Building My Life

Chapter 24 - Josias is Upset

The next day, Josias woke up and stretched in bed, covered from the waist down by a thin sheet. He looked at Uélton’s brother’s jeans and T-shirt and flashed a weak smile, the kind that says, “I’m laughing so I don’t cry.” He hoped Uélton hadn’t thrown his old clothes away; otherwise, he would have to work at the construction site in those borrowed clothes.

After getting dressed and going downstairs to brush his teeth, Josias went to the kitchen for breakfast. Teodoro had just finished brewing the coffee but got so distracted by Josias’s new look that he missed the thermos, spilling coffee all over the table.

“Oops!” Teodoro realized his mistake and refocused. “Good morning, son! How was the party? I see they lent you some clothes.”

“I’m the one who left mine at Uélton’s. I just hope he didn’t throw them out in a fit of annoyance.”

Teodoro finished with the coffee, closed the thermos, and brought it to the table. Both picked out a roll to eat.

“So, how was it? Did you happen to find your angel?” Teodoro smiled at him.

“I think I found them both,” Josias responded grimly.

Teodoro asked what he meant, and Josias explained everything: the meeting with Melissa, Pamela’s interference, Uélton blabbing about his situation, the wealthier guys surrounding Melissa, Pamela’s contempt, and the supposed sighting of Everaldo.

The last part sent a shiver down Teodoro’s spine. “Are you crazy, man? That guy is practically a ghost at this point.”

“If he were, he could bless me by haunting those guys off the terrace,” Josias muttered bitterly between bites. “Melissa was way too focused on them.”

“Don’t be jealous, boy,” Teodoro encouraged him. “Maybe she was just being polite to her friend’s guests. Your leaving without a word probably worried her.”

“We’ll see today. And I want to know why Uélton had to open his big mouth. He doesn’t even know my full story. If he’s that kind of indiscreet friend, I’m out.”

Teodoro observed Josias’s sternness. He was a serious young man who valued integrity; he wouldn’t tolerate being treated like a fool by those who claimed to be his friends.

With that same hardened expression, Josias stopped by Uélton’s house before heading to the construction site. When Uélton’s mother answered, she recognized him and gestured for him to come in.

“Young man, if you want to keep Wallace’s clothes, you’re welcome to them,” she said kindly. “I saw your other things... those briefs are beyond saving, even with bleach. If you want, I can just toss them.”

Josias responded quickly, flush with embarrassment. “No, ma’am, please! I need those clothes. Something happened in my life that left me with nothing but what I had on. These jeans are too clean for the job.”

Uélton’s mother looked at him with pity and opened the door wider. “Okay, come in. But just take the sweatpants. Keep my son’s clothes. I’m telling you, young man, that underwear is a health hazard... you could get an infection... down there, you understand?”

Josias gulped. How could he explain to a respectable lady that those were his only pair? He hadn’t been paid yet; it was Wednesday, and Romualdo wouldn’t pay him until Friday. She clearly assumed he was wearing a fresh pair and had more back at his room.

Without further argument, Josias went in, changed back into his sweatpants, stuffed the donated clothes into a plastic bag, and left, thanking her.

When he arrived at the construction site, Uélton was already there and noticed the bag. “Hey, are my brother’s clothes in there?”

Josias, with a scowl, dropped the bag on the ground. “I stopped by your house to get my sweatpants. Your mother said I could keep the rest.”

“Consider it a donation. You clearly need it,” Uélton said with a playful smirk.

But Josias thought Uélton was mocking him. He lunged forward and pushed him against the wall. Since the wall hadn’t been plastered yet, the rough bricks scraped Uélton’s back.

“OW!” he yelped in pain and shock. Josias’s outburst had come out of nowhere.

“What’s with the clowning, man?” Josias snapped. “I can overlook what you told your mom, but did you really have to tell Melissa’s friend the clothes were borrowed?”

“But it was the truth!” Uélton squeaked, his voice trembling with fear. “You didn’t tell me it was a secret!”

“But why tell her? Didn’t you see her coming at me with contempt, saying I was unworthy of Melissa because I’m ‘just’ a helper? And then she pushed Melissa toward those other guys like it was all a setup! Are you part of this?”

Uélton began to fear for his safety. Josias was absolutely livid.