CELLO
Rio De Janeiro 4:00 am
"What a big idiot I am! Why am I pushing the person I love to the person who is pushing her away? I am so stupid that I push myself to the point where I pretend to be gay, and I still include my family in my foolishness," I muttered under my breath as I gulped my beer.
"Cello!" Fernando called, and I almost missed him standing beside me. I gave him a sidelong glance and ignored him.
"It's too early for a beer," he said, taking a sip of his freshly brewed coffee.
I continued to drink while ignoring him.
"All right, spill it," he said, tossing his cup into the air.
I sighed and ran my hands through my hair, frustrated.
"Is it this woman again?" he inquired.
"Yes, it's her," I said slowly enough for him to understand.
"Why do you keep pretending? Why can't you just tell her the truth?" he asked. He's right, why can't I just tell her the truth about me, my life?
"I have no idea."
"Stupid," he sarcastically remarked.
"Yeah, say whatever you want."
"There are a lot of ideas for pretending, but why did you choose to pretend to be a gay bro? You're ruining our reputation," he laughed, and I couldn't help but laugh as well.
"Seriously bro, this is exactly what happened. I was cleaning the living room when I saw lacy underwear. I'm not sure who I'll make out with that day. If you were me, what would you do next?" I asked, smiling.
"Oh no, bro! Did you try to wear it?" he exclaimed, laughing.
"Yes, yes I did, and the door flew open, and she saw me in that underwear, and I was embarrassed, which is why I pretended to be gay," I said, and he burst out laughing.
"It must be horrible bro, if I were you, I'd sniff that fucking underwear and pretend to be an addict," he continued to laugh.
"You sound revolting."
"Women don't do that."
When he decides to break the silence, we are engulfed in it for a minute.
"About her, what are you planning to do?" he inquired solemnly.
"Tell her the truth, and then go get her."
"You're talking now, what was her name again?"
"Mirana"
***
MIRANA
2:40 a.m. ice cream shop
When he said he didn't want to eat ube ice cream, I frowned.
"Ube?" he inquired, his brow furrowed.
"This is good," I said, widening my smile to show my teeth. I was even more irritated that he simply ignored me and rolled his eyes. I'm not sure if this person is in menopause.
"Don't even tell me that's what you want; I don't want my child to be an alien," he said as he examined my order.
"Don't worry, we'll have her on another planet soon," I said as I stood to salute him.
"Stupid"
I simply ignored him and concentrated on my food.
"You have no foe for that ice cream; you eat as if you haven't eaten ice cream in years," he sarcastically observed.
"Don't bother me; just mind your ice cream, Mr. M," I said, and he smiled.
"Mr. M?" he inquired, intrigued.
"Mr. M, don't you know what an abbreviation is? Mr. Menopause, I can no longer wonder why your face looks so old when you're in your 60s," I lamented as his face seemed to be raging. I immediately turned away from him and focused my attention on my food."Finish that already now," he said and walked to the door.
"That man has an issue with his health. He would have to wait outside long because I will still order a different flavor of ice cream," I muttered and ordered another flavor of ice cream.
***
"Is that child really mine?" he asked coldly looking into my eyes full of resentment.
"Yes," my only answer was, I couldn't even get air because of what he thought. Does he still think that the child I was carrying is not his?
"High School days you're a bitch and if that baby is not mine then you're a whore. You have 9 months to prove to me that the baby is mine. And if it's not, pack your bags and leave my house. I still don't forget what you did in the past, Mirana," he said and stood up.
I fixed myself and didn't know that my tears were flowing. I immediately wiped away my tears and managed to stand up as if I were dizzy. She was right, I was so stupid because I thought more of myself than I loved him. I'll take everything he said. I just want my child to have a father. I didn't want my child to experience what I had experienced before. I'm starting to change because of the child I bring.
I will prove that he is the father I carry.
***
MARCO
"Don't bother me. Mind your ice cream, Mr. M,"
"Mr. M?" I asked due in curiosity.
"Mr. M, don't you know? Mr. Menopause I don't wonder why your face looks so old as you are in your 60's," she said. She immediately turned her attention away from me and concentrated on her food.
"Finish that already now," I sternly said as I stood and walked in the door.
She mumbled something that I can't hear.
Why does my heart ache every time I see and talk to her? Is it because of what she did in the past or because of what I do now? Whatever it is I should be unmindful of it.
I asked myself as I stared at her.
"Is that child mine?" I suddenly asked her and she was surprised.
"Yes," she answered briefly and let go of the spoon she was holding.
"High School days you're a bitch and if that baby is not mine then you're a whore. You have 9 months to prove to me that the baby is mine. And if it's not, pack your bags and leave my house. I still don't forget what you did in the past Mirana," I said and walked out.
