Written in the Stars

CHAPTER 12

Helena starts shaking her head, refusing to go, but gradually, her gesture turns into a yes accompanied by a broad smile for Bruno.

"Great! Let's take my bike," Bruno says, walking towards the back of the shop while holding Helena's hand. She follows him, under the curious gaze of their friends, who don't understand Bruno's actions.

Bruno adjusts the bike and then helps Helena get on the back. The blonde feels awkward, not knowing where to hold on, and then Bruno places her hands around his waist.

"Hold on tight," he said.

He starts pedaling, making an effort not to focus on Helena's breath on his neck as she tries to balance. The feeling of her being there, holding him, sends shivers down his spine and warms his heart, as if he had been expecting this moment for a long time. Helena, on the other hand, is intoxicated by the scent of Bruno's cologne. She tries not to admit it, but it's challenging to contain herself while feeling the defined abs of the young man. The two get lost in time, and Bruno only comes back to reality when they are already close to their destination. He pedals a little more and then stops in front of a simple yellow townhouse, which he proudly calls home. On the porch, Loreta sits, admiring the street while enjoying a tangerine.

"We've arrived," Bruno informs Helena, who gets off the bike with his help.

He pushes the bike to the porch, followed by Helena, who observes the woman sitting there, seemingly unaware of their presence. To Helena's eyes, Loreta looks quite young, and her wavy brown hair reveals the genetic link with Bruno, as do the features of her face that can be found in his. Loreta then turns her face towards Helena, opening a beautiful smile that only confirms the blonde's suspicions: she must be Bruno's mother. Bruno approaches his mother and kisses her on the cheek, placing his hands together in front of her.

"Bless me, Mother," he said.

"God bless you," Loreta replies.

"Mum, this is Helena," Bruno informs Loreta, not that it would make any difference since he's sure that in a few days, Loreta won't even remember the young woman. "Helena, this is my mother, Loreta."

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Loreta," Helena says, smiling at Bruno's mother while extending her hand toward her.

"The pleasure is mine, dear. But there's no need for such formality," Loreta says, getting up. She hugs Helena warmly, who reciprocates, feeling a bit awkward. Loreta steps back but doesn't let go of Helena's arms as she continues, "Especially since you're my son's girlfriend. You're very beautiful, you know? Bruno, she's very beautiful... And your name too... Helena is the name of the main character in the soap opera currently on TV. She's the protagonist, and then she swapped the baby with the daughter..."

"Thank you, but..." Helena starts saying until she notices there's something wrong with Bruno's mother, as that soap opera aired even before Helena was born and was also the inspiration for her name. "I'm glad my name pleases you."

"Not just the name, you too. Congratulations, my son," Loreta says, looking happily at the "couple."

"Thank you, Mom," Bruno says. He looks at Helena and continues, "Wait for me here; I'll be right back."

"Oh, Bruno, come on. Invite the girl inside. How rude! Come in, Helena, and be sorry for the mess," Loreta says, leading Helena inside, to Bruno's surprise. "Men are terrible at cleaning... and since they let me do it, I just handle it."

Since Loreta was diagnosed, she became somewhat resistant when it came to other women, as she believed they were all there to steal her husband. Or, she associated it with Bruno's maternal grandmother, who wasn't very kind to Loreta. This situation made it difficult for them until they found someone to take care of her.

Helena enters Bruno's house, feeling awkward. His house is simple, without many pieces of furniture, but it has a homely smell that pleases the blonde. Bruno's life with his parents is displayed on every wall, on the sideboard near the door, on the coffee table, and on the way up the stairs. From the photos of Bruno's parents cycling, it's clear that their passion for bicycles is a beautiful legacy from them.

"Take a seat, Helena; I'll get the outfit for you," Bruno says, pointing to the two-seater earth-toned sofa.

"You can go upstairs with her, my son," Loreta encouraged, smiling. "Mommy is 'modern,' I know what you guys..."

"Mum, please!" Bruno interrupted, embarrassed.

He takes Helena's hand and pulls her towards the stairs, while Loreta observes, happy to meet her son's girlfriend.

"Bruno has arrived?" Nilton asks, appearing at the kitchen door, surprised. "I could swear I heard his voice."

"Yes," Loreta replies, shrugging, excited. "And he came with his girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Nilton asks, getting closer, surprised. "Are you sure, Lôlô?"

"Absolutely," Loreta affirms, proud. "Her name is Helena, just like the protagonist of the soap opera."

"Really? He said she's his girlfriend?" Nilton asks, stopping next to his wife and looking at the stairs.

"He didn't deny it," Loreta replies.

"Helena..." Nilton says, pensively. "Who would have thought?"