by Jamila Mafra
"It was good to see you, Ana Lucia.”
"I say the same, Gabriel.”
“Says the same? There's something. What do you think about having lunch together today at Il Faro restaurant? Think about it: it will be your first lunch facing the sea.”
"We just met again and you're already inviting me to have lunch with you?"
"And why waste time? We already know each other, you were my girlfriend. Not officially, but you were.”
"Your invitation surprised me. You're right, why waste time? Yes, I do, and I do not need to think too much. I still think we have a lot to talk about.”
"I see you still have the habit of listening to music as you meditate.”
“Yes, I don’t leave this cell phone for nothing. It came from America. My aunt doesn’t like it. She tells me not to leave the house with a cell phone, because of the robberies, but I'm not afraid. If the thief wants to take my cell phone, take it. I’ll work and I can buy another one.”
"I know your romantic view of things. But I believe your aunt is right.”
"So we have date, at noon tomorrow, at Il Faro. My first lunch facing the ocean. I'll arrive a little early to get a table by the glass window.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I need to get ready.”
“All right, I'll meet you there tomorrow. See you later.” Gabriel kissed her cheek.
"See you." She smiled as she watched her athlete run up and down the beachfront.
***
Ana Lucia stumbled into her aunt's apartment.
"Honey, where were you?"
"Auntie, I'm sorry, I did not tell you. I woke up early to go for a walk on the beach; I wanted to enjoy it while the tourists weren’t there, enjoy the tranquility of having the sea just for me.”
“Do not worry honey. Just do not leave the house by displaying your imported smartphone. Here the robberies happen all the time. It's dangerous.”
"I already said I'm not afraid of a thief."
“Well, you should be. And what is that face?”
“What do you mean?”
"You're smiling. You even seem to have found the Prince Charming on the beach.”
“And I did.”
“What? Who did you find?”
"I happened to meet Gabriel. He was doing the morning run”
"Is this Gabriel the one who left you there in Santos? Days before you left for the United States?”
“Yes aunt. It's him. Gabriel is now manager of a store nearby. He invited me to have lunch tomorrow at Il Faro.”
“And you accepted?”
“I accepted.”
“How? This guy deceived you, humiliated you. Is not he married now?”
"No, he’s not. His fiancée gave up the wedding two days before the ceremony. I know it seems strange that I accept this lunch after what Gabriel did to me, but when I saw him there on the beach, so beautiful, smiling at me, I felt a frisson.”
“Frisson?”
“Yeah! Frisson, you know? Heat in the chest. Moreover, there remain words that have not yet been said.”
“Unsaid words! I understand. I just hope this guy does not make you suffer again.”
"Do not worry, now I'm already armored against deception.”
“I hope so.”
***
Ana Lucia admired the crowded beach of tourists and vacationers through the glass window of the restaurant Il Faro. Fifteen minutes after her arrival, Gabriel emerged all elegant. He approached the table and kissed her hand.
“Ana Lucia, you came!” He sat down.
"And why shouldn’t I? This restaurant is one of the best here on the beach. I could not miss this opportunity.”
“I loved your argument. I'll call the waiter. Have you chosen the dish yet?”
"Yes, I chose, I was just waiting for you to arrive to ask. How about Seafood Toss with the accompaniments?” She suggested.
“Perfect. Waiter please, Seafood Gamela!”
“Yes sir. The waiter noted the request.”
“I pay half.” Ana Lucia wanted to be fair.
“Not at all. I asked you out, I paid for everything.” He made a point.
"You're being a gentleman, Gabriel.”
"While we wait, we can begin our conversation.”
“Yeah, that's what I'm here for.”
"I thought you would never agree to meet me after all the harm I did to you."
“You hurt me bad. But nothing like an old hurt to forget another hurt worse.”
"What are you talking about, Ana Lucia? Who hurt you so much after me?”
"It's a long, exhausting story, worse than ours. A lot worse.”
“Now I’m curious.”
"Contain your curiosity. Alice told me you were not married.”
“It is true. I did not get married. My ex-fiancée gave up the wedding two days before the ceremony.
"Surely she discovered you dated other girls.”
"Maybe, but she did not want to tell me. And you? Did not you get a boyfriend back there in the States?”
“Almost did.”
“What do you mean, almost did?”
"I've tried to focus more on my studies. I went to the United States to study and not to date. And you? Did not you get another girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Why?”
"After my marriage went wrong, I discovered that it was you I liked. But I did not have the courage to look for you or even to call. I felt unworthy. After all, I misled you. I regret much of what I did. When I have a new girlfriend, I will not make those mistakes any more.”
“I'm happy with your change of attitude. You know, that night you abandoned me, I ran to Gonzaga's beach and cried on my knees in the sand. I threw that bracelet you gave me as a gift. I regretted it was an expensive bracelet, I should have sold it.”
"I assure you someone found it and did it."
“That night the songs on my smartphone saved me. Whenever I'm depressed I already put a song to play.”
"And what song did you choose to mourn that night?"
“‘As Curvas de Santos”, in the voice of Lulu.”
“Perfect. But we had another song, remember? The one we danced at my niece's prom... I forgot the name. It was even the remix of a flashback.”
“The song was ‘Sorry, Marin’ from Magic Box.”
“That's it!” He agreed.”
“Young people today do not like classical dance music very much. But this remix was from 2008. I never forget: DJ Robbie. A delight to dance to.”
The waiter served the Seafood Gamela with the accompaniments.
“Ana Lucia, I'm thinking here... we can spend the turn of the year together here in the Enseada beach, what do you think about that?”
"I'll be right here on the beach. Sure we can. But first let's talk more. There are still ten days to New Year's Eve. Speaking of which, I have to pick a cool dress for the turn of the year. In my last New Year's Eve, in the United States, I was dressed in a maid's uniform. Not glamorous at all. Now in this new phase I want to be beautiful here on this wonderful beach.”
"Speaking like that looks like you do not want to go back to the States. What happened there to leave you like this? Gave up being an astronomer and proving the existence of extraterrestrial life?”
"No, I did not give up. It's just that this situation of my visa annoyed me. That’s it”
“I understand. But you will be able to renew it. I'm sure. You did not do anything wrong there, did you?”
"I did not do anything wrong, I was an exemplary student.”
"Then it'll be all right. Do not worry. Enjoy summer here on the coast of São Paulo.”
“You're right. How did I miss coming to a bar or a restaurant on the beach and listening to a samba, a pagode, Belo, SPC, Alexandre Pires, MPB...”
"I missed you, Ana Lucia. Too much. An avalanche of memories made me see that y
ou would be the right woman for me. It's amazing to be here with you. I never imagined that this moment would happen. Speaking of pagode, there is a song that reminded me a lot of you. By the way, two.”
“Which are?”
"After you left for the United States, everywhere I went I played the songs ‘Misterios do Coração, and ‘Amor Verdadeiro’. "
"Finding you now is a surprise to me, just as it is for you," she said, smiling.
“What's it? Suddenly you looked sad.”
“Nothing. Lunch was great. But now I need to go.”
"I need to get back to work, too."
"Thank you, Gabriel. You were a real gentleman.”
"Can I get your WhatsApp number? We can talk...” He continued.
“Of course! I'll write it down for you.” She took a pen and a piece of paper from her purse and wrote down the number. “Here it is, this is my WhatsApp number.” She handed him the piece of paper.
"I'll add your number as soon as I get to the store. I do not usually walk with a cell phone in my hand. See you later. I'm heading out.” He stood up.
“I'll go to the bathroom before I go. Excuse me. Goodbye.” She stood up, kissed his cheek, and then hugged each other. He left.
Ana Lucia entered the bathroom of the restaurant, started to cry and washed her face several times. Gabriel's words reminded her of his love for Albert.
***
“Ana Lucia. How was the lunch?”
“It was good, Auntie.”
"You look so serious. What's it? The food was not good?”
“It’s not that. The food was delicious. Seafood platter could not have been better.”
“And then?”
"It's just that Gabriel treated me so well, he says he's sorry he left me. We remember our good moments from the past. He told me that I would have been the ideal woman for him.”
"Does that mean you've forgotten the American already?"
"No, not at all. Indeed Gabriel's words made me cry just because I remembered Albert.”
"And tell me one thing: are you going to use Gabriel to make you forget Albert?"
"No, Auntie. I’m not going to use him! I just want to take this opportunity. I'll keep going out with him.”
"You do not even know if he's really sorry."
"But I can find out in time."
"Okay, but take it easy on this relationship.”
***
It was past one o'clock in the morning. Ana Lucia was already in bed. She used to surf in the internet on her smartphone before bed. That was how she fell asleep. WhatsApp signaled for new messages. One of them was Gabriel wishing her a good night and expressing sincere feelings for having found her again.
But the other message was worse; it was a message from Albert, not written exactly in words. He sent Ana Lucia a video. It was the music video "Miss You Love" by SilverChair, just the song they listened to on one of the nights they stared at the stars and marked their feelings. Ana Lucia's body trembled as she watched the video. Without delay, she collapsed in sincere tears of dismay. She did not answer any of the messages. She got up from the bed.
With the smartphone in hand, Ana Lucia stepped down the elevator and left the building. She headed toward the beach. That woman with a broken heart could not stop crying and sobbing. She crossed the long strip of sand, the beach was empty. She entered that dark sea, went deep into the background. She threw the smartphone into the depths of the sea. She did not want anything that could remind her of the love she'd given up. In tears, she spoke to herself as she contemplated the dark sea:
"I avoided for so long to approach and love someone I could not have. So you came into my life and left me memories of what happiness really is. And if a picture of you is all I have now to move on, I'll have to settle for it. I do not know about the future, but even so I wanted you here so much with me, by my side, so that I could contemplate your beautiful smile and the sincerity that emanated from your blue eyes. I need you so much. I wanted so much to share the days of my life with you. I tried, but I cannot forget you. The brightness of your eyes is still in me. Here, alone, every day without hearing your voice calling me, it is a real torture; it is the torture of silence. When you got to my house, everything changed. My life will never be the same with you away from me. Why can’t we be together? This is just another day without you. I try, I swear I try to forget you, but your image and your memory torment my dreams every night."
For Ana Lucia, love was, in fact, a deadly poison that killed little by little. How can one understand why one's absence causes so much suffering? This is the question that all those who love do when they suffer.
Margareth stood up for a glass of water. He noticed that the door to Ana Lucia's room was open. She looked for her all over the apartment, but did not find the niece.
"Where did this girl go at this time?" She asked worriedly.
Suddenly the door opened. Ana Lucia was back.
"Ana Lucia, where were you at this hour? My God! It's too dangerous for you to walk around by yourself at dawn. You're all wet! What happened?”
"I'm fine, Auntie. It was nothing.”
“What's going on here? I just woke up scared of your conversation at this time.” Freddy questioned them after entering the room.
"Uncle Freddy, nothing happened. I was just going for a walk. I'm going to my room. Excuse me.” She withdrew and locked herself in the bedroom.
"At this time?"
“Freddy, go back to bed. I'm going to talk to her right now.”
“Alright then. Talk to your niece. She cannot walk around alone by dawn.” He left to his room.
Margareth knocked on the door.
“Ana Lucia, open the door. I want to talk to you.”
The niece opened the door.
"I want you to tell me exactly what happened. What is this story about the early morning walk? And why are you wet? I know you're an adult already, but I'm your aunt and you live in my house, so you owe me satisfactions.
"Auntie, I apologize for disturbing your sleep. It's just that I had to go to the beach.”
"Are you crazy? Going to the beach at dawn, alone? You were in danger. You entered the sea. Why did you do that?”
"I got a message from Albert. He sent me a video clip of the music he and I listened to while watching the stars. He meant that he loves me and that he misses me. I did not support it, I started to cry and went to the beach, I went into the sea and I threw my smartphone in the ocean. I cannot stand any remembrance of the man I loved.”
"You and the habit of throwing expensive things in the sea."
“I could not stand it. It's like a rite of detachment.”
"My dear, I know you're suffering, but it was your decision not to give Albert a chance. Now you have to suffer the consequences and the pain of distance. It will soon pass. Now take off your wet clothes and try to sleep. You need to get back together. Life goes on.”
THE ENGAGEMENT
Brianna arrived at the mansion at 8pm. She was exuberant for the occasion when her marriage to Albert would be officially announced to friends and family.
"Mr. Matthew, what about Albert? He should be here to greet the guests with me.” Brianna questioned her future father-in-law.
“I'm looking for my son, too. I arrived today for the engagement and I have not yet spoken to him.”
“He's in the room getting ready. He will be down soon. Do not get anxious, Brianna.” Annette tried to explain.
"I hope he won’t take too long."
"Do not be anxious. Today is the day of your engagement. Relax. Look there, your friend Cherry has arrived.”
“I will talk to her.”
"I've never seen the groom take so long to get dressed.” Matthew expressed concern about his son's delay.
“I think it's strange, too. It was already for Albert to have come down. I'm going to the bedroom to see if everything's okay with it.”
Albert remained locked in his room, not daring to go down. Sitting on the bed, he stared intently at a photo of Ana Lucia that was saved on his cell phone.
Annette knocked on the door. He hid his cell phone.
“My son, it's me!”
"Come in, Mother.”
"Albert, what's going on?" Why have not you come down yet? You’re not even ready.”
"Mother, I'm desperate.”
"But what is happening, my son?"
"I did not want this party. I did not want this engagement.”
"Albert, what are you saying?" Do not you love Brianna? Do not you want to marry her?”
"I do not want to get married, Mother. But I will.”
“Why? Tell me, why do you feel obligated to marry Brianna?”
"Mother, I cannot tell you why I'm being forced to marry the woman I do not love.”
“My God! Albert, my son, you do not trust your mother anymore?”
"I trust, but I promised not to tell anyone. It’s a secret.”
"It must be something serious, you're even crying.” She stroked Albert's head, stroked his face. “Who do you love? Tell your mother.”
“It does not matter.”
"You love Ana Lucia, do not you?"
"Forget it, Mother. I'll get dressed, I'll be downstairs soon. I'm going to marry Brianna. She is my fiancée. I cannot disappoint her. And I can’t abandon her in this situation.” He wiped away his tears.
"I'll go down with you. I want to be by your side at this moment that seems so difficult. I respect your desire not to want to tell me anything. But when you want, you can be sure that I'll be here to support you, no matter what your decision will be”
“Thank you mom; I know I can count on you.”
"Son, if you do not want to get married, you should not go ahead with this engagement.”
“Do not worry. I'm getting married, yes. It was only momentary confusion. But it's over. Wait for me outside the room. I'm going.”