Episode 5

Upstairs, Leyne was next to the doctor, being examined. In his mind, all he could think about was what had just happened. His life had actually been saved by a man he didn't know.

Leyne: Doctor, please, could you speed things up here? I believe the owner of the house needs your help a lot more than I do right now.

Doctor: I'm finished. I'll need to take the samples for testing, apparently I can say that we're dealing with a case of malnutrition.

Tez's deep voice invaded the room.

Tez: Malnutrition? So that's what he has?

Doctor: That I can diagnose right here, Mr. Sallene. I'm going to take some samples to examine at my office, as soon as the tests are out, I'll let you know.

Tez: Great. I'll be waiting.

Doctor: Son, let me have a look at your arm.

Tez: It's nothing serious.

Doctor: I'm the one to say. You're lucky the bullet came out. I'm going to put a bandage on. Try to keep that arm still, it might bleed again, and in that case, we'd have to stitch it up.

Tez: Right, be quick.

Doctor: The recommendation for your friend there, I wrote it down on the prescription. He will need supplementary vitamins that will not be found in the amount needed only in food. If he takes them correctly, and eats better, in a few weeks he'll be as good as new.

Tez: Thank you.

The doctor went downstairs, accompanying Tez.

Tez: Rodrigo, please bring everything on that doctor's prescription. And thank you for taking care of things.

Rodrigo: Yes, I'll do it as soon as possible. But sir, please think about what I said. After this attack, you don't know for sure what you're dealing with. It's best to let this man go.

Tez: Thank you for the advice Rodrigo, but now I have no reason to let him go as weak as he is. They would surely find him. Ask Prosecutor Gerald to review this case. He's very inclined to help cases like this.

Rodrigo: I'll do that, sir, with your permission.

...

Tez entered Leyne's room again.

Leyne: I told you this was going to happen, why didn't you listen to me? They shot you and broke things in your house... Look, you can tell you're very zealous about everything. I even think you're a bit of a perfectionist, you must not be happy with what happened...

The restless young man ended up letting his eyes well up. Tez continued to observe him.

Leyne: I'm very grateful for what you did for me... You didn't turn me in, and you even saved my life... You even called a doctor! Look... It's been a long time since anyone treated me well... But I have to go now.

Tez watched Leyne get up and walk towards him.

Leyne: Thank you.

With a kiss on the face of the owner of the house, Leyne ended his words, still emotional. Then he walked out of the room.

Paralyzed for a few minutes, Tez gave Leyne enough time to reach the gate of the house, then ran and caught up with him.

Tez: You can't go yet!

Leyne: What? You can't be serious! They could send more men! They'll torment your life!

Tez: You can't go yet. You haven't recovered. In your state, you won't get far. They'll catch you. Stay another week and you'll be better, and then you can go.

Leyne: Are you sure about this?

Tez: I'll call security, to avoid any unpleasant surprises. My nephew went to get your medicine, don't let him have gone for nothing. Don't be ungrateful. You yourself said; I saved your life.

Leyne: Then okay... Well, I'll help clean up something while I'm at it...

Tez: No. Go upstairs and rest. If you don't recover, how will you want to leave?

III

Tez convinced Leyne to stay at the house for another week. The next day, they tidied up part of the garden together, and in the afternoon, Tez decided to cook while Leyne offered to help.

Leyne: Who taught you to cook?

Tez: I don't remember. I think I learned on my own. Do you like asparagus?

Leyne: No.

After hearing his helper's opinion, Tez put the asparagus aside.

Tez: How about you? Don't you know how to cook anything?

Leyne: The basics... Rice, fried egg. I remember my late grandmother cooking, but I never learned anything. I was so anxious to eat that the details didn't interest me... You know, at the company where I worked, the food served to the employees was always dry and bland. Many times it lacked salt, it didn't have any seasoning. So when I was promoted to manager the first thing that came to my mind was that cafeteria... I hired a third-party company from a nutritionist friend of ours, and totally changed the lunch hour at the company.

Tez: You had the freedom to hire and fire whomever you wanted?

Leyne: I did. The owner said he trusted my sense of justice. He always praised my conduct, and my way of working... Did you know that after I became the manager, the owner was able to travel abroad several times?

Tez: A great deal of trust placed. You really were important.

Leyne's countenance totally changed, becoming sad and discouraged.

Leyne: Yes, it was always like that... Until I wasn't even allowed to explain myself personally. So much trust that they didn't even investigate or ask me... They could have said: "Leyne, how could you do such a thing after so many years working at the company in a position of my total trust?"

Leyne sighed.

Leyne: The truth is that we are all replaceable. If they actually managed to kill me, the only one who would miss me, if he didn't forget about me, is my uncle Billy.

Tez: Try this, please.

Tez held out a spoonful of sauce, while Leyne slowly put his lips to it to taste.

Leyne: Hmm! Perfect! As the old folks would say, "You can get married now."

Tez: ...

Leyne: By the way... You're not married, or have been married... Or why aren't you married, if you're not...

Tez laughed.

Tez: You know what, you're very funny. Can you put the plates on the table?

Leyne: Of course!

Quickly Leyne opened the cabinets.

Tez: I've never been married.

Leyne: {He's never been married? So that young lady in the picture... Could she have been just a girlfriend?}

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