LOOKING TROUGH YOUR EYES

CHAPTER 7

The bell rang, it was the first hour. The teacher came in and started talking about the Second World War, but all she could think about was Jair, she remembered his smile, she had the little note in her hands, she couldn't stop looking at it, she was smiling and looking at the ceiling, checking the hour every 5 seconds. The teacher noticed her uneasy and distracted.

-          Miss Sheryl, I see you’re very happy, is there something you want to share with the class? – he asked

-          No teacher, excuse me ... - She said as she stood up

-          Don't worry, just pay attention. Now sit down please

Sheryl sat down, put the note in her backpack and put her book in front of her face so that no one would notice how distracted she was.

At last the first 3 hours of class were over, it was time to go out for a break. The girl ran off to the cafeteria, she didn't even remember to get her snack out. When she arrived, there was no one. She was disappointed.

-          Here I am - said a voice that was heard far away

-          where? I don't see you - Sheryl replied looking for where the voice came from

-          Just listen to me, please. I don't have much time, the animals will come at any moment ... don't take off your necklace, it's the only thing that allows me to be connected to you, you must always keep it close to your heart, otherwise, I won't be able to protect you. Please, you just need to always have it with you

-          who are you? What animals are you talking about? Why can’t I see you? Why does the necklace change color? Where are you?

-          I cannot answer so many questions, but I want you to know that the color of the necklace varies according to the mood. Well, not according to yours, but rather mine. However, it’s only when you have it that I can feel how you feel. Normally the variation in color is minimal, but when the feeling is very intense, the color change becomes noticeable

-          But, who are you? Did you give me the necklace?

-          Yes, when you were 3 - he paused briefly – they’re coming. Just remember to keep it close to your heart, only then I can feel when you’re in danger - said the voice as it was lost with the wind

-          but, who are you? - The young girl asked again, uneasy

There was no answer. Sheryl waited a moment, but as nothing happened, she sat on a bench, she was hungry, but she had forgotten to take out her lunch box due to the rush with which she left the room thinking that she would meet Jair. She clutched her stomach and prepared to wait for the break to end. Jair appeared.

-          Hello, are you ok? You seem sad

Sheryl's little eyes began to shine, she was no longer hungry; again that child had made her smile and forget everything

-          Hi. I'm better, thank you… I just forgot to take out my lunch box and… I was a little hungry. But I’m fine

-          You know, they’ll take me to the hospital, do you remember the little bee that stung me in the morning? It’s been infected and ... look - he said showing her his hand.

The wound was very irritated, Sheryl touched around and all the edges were hot.

-          Wow, it must hurt a lot ...

-          Yes, it does hurt a lot. That's why I was worried… is your neck okay?

-          Yes, in fact, I’d already forgotten that the bee stung me - she said smiling

-          I'm glad to hear that. Well ... they’ll come to pick me up at any moment, the nurse only let me go out for a little while for break because I told her that you could be in pain too. Take my lunch box, I don't need it anymore and I'm not really hungry - he said as he handed her a green lunch box

-          No, do not worry. I'm really fine already, thanks anyway

-          I insist. come on! Before the nurse comes to get me

-          Thank you very much - Sheryl said just before hugging him.

Again, the world stopped for both of them; the children no longer shouted, the wind no longer blew, time stopped. Their little hearts beat faster and faster. But suddenly the nurse appeared.

-          Jair, you just had to ask her how her neck is - she said as she quickly approached to release them.

-          Yes, miss, excuse me. She says she's fine, she doesn't even feel the sting anymore - said the boy as he released Sheryl.

The nurse checked the girl's neck and took Jair with her, who could only say goodbye by moving his hand.

Sheryl remained sitting on the bench, she couldn't believe what had just happened, Jair always appeared when she least expected it, and something always happened when they hugged. It was so strange. She was still thinking, when she remembered that he had left her his lunch box. She opened it, there was a bread with nutella, a taper with strawberries and a bottle of mango juice. Everything looked so good; she started eating and a little blue bird came out of nowhere, it started singing, it sounded so sweet, but it seemed almost a wailing.

The break ended just as she was about to eat the strawberries. That break had been very strange, usually she would go out with her friends to play, they ate first and then they’d jump rope or play volleyball. However, that break seemed more like an evening, she’d been alone most of the time, but she didn’t feel bad about it, she felt that someone was accompanying her, that little bird that was by her side singing made her feel good, the memory of Jair appearing out of nowhere made her feel happy; everything had been perfect. Everything except… who would have spoken to her? Why did that voice know about the necklace? her mother always told her not to talk to strangers, but she hadn't even seen him. It was the strangest thing that happened to her, but she quickly forgot it, her mind could only think of Jair.

That day after school, when her mother came for her, she told her what had happened, they had to go to Jair's house to return the lunch box. Lindsey contacted the boy's mother and they agreed that she would go right then to return the lunch box. When they arrived, the door was opened by Emma, Jair's mother. She greeted them and invited them in.

-          You can leave the lunch box on the table, Jair is in the game room if you want to say hi

But Sheryl looked worried, she spoke to her mother's ear: "the strawberries are still there" she said worriedly.

-          Why don't you eat them with the chocolate from the pantry? - She said as she went to the kitchen to get the chocolate - Jair! – she called her son

The boy ran downstairs, when he realized that Sheryl was there, he stopped immediately, looked down a bit flushed and, calmer, greeted shyly.

-          She didn’t eat the strawberries. Here - said Emma handing him the chocolate - if you want you can go out to the yard to eat them with her.

Jair gave her a big hug, grabbed the chocolate and strawberry taper, and motioned for Sheryl to leave. They left and Lindsey stayed, talking to Emma.

-          I see that our children have hit it off very well - said Lindsey - are they in the same classroom? I never saw you in the meetings ...

-          No, Jair is already 13, I think Sheryl is just 12, right?

-          Yes, she's just 12 ... but they are both still children, it's good that they play together - she said smiling - but, I have to ask you for a big favor ...

-          Sure, tell me

-          Sheryl has never had a boy as a friend before; in fact, she doesn't even have a best friend. It’s always been she and I; well, her father was also there before, but we separated when she was very little ...

Lindsey told her how difficult everything had been for her daughter, she didn’t tell him about Alice or Ethan, but she told her that her separation from Paul had affected Sheryl a lot, that she was still afraid of becoming attached to someone. She began to tell the whole story in detail.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Sheryl and Jair were together, they had sat one in front of the other, the chocolate container and the strawberry taper were in the middle of them, but neither dared to try to take a strawberry; they looked at the ground and, from time to time, both looked up and their eyes met, they’d make an effort to look away immediately, smile and they blushed. Suddenly their gazes met again, but neither moved. They remained as hypnotized, lost in the other's eyes. Again, a little bee appeared, both of them were scared.

-          How strange - said Jair - whenever we’re together a bee appears and in all the rest of the day I don’t see a single one

-          Neither do I ... - Sheryl didn't know whether or not to tell him what happened at the break.

-          look! Your necklace changed color again… when you arrived it was gold, but now… see it for yourself! - he said while pointing to the necklace

-          I know ... the truth ... - she wanted to tell him, but she thought he would think she was crazy - well, it's very strange, I'd better take it off, can you help me, please?

Jair rose to his feet and slowly approached, circling her neck and slowly removing the necklace. He handed it over, their hearts were beating a thousand by second, their hands touched, they were both trembling.

-          Thank you - Sheryl said shyly, quickly withdrawing her hand. She put the necklace in the pocket of her shorts.

At that moment, they felt an icy breeze, it smelled of roses, but it was so cold, that Sheryl couldn't help showing that she needed something to keep her warm. Jair immediately removed the jacket he was wearing.

-          Here, put this on so you’re not cold -  he said, approaching to her again. He put the jacket on her and couldn't help it, he gave her a hug. He didn’t want to let go of her, only when he held her did he feel complete. He really enjoyed every second.

Sheryl blushed, still shivering, but not from the cold. She was nervous, she wanted to hug him too, but he was hugging her from behind; she didn’t want to move because she felt that it would ruin that magical moment. She laid her head on his chest, felt his heartbeat. She would definitely not move, that magical moment could be ruined by the slightest sigh. And so it was, that little bee came back, appeared out of nowhere, once again. Jair returned to his place, in front of Sheryl.

-          How was school today? - he asked as he took a strawberry and spread some chocolate on it

-          Good, thanks ... although, the truth is, I didn't pay much attention to the classes. I couldn't concentrate - she said just before giving a shy giggle

-          why? what happened?

-          Haha well ... I was thinking about many things - she said as she put a strawberry in her mouth to stop talking

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds, but Jair interrupted it immediately, they started talking about their friends, he told her that he had moved 2 years ago, leaving all his friends behind. Just when Sheryl was about to start telling her story, Lindsey called her. She returned the jacket, they said goodbye and returned home.

On the way, the girl was looking at the sky, staring at the trees, with a smile on her lips. Her mother noticed her very happy, she felt happy for her, she’d never seen her with that special sparkle in her eyes. They didn’t speak at all, it wasn’t necessary, Lindsey understood what her gurl was feeling, and Sheryl had no words to describe her joy. She could only think, remember, imagine… everything that had happened with Jair, she couldn't believe that, since the first time they met, everything had changed in a second. She, who didn’t believe in love, who had seen how her parents had suffered because of love, who had experienced firsthand the suffering of feeling abandoned by her father, feeling that he had forgotten her for going out with another woman other than her mother; she, who had promised herself never to love any boy; she was in love ... was it really love what she felt? Would it really be more than just an illusion? Was it something more than a passing taste that would fade like the wind? She couldn’t even imagine the great pain she would feel was it like that, she didn't even want to think about it, she had already suffered too much, she had cried so many nights, locked in her room so that no one would notice, she never wanted to worry her mother, she also suffered a lot from Paul's absence. She’d been through so much ... but she couldn't help it, every time she was near to Jair, or even when she only thought of him, her little heart began to beat faster, her face changed to draw a smile on her lips, her eyes acquired that magical shine, her thoughts were limited to remembering every detail, every sensation, every glance they crossed; everything was perfect, the world stopped. Nothing made sense, but it didn't matter, she just wanted that moment to be eternal.