Kleber turns on the sound and some friends get drinks - non-alcoholic - and Manoel brought the barbecue. He had said it was not a problem. Rebeca brought her own drinks, even though she was driving.
— Are you sure there is no problem? — I ask. — Are you driving.
— Ah, come on — she complains smiling at me. — Don't cut my wave.
— It's just that I think it's wrong to drink while you're driving,— I say.
— Are you a child by any chance? — she looks at me ugly. — I was wrong when trying to approach someone like you. Child.
She walks away before I even say anything.
— Come on, Alexander — Cauan calls me, returning from his car to the others who were close to Kleber's car.
We went to the others and joined them. They danced and had fun. I didn't understand why, but I couldn't take my eyes off Rebeca, even though she humiliated me.
— There, get Alex! — Kleber throws me a can of Coca-Cola. — I'm aware that you don't drink beer or anything.
— Thanks! — I thanked the noise. I know I can't drink because it would go against the drinking and driving laws. And even when I'm not driving I don't drink.
— Listen, Alexander — Rebeca's sister approaches me. — If she gets drunk, don't think I'll take her home in the same car.
— But why not? — I asked, taking a sip of my Coke.
— When she drinks she says a lot to me — Iara replies, taking some of her energy drink. — Maybe you can take her home !?
— No, I can't,— I said. — My house is a long way from here.
— How much time? — she asks.
— Well, Hector and I took an hour and a half, I think. — I replied.
— Oh my! — Iara exclaimed, and took another sip of her drink. — You ran, didn't you?
— Yes, it was. — I said.
— Don't let my sister find out you're a runner,— she asks.
— But I do not...
— Because her boyfriend was a runner,— she explains.
— Was? — I asked.
— Yes — confirms Iara. — Come here.
I took her hand.
— Where are you going, Iara?
— I'm going to talk to this boy.
— I'm not a boy. — I replied.
— Shut up and follow me. — she orders.
We went to a place far from the staff. Where we were there, there were few people on the beach, enjoying the night. It didn't look like visitors, because if they were, they wouldn't be there at those times.
— Tell me what you wanted...
— He passed away — she gets straight to the point, leaving me confused.
— What?
— My sister's boyfriend passed away,— she says.
— How long has that been? — I ask.
She sits on the sand and asks me to do the same. I reject it. She shrugs.
— Well, it's been almost a year since he passed away. — Says Iara. — And they were about to get married in October last year.
— Wow — I say. — I'm sorry.
— You're sorry — Iara gets up. — I ask that if you are going to enter my sister's life, do not enter as a runner. She has suffered enough.
— I don't know if I intend to enter your sister's life,— I tell her, trying to calm the tension between us a little.
— I hope so.
She shakes the sand off her clothes and walks back to the group.
People talked and had fun like teenagers from high school ... or college. Whatever.
They drank their non-alcoholic drinks and talked, laughed, and talked nonsense now and then.
— What's up — Rebeca approaches me, arms crossed. — How was the chat with my sister?
— She told me that you are a girl who doesn't enjoy much adrenaline,— I said.
— I don't know where she got it from — she denies it and I look at Iara, confused.
— Sister, how's the meat? — she asks.
— It is very good, sister — Rebeca answers, giving a smile to her sister.
Iara went to the plate where the meat was, and with a fork she took a piece and started to nibble.
Rebeca was coming back to be with her sister when I called her.
— Rebeca, can we schedule to go out one of these days? — I asked. She looks at me.
— Clear! — she accepts. — It will be a pleasure.
I was surprised because it was so easy. Another girl would have said "I will think and warn you". Another would say "oh, I don't know. Stay for the next one". That was very easy.
— Yeah... Really? — I asked when I managed to reach her.
— Yes — she says. — Why the question, beautiful?
Beautiful? Did she say beautiful? She was drunk! I sure was drunk.
— Well... you're welcome. — I replied.
— Alexander — Cauan calls my name. — Want to bet a split?
I looked at him and replied:
— Sorry, but I don't run.
Hector and Kleber disconnect, look at each other, and look at me.
— Oh really? — he asks and I nod. — Gosh what a pity.
— Excuse me.
— Relax — he says.
I look at Rebeca who looks at me with a frown.
— Don't you run? — she asks.
— It used to run,— I say. — not video games.
She smiles at me.
— Listen — she approaches and her hands clutch the collar of my shirt. - As you noticed, I'm kind of...
— Half?
— No... Completely drunk. — She turns to me and gives another smile. — Can you take me home?
— But what about your sister? — I asked. — She...
— Dude, come here — Kleber pulls me. — We'll back, kitten.
She waves at me.
— Dude, don't you see what you're doing? - he says. - See if you wake up for life.
— I know she's up to me,— I said. — I'm not a fool.
— But it looks like it.
I huffed.
— The problem is that I already have a girl I'm in the mood for.
— Who is it?
—Barbara,— I reply. He rolls his eyes.
— Man, you won't have another chance like this — he explains.
— How can you be sure? — I questioned him, leaving him with no way out. At least that's what it looked like.
— You don't know what tomorrow looks like,— he replies.
I look at Rebeca, who was talking to her sister. They were so beautiful, but Rebeca had all my attention focused on her.
— And you think...
— Yes — he interrupts me. — You must have a chance for a girl.
Looking at her, Rebeca notices my look and winks at me. Her red lipstick on the left was stunning. She was magnificent.
— I'm going to talk to her — I said goodbye to him.
— Go on, boy. — He says to me.
I ran to Rebeca so we could talk.
— Dude, did you see what you said to Cauan? — Hector approaches Kleber.
— Yes, I saw — he gives his answer. — And he certainly has a good reason.