Chapter 3 The Rival

After a week of mourning, which I didn't care to live through, I went back today for what would be my second day of school. It was amazing how all the students at school couldn't stop giving me the darkest eyes they had the first day.

"Will it always be like this every day or only when some tragedy happens in my family?" I walk, exhausted from all that unnecessary attention, determined to avoid them, I walk through the garden that gives access to the second staircase of the building. Under the tree to my left was Rodrigo with that beautiful coquettish smile, while he was reviewing with his friends. When he saw me, I could see the exact moment his eyes lit up. In order not to notice that I was watching him while walking, I diverted my eyes to another place and, again, changed my route.

"That boy is not for me"

Rodrigo belonged to a world totally opposite of mine, he needed to find a girl that was up to him. Who was rich and had the same standard of beauty as the preppy girls who were in the schoolyard. I wasn't even that girl, so deciding to avoid possible and future disappointments in love, I ignored her call. But I felt the presence of someone following me, I had no doubt who it would be, however, I turned around to confirm that it was Rodrigo coming after me. I quickened my steps trying to get away from him, which only encouraged him to run to catch up with me before I reached my destination.

- Wait one moment! he said breathlessly as he grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop walking. "Why is he running away from me?" - asked suspiciously .

"Because I'm in a hurry!" - She said releasing me from her grip and walking again.

"Wait, let's talk!" - She insisted standing in front of me.

"We'll talk later, okay?" Now I'm head over heels for that. — I said without patience, his persistence was commendable, but it was frustrating not being able to avoid him.

- OK, But I won't give up on you that easily. You fight to get rid of me! He started screaming putting his hands around his mouth as if he was talking into a megaphone, then ran back to his friends.

He's unbelievable, how would he control the sensations if he doesn't disengage. At least he didn't see that I laughed in his face, for it would give more string to his pursuit. But I think deep down I like to see him running after me, it was like a challenge.

"I think I'll take advantage of this a little bit to play around a bit."

⁂

The classroom was more like a desert, it was so empty. Most of the students had not yet arrived or even entered, not even the teacher had given a sign of life. I sat in the same chair as the first day, put my backpack on the desk, and using it as a pillow, I tried to relax while the class didn't start.

In a matter of minutes the bell rang pulling me out of my wonderful nap, I run my hands over my face to wipe away any traces of drool. I see a loud crowd of students enter the room so discouraged that they looked like a crowd that had just seen their favorite team lose and soon after the teacher entered, making a huge contrast with the class, for he had a huge grin on his face from ear to ear. She should be a rookie, rookies are always like that, warm.

- Good morning, class! Ready for another day of school? she asked excitedly. The teacher saw me there, at the back of the room and I crossed my fingers that she wouldn't call me. - MS. Leoni? "She called me." immediately awakening the panic of having to go up front and face all these strange people, please don't be like that. — My condolences, I hope all is well with you and your family.

- Thanks. It's okay, yes! I answered in a melodious voice, I couldn't break her expectation by identifying my fucking condolences on her father's death.

"Well, I propose we begin the lesson." Drive away all sadness, because today we will have trigonometry! - She said changing the subject, and distributing all her non-contagious euphoria.

The teacher wrote the new topic on the whiteboard. I was opening my backpack to get my notebook and pen when suddenly I felt a light tap on my head and from the noise it made, I deduced that someone had thrown a ball of paper. I looked back and a bad-looking girl waved her hands at me. She had a beautiful pair of green eyes. fair and her curly hair was blond with two streaks dyed pink and black at the nape of her neck, she looked like a doll, although her nose rings and eyebrows — she had the biggest maloqueira face — screamed the opposite.

“I heard your father died. He was beheaded, wasn't he? Poor you, right? She was born so unlucky. She teased me with a mocking look. — What a pity, I have a pity, you know?

I didn't understand why this crazy person started passively attacking me out of nowhere, since I didn't do anything to her, I don't even know her. I decided not to fall for her provocations, returning to my position, and keeping silent. If she knew that my father's death was a release for me, maybe the conversation would be different or it wouldn't even exist.

- Will not answer me? Ownt, are you still suffering from daddy's death or is it? “She was determined to drive me crazy.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, seeking the calm that was starting to wear off before turning to face her.

"What do you want with me, huh?" I asked through clenched teeth, almost losing patience.

— I saw you and Rodrigo earlier today. They told me that the two of you were together the day you found out that your dad died. I'm just going to give you a warning girl, stay away from my boyfriend or you will have a lot of problems here, am I clear? — She threatened me in the biggest face.

— Wow, look how scared I am, come on, I'm shaking all over, look! I mocked, simulating shaking my hands.

“You're warned, then don't say otherwise. - She said with a very serious and dark face.

— Whoa! Calm down , girl, I don't even know you, so put that ball down. I mocked once more, losing all patience.

- Hey?! — The teacher complained, which made me automatically pull myself together — You two, deep down, it's not time for small talk. — She complained — I'm going to start the call, be silent, because I won't repeat it! At school roll call I found out that my so-called rival is called Rebecca.

⁂

The school bell rang indicating break, she needed to eat, although she wasn't hungry at the moment. Packing my things to leave the room when that Rebecca brutally and purposely bumped into me, I was speechless with the lack of education of that girl.

"My God! What a rude girl"

I leave the room stunned by what just happened, high school is always shit, but this one would win the prize.

"Are you going to keep running from me?" Rodrigo appeared at my side.

- Not, Do you want to go with me to the canteen? I asked, extending my hand for him to hold.

- Clear. I was about to invite him,” he replied, amazed and his eyes sparkled immediately.

All the way to the cafeteria, Rebecca had her eyes following us. We took the line to choose our lunch and finally sat together at an empty table in the back, left of the hall. That was intentional on my part, I wanted to tease her to show that I'm not afraid of anything that comes from her.

I noticed from afar that the girl was furious just because of the way she held the fork tightly, I didn't even want to imagine what she would do with that fork if I was in front of her. I really am a person who laughs in the face of danger.

- What's up, how are you? Rodrigo asked, taking a bite of the beef spaghetti on his plate.

— I'm fine, could you open my can of coke? — I asked, taking advantage of every moment next to Rodrigo to needle Rebecca's darling.

- Clear! Oh, Martina, I... He paused, pondering whether or not to continue. "Why haven't you answered my calls?" I even left a message, but I don't think you heard it. He asked straight to the point.

— I wasn't feeling well these days. I needed to be alone for a while,” I answered truthfully.

"I'm finding you a little crestfallen." I wanted to ask you out tonight, for those who know how to get you out of this bad. What about? — He said, with a sweet face, expecting a positive response from me.

- I don't know...

“Oh, please! He said putting both hands together.

"Okay, I'm up!" - I accepted.

- That! he cheered, making me laugh at his endearing posture.

⁂ I was one of the first to enter the room after the break, and right after that girl — Rebecca —, walked past me with strong and firm steps as if she were going to crack the floor of the room, stopping only when she reached her desk. She kept looking at me intensely with her eyes, that was already giving me chills and I confess that she even scared me a little, but I didn't let her intimidate me, I kept my head up. And to my relief, the biology teacher entered the room, I thanked God.

- Good afternoon class! He greeted the class and then looked at me. “For anyone just starting out. I'm Matias, the biology teacher — He introduced himself by looking directly at me. "What's the name of a new student?"

— Martina, my name is Martina! I replied, tired of repeating my name so many times.

- Welcome! I nodded my head when I heard the greeting. — Well, class, in our class today we are going to talk about molecules, cells, tissues...

Hours later the bell rang marking the end of classes. As I was arranging my materials in my backpack, this Rebecca girl grabbed me by the arm.

"You think I'm kidding, right?" Girl, you don't know who you're messing with! Rebecca shoved me against the wall without letting go of my arm as she gave me a psycho look.

- Let me go! - I shouted, pulling my arm from her hand tightly. - I am not afraid of you. I go out with whoever I want, and if he really wanted to be with you, he would be looking for you every day and not me! I spewed some truths in her face. "Now get out of my way!"

I bumped into her shoulder, returning the previous push. I couldn't bear to stay there any longer. turning my back on her, I left that room.

"What an insufferable girl!"

⁂

When I got home I found several boxes in the living room, my mother was arranging some of my father's belongings with the intention of getting rid of them and putting them for donation.

"I think I'll leave these things in the attic for now, the NGO still hasn't confirmed the day it will pick up the boxes. And I'm not intending to go in there until I've emptied all of his things out of this house, but despite everything I still loved him... — Sitting on the floor, she cast a blank look as she packed every piece of clothing, perfumes and objects that Saulo used to use. — I really don't understand how you managed to love a man like that! When I cried when I learned of his death, know that it wasn't a cry of sadness, Mom, it was a cry of relief and victory. I can't feel mourning for those who made us suffer so much. I sighed as tears fell from my eyes. “When you meet someone you love and get married, then yes, you'll understand. he said with a downcast expression.

— No, I won't understand, because I will never remain beside someone who does me harm. I'm one to react and do a lot worse, and that's what you should have done - I ended the subject by heading towards the stairs. I walked into the room only to throw myself on my bed backpack and all, I was upset, I didn't understand why she acted like that. But I needed to calm down before going down to dinner, taking a deep breath, I got out of bed to remove my sneakers and school uniform. Only in panties and a top, I go back to bed and open my backpack to do my homework, when I take out the notebook a crumpled paper ends up falling on the mattress.

Out of curiosity, I opened it and inside there was a small text, written from newspaper and magazine clippings, which said:

"Stay away or suffer the consequences."

I rolled my eyes at the paper, it was a very childish threat, I could already imagine who that dreadful note would be from. I'm starting to feel certain, Rebecca will never leave me alone, as in fact she believes I'm her rival.