Matches and Mismatches
731 Words
The school year was almost over, finally. I was satisfied. My family had been reduced to just my father and me. It was just the two of us against the world.
My father was a special guy. He preferred to be a friend above all, and I learned a lot from him. He was someone to trust. Maybe the only one in the world I could truly trust.
My mother...
That part was always harder. I tried to ignore the feelings of longing and anger I had for her not looking for me. At the same time, I was happy she had rebuilt her life and made a new family. But in the meantime, she forgot about me.
I studied for myself and for them, for everyone who doubted me and for everyone who supported me. The intention was to give my parents and my grandmother an excellent life.
My grandmother was like a mentor and a safe haven.
---
“Hey!”
I got another notification and saw on my phone that it was the same guy from the other day.
I was mature, determined, well-focused on my goals, nothing could knock me down, but I allowed myself a distraction here and there from time to time. So, I answered with interest again.
“Hey! How are you?”
“Fine, and you?”
“I’m good, just... a lot of work and studying.”
“What are you studying?”
“I’m in a preparatory course for medicine at the federal university... so...”
“Wow, I know how that is.”
“Really? I’m still finishing high school too, so I’m a bit overwhelmed. Are you military?”
“Yes, Air Force.”
“Ah, cool. Nice profession.”
“What do you do?”
“I work in telemarketing for now.”
We started talking daily. He filled my eyes with photos and videos inside helicopters and one of the Air Force museums.
I received constant photos from him. There he was, tall, serious, with an intense gaze.
But I was focused on the entrance exam approaching, so we talked, but only online.
One day he suggested a face-to-face meeting. I hesitated for a moment or two but ended up accepting. It was an invitation to go to the movies and grab a snack.
In person, my first impression was that I didn’t like what I saw. But I gave him a chance. I got closer to him and we contrasted — I was small (1.54 m) and he (1.92 m), me very pale, Caucasian with red hair and a casual fringe, him shaved head and dark skin. But those intense eyes were there. He wore a style of clothes I liked; we were only a few years apart, maybe three. His tough and cold manner made me a little uncomfortable at first, but we went on through the night, and during the conversation I managed to get a smile out of him, among some adventure stories he told me. I was there, extremely interested.
We watched the movie and our lips met. At that moment, we connected and I... liked him.
We stayed hugged until the goodbye, where he would cross to the other side of the city, actually, the neighboring city.
He was a gentleman, made sure I got safely on my transport, and I left. But wanting more.
It was a cold June day, my hands were freezing, and the care he took to warm them...
His care felt almost fatherly to me.
---
“You didn’t die.”
“I didn’t die?”
“Not exactly.”
“Who are you? Firefighter? Doctor...?”
“I just wanted to help.”
“You just wanted to help by jumping from 2.10 meters high?”
“Yeah...”
“And how are we... and how..., you know, how are we alive?”
“I prefer the part where I take you from here to a warm and comfortable place and prepare something for you, and you tell me how it happened. Deal?”
“Well, I didn’t need you to save me, I don’t even think that’s possible. I’m delirious.”
“You’re not. I’m João, and you?”
That soaked masculine figure looked at me with a gentle gaze and extended one hand as a greeting.
“Ah... it’s... Paola. I’m Paola.”
- Writer
