Those two days passed very quickly, but for both, an eternity passed while those two days lasted. Otto was very happy to know that he would be even closer to that beautiful girl and she was even happier to be with him. Before leaving, Liv asked:
- Shouldn't we notify your mother?
- I already sent a letter to her, it's waiting for us.
- A few minutes passed and Helga arrived, unfortunately she did not bring good news:
- I wish I could, but I won't be able to spend the two weeks there.
- Too bad mom. But why not?
- Work. Let's hurry up to make the most of it.
The place was really beautiful, easy to rest. Otto had a lot of work that first week and apologized for it. Ann was a wonderful hostess, those two women were very well received by the family. On Sunday, Helga said goodbye:
- I have to go, but I could see that you didn't have enough time to talk, did you?
- It's true. We'll have more time when the classes come back, won't we, Otto?
- No daughter. I have to go, you can stay now. Just promise me you'll have your mind. Promise?
- Of course, but why have any sense?
- For everything.
Helga left and Otto was very happy to have that girl by his side. That week he did not have so much work and consequently he had more time to be with her: he showed the plantations, the machines, the wines, the juices and everything else. The nights were pleasant, the sky remained clear throughout the week; and they took the opportunity to observe the sky. Otto taught the names of several stars and several constellations. They were perfectly in tune. A shooting star passed, he pointed and said:
- Put your hand in your pocket and place an order. They say it comes true.
- I want Otto to kiss me.
- I was supposed to say it in a low voice.
Otto blushed and said;
- It was to say in a low voice.
- You are a fool.
He approached him and gave a kiss. Despite having responded, he didn't like it very much. They remained there, lying on the lawn, holding hands under that starry sky. Liv broke the silence:
- Do you think I did it wrong?
- What?
- Have I kissed you?
- I don't think so, I don't know. I am only 16 years old.
- But you act like a man.
- I didn't want to be what I am, okay? I am like this because fate made me so. Damn!
Otto was upset. It seems that that kiss was all he wanted, but not what he needed. He asked:
- Shall we go back?
- Come on. It is better.
Otto cannot sleep that night, he had raged with a person who only did him good. The other day, even before the sun came up, Otto was already standing at her door. An hour later she woke up and opened the door:
- He's standing there like a bodyguard. What you want?
- I don't want anything, I need to talk to you. Is urgent!
- What happened?
- I need to apologize to you. Yesterday at night I was very rude to you, do not know what happened to me. Maybe that's not how I imagined it would be mine ...
- Your what?
- My first kiss. - Otto spoke that phrase in a very low voice.
- So you never had ...
- What was it that you had never done until yesterday and did, Otto? - Ann asked.
- Nothing mother, nothing.
Otto slipped out of there like a catfish. Ann entered Liv's room, closed the door and asked:
- What happened to you? Did you have sex?
- No. I just kissed him. It looks like he didn't like it one bit. - Why?
- I don't know, but after the kiss he got all weird. He was very angry with me.
- It was his first kiss.
- He told me.
The two stayed there talking for a while. Ann went to make breakfast. Liv looked for Otto and found him in the room, with the door closed. She knocked and he replied:
- I'm busy!
- Even for me?
- Especially for you.
- Then I'll be waiting here, after you vacate you can answer me.
After two seconds he opened the door.
- Come in.
- I won't bite you, we need to talk.
One spoke a thing or two, always arguing about the mistakes and successes of that friendship. Otto said:
- I want to be your friend, I like you and I can tell you that you are much more than just a friend and yet, I can only be your friend. What do you think?
- No problem.
They chatted, drank coffee and talked about various things. It didn't take long and that kiss was forgotten. That week of vacation passed and that custom of Liv going to the farm became a custom, which was repeated throughout the time that the two spent studying. The days went by, as did the months and years; and with each passing day Otto was showing himself wiser and wiser. On some occasions when there seemed to be no solution, he found it.
When Otto was in the third year of his course, he heard a story circulating around the college. According to the other students, the philosophy professor had just lost a very precious asset: an old wristwatch, worn in the First World War
World Cup and which he highly esteemed. On one of his visits to the library he forgot it somewhere and was unable to find it. He offered a reward of 200 macros to anyone who found him. A few days passed and no one came to him with his proper object. When he had already given up on retrieving his beloved watch, Otto went to him and asked to talk to him for a while:
- I heard you lost a loved one. It is true?
- Yes, it is. I esteemed him very much, but I don't think I will see him anymore.
- Why?
- Because I didn't see him anymore, I looked for where I possibly left him and nothing, offered a reward and nothing. And look, I offered four times more than it really is worth.
- I'll look for it. Where were you with him last time?
- In the library.
- And how would I lose him there?
- I have a habit of taking it out to read. It's more comfortable.
- Each one with the custom that encourages him. And what were you reading?
- I read a biography of Friederich Chopin.
- What's the name?
- Is it necessary? Maybe I don't remember.
- Make an effort, please.
The teacher stopped for a few minutes and said:
- Oh yes! I remembered it well now. Written by Guy de Pourtalès, Der blaue klange.
- That's all.
Otto hurriedly left, heading straight for the library. When he was leaving, he exclaimed:
- I have to hurry, maybe it's still there.
- My watch?
- No, the book.
Otto ran to the library and when he got there, he went straight to the bibliography section and found what he was looking for:
- So there you are!
He took the book and started to read it; and did that for a few minutes. When he spent a good forty minutes reading, he saw that silence had already taken over the library again, yes, because the library was once overflowing with girls who were talking at the elbows. He closed his book and closed his eyes. He could hear his heart, what the students were saying two rooms away. It was possible to hear everything, everything. Otto closed the book, replaced it, and went back to speak to his teacher.
- Here's your watch.
The professor's jaw dropped, gaping, astonished, and all the other words related to contemplation. For four days, almost all the students had passed by and no one had found it. He asked:
- How did you find him? Where were you?
- When you are in distress, what do you do?
- I usually look for solutions.
- Me too. However, for that I believe that I use different methods than yours. I always look for a place in stillness, I listen to my soul and my heart. You know, finding that object was not that complicated. First of all I sat in that same chair that you sat in ...
- How do you know?
- Like me, you are right-handed! He held the book open with his left hand while reading the preface, and with his right hand he pulled out the nearest chair. You have six feet, plus 50 centimeters of your arm we have two feet and ten. The bookcase is about 2 meters. The most likely place is where?
- I have no idea.
- On top of the bookcase.
- God! I was so entertained that I didn't even remember. But how did you find him there?
- He told me he was there, I heard the machine ticking.
After that day, Otto was called to speak about people and human relations, areas in which he really was good enough to be able to speak. When he was close to the final years of his course, a firm opened an office nearby and many students started to drift from study to work, and most did not even give a satisfaction of stopping their studies. It was in this situation that Otto was called to speak. When they learned that he was going to speak, all the students confirmed their presence for that day. Otto advised:
- We need to be resurrected every morning; just like Christ. It is necessary to ensure that our wishes and desires do not fall by the wayside. We don't have time for anything else and yet, there is no one here who cares about waking up 20 minutes early to have a quiet breakfast, preferring to eat and get ready to run. I see people living hostage to fear, in the shadow of nightmares, which for the most part are triggered by the death of their masters, love of neighbor or themselves. I see people killing themselves, committing suicide little by little. My God! If you know that smoking is harmful to your health, then why do you smoke? Because of the advertisements? Or is all this hatred and anger for life? If it is known by all that alcoholic drinks are bad, why, what makes you drink them? Everyone think that the greatest divine blessing is life and answer is this the way to return? In life, there are only two ways out: face it or run away, which you choose, each one of you. You are the ones who seek life situations and incidents. And keep this in mind: there are one minute incidents that change our lives more than one year.
At this moment, one of the students spoke in a medium voice:
- There are situations in which the incidents that find us.
And Otto replied:
- Nobody trips over a rock if they raise their feet enough. Fight for the dreams, because the dreams of today are the scripts of the world of tomorrow.
Otto knew how to use words, that was not training or thinking, but they were words that came from the bottom of his heart. After that lecture, more came. All the students who attended that lecture, went back to school and finished school.
Speaking of finishing school, it was not at all difficult for Otto to present his Graduation Work and thus, in 1983, without any problem, he graduated. It was supposed to be a moment of happiness, of euphoria, but the sadness abated. Standing there, with his diploma in hand, he remembered all the times he had been with Liv, and it was not a few moments. After all those years together, now was the time for everyone to go their own way, find their place in the sun. They were both well dressed, each with his new gown, no hat on, had passed the diploma ceremony. Liv asked:
- And now? What do we do?
- I'm going back to the farm.
- Are you going back to work there?
- No, I'm going to rest a little, maybe I'll put some of what I've learned here into practice, but I don't think I'll even need it. Is that you?
- I thought you were going to ask me to come with you.
- I want, but I shouldn't. I think that when two people like us appear in the same place, we need to look for our paths, our places in the sun. We have a great potential to help those people in need.
- But what about us?
- Let's meet again. You can be sure.
- Unfortunately, I am forced to agree with you.
- Try to understand me, try to think as I think: if we attach two birds to each other, even though they have four wings, they can no longer fly, because the quantity is not always what counts. If you and I can put into practice everything we have learned here, surely destiny will be in charge of uniting us again.
- What makes me sadder in this whole story is that I cannot understand, there is no reason. They say that in love there is no reason.
- Is that a confession that you love me?
- I thought I made that very clear. If you didn't care so much about the others, I doubt you would let me go.
- Is it?
- I'm sure of it. However, if you didn't care about others, I wouldn't have fallen in love with you, and I doubt that I would be able to impress anyone.
- You're right.
They were silent for a few seconds, looking deeply into each other's eyes. As they exchanged glances, they came closer and their breaths became one. Liv asked:
- Should we?
- Maybe not, but I think we can try.
They hugged, kissed, hugged again, kissed and did it quite often. She insisted:
- Do we really have to do that?
- What would become of the world if there were no people wanting to change the course of what is wrong?
- Really. Promise you won't forget me?
- And how could I forget a person like you? Did I ever tell you that you live in my heart?
- No. But I know that. Do you want to spend the night with me?
- Me and you?
- That's right, what do you think?
- A good idea! I have a VCR! - Otto was very happy. - I know, and I've seen all your films!
- That's where you're wrong! I bought a new tape, a 1952 comedy, directed by Walker.
- Oops! I'm interested.
- The name is The sailor was on the wave, with Jerry Lewis. Have you seen it?
- No, it looks great.
- It's closed! Catch you at five, okay?
- I'll be waiting for you. - Liv smiled from ear to ear.
Otto wasted no time and ran to his apartment. Receiving someone in the state the house was in was an out of the question idea: compared to the room, a war trench would be more organized and cleaner. He cleaned and arranged everything, placed vases with flowers and perfumed the environment. He also took the opportunity and ordered Chinese food delivery for half past six. At exactly five o'clock he stopped by taxi at the entrance to the Spiegelwohnung, the building where Liv lived.
- Punctual! - She said as he opened the door for her to enter.
- As usual, my dear.
He asked the driver to return to the starting point, and it was not long before they were at Otto's apartment. Everything was very small, as was usual in student apartments in the capital, they took advantage of each micro space, paid as little as possible and lived. Although small it was pleasant, it was neat and clean (of course it was because he had spent all afternoon tidying up). There were books on several shelves, some of which occupied entire walls, from floor to ceiling.
Those hours spent together, holding each other while watching the film was memorable, they had not touched as lovers but as great friends. At the end of the film he said to Liv:
- I see us and make an analogy to my parents.
- Why?
- You know, the little time I was able to observe and understand what marriage meant.
- I still don't understand you.
- What does marriage mean to you?
- I think it is the union of two beings for love.
- That in the early years. At first it involves love and passion, but after 20 or 30 years of living together, love has already become a latent ingredient in marriage.
- And if it is not love, what can that ingredient be then?
- There are several and by the combination of all of them I can say that we are married, because that is what we have for each other: admiration, companionship and respect.
- Wow, how touching! So you mean you admire me?
- You are perfection in many ways! Where you are imperfect, complete yourself by my side! I'd rather live the rest of my life with you than visit all the museums around the world.
- From what I know of you and your great love for museums, this is quite a compliment, I am flattered.
She was packing up to go home, but it was great to be there. Truth be told, she always loved being with him, but that night was being too special to end like all the others. She wanted to immortalize that moment, and she saw in his eyes that he thought the same. She took his hand and asked, speaking softly in his ear:
- Do you want to?
- I really want it, I just don't know if this is the right time?
Otto was afraid to close the night with a golden key, and with that, to close the doors of his future and Liv's future with a rusty key.
- Let's just let it happen, okay?
They started to kiss. It was not the first time that both had reached that point. But that night everything was different. There were many points that were contributing: the end of college, the imminent departure of Otto and with that the separation of the two. He laid her on the bed, with one hand on her waist and the other on the back of her neck, before kissing her again he pointed out:
- May this mark the beginning of our commitment, that tonight be the hallmark of our alliance.
They kissed. As usual, Otto closed the bedroom door. Inside, they both left adolescence behind and when they passed that door again, they would be adults; he would be a man and she a woman. An hour and a half had passed, she was lying beside him, while he stroked her, the phone rang, and Otto went to answer it.
- Okay, Otto on the line.
- Good night, Otto! Is this Helga? Are you okay?
- Yes.
- Is Liv okay?
- Yes, well. What is happening?
- You are maturing, this is what is happening. Does she want to come home? It's after 11.
- I'll call you.
Mother and daughter talked on the phone. Otto went to the bathroom to take a shower while they were talking, I wish I could give them privacy. Both agreed that Liv could and should sleep with Otto. However, that night neither of them slept, they enjoyed that night all the sensations that they had long wanted to feel with each other and had been postponing for a long time. When they finally decided it was time to rest, the day was already beginning to dawn.
It was a little after nine o'clock in the morning when Liv was awakened by the strong aroma of coffee invaded the room and a few minutes later the coffee arrived in her room, and not only the coffee: Otto, in his robe, was carrying a stuffed tray of delicious things: brigadeiro, strawberries, papaya with honey and a bouquet of flowers. He kissed her effusively and she embarrassed said:
- I haven't even brushed my teeth yet!
- It makes no difference and does not matter. I will love you forever, in all ways and in all ways.
They drank coffee together and stood there embracing, both were afraid of the hours passing by and everything was lost in time. Liv asked from minute to minute:
- Don't forget me when this is over. I will not forget you, I will love you until the end of time.
- It doesn't end here, trust me.
They spent more time together and for the first time they showered together. Everything was new, sensational. Otto took Liv home and when he got there, he explained to Helga what had happened and made a promise:
- I give my word that, if it is also her wish, in the not too distant future, we will be together.
- Aren't you going to get married and move in together?
- Not now! - Liv replied.
- Good! Helga sighed with relief. - Fortunately. I thought they were going to collect the toothbrushes and move in together at once.
- I can not say that it was not what I wanted mother, but Otto thinks that before we should practice what we learn.
- My greatest happiness is to know that such a wise man will be my son-in-law. I'm glad you got a sense, Otto. - Helga hugged him and continued - I believe you. I remember that day that I was at your house and told me that we would meet again, and here we are again.
- Law of attraction: good people attract good people!
They had lunch together, and it was not long before it was time to say goodbye. Liv took him to the gate and they kissed. She asked:
- Promise me not to find a replacement for my place?
- Unless you put someone in my place, I will never do such a thing. The irreplaceable is not a substitute! I will send you letters once a week and call you once a month.