We arrived at the beach at about two-fifteen in the afternoon. We found Hector's Plymouth Barracuda and joined it.
Hector wasn't around until we saw him talking to a girl that I soon recognized.
— Barbara! How are you? — I greet you with a kiss on the cheek.
— Nice, and you? — she smiles.
— I'm fine too — I reply returning the smile.
— Yeah, I noticed. — She looks at Rebeca and I could see a slight twinge of jealousy in the way she spoke.
— By the way, Babi, she is...
— Rebeca — she steps forward.
— I'm Barbara! — they shake hands.
I'm glad the two of them met. So at least I would avoid trouble for my side... Well, right now.
— Why did it take so long to arrive? — Hector asked.
— There was a lot of traffic,— I said.
— Ah... yes — he smiles.
— Babi, what are you doing here today? — I asked and I think my question was a little rude.
— I decided to leave the house a little, to enjoy this Saturday that is divine — she explains. - And you, cat?
— I'll go get some sun — says Iara, taking off her clothes and just wearing a bikini.
— I'II go with you — says Becca and that worries me.
— Well... I came for a walk too, with...
— Your girlfriend? — she asks, forcing a smile.
— You're jealous, aren't you? — I asked, deciphering his gaze, which was focused on Rebeca.
— Jealousy? No - she laughs. — I'm glad you found... the girl I wanted to conquer. — She laughs again, and her laughter sounded fake.
— Listen, I'm with her...
— You don't have to say anything. — Barbara got serious.
— Yes, I do — I say. — She lost her boyfriend in a car accident.
— What does this have to do with you two? — She bites her lip, holding back her tears.
— She's traumatized. She doesn't want to date runners.
— So she's with the wrong guy — says Barbara getting up.
— Damn it, Babi! Can you sit down? — I ask, a little changed. — I'm not ready yet.
She sits down reluctantly.
— Go on — she asks.
— I'm trying to help her get over this trauma ...
— Entering her life like a runner?
— No,— I say, this time almost without patience. But I tried to concentrate. — I will not enter her life as a runner. But like Alexander Angel.
— Enough! I can't hear anymore — she gets up, trying not to look at me.
— Babi, you are my friend — I tell her, who was a few meters from me.
— I loved you, dammit! — she starts to cry. — And I know you felt something for me too... Or am I wrong?
— Babi... I...
— I was wrong — she turns to me. But soon stops, when seeing that Rebeca was having small problems.
— What's up, baby! — a guy was pestering Rebeca. — Shall we take a walk?
— No, excuse me - she tries to pass him, but he takes her arm.
— Let's go dear? — he says. — You don't like my car, do you?
— Let me go. — she tries to get rid of the hand that held her tightly.
— Hey, let her go! — I arrived pushing.
— Who do you think you are, idiot? — he pushes me too. — You want to go out on the arm, don't you?
I was about to fight him when Barbara is in the middle.
— Why don't you decide that with a drift dispute? — She suggests.
— D... Drift? — asks the guy, swallowing hard.
— It can be a race if you want — warns and opens a false smile.
— That's better,— he says.
The boy runs to his Seat Leon II 2.0 FSi and gets behind the wheel.
I go to my car and get in it. Becca desperate, starts to accompany me.
— Please, Aleh — she asks, her sad look staring at me. — Don't run, please.
I look at that guy's car and see him smile.
— You may come in? — I ask.
— I don't know if I can do this,— she says.
— Oh girl! — Barbara calls it that. Rebeca turns in his direction. — Do you trust him?
— Yes, absolutely yes.
— So if you trust him, don't lose your confidence now,— she says, leaving Becca a little confused.
— You have to believe me. — I say. — And even if I don't win, I'll come back to you.
She shakes her head in affirmation. But I was scared.
— Okay, where will the start and finish point be? — I asked to Barbara.
— Let's start from the beginning of the beach... — she measured a spot. — As far as Hector parked the car.
— Go and talk to him, then,— I tell her, who runs over to Hector.
Barbara goes to Hector's car to talk to him. Rebeca looks at me and asks:
— Let me go with you?
I look at her questioningly.
— Are you sure? — I ask. — This is my first run. — I lie.
— How can I be with someone if I don't fully trust them? — She asks and I confirm with my head.
— Come on, get in here — I let you in.
She gets in my car and I see Barbara approach. She bends over a little bit to talk to me.
— Hector will be at the end of the beach, waiting for both to arrive. — She announces.
— Okay and who will be at the start? — I ask.
— Myself — she points to herself and chuckles. She was different. Didn't look like the same girl who had been jealous of me with Becca.
— Want a ride there? — I ask.
— No, I have my car — she replies and goes to her Golf GTi 1991. She starts the engine and guides us to the beach.
— Well, this will be the starting point between you — she says, standing in the middle of the cars that were 20 centimeters apart. — I want a clean race, without cheating — she looks at the guy from Seat — and safely — and looks at me.
— Come on — Rebeca says softly and I look at her. I put my crucifix out of my shirt and kiss it for luck.
— I'm going to start counting,— announces Barbara. People passing by stopped to watch the race. Some who strolled on the beach sand, hearing the roar of the engines, warned the others to get out of the way.
— 3... 2... 1... GO!! — The race starts.
The Seat started at the front, but because it was a big car with little power, it soon started to fall behind. He was only inches away, but he couldn't reach me.
I was focused on the race, I didn't realize that Rebeca was looking at me. Her gaze went up to my hand from time to time, watching my gear changes.
The arrival was just ahead, and I realized that the Seat was approaching, although I did not know how he had achieved such a feat.
Hector, who waved his shirt like a flag, signaled the arrival.
The race ended with my victory and I got out of the car.
— I knew you could do this! — Hector jumps at me, happy with my victory.
— Thank you — I thank you.
Rebeca approaches me and my smile falls.
— What an amazing race!! — Iara came to greet me with a huge smile on her face.
— Congratulations,— said the boy on the car. — You did very well.
We look at each other briefly and greet each other.
— We can run again someday...
In saying this, I would have preferred to be silent than to say such words.
— Do you intend to run again? — She asks.
— Becca, I don't...
— Were you a runner, Aleh? — your eyes are watery.
— No... that was...