Melissa ( book)

Chapter 14

Eduardo

As I feel the wind hitting my face as I run through the park before it even dawns, I think about Melissa, she must still be sleeping. The breeze is cool, the weather is cloudy. I run for a few more minutes and decide to go home. I get in the shower and let the water wash away the sweat and all the tension from the run, feeling renewed. I wrap the towel around my waist and go back to the room. I look at my cell phone and there is no message from her.

I finish getting ready and go straight to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. You might think it's silly, but I can already visualize Melissa here with me, helping me with things around the house, me preparing breakfast while I see her appear with messy hair and a naughty post-s*x look. After a few years, we would have a son and he would run around the house making a mess and we would be very happy.

I know this all sounds crazy, but I can't be without her, this girl has me on my hands and knees. I finish drinking coffee and tidy up the dishes, pick up my things and head to work. I park the car in the teachers' space and the first thing I want to do is look for her, but I have to hold back, I don't want her to get scared.

I go straight to the teachers' room, grab what I'll need to teach today's classes and put the rest in the closet. I'm so distracted that I don't notice anything around me until I smell a sickening perfume.

- Hello everything is fine? Pazer, my name is Giovanna de Albuquerque — says the woman with the sick perfume and with an insinuating smile.

- Hey, good morning! Pleasure, Eduardo Santana — I respond, very seriously. I don't want any problems on my side.

— I know who you are, Edu. I can call you that, can't I? — the teacher says, seductively.

— Hmm... I don't think it's better. You can call me Eduardo or Professor Santana — I suggest, making it clear that I want nothing to do with her.

— Why, Eduardo? After all, we're going to be friends, aren't we? — She questions and comes closer.

- Of course. — I take a step to the side, increasing the distance. — Here and nothing else. — I make it very clear and put an end to this conversation. I turn my back, leave that teacher alone and go straight to teach.

I can't wait to teach my angel, but it's better that no one sees us together and I don't know why, but I'm pretty sure that teacher won't leave me alone.

I arrive at my room, pack my things while waiting for all the students to enter. As soon as I see that the room is complete, I close the door and start class.

- Good morning everybody. — I greet and they respond with a loud and sleepy good morning. — Today we are going to talk about one of the masters of national literature, Carlos Drumond de Andrade. He was born in 1902 and died in 1987, you weren't even born, but he is considered the most influential poet of the 20th century. — I start to explain while I hear the noise of notebook pages as students open them. — Drumond is part of the second phase of Brazilian modernism, of course you have already studied all phases of literature, but today, we are going to analyze a poem by this author. Write down the poem that I'm going to show on the board and you'll write a short dissertation about it, a review, with your impressions. OK? If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask — I'll let you know and everyone will agree.

“Poema da Necessidade” was the one I chose for this activity, it brings a great criticism to the rules imposed by society on how we have to lead our lives. I hope students understand.

After many questions and discussion about the poem's theme, the class ends and I move on to the next room. At break time, I take the opportunity to go to my locker and get face to face with this Giovanna.

I go in and meet other teachers that I hadn't yet had the opportunity to meet.

— Professor Eduardo, are you going to the cafeteria?

- Yes, teacher. I'm going to eat something there — I answer briefly, not wanting to pay attention.

— Does the teacher accept company? — he asks, coming towards me as if he were a hunter, and I, his prey.

- It is not necessary. Thanks for the invitation. — I dismiss, dodging. She has written “trouble” in big letters right in the middle of her forehead, and I don’t want her anywhere near me. If my angel sees us together, then she won't give me any opportunities.

I walk out and go straight to the cafeteria, place my order and, with the food in hand, I decide to go to the library, see if I can find somewhere quiet to eat before that teacher comes after me. I greet some students and avoid others who are inattentive and almost drop my lunch. The library is empty.

— Hello, good morning, my boy. How can I help? — a nice lady asks.

- Good morning lady. I'm the new teacher and I'd like to know if you have a small room where I can be quiet.

— Of course yes, professor. These young people today make a lot of noise and I understand that you want to take some notes. My name is Suzane and I am responsible for the library.

— Thank you, Ms. Suzane. It's just until the half-time signal hits. Excuse my lack of education, my name is Eduardo Santana and I am the literature teacher.

— Nice to meet you, professor. I'll take you to the room. Some teachers use it to rest, prepare for some activity — he says as he opens the door. The living room is small, it only has a sofa and a small table with a chair. This is fine for me, I just want to have peace and get away from that woman for a bit.

— Thank you, again, Ms. Suzane — I say and leave my snack on the small table. — I'm going to get a book to pass the time. — She waves and leaves me alone. I leave the room and enter the first corridor of the library. The library here is of average size for a school of this size, but it is still a library. I think there must be about eight corridors, calculating from here. I turn into the other hallway and hear her voice. Melissa. I realize that her voice is getting closer and I prepare for the boat. She is distracted looking at the books.