Episode 4

...Miguel...

...It's obvious that he's interested in me, even if he doesn't want to admit it. The silence between us is not uncomfortable. Raul is my best friend, and I'm afraid to risk our friendship for a possibly unsuccessful relationship. I value our connection, even if he is a bit insistent...

...Comfortably settled in our seats, Raul whispers, pointing discreetly. "Look over there, Miguelzinho, it's Eros..."

...I remember their brief encounter earlier. I look in the indicated direction and can make out Eros' figure, even in the darkness. His beauty is undeniable, and I find myself fascinated by his face. "He's going to study at Royal..."

...Raul gently slides his fingers down my neck, a gesture that conveys tranquility and makes me look at him with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "It would be interesting to have him as our roommate, don't you think?..."

...My eyes meet his, trying to decipher what is going on in his mind. "What's going on with you?..."

...He replies with an enigmatic smile. "What do you mean?..."

...I frown, intrigued. "You never show interest in anyone..."

...Raul's smile widens. "That's a lie, I'm interested in you..."

...I look away, pondering his words and their underlying meaning...

...Before I can gather my thoughts, he questions me again...

..."How did you meet him? You even know he's going to study at the same school. You always say that I'm the only one you're sociable with. What did I miss?..."

...I concentrate on keeping my expression neutral as I watch the movie...

..."He dropped his name tag earlier, and I saw it was from our school. I asked for his number to be polite, since we'll be colleagues..."

...Raul's eyes sparkle with interest...

..."What's his full name?..."

...I raise my eyebrows slightly, cautiously...

..."Why do you want to know? You're not going to do anything wrong, are you?..."

...His smile is reassuring...

..."Of course not. I'm just curious about his background. After all, at Royal Academy, everyone has a story, especially the children of powerful families like ours: mobsters, politicians, celebrities, among others..."

...I look away, trying to appear relaxed...

..."Eros Santoro. But..."

...Raul interrupts me, showing a genuine interest...

..."Could he be related to the Santoros? I've never seen him at our family reunions..."

..."Me neither!" I murmur, as our conversation dissolves into the darkness of the cinema...

...Raul and I are descendants of mafia families, and clan meetings are common events in our lives. We know practically all the mafia families and their respective children, but until now, we had only heard of Karol Santoro. Could she have a brother or cousin?...

...This question lingers in my mind as I try to focus on the movie. Raul keeps his hand gently on my shoulder, stroking my neck, sending shivers down my spine. I confess that I appreciate this show of affection, knowing that I am someone special to him, even if we are not officially in a relationship...

...It's like we're stuck in a gray area between friendship and something more. The "bromance" between us is evident, but so far, our interactions have been limited to these caresses. Sometimes I wonder if this will ever change...

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