The Blue Of Your Eyes

by Jamila Mafra

  “Thank you. I'll open it now.” He said excitedly unwrapping the package.

  “Your university classes are going to start, so I've decided to give you a subject you need to know a lot.” Ana Lucia smiled.

  “That Cool! It is a copy of Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Thank you a lot, Ana Lucia! I loved it!” He said, hugging her.

  “Albert, I'm sorry, I could not bring this gift because I decided to come to the party in the last minute.”

  “No problem, your friendship is already a gift, Shelly.” He kissed his friend's face.

  “Thank you, Albert. I wish you many years to live.” Shelly wished him.

  “And where is your bride?” Ana Lucia asked curiously.

  “She's here talking to her friends.”

  “I'll go find your mother. I have to talk to her, who made sure I came to this party.”

  “You're welcome, you're already at home. Excuse me I'm going to greet the other guests.”

  “Yes, of course," Ana Lucia replied, watching the birthday boy carefully.

  ***

  Everyone gathered around the huge table. The cake was in the center, the candles marked Albert's 21st birthday. Brianna was beside him, exuberant, did not lose in elegance for the guests.

  They sang their congratulations, the birthday boy blew out the candles, they turned on the lights, and Albert said:

  “Thank you for the presence of all of you, my dear friends. I know the first piece of the cake is mine, but in other cultures the birthday boy offers the first piece of the cake for someone very special. You all know that I decided to be an astronomer; I discovered that I love the stars, the universe, and tomorrow I start my studies at the university. And all thanks to a wonderful person who made me realize what I really love. That's why I offer the first piece of this cake to my great friend Ana Lucia, the person who made me discover what I love the most.

  The guests were amazed. They believed that the birthday boy would offer the tribute to the bride, but no; he paid homage to his maid friend. Everyone clapped to disguise the embarrassment. Brianna felt a lump in her throat. Shelly put her hands on her head and said dazedly,

  "I can’t believe he did it. It was taking time for this guy to hesitate.”

  “Oh, my friend, I'm feeling dizzy. What does Albert think he's doing? Let me get this freaking piece of cake and leave right away.” Ana Lucia went to the table where she picked up the plate with the cake, but hardly looked at Albert's face.

  Brianna left, feeling very humiliated. She went into the garden to get some fresh air. She noticed that Ana Lucia was leaving and approached her. Shelly saw everything.

  “Ana Lucia.”

  “Brianna!” She exclaimed, startled to see her there. “I'm sorry about what happened at the party. Your fiancée is going crazy. It was not cool for him to have honored me and ignored your presence beside him. I'm leaving already. I am sorry” Ana Lucia justified herself, showing empathy.

  - Ana Lucia, tell me one thing: how long will you continue to flirt with my future husband?

  - I? Flirting with him? You are wrong! It's the Albert who lives running after me, encircling me in every way. And you know why?

  - Because?

  - Because he feels alone. You live traveling, obsessed with your studies, master's degree in New York ... Look, why do not you participate more in the life of your fiancé? You can go up the hill with him, admire the stars next to him... Ask him to show you the university campus. He's so excited about the beginning of class. Go with him; be interested in the life of the man who will be your husband.” She advised her.

  “You're absolutely right! That's what I'll do, because I'm not going to let you steal the love of my life.”

  “Do it then. Excuse me, Brianna. I’ll go home.”

  “You're going late.”

  Brianna went back to the party. Albert searched for his friends and through the window he saw them walking away. He ran to catch up.

  “Shelly, Ana Lucia! Why are you leaving? The party is just beginning.”

  “I'll wait for you in the car," Shelly said to Ana, pulling away.

  “Okay, I'll be right there.”

  “What happened, Ana? Why are you leaving?” He asked again.

  “I have to go to my house. How can I continue at this party after the embarrassment you put me through?” She snapped.

  “What embarrassment?”

  “Albert, you paid tribute for me, offering me the first piece of cake that should be for your bride, and not for me, I'm just the housekeeper. You humiliated your girlfriend, she looked terrible, and everyone saw it. She was just here and she asked for an explanation.

  “Dang it! I did not realize that something so simple could cause so much trouble. But, Ana Lucia, answer me, why would I have to honor my fiancée by offering her the first piece of cake if she did not make me discover what I really love? You were the one who made me discover that. How could I lie saying Brianna did something she did not do? She does not even know the difference between a comet and a shooting star” Albert tried to justify himself.

  “You should have pretended, if you omitted, I do not know, done anything but hurt the woman who will be your wife. You're so insensitive. You did not even look for her to know how she’s doing. I’m tired of it. I'm going to my house. Goodbye.” Se left in a hurry.

  “Goodbye.”

  Head down, Albert went back to the party. He called Brianna in the corner and apologized:

  “My love, I'm sorry if I hurt you. It was not my intention. I just wanted to be nice to Ana.”

  “I felt so humiliated that you honored your maid and forgotten me. But I understand that in fact it was she who brought astronomy into your life. And I decided that from today I want to stay closer to you, I want to participate in your future astronomer life. In the next few nights I'll be with you on the hill, participating in your observations. In fact, in your first days of school, I insist on accompanying you as a listener. What about that?”

  “What you're telling me is wonderful! My love, I'm going to love having your company on the hill. I love you so much! Let's get married soon, I promise. He approached her, stroked her cheek and kissed her.”

  "Before that, we have to have a beautiful engagement party.”

  “Of course, whatever you want." Albert kissed her once more.

  ***

  After that Ana Lucia and Albert were distant form each other. In the following days they even met in the hallways of the university, but only greeted each other with a simple "hi". Brianna was always together and gave no room for a third person.

  In the mansion, the Brazilian maid avoided him to the maximum. He, on the other hand, seemed to have understood that it would no longer be possible to continue such an affectionate friendship with Ana Lucia.

  Early one evening, at the end of her expedition, Ana Lucia saw, more or less closely, Albert and Brianna on the hill. He would show her the night sky and teach her to look through the telescope. The poor maid collapsed in tears at the moment when Albert kissed the bride after they lay side by side on that hill that had once been so special to her.

  Ana Lucia could not help herself. She burst into tears in the room.

  “I thought you were making your observations in the open field. What's the matter? Why are you crying, my friend?” Shelly questioned her worriedly.

  “I saw Brianna with Albert on the hill.”

  “Yes, you've told me that she keeps him company almost every night. She has followed your advice; she is taking part in his life so she won’t lose him.”

  “But this time it was worse: I saw them kissing. He seemed to really love her.”

  “And should not he love the woman who will be his wife? They will get married.”

  “I know.”

  “Want to know something? It's time for you to get out of that mansion and get another job!”

  “You're quite right, Shelly. I can’t
bear to keep seeing that.”

  “At last you woke up.”

  THE TRUTH

  Brianna needed to talk to someone. That afternoon she received a visit from her best friend, Cherry, in her apartment.

  “Brie, I loved your invitation! And what's new?” She asked after kissing her friend's face.

  “Oh, Cherry, I have to tell you... I can’t bear to hear about astronomy, stars, the universe..."

  “Why? It is so beautiful the sky full of stars. Nature is wonderful!”

  “Yes, I do not doubt that. But I do not care at all for what's out there, do you understand? What good is it to know about other planets, about galaxies, if it's here in this world that I'm living in and from within it I can’t leave?” Brianna tried to be as rational as possible.

  “Friend, do not be insensitive.”

  “I feel sad to see my fiancé waste time studying such nonsense! I'm participating in everything just to please him. At least until the wedding, then I will not care.”

  “You do that well, because Albert was everywhere with that maid and it was not cool. But do not be so radical with him, my friend. I am also fascinated by the mysteries of the universe. Do not discourage your fiancée.”

  “I'm just being honest. I can’t wait to get married soon and convince Albert to drop all this astronomy nonsense.”

  “Be careful not to lose your future husband by taking what he loves so much! At the birthday party, Albert's eyes flashed when he said he loved astronomy.”

  “Do not even remember that dang party. I was so humiliated.”

  “Yes, I agree, you were really humiliated. In your place I would have made a great scandal! I would take that piece of cake and throw it in his face. Where has it been to pay homage to the maid and not honor the bride herself? Even so, do not take away what he loves so much.” Cherry emphasized.

  ***

  Ana Lucia made her observations in the university's open field on another one of those lonely nights. Other students were also there with their telescopes. However, the loneliness she felt was not the lack of people around her, but the absence of the man she loved.

  Albert was entangled with his new college classmates. That evening he was invited by a group of veterans to attend a detailed observation of the Moon. Brianna was not with him this time, for she had made a last-minute trip to the state capital; her parents needed her.

  Surrounded by friends, Albert smiled every moment that he glimpsed the Moon through the telescope. They made notes and the lunar craters made him more impressed than before. He looked the other way, realized that Ana Lucia was there and could not contain himself, he approached her.

  “Ana Lucia!”

  “Albert! You here?”

  “Yeah. I'm right there with my friends watching the moon.”

  “And I'm watching Venus the Morning Star.” She smiled uneasily.

  “A planet so hot it could even be hell.”

  “True. But it's beautiful from here, it tricks right, it looks like a big star.”

  “These first few months of classes have been wonderful to me, I'm learning so much incredible things! I am loving introduction to astronomy, and even attending an astronomical instrumentation workshop. Gradually I begin to master those computer programs to edit the images captured by the telescope.”

  “Great! I'm glad you're so excited and have new friends. I realized that you were all excited there with them.”

  “Yes, but I will never forget that it was you who showed me all this.”

  “Albert, do not exaggerate. What I did was no big deal; anyone could have introduced astronomy to you.”

  “It turns out you're not just anyone. It was not something simple. My life changed completely after that night we were together on the hill. The night sky seems to have been painted with fluorescent blue paint; the brightness of the stars moved me at that moment"

  “The glow of the stars is like the blue of your eyes, Albert," she declared, smiling as she admired his face.

  “It's the first time anyone notices that my eyes are blue as starlight.”

  “Looking at this sky full of light reminds me of my hometown, Santos. I miss Brazil so much.” she said as she looked up at the sky.

  “Santos must be a beautiful city,” he agreed, also admiring the stars.

  “Yes, the beaches there are wonderful.”

  “I got to see on the internet the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. They are divine! I would like to know your country.”

  “I'm sure you will not regret this trip.”

  There was a small moment of silence. Suddenly, Albert called again for his friend:

  “Ana Lucia!”

  “Yes.”

  “I finished reading the book you gave me as a gift.”

  “Did you like it?”

  “I'm just obsessed with science, physics, astronomy. How about we go out for dinner now? It can be right here at the university, the diner is very good.” He invited her, holding her by the arm.

  “I do not know if that's a good idea.”

  “Why not? Have you had dinner?”

  “No, I have not had dinner yet.”

  “Well, I'm hungry, too. Let's go! What does it cost? How bad is it? I always see my colleagues snacking together. I’m even tired of eating snacks with all of them that are there.”

  “All right, you convinced me. But it's just a snack!”

  “Sure, it's just a snack.”

  The cafeteria was crowded with hungry students who chatted endlessly, friends around the lively tables with all the vigor of their youth. Seated at the table, Albert and Ana Lucia talked.

  “Brianna's giving me a lot of support. She keeps me company almost every night on the hill. It's great to know that the woman I love likes what I do. Did you know that I even applied for an internship at the astronomical department observatory?”

  “Good news! It is essential that you acquire practice and experience from the beginning of the course”. She pretended not to be disturbed to hear that Albert loved the bride.

  “That's why I love you so much, Ana Lucia. You are the one who made me discover what I love.” Albert took her hand.

  Ana Lucia was embarrassed to realize that she loved him right now.

  “I'm tired; I've worked and studied all day. I'm going to the lodge. I need to rest. Thanks for the snack. Good evening.” She got up and left.

  “Hang on.” The boy tried to bring her back with no success.

  THE INTERPRETER

  Matthew organized a dinner with French investors in his house, but there was a problem: he himself had not arrived in time to welcome the guests. Annette was unhappy because she spoke little of the language. She risked a few words, but she could not handle the whole situation alone.

  It was late, and Ana Lucia was still in the kitchen helping prepare dinner, which had a varied menu that night. Albert hung up the phone and was nervous when he learned that his father might not even show up. He should be responsible for leading the big negotiation in Matthew's absence.

  “Ana Lucia!” Albert called as soon as he saw her leave the kitchen.

  “What's it? Do you want anything? You look nervous” she said formally.

  “French investors are already here, but my father will not be in time for this dinner. It is an important moment of negotiation.”

  “What's the problem?”

  “The problem is that neither I nor anyone here speaks French fluently, much less French for business.”

  “Not even your mother?”

  “My mother does not speak fluently, she risked a few words to welcome them, but it takes someone who really knows the language, because in the negotiations we use technical language terms.”

  “I understand. If that’s the case, I can help.”

  “Can you?”

  “Yes!

  “And how?”

  “I speak French fluently. But look, I did not even
bring me clothes suitable for a business dinner.”

  “Ana Lucia, I thank you too much for this! You can wear my mother's clothes, you two have the same height. It will fit. I don’t want them to think that my father did not bother to at least bring in an interpreter. In fact, he speaks French, but did not arrive on time.”

  “I'm going up to your mother's room to change my clothes.”

  “After you come down, introduce yourself to the investors as an interpreter of the company. I will conduct the negotiations.”

  “Yes I'll do it. It will be a pleasure to help. Where is your mom?”

  “She is in the living room, with the investors.”

  “I'll go upstairs to get ready then. Let her know I’ll be right back.”

  “Yes, I will let her know. Thank you very much. You're saving the night!”

  “Excuse me.”

  Ten minutes later, Ana Lucia, elegantly dressed, descended the stairs. Annette smiled at her with a thankful expression. Putting her hands on the maid's shoulder, she showed gratitude:

  “Thank you for your help tonight, Ana Lucia. We have a very important negotiation. You will get an extra allowance for this job.”

  “What are you talking about, Mrs. Annette? I'm doing it from heart, you do not have to pay me for it. We're friends, I'm here to help.”

  “Let's go to the dinner table, then.” Albert led everyone to the table.

  “Yes, come on” Annette agreed, smiling again.

  Dinner was a success. Ana Lucia was the best interpreter the Bennett family could have. Albert did not stop to look at her and smile at her all the time. He was delighted with all the qualities his best friend showed. She even made friends with the businessmen! The deal was agreed, the contracts were signed, and everything happened in a wonderful way.

  “Ana Lucia!” Albert called for her as she walked out the door.

  “Yes.”

  “You were amazing! I do not even know how to thank you. My dad will be happy to know what you did for our company.”

  “No need to thank me, what I did was no big deal. I just translated a conversation.”