JOÃO FELIPE
I spent five years away, but it seems like nothing has changed in the end.
I continued talking to Ricardo and trying to free myself from Alicia's clutches for the rest of the night, while she dodged his advances.
That's how it went all night, I couldn't really enjoy the party and, despite the fact that several women, besides Alicia, practically threw themselves at me, I went home alone.
This was already becoming routine, ever since I arrived in Brazil and I met Viviane at the club, accompanied by my brother and no longer with a teenage face and a girl's body, as when I went to the United States, but with a woman's face and body.
She had become a beautiful woman and even though she was dressed simply, I had never seen her in elegant or expensive designer clothes, I could say categorically that she was always beautiful. No other woman can be more beautiful than Viviane.
I sighed as I drove my car towards the mansion. I was doing that a lot lately, sighing.
I left the car in the garage and went upstairs to my room. I was getting more and more frustrated. I think it was time to assume my commitments at the company. I needed to occupy my time, and the courses I wanted to take had already been completed. I had no reason to travel outside Brazil again, as I was already twenty-four years old and the time had come to assume my responsibilities as the eldest son of the Mendes de Albuquerque family.
I was tired of running. That was the truth, and occupying my head would make me forget things that were impossible for me. But even in my dreams, she was.
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After a sleepless night, tossing and turning in bed, I woke up stressed and impatient. Two things that were already part of my personality were only raised to maximum power. I decided to stay in my room. It was better than taking out my frustration on some unsuspecting person.
I was unable to carry out my plans, as my parents knocked on my bedroom door half an hour after my wise decision.
“You can come in!” I spoke loudly to make myself heard since they kept knocking on the door and calling my name.
“Sorry, my son, but your mother believed you were still sleeping. And as we know that your sleep is heavy, then…" My father explained, embarrassed.
“My love, we accepted the invitation of the Alcântaras to spend the weekend at their summer house in Guarujá” My mother, all excited. " You should come with us. I'm sure you'd like to see your old school friends again.
The Alcântaras were my father's partners in some investments, and the families had had a great bond for years. I was very good friends with the brothers Nicolas and Henrique, including.
" Mom, I'm tired and stressed. I don't think I'll be a good company " I declined the invitation, being quite sincere, actually.
" Did something happen? Have I been stressing out in traffic again? " Mrs. Marta soon asked, worried.
" No, Mom! " I realized that my father was about to ask about this story, and I explained right away, raising my hands in the air. " No need to worry, Daddy! It wasn't at all what you were thinking. I just arrived stressed the other day, but I didn't argue in traffic, as Mom implies.”
“ Let's go with us, dear! Beatrice and Alicia will be there too” Mom said again, trying to convince me. " You could review them and who knows, right? Perhaps you can understand each other now.
" I was with the two yesterday, Mother. I went to a party at Alicia's house. Nothing happened if you want to know" I cut off her expectations right away.
I didn't feel the least bit attracted to the frivolous socialites who were at the party, and I also didn't explain that I only saw Beatrice from a distance, because I didn't even get to say hello to her.
“Oh, too bad. They would be perfect wives,” my mother lamented.
“Perfect wives for other men, not for my children. I hope you don't follow your mother's ideas and find a woman of principles and not someone as vain as those girls your mother admires so much,” my father said, looking steadily at my mother, cutting off any protest on her part. “Let's go, dear. You know I like to take advantage of my day off, and I have a lot of things to catch up with Gustavo,” Gustavo Alcântara was the father of my friends and my father's partner.
“See you later, son. If you change your mind, come by. Don't be inhibited. I'm sure everyone will enjoy your presence,” My mother still tried, almost getting pulled by my father.
“My son, don't get carried away by your mother. Do what you want and make the most of these days, because I want you to assume your position on the company's board from Monday. Until later.”
I kept looking at the door through which they left, and uneasiness came over me when I heard my father's words.
When they were already in the corridor, João Pedro entered my room, after saying goodbye to them happily.
“Looks like it's going to be a busy morning,” I complained when I saw him enter.
“Stop being boring! I just came to let you know that I'm traveling today and won't be back until Monday.”
“ And your inseparable friend, is she going with you too?” I asked casually. I didn't want him to see how much the answer interested me.
" Vivi is totally dedicated to studying for the last exams of the semester. You don't want anything disturbing your concentration” she said throwing herself on my bed, not caring about almost lying on my feet. "So, I'm going to meet some friends for a very busy weekend," she said and smiled cheekily.
" Yeah, looks like someone's going to have fun today, " I said, relieved to know that Viviane wouldn't be enjoying the weekend with my brother and his friends.
" You do not imagine how much! " my brother replied and I even managed to smile along with him.