Shame

The small clock on the bedside table read 04:30, and Rachel still couldn't fall asleep. She refused to rely on medication, so sleeping pills were out of the question. Thomas, on the other hand, had taken two pills and was sleeping soundly beside her, as still as a stone.

Fifteen years of marriage had left her ears calloused to her husband's incessant snoring, but not even the loudest sounds could silence her mind that night. Everything indicated that the visitor had stayed for the night, as Thomas didn't take long to go upstairs after she had locked herself in the bedroom, and Thiago soon retired as well, but there was no sound at the front door and no farewell was made, so Rachel deduced that the visitor was still in the house. But she hadn't left her room since she had been caught off guard by the stranger spying on her on the mezzanine. A sudden shame overwhelmed her, something she didn't usually feel.

“It must be a friend of Thiago's. After all, he has so many friends that I can hardly remember their faces... Yes, it must just be a friend passing through,” Rachel thought, trying to push the thoughts away and convince herself that she would be able to get a peaceful night's sleep.

But the attempt was a failure. The clock woke at 6am, waking only those who had actually managed to sleep. Rachel was already in the bathroom, getting ready to leave for work, as she had a meeting scheduled with the team at 07:30.

- Why do I get the feeling that this damn clock is going off earlier and earlier? - grumbled Thomas, dragging himself from the bedroom to the bathroom, his hair messy, his face crumpled and his pajamas twisted. Meanwhile, Rachel was quietly choosing clothes for her husband's work.

- It's serious! Soon, time will pass so quickly that we won't even realize when it's bedtime,” he said, already under the shower.

Every morning, Thomas seemed to be invaded by unexpected thoughts. Some days, he lost himself in the mysteries of the universe and its immensity; others, he was filled with an inexplicable rage, as if something or someone was provoking him. And on more random days, ideas for a totally unusual breakfast would pop into his head. His head always woke up agitated and his words came out unfiltered.

At 6:30 a.m., Rachel went downstairs to the kitchen, where Sarah, the person responsible for keeping the house in order, was already waiting for her with the table set for breakfast.

Next to the kitchen was the dining room with fine, elegant furniture and a giant dining table, but Rachel had always thought it was overkill and preferred to eat at the small kitchen table.

- Toast or pancakes, ma'am? - Sarah asked, pouring a cup of coffee with milk.

- Toast, please! - replied Rachel with a kind smile. - And for Thomas, black coffee with pancakes, please.

- Of course, ma'am!

- I'd like the same, Sarah! - exclaimed Thiago, entering the kitchen in two strides. - Good morning, auntie! - he said, hugging Rachel from behind the chair where she was sitting.

- What's going on? What's all this excitement in the morning? - Rachel asked, surprised.

- Don't you know? - Thiago looked at her, confused. - My childhood friend, the one who went to live abroad, came back yesterday. He's staying here for a few days until his apartment is ready. - He settled down at the table, still excited. - Didn't you see him here yesterday?

- No, I didn't. - Rachel answered quickly, without even realizing she was lying.

- Ah, how long have you been standing there? - Thiago said, turning to someone who was standing right behind Rachel. - Come and have coffee with us! - he gestured with his hand, calling out.

- Good morning! - a deep voice rang out next to Rachel.

- Good morning! Make yourself at home, sit down and help yourself! - Rachel replied quietly, trying to look distracted as she fiddled with the toast with her knife, without looking directly at the boy.

She was sure it was the same guy from last night, and for some reason she feared making some kind of mistake that she didn't understand, if the two of them exchanged any kind of glance. So the wisest choice at the moment was to pretend to be distracted.

- This is the friend I mentioned, his name is... - Thiago had started, but was interrupted.

- Lohan, are you awake yet? - Thomas entered the kitchen to interrupt Thiago. - How can you be in such a good mood at this time of the morning?

Lohan smiled shyly, watching everyone at the table, playing with their fingertips, while noticing that Rachel had already drunk her entire cup of coffee, without touching the toast. Still standing, he thanked her with a slight nod:

- I'm grateful, but I don't want to bother you. - He thanked Rachel out of the corner of his eye, who noticed.

“What's that boy doing?” she thought, confused, trying to read Lohan's intentions and take action.

- Imagine! You've been friends with Thiago since you were a kid, haven't you? - Rachel pulled out the chair next to hers and finally looked him in the eye. - Come, sit down and have coffee with us.

Lohan stopped playing with his fingers, placed his hands at his sides more naturally and opened a smile as wide as the sun, without saying a word, but sitting down next to Rachel, as if he were already part of that daily routine.

Thomas settled into the bed, as usual, and before he could finish his coffee, Rachel was on her feet, ready to go.

- I'll lead the way, I have a meeting with the team. You don't have to come with me, Thomas, you can go straight to the set. I'll meet you there. - she said, full of energy.

She then turned to Lohan, smiling in a relaxed way and extending her hand in a cordial gesture.

- And as for you, my boy...” she said sympathetically. - It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope your stay is comfortable, and since you're Thiago's childhood friend, you can call me auntie.

“Let's put this boy in his place,” she thought, keeping her gentle smile, but with a touch of amusement in her eyes.

Lohan smiled, first with his eyes, then letting the smile widen to reveal all his teeth, before standing up and, with an elegant gesture, positioning himself in front of her.

- It was my pleasure...” he said, gently holding Rachel's outstretched hand. - ... Auntie! - he added, whispering as he bent down and kissed her hand, with a touch of daring in the gesture.

Rachel was surprised for a moment, but then Thomas laughed, breaking the tense atmosphere.

- Take it easy, kid. I know you grew up in another country, but make sure people don't confuse your manners, eh? - said Thomas, laughing at Rachel's surprised expression. - Go to your meeting, dear, and don't scold the boy. I'm sure he was only trying to be nice, weren't you, Lohan?

- Of course, Sir, it was just a kindness. - Lohan replied, but his smile disappeared instantly. Now he was looking at her with an unsettling seriousness that seemed to hold Rachel hypnotically.

“That's what I was trying to avoid. That boy has that look. The same look as last night. A look that makes my stomach bubble,” thought Rachel, forcing herself to break away from Lohan's gaze.

Unable to force a smile, she turned around, picked up her bag from the sideboard in the living room and slammed the front door behind her.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***