Written in the Stars

CHAPTER 13

Bruno takes Helena to his parent's room, and while the young woman stands at the door, he goes to the wardrobe and opens it. Bruno doesn't need to search much and finds some well-packaged female outfits. He takes two of them and tosses one toward Helena.

"Found them," he says, tossing one of the outfits to her. "See if it fits you."

"Here? Is this your room?" Helena asked, apprehensive.

"Uhm, no... Come on," Bruno beckoned, taking Helena's hand and leading her to his room. He opens the door and points inside. "Make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you," Helena said, entering Bruno's room. She turns around and notices Bruno still standing by the door, watching her. "Could you... close the door, please?"

"Oh, sure. Sorry. Let me know when you're done," Bruno asked, before closing the door.

Helena then turns around and starts removing her clothes, trying on the first outfit, which fits her perfectly, to her surprise. She puts on the second one, and it fits her like a glove, making her wonder who those clothes belonged to. Maybe his ex-girlfriend? she thinks while unzipping the second outfit and letting it slide down her body.

"So, does it fit well?" Bruno asked, abruptly entering the room.

"Hey!" Helena exclaims, holding the outfit against her body, startled. She quickly pulls up the zipper while staring at Bruno, seriously.

"Sorry!" Bruno apologized, nervous, trying to close his eyes. "You were taking so long..."

"Yes, they fit, but I don't feel comfortable wearing someone else's clothes," Helena says, feeling awkward.

"I'm pretty sure the person won't mind the outfit," Bruno claims.

"I doubt your ex wouldn't want these outfits. They look perfect," Helena comments, trying to figure out who the owner of these cycling clothes is.

"They're not from any ex-girlfriend of mine if that's what you're thinking," Bruno says, sitting on the bed. He takes a deep breath and continues, "They belonged to my mom when she used to cycle."

"Hmm... I saw some photos of her with your dad downstairs. I should have suspected," Helena says, embarrassed for thinking they were from one of Bruno's exes. "Why did she stop cycling?"

"Alzheimer's... She was diagnosed about two years ago after getting lost during a competition here in the region, even though she knew the route like the back of her hand. She thought it was just stress and discovered the disease."

"I'm sorry," Helena said, sitting next to Bruno. She took his hand. "It must not be easy."

"It... has its good and bad days," Bruno comments. "Today is a good day, even though my mom thought you were my girlfriend."

"Really?" Helena asks, raising an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Well, over time, my mom developed an aversion to women... She became very aggressive with the housekeeper and even with her female doctor. No woman was allowed to pass in front of the house; she would throw a bucket of water at them. Faced with this situation, my dad became fully responsible for her, as she only accepted him and me here at home. And now, she's accepted you."

"Wow, I had no idea... She was so sweet to me," Helena says.

"Yeah," Bruno confirmed, looking at Helena. "By the way, sorry that she said you're my girlfriend..."

"That's okay. Now that you've told me about her condition, everything makes sense. And I'm really happy that she liked me."

"You have something special, Helena..."

He raises his hand towards Helena's messy blonde hair, tucking it behind her ear as his face gets closer to hers. Helena gazed at Bruno with slightly trembling and parted lips. She couldn't explain this magnetic attraction that pulled them together, making her feel an immense desire to kiss him without any resistance. Bruno adjusted himself, leaning in to meet Helena's lips, eager to taste the kiss of the young woman who had captivated him from day one.

"I'm coming in, I'm coming in..." Nilton announces, entering Bruno's room, causing the young couple to practically jump off the bed.

Bruno ends up almost at the bathroom door, while Helena picks up the clothes from the floor. None of their movements go unnoticed by Bruno's father, who flashes a sly smile at them. Nilton then turns to his son, who is less red than Helena, and says:

"Sorry for interrupting the lovebirds, but I came here to meet my new daughter-in-law."

"Dad, this is Helena," Bruno says, pointing at Helena. "Helena, this is my father, Nilton."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Nilton," Helena says, extending her hand towards her "father-in-law." "But I'm not Bruno's girlfriend."

"Actually, she's a customer from the shop, and we came here for her to try on some outfits of my mom's to wear today since hers is... unusable," Bruno explains.

"I see..." Nilton says, scanning Helena from head to toe. "This outfit belonged to when Loreta won the Brazil Ride Bahia. And the one you have in your hand was from when she placed third in the Brazil Ride Espinhaço."

"I'm sorry for wearing it; I didn't know it was so important. I'll take it off," Helena explained nervously.

"No, please. It looks great on you; you can keep them both," Nilton says.

"Oh, no, really..."

"I insist, Helena," Nilton says, smiling lightly at Helena. "I only ask that you dedicate yourself to cycling because it's a wonderful sport."

"Don't worry; your son encouraged me a lot with the beautiful landscapes..."

"I'm glad to hear that," Nilton says, looking at his son. "Anyway, I also came to let you know that your mother invited your girlfriend to have lunch with us."

"Dad, she's not my girlfriend," Bruno reiterates, seriously.

"For today, she will be," Nilton tells his son. "Your mom is cooking Blue Marine Fish, and she said she'll also make Manuê de bacia for the afternoon coffee."

"Really, Dad?" Bruno asks, surprised. It's no wonder, as these are Bruno's favorite dishes, which he hasn't enjoyed for a long time. He turns to Helena. "Do you mind being my girlfriend for a few hours? Please..."

"Alright," Helena agreed, smiling at Bruno.