Chapter 3

To be honest, it would have been more of a miracle that my dad was home at this time of the morning, since he was up all night drinking and playing poker with his friends. I got out of the shower going to the dresser to get my uniform, I started getting ready and thinking that it would be a long day at school since I wouldn't have my fuel that took me to school every day I finished getting ready when I heard the thin cry that I could never mistake, it was my sister Elizabeth, but what was she doing at that time also at home? My mother always took her with her to the salon. Maria Cecília – Why is my sister crying? Fernando – She is nauseous because of the vaccine and told her mother to leave her here with me because the clients would complain about hearing her cry all the time Maria Cecília – Are you taking care of a child? It's pretty dubious! - I found it strange Fernando – I will not take care of it, your grandmother is coming soon and she will take care of it Maria Cecília – So, I feel calmer because Elizabeth is her newest baby and I would never treat her badly like she does with me I went to school calm in knowing that I would be in control, I went to the hall quickly and gave Mom a kiss and on the way I met Mariana Mariana – Good morning friend, your face looks terrible! Maria Cecília – It's good that it suits me, isn't it? Mariana – My friend, you can't get borocochozinha like that, I've been looking and I know that Bernardo has a cousin who studies there at the school, who knows, you might not get his address from her Maria Cecília - But I don't even know her name or anything - He said with his head down Mariana – Don't worry, I know everything, just follow me and you'll be fine We arrived at the school and Mariana followed me like madam's puppy up and down behind that girl who was Bernardo's cousin, super famous, but I never saw her and knew of her existence.

Mariana – Have you seen a blonde girl with light eyes called Ana? - She asked a small group that was in the canteen "Over there," she said, pointing. Mariana – Let's go Maria Cecília, courage! Ask for Marrontinne's address and let's go there, if that letter fell into the manhole it's sure to be fate telling you to express yourself face to face to him Maria Cecília – Or is it fate stamping on my face that I will never have him, I even gave up on declaring myself sab… - I said while Mariana pulled me by the arm Mariana – Anna? – Mariana cut me off – This is Maria Cecília, she and her cousin Bernardo have a pending matter and we heard that he left school, right? Anyway, can you give us his address or some contact? Ana – Ih if it’s another affair of my cousin, I already let you know that he’s not worth anything cute – He said giving me a wink Maria Cecília – It’s nothing like that, er… – I got all flustered Anna – I understand! My cousin really is a scoundrel, but a handsome, lucky scoundrel, no need to be shy! I'll give you the address and I'll even take you there, darling, but don't ever say that I gave you the address, my uncle is all mysterious and doesn't like Bernardo taking little cases home Mariana – But she's not one of his affairs, well... not yet, right? - He said smiling at me. Maria Cecília – Shut up, Mariana! Let's go before you drag my face across the school floor until you reach the pool, such shame - I said pulling her by the hand Ana – There's no need to be shy, it's not cute, I understand what's going on, but don't care, because there's no point in a pity like you suffering for my cousin. Here is the address and remember, never say who gave it to you - He handed me the paper with the address on it. Even redder than Mariana's bulletin, I still took the paper and walked away with the same Mariana - See? It wasn't that difficult and from what I saw, that one over there likes mangoes and bananas, right? Maria Cecília – What? Mariana – Didn't you notice? I smelled leather from afar, the one next to her must be a girlfriend, I have no doubt! Maria Cecília – Mariana, don't be delirious! Let's go home soon, I want to take a shower and get ready pretty to go there We took the bus and Mariana got off at the same stop as me, since she wanted to go with me so that I wouldn't give up opening my heart halfway through, I even thought about writing another letter, but after the tragic end that the other one took I I preferred not to insist any longer and the only paper I will want to see are cash notes I got ready pretty, Mariana wanted to put on several jewelry and a very flashy dress, however, that wouldn't be me, I liked the simple and I just put on an eye pencil, compact powder, mascara and a colorless gloss Mariana insisted on paying for a taxi so that we could get there faster, whoever saw it would think that she was the one who would propose and not me.

Maria Cecília – It doesn’t seem like I’m going to declare myself, you’re more anxious than I am Mariana – It's not a matter of anxiety, Mariazinha, it's a matter of letting go and I can't take it any longer for you to say "no, I'm saving my heart for Bernardo" so it's better to declare it once. Maria Cecília – It was still a reality, wasn't it? Mariana – No, that's where you're wrong Maria Cecília! There is the love of life and the love of your parakeet, but you don't even have a deadline of when you will allow yourself to meet the love of your parakeet, since you never let go of the love of life! You need to give this parakeet wings! Maria Cecília – Jeez Mariana, you nymphomaniac!