Building My Life

Chapter 32 - A Refreshing Blast

Pamela looked both ways, terrified that a neighbor might see them, and shoved Fabrício inside as if he were a secret lover.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed. “Aren’t you afraid of being mugged in this neighborhood?”

“I’m more afraid of losing that gorgeous friend of yours,” he replied with a predatory smile.

Pamela rolled her eyes and gestured for him to sit. Fabrício sat on the leather sofa and immediately winced at the smell of sour beer — a leftover from the party drunks that Pamela’s mother hadn’t cleaned properly.

“This couch reeks,” he complained.

“This whole situation reeks. What do I have to do with your failure to win Melissa over?”

“Failure?” Fabrício let out a nervous laugh. “The game isn’t over yet. Is she seeing someone else?”

“No, not yet. It’s just ‘friendship’ for now.” The thought of Josias and Melissa together made Pamela feel physically ill.

“Then tell me what’s going on,” Fabrício insisted. “Did you give me the right number?”

“I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer.” Pamela crossed her arms. “You can’t win over one simple girl and it’s my fault?”

“I can’t even get a word in! Her father keeps answering, and he sounds less than friendly.”

Pamela burst out laughing. “The protective father has finally realized a grown man wants to sleep with his little princess.”

“You’d better tell her I want to see her,” Fabrício said, frowning. “If she’s not interested, I’ll stop wasting my time.”

Pamela panicked. She didn’t want him to give up. “Fine. Just don’t tell her I gave you the number.”

“You’re the one who’s going to tell her, when she asks,” Fabrício replied coldly. He stood up and left without waiting for her to open the door. Pamela felt genuinely intimidated; Fabrício wasn’t a man who played games.

“An excellent husband for her,” she muttered, a cruel smile forming. “And in the meantime, I’ll lose my virginity to the mason’s helper. Speaking of him...”

***

At the construction site, Uélton was helping Josias apply sunscreen to his back. They were tucked away in the future bathroom, hiding from the potential mockery of the other masons.

Romualdo walked by and caught them. “What’s going on here?”

Uélton spun around in a panic. “It’s not what you think, Seu Romualdo! We’re just men here!”

Josias shook his head. “Ignore him, Seu Romualdo. I asked him to put sunscreen on my back because I can’t reach it, and he was making a huge deal out of it.”

Romualdo laughed heartily. “It’s just that the two of you, alone in a bathroom... it looks a bit compromising, don’t you think?”

“I’m out! I don’t want anyone telling my father I’m rubbing some guy’s back!” Uélton shoved the bottle at Josias and bolted. Josias and Romualdo shared a laugh.

As Josias went to start his work, he found Pamela standing exactly where he usually mixed the mortar. She stood with her hands on her hips, her left foot tapping impatiently.

“Pamela?” Josias approached. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you. Urgently.” She was scowling, sounding pretty irritated.

“By the look on your face, I’m guessing this is about me and Melissa.” Josias wasn’t intimidated in the least.

“And by the appearance of you, you have no idea how to treat a lady,” Pamela sneered. “You’re surly, rustic, and sexist. I’m going to make sure you stay far away from my best friend.”

Josias let out a sharp laugh. The other workers steered clear, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.

“Does Melissa even know you’re here meddling in her business?”

“She doesn’t even dream that I’d demean myself by coming here to talk to you,” she spat.

“Then turn around and leave. This is a place of work.” Josias bent down to pick up the hose.

“How dare you speak to me like that?” Pamela shrieked. “I demand respect!”

“And since when did I become your problem?” Josias asked, pointing the hose toward her without thinking.

“From the moment Fabrício started calling Melissa, and she stopped answering because she thinks she’s going to date you!”

Pamela’s words hit Josias like a blow. Another man is calling her?

Pamela saw the impact and smirked. “What? Did you think you were the only guy who wanted to get Melissa into bed? She’s beautiful; there’s a long line of men much more qualified than you. She’ll never choose a loser like you. If she pays you any attention, it’s out of pure pity because you’re so poor and miserable.”

Josias’s blood boiled. He gripped the hose so hard his knuckles turned white. “How dare you talk about your friend like that? I don’t want to just ‘get her into bed’, I treat her with respect! If this Fabrício only wants that, then she’s right to avoid him.”

“I’ll say it one last time, you loser: stay away from her! You’re in the way!”

Unbeknownst to them, Uélton had slipped behind the wall and cranked the tap to full blast.

“Girl, get the hell out of here!” Josias ordered, gesturing with the hose.

Suddenly, a high-pressure jet of water exploded from the nozzle, drenching Pamela from head to toe. She screamed in pure shock.