Written in the Stars

CHAPTER 6

"The bachelor party that you and Mom forced me to end at ten o'clock in the evening, without any alcoholic drinks? If you're talking about that, don't worry, I left your fiancé safe and sound at home. No need to worry," Marcelo replies.

"Okay, he needs to be at Sala São Paulo by 6 p.m. We still have the photos in thirty minutes," Regina says, looking at her notebook of notes.

"Great," Helena says, looking at the mirror while making some faces.

"What's this?" Marcelo asks, annoyed by his sister's expressions. "What are you doing?"

"Your sister is practicing expressions for the wedding," Regina replies in place of her daughter. "She can't appear horrible in the wedding photos. The photographer's service is extremely expensive."

"Why not hire a cheaper guy? Besides, this wedding could have been much cheaper..." Marcelo comments, flopping down on the sofa. "It's such a waste of money, all of this. And for what? People will eat, drink, and still gossip about everything! I don't know, there are much better things to invest in..."

"Okay, Marcelo. I've heard this rant of yours a thousand times!" Lena reacts, annoyed. She turns to her brother and continues, "But I want this! I want a grand and expensive wedding!"

"Is it you who wants it, or does Mrs. Regina want it?" Marcelo teases, receiving a fierce look from his mother.

"Marcelo, go find something to do. This is not the time for you to irritate your sister. She needs to walk down the aisle calmly," Regina says, approaching her son and pulling him off the sofa. "So, go. Make sure everything is in order outside. Go!"

"Okay, okay..." Marcelo says, looking at his sister. "Little sis, if you want to escape this captivity, blink twice."

"Get out of here!" Helena shouts at her brother, who walks away laughing towards the door.

She looks back at the mirror, practicing her expressions while her mother continues going through the wedding schedule. They are both focused when the door opens again.

"What do you want, Marcelo?" Helena says, stepping away from the mirror. When she looks towards the door, she finds her fiancé standing there, wearing jeans and a polo shirt, a very different outfit from what was chosen for the wedding. "Leandro, what are you doing here?"

"Lena, we need to talk," Leandro replies, serious.

"Leandro, my dear? What's this?" Regina asks, surprised, approaching. "It's inappropriate for the groom to see the bride before the wedding."

"Mrs. Regina, I need to talk to Lena."

"What do you need to talk to my daughter about right before the wedding?" Regina asks, controlling her irritation. "What subject is so important that it can't wait until after the ceremony?"

"If I don't talk to Lena now, there probably won't be a wedding," Leandro explains, serious.

"Okay, go ahead and say what you have to say," Regina says, opening her notebook.

"I want to talk to my bride alone," Leandro says, irritated. "Can I?"

"Leandro, darling... There's nothing you need to talk to my daughter about that I can't be present for."

"That's precisely the problem: you," Leandro says, looking at his mother-in-law and then back at his fiancée. "Helena, can you ask your mother to leave so we can talk, or do I have to do it for you?"

"Mama, please, leave us alone," Helena asks her mother, who looks at her, surprised. Regina could have sworn Helena would defend her from Leandro's harsh words. The daughter looks at Regina, asking again, "Please."

"Alright," Regina agrees, looking at the clock. "But be quick, we only have twenty-five minutes before we start with the photos."

Regina walks slowly through the space, grabbing her purse, while hoping that Leandro would start the conversation in her presence, something that didn't happen. She then leaves, leaving the couple alone. Helena gazes at her fiancé, serious, as she says:

"You don't need to treat my mother that way."

"Seriously? I wanted to be alone with you, and she's meddling, and I'm the one in the wrong again? Once again, I'm the wrong one?" Leandro questions, irritated. "I'm tired."

"Tired?" Helena asks, puzzled. "Tired of what? The party from yesterday? I told Marcelo not to throw that farewell party... I knew it wouldn't work out..."

"No, it's not about that. I'm tired of everything. I'm tired of this marriage, your mother... I'm tired of you!" Leandro blurts out, causing his fiancée's eyes to widen in his direction. "I'm tired of us!"

"Leandro, you must be nervous," Helena says, ignoring her fiancé's words and approaching him. She holds her fiancé's face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. She had practiced this with her mother, the moment when the groom could get so nervous that he might consider giving up on the wedding. And that, according to Regina, was unacceptable. "It happens to every groom on the eve of the wedding, don't worry, everything will be fine. You just need to go back home, get ready, wait for me at the altar, and you'll see that it's how it's supposed to be."

"Lena, why do you want to marry me?" Leandro asks, seriously. "Be honest: why are you marrying me?"

"Because it's the right thing to do, silly," Helena responds, smiling at her obvious answer.

"Just for that?" Leandro questions, unsatisfied with the answer.

"What do you mean, 'just for that'? That's exactly why I'm marrying you. Because we've been together for a long time, and, naturally, we get married. My mother kept insisting, remember? She said, 'Couples who date for a long time don't get married.' And your mother wanted it too," Helena explains, surprised to see Leandro withdrawing his hands from her face. "What's wrong? Wasn't that the answer you wanted?"

"And what about you? Did you want to marry me?"

"Of course, Leandro," Helena responds, adjusting the brown strands that seemed to want to escape from her hairstyle. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I didn't want to... And I don't want to get married now," Leandro reveals, leaving his fiancée in shock.

"What? What do you mean? Why?" Helena asks, searching for the sofa to sit down. "Why?"

"Helena, I always said I wanted to get married for love," Leandro starts, looking at his fiancée. "That's why I can't marry you... because I don't love you. And after yesterday, after the conversation I had with your brother, I know you don't love me either..."

"What happened yesterday? What did my brother say to you?" Helena questions, irritated.

"Nothing, your brother didn't say anything I didn't already know. Helena, you don't want to marry me."

"Yes, I do," Helena responds, already in tears.

"No, you don't," Leandro denies.

"Please, Leandro, I already said I do want to."

"Helena, what you want is to follow the crazy plan your mother created for your life," Leandro says. "Actually, everything. Our relationship, our engagement, our wedding... Everything is following this crazy plan of your mother's! Helena, what do you want from life?"

"I want you!"

"After we get married, you'll quit your job and stay at home, taking care of our kids, the house, and me. Serving me as if I were some magnificent being. You didn't even consult me about it to see if I want that too."

"That's what every man wants," Helena retorts, wiping her tears. "Every man..."

"No, I don't want a woman like that," Leandro replies.

"Okay, fine, I'll work, no problem," Helena affirms, smiling at Leandro.

"You know, the way you acted with your mother just showed me how superficial you are. Helena, ask yourself what you want from life. How do you want to live? What do you want? Who are you?"

"Okay, okay, I'll do that. If it's to have you, I'll do it," Helena says. "Now go home and get ready, okay? We have little time until the wedding."

"No, you don't understand. It's not about doing it for me, but for yourself," Leandro explains, touching Helena's face. "Lena, find out who you are."

Leandro offers a kiss on Helena's forehead and then backs away, leaving his fiancée sitting on the sofa.