Episode 18

Bernardo

As planned, I finished the campaign, and without modesty, it was amazing! Rogerio also approved and so we started promoting it.

While I was closing partnerships, Rogerio started renovating the warehouse provided by Lipe to be the project's headquarters.

In addition to publicizing the new project to the families in the favela.

We got many partners, I am dedicating myself to this project with all my heart, it is kind of my redemption.

I can't wait to be there on the project to meet the children, I know I may have destroyed my Fael's dreams, and that haunts me every night, but I know I can do for other people what I didn't do for him. I want to help with all my heart, I want to be proud again of the man I see reflected in the mirror.

I have already decided that I will dedicate two days a week to the project, I will be a monitor for one of the workshops, the Drawing workshop.

I got 4 other workshop teachers, one for Dance, one for Theater, one for Singing and one for Guitar.

It should do for a start, I hope the kids like it.

The closer it gets to the project's inauguration day, the more anxious and excited I get.

Renan

Great, my apartment is under renovation because of a crack in the wall, the entire floor of my building has been vacated. Rafael invited me to stay at his house and I accepted, so I'm still close to work, I help take care of Andre while Rafa works and Lipe is in Penha.

The first few days were quiet, although it's kind of boring when Catarina is around, the woman looks like a mummy, for God's sake.

But it's great to be with my little one longer, I can't complain.

One night, it was just the three of us, and Andre had a brilliant idea;

"Uncle, I want a prince and princess pancake!"

"Oh, little guy, and who will be the prince?"

"You, uncle."

"So you're going to be the princess?"

"No, uncle, Cata will be the princess"

Immediately the woman turned red and began to complain.

"Why don't you just play with your uncle, sweetie? Cara will make popcorn, what do you think?"

"No, Cata, I'm going to be the bad dwagon, haaargh" My little one made the cutest face in the world, there was no way to laugh.

"Come on Catarina, play along, will you have the courage to resist that little face?"

Andre was looking at us with his cheeks red from playing so much and a smile full of expectation.

"All right"

She said it in such an unhappy tone that I was offended, come on, I'm not a prince to throw away, I'm good enough.

We did the whole staging narrated by Andre.

"First the prince, uncle, calls the princess Cata to dance"

I bowed exaggeratedly as the part required, and for the first time a smile, however small, opened on that closed face.

"Mademoiselle, may I have the pleasure of this dance?"

"It will be a pleasure, Your Majesty!"

I put my arms around her waist and we started waltzing, and for the first time I really noticed Catarina, she was beautiful, big dark eyes, white skin, some freckles on her cheeks and nose, long eyelashes and well-drawn lips that silently begged for a kiss.

I twirled her in the air, and heard Andre's infectious laughter as he watched us, delighted, clapping and wiggling his feet.

I realized that she trembled a little at my touch, and looked at me fixedly, we were caught in an atmosphere full of expectation and desire, when a wicked and ferocious dragon separated us, roaring loudly.

"Ahhh, I'm the bad dwagon and I'm going to steal this princess for myself, arghh"

Andre stomped his feet, making a face and a bad face, I tried to hide my laughter and joined in the game.

"Fear not, my maiden, I will save you! I will defeat you, oh iron dragon! Prepare to die by my hands!"

I looked at Catarina who immediately understood the plan, we threw Andre on the rug and tickled him.

We continued to play, and Catarina seemed more comfortable with me, which made the mood lighter. We had a snack, watched cartoons with Andre and soon he fell asleep. Catarina and I talked a little longer until she decided to sleep too.

The next day we were at the table having coffee, me, Andre and Rafael, when Catarina came to say goodbye to go home, as soon as she left, petceya the face that Rafael made.

"Spill the tea, gay!"

"Oh my, I didn't say anything"

"But you thought, now spill it!"

"You know Cata has a thing for you, right? So, did it happen already?"

"Did what happen, crazy? Is the lack of getting any affecting your brain?"

"Get what, daddy?"

"Throw a party, son, a party."

"So you have to give it to daddy, you have to give a lot, give a lot! So you don't get brain sick."

"It's a brain, son, I'm not giving anything away, hush."

"So I will, can I give it, daddy?"

Rafael was glaring at me, but it was kind of funny.

"Enough of this conversation, you work, and you, young man, school already, and enough of this talk about giving it away."

I went to work still thinking about what Rafa said, could she really like me? At lunchtime, the subject was still on my mind, so I decided to ask Rafa more about it.

"Does she really like me?"

"I can't believe you spent all morning thinking about this!"

"Just tell me!"

"Yes, she likes you, and has for a while. I noticed it at Andre's birthday party, she couldn't take her eyes off you, and after that I noticed how she changes when you're around, she gets nervous and agitated, with a lost and dreamy look, it's funny."

"How come I didn't notice?"

"Because you're a man, and men are all stupid, they never see these things."

"I don't know whether to be grateful or offended."

"Look, just think carefully, okay? I don't know what that woman went through, but it wasn't easy, if you don't want anything serious, don't even start."

"Start what? I just asked about the girl and you're already thinking about marriage, you emotional queen!"

That comment cost me a slice of buttered bread stuck to my forehead.

After that, my day went on as usual, but those dark eyes kept crossing my mind from time to time.

Lipe

Things here in Penha are well organized, Santo is a very nice guy, and I'm learning a lot, I think I can adapt many things there in Boa Vista.

Today was a tense day, lots to see and take notes on, besides the nagging I get from Ariel every half hour for speaking incorrectly, that woman is crazy.

I decided to take a break and have a snack because if there's one thing I'm not, it's being forced to be hungry.

I went into a snack bar and it was empty because of the time, there was a very handsome young man sitting at a desk behind the counter, he was tall, dark, thin-faced, thin-nosed, in fact he was gorgeous.

I had been standing there for a while and the jerk didn't even bother to serve me, I hate it when people ignore me.

"Hey, dude, you see me here, don't you? Are you blind by any chance?"

The young man stood up slowly, walked slowly to the counter, and spoke with a calmness that embarrassed me.

"Actually, I am blind, if you had come in and said good morning like any minimally polite person, I would have heard your voice and noticed your presence."

My face fell to the floor, if I don't embarrass myself like this, it's not me. Damn it! What a mess!

"I'm sorry, I didn't know, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be, there are much worse things than being blind, being ignorant for example. Susana, can you come and serve this gentleman, please?"

I was standing there like an idiot with a melted ice cream face, totally embarrassed. A very nice young woman appeared with a smile.

"Sure, Jonas, good morning sir, can I help you?"

I placed my order and got out of there like lightning.

Damn, I can't let him think I'm a jerk, okay, I'm no saint and all, but I'm not what he's thinking. I'm going to find out who this Jonas is and change his mind about me.

I still have some time to spend around here, I'm going to dedicate some of that time to this new mission of mine, now it's a matter of honor for me.

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