Building My Life

Chapter 19 - Melissa

Josias grew tense, expectant. This was the moment for him to find out if Melissa would like what she saw, or if she would reject him because he was working at a construction site.

Melissa, however, did not seem to disapprove or belittle him. Instead, she nodded, looking around. Of course, she couldn’t help noticing that Josias was still shirtless and wearing the same sweatpants. “Josias, what are you doing here? Did you get a job as a helper?”

“Yes, Melissa, I started today. I needed it,” Josias said, still looking for her approval.

“Congratulations.” She smiled. “If we were dating, you would have already earned points with my dad.”

Uélton looked at Josias with surprise. Josias smiled, satisfied with what he heard. “Thank you very much, Melissa. It isn’t easy, but it’s what we have.”

“You’ll go a long way, Josias. You look like a smart guy. Well, let me get to school before I’m late. See you later!”

Melissa waved goodbye and continued on her way. Josias watched her for a moment and then tried to go back to work, but Uélton wouldn’t let him.

“Hey!” Uélton slapped Josias on the shoulder, who winced in pain because of the sunburn. “How come you didn’t even introduce me to her? How do you know her? She didn’t even look at me!”

Josias looked at Uélton. The boy’s ears were larger than average, and he had a habit of narrowing his eyes as if he needed glasses, though he refused to wear them to look more “handsome.” Josias smiled. “I don’t think she’s interested in your ‘beauty’.”

“Oh, okay, soap opera heartthrob!” Uélton chuckled. “You have an easier time winning girls over because of your physique. You probably don’t wear a shirt on purpose.”

Josias took a deep breath. If everyone knew he had fled home with only the clothes on his back, they wouldn’t be so bothered by his attire, or lack thereof. He also realized that Uélton and Romualdo would have to get used to the sweatpants, as he wasn’t going to wear new clothes to work in construction.

***

Meanwhile, Melissa was approaching the school in the neighboring district, since the favela only had a small nursery and elementary classes up to the fourth grade. She smiled when she met two of her classmates.

“Hello, girls!” The three embraced.

One of them noticed her hair. “Hey, did you happen to buy that shampoo we recommended?”

Remembering the shampoo made Melissa remember Josias. She smiled, looking distant for a few seconds. Then she turned back to them and replied, “Yes, I bought it at the pharmacy over there. And you won’t believe the best part: I thought I had all the money, but I was R$ 2.00 short. Then a guy behind me offered to pay the difference. Girls...”

“Was he a babe?” one of the friends ventured to ask.

Melissa’s eyes widened. “A babe? He’s a total hunk! The guy walks around without a shirt, he’s eighteen, and he’s not lazy. I just saw him working on a house under construction near where we live.”

Incredibly, the girls’ admiration diminished when Melissa mentioned the last part. The second friend said, “Oh, honey... a mason? Worse yet, he must be a bricklayer’s assistant. Not worth it.”

Melissa frowned at her friends. “What do you mean? Are you crazy? If you only knew him...”

“We know enough,” the first friend interrupted. “Handsome, but poor. Girl, if you want to leave Happiness Slum like we do, you need to meet someone worthwhile. Someone who isn’t settled and wants to give you the future you deserve.”

Melissa continued to surprise her friends with her stance. “You’re judging Josias without even knowing him. Something tells me he won’t stay a bricklayer for long. Not that there’s anything wrong with the profession, but he’s going to climb the ladder to success.”

The first friend, more incisive, interrupted her by tugging at Melissa’s uniform blouse. “Okay, Melissa, but you’d better not wait for him to climb that ladder. Look for someone who is already at the top to take you along with them.”

“You talk as if you already know someone like that,” Melissa said, pulling away.

“Not yet.” The first friend had a twinkle in her eye. “But I know something that can help us. My older sister is throwing a party, and she said there will be plenty of handsome guys there.” She gestured “a lot” with her hand. “And of course, you’re coming to my house for it.”