he never had before, the disgust in his expression, the sarcastic smile before he turned his back and left. I felt my face burn, tears welling up as I swallowed hard, trying to disguise the disappointment that his attitude had caused me.

"I guess I'm not in a good mood for this, girls? - I said, as I took off my dress and felt a growing despair take over me."

"But... you were so excited, Maísa. What's wrong?"

"It's just a headache."

I almost ran out of the studio, I didn't want anyone to see me crying, and there he was in the parking lot: Murilo.

"What's wrong, my love? Couldn't you find a dress?"

His expression was pure debauchery as he came towards me to hug me. I wanted to run away, to forget about this damned dress fitting, but I wasn't able to say a word about the way it happened or how I felt, I just wanted to make sure everything was okay and be safe in his embrace.

"I didn't like any of them. That's just it..."

"I didn't see the other dresses, honey, but that red one was just too vulgar. You didn't mean to go to our prom looking like an ordinary girl, did you?"

After this day, my classmates kept insisting on the red dress, my mother tried unsuccessfully to make me give up wearing a black dress that I had chosen to avoid my boyfriend's questioning.

"I liked this one and that was it! It's simple, it doesn't show anything too much."

"And it doesn't suit you either, creature! Mrs. Amelia, talk to her!"

"Maísa! For God's sake, my child! It's your graduation, not a funeral!"

"I've already chosen the dress. The matter is settled."

The truth was that Murilo's words, and that look of disapproval and repulsion echoed in my mind without stopping. I tried desperately to understand the reason for his behavior that day, maybe it was stress from something at work, or another argument with his parents. I clung to the justifications I had created to ease the situation between us. Everything was perfectly fine between us, and that was all that mattered.

On prom night, all the girls were in dazzling, bright, colorful dresses. I felt totally plastered, watched, evaluated at every moment. I couldn't relax even for a second.

Murilo started drinking with the other guys in the class and completely ignored me during the whole night, and while all the girls were dancing and having fun on the dance floor, I was there, sitting and watching. Spectator of a party that was also mine, or at least should be.

There I felt again like the weird and out of place Maísa from before, the one who didn't fit in and felt too different from all the other girls. Once again I was not happy.

A few days later we were traveling together to a country inn in a nearby town. Our days were simple, light, the stress of the past year was behind us, and we were finally able to get along again.

We walked to the edge of a beautiful lake, the perfect setting for a picnic. Laughter was once again easy and I felt protected, happy, at peace.

We chose a shade under a tree, Murilo put the basket on the ground and took the red and white checkered towel to spread out on the grass. It was impossible not to smile and not to feel your heart warming up, after all, what girl doesn't love a beautiful cliché?

"Maísa, shall we go for a walk?"

He stood up and held out his hand to me, and I accepted it cheerfully. At that moment I felt spoiled, cared for, loved.

The sun was beginning to set, reflecting its golden rays on the surface of the lake, framed by the vivid green of the trees.

I stopped walking for a moment to immortalize that moment in my mind. The calm and beauty of the image before my eyes made me feel as if time had stopped?

In an almost whispered tone of voice, Murilo says my name and holds my hand, causing a shiver to run across my skin while a smile appears on my lips. Nothing could be more perfect.

"Maísa..."

My gaze meets his in an overwhelming connection. He was everything I could ever wish for.

"I know that we are still very young, and that we have our whole lives ahead of us, but I can't wait any longer..."

My heart raced out of control, beating hard. Without averting our gazes, Murilo knelt before me, tears wetting my eyes. He opened the little red box, with two golden rings, and proposed.

"Maísa, will you marry me?"