Bernardino
One week later
Luana was running away from me, even when she sees me she turns away as if I am not her future husband or something is contagious. I know that the way you imposed marriage on her was not the right way to act but the longer Luana stays away from me, the more unbearable she is. I don't mind the fact that she is no longer a virgin, so much so that even after knowing this I still want her with the same intensity and even more than before, but Luana flees from me as if she were the devil himself.
- Sergio, where is Luana?
- I went to her house but Luana is not here! Cecilia said she went to train capoeira.
I asked Sergio to call Luana because I know that he considers my head of security very highly and would not refuse a request of his, at first I was jealous of her and even set limits for Sergio in relation to my fiancée but with time I realized that it was a big mistake on my part, Sergio has always known the feeling I have for Luana, and respects it.
- Why is this girl still going to that damned capoeira academy? Are you still practicing shooting with her?
My soldier remained silent, showing with his silence that he was still practicing shooting with her even after the breast ban and my warnings to him.
- WHAT THE FUCK, SERGIO! HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO FULFILL A SIMPLE ORDER FROM ME? MY WORD HAS NO PLACE IN THIS SHIT ANYMORE?
Why should Sergio go with me? Something is not right in this story!
Luana
- Master Tatu, thank you so much for being my master and for your patience with me all this time, I can't thank you enough!
- You are welcome, Italian! It has been a pleasure to teach you, such an applied and dedicated student. Even if you have said that you will not accept to help with the children in capoeira here, please don't stop visiting us, your presence is always very welcome and important to us.
During the last few days I have come to train here at mestre Tatu's academy, a man in his 50s who taught me capoeira with patience and understanding, now that I have reached my goal unfortunately I will have to stop coming precisely also because of the cursed wedding with Bernardino is near, I was invited by mestre to train the children but as I know that Bernardino would not let me, I preferred to deny the proposal with my heart in my hand. I'm not happy about it but I would never go against my mama.
- It's okay, whenever I can I will come visit you!
- I'm happy about that but I want you to stay today, we're going to have a samba circle and you're more than invited, my son asked about you earlier today! He would be happy to have you as his daughter-in-law.
André is a beautiful and friendly brunette who, along with his father, taught me capoeira. He has always been very respectful to me, but I know he has a different look for me.
- André and I are just friends, mestre! I wish my heart could feel something for a man like him but I am spoiled for love or any similar feelings for anyone. Your son deserves someone special and without a past like mine, besides I'm engaged to be married even if I wanted to have something with Andre, it would be impossible.
- I understand, Italian, but regardless of this can I count on your presence in my roda de samba today?
It wouldn't hurt to accept the invitation, after all I really needed to distract my mind, Bernardino has lived after me but I'm always avoiding him but I know I won't be able to do this forever since my mother has set the date for the engagement and from what I've noticed both she and Bernardino want this wedding to happen soon. I think he is afraid that I will run away or something but where would I go? Anywhere in this world that I go I will be hunted like an animal so the best thing is to stay and face my destiny.
I can pretend like most women do with their cheating husbands and their escapes with lovers and prostitutes. I know it may seem noble what Bernardino is doing but it's not, because forcing me to be with him for the rest of my life doesn't seem noble; on the contrary, it seems very selfish of him.
Mestre Tatu's academy was across the street from his house so we only had to cross the street, on the sidewalk we could already hear the sound of the musical instruments of the boys who played in the back of the house, when we entered we saw the amount of people who were in the backyard where the samba circle was taking place, there were women and men dancing, drinking and eating while the music was being played. The boys who were playing capoeira practiced with me, so when they saw me they were surprised. I had always been invited by them to come, but I always refused, but since it was my last time here, I didn't see any harm in accepting the invitation.
- The Italian woman decided to come out of hiding and came to honor us with her presence.
- Stop joking, cowfish, I was invited by your father, and I couldn't refuse an invitation from him!
André smiled at me in that naughty way of his, I know that the boy is honest and good but as his father says about him, manatee doesn't deny a skirt's ass I'm also aware of that so I always wanted to make it clear that between us there could only be a good friendship.
I sat with the master's family talking and laughing, the neighborhood children and his grandchildren ran in the middle of that crowd that danced and sang to the rhythm of samba, I looked at my watch noticing that it was already late, I could not stay even if I wanted to because I had not told my mother.
I stood up ready to leave while I greeted mestre Tatu's daughters and wife, but André, noticing that I was leaving, pulled me into the middle of the circle smiling in that naughty way that only he had.
- Italian, don't leave without dancing with me first!
- You know very well that I don't know how to dance the samba, I really need to go, it's already late and I didn't tell my mother that I would be late!
André pretended not to have heard and held my waist tightly as he guided my body to dance.
- I'm a terrible dance partner and besides, I'm getting embarrassed, everyone is looking at us.
- Italiana, you are a good dancer but you just lack the practice to become my equal, they are looking at us because we make a perfect pair, it's a pity that you are engaged because if you didn't have a commitment you wouldn't let her get away!
I knew that André wouldn't miss the opportunity to mess with me, he's full of flirtations but they don't offend me because I take them all in jest. While we danced, other couples joined us, for the first time after my brother's death I was able to have fun and distract my mind from my worries.
- You're thinking, Luana! How's it going?
- It's okay, bullfish, I'm just happy to be here with you, it was very important to meet you, I'll miss you all.
André and I hugged, a hug between friends, there was no malice or any other feeling. In that embrace there was only friendship and affection, between us there was always respect and understanding, he kissed my forehead in a clear demonstration of affection was when Bernardino appeared looking like an animal pushing André away from me aggressively.
- THAT'S WHY SERGIO DIDN'T WANT TO LET ME COME HERE, HE'S INVOLVED WITH THIS BUM, LUANA!
- Hey, hold your tongue, playboy! How can you call me a bum without even knowing me? Is this your asshole fiancé, Italian?
André only made things worse because Bernardino went up against him, but surely he was at a disadvantage since this place is full of boys who practice capoeira, including the master, who when he noticed the confusion, went with the others to defend his son, thus preventing Bernardino from attacking André.
- Luana is an excellent student and since she will no longer be training with us, I invited her to come to my house. We are all good people, we don't want a fight, we can talk in a good way, without violence.
Bernardino put his hand behind his back where he used to leave his gun clearly ready to shoot, I looked at Sergio who noticed his movements but could do nothing to avoid it, it was up to me to resolve the situation that Bernardino himself created.
- Master Tatu, I really must go, I apologize if I caused any embarrassment in your house, it was not my intention really!
- You don't have to go if you don't want to, Italian, we can handle it.
I knew that he could defend himself perfectly but I didn't want a tragedy to happen because of Bernardino's lack of composure, the best thing to do is to leave, I held Bernardino's arm to stop his attitude, he managed to ruin my evening and wouldn't let him ruin the evening of other people who have nothing to do with us.
- Your problem is with me, let's go, these people are good, they don't know the rotten world that unfortunately we are part of, leave them alone. You've already given your show as a jealous and possessive fiancé, now let's go!
I said it close to his ear so that only he could hear, I said goodbye to them all, being dragged by the arm by Bernardino, who was red with rage.
- Sergio, go home and tell mama Emilia that Luana is with her fiancé, we have a lot to talk about!
My friend was on his motorcycle while Bernardino came with his car, I got in the back seat of the vehicle, I would never get the passenger seat with him, the man is very angry, for sure I will not trust that he will not do anything to me. And I know that this conversation won't be good for me at all, there's a lot of lead coming my way.