My Plump Physics Teacher

Nicole I've been a child of the Alemão complex since I can remember. Born and raised running through these alleys since I was a child. Today, I am a graduate in physiotherapy, working in the field of pediatric physiotherapy. And my entire journey up to this point has been based on a lot of effort, a lot of struggle, and moments when I looked and thought I wouldn't make it, but I took a deep breath and kept going. I had a goal, and I wouldn't stop until I reached another step. I was a scholarship student at one of the best colleges in this city. I juggled a thousand things because I had to keep my grades excellent, do internships, and work. I never complained, but I work tirelessly and I don't shy away from the fight. My mother works at a guesthouse here on the hill, where everyone involved eats every day. She works her ass off, and I do everything to honor her and give her a princess' life, maybe one day, that's my biggest life goal. After all, it's just the two of us; she separated from my father and he left, as happens in thousands of families, and I have no affection for him because the one who always worked hard to give me everything was her, and she's the one I have to honor every day of my life. I don't really like staying around here, it's complicated. While I love this hill, I always have a headache here. The reason? My body! I don't fit the common stereotype. I'm overweight, and I have no problem with that. In fact, I feel bad when I hear jokes, but honestly, I think I'm beautiful, a real beauty. I've been asked to be a plus-size model several times, and many times I refused until Luana, my best friend, forced me to do a photoshoot and boost my social media presence. This is the biggest source of envy for the girls on the hill. I don't need to seek attention, even being out of the spotlight, I get all the attention. Even though it's not my focus and I don't want it. Today, I work with some children, all with particularities that challenge me every day, and I strive to always be the best for them. I love children with a strength that can't be explained; they teach me a lesson every day, and they have no idea. But I also do work for plus-size stores. Today my social media has thousands of followers, many of the hill's guys follow me, you know that hidden desire? Well, as if I would give anyone the time of day. They want to hook up with me in secret, but I would never open my legs for any of them. They mock me in front of their friends, make jokes, but in my direct messages, they humiliate themselves for a chance with me, and I just laugh. I have too many concerns in my life to bother with that crap. Today, I fulfilled one of my biggest dreams, and I'm going to show it to the most important person in my life. I never took it easy and it's thanks to that that I succeeded; it's not brand new, but it's well-kept, it's second-hand, but it's paid off, and I did it on my own, without needing a man, without needing anyone, and this is the first thing I'm proud to give my mom. It took me a long time to get it, I fought hard to get here, it wasn't easy to make this dream come true. There were days I photographed in a studio, late at night, alone, to save money, to fulfill and achieve my dream. I started driving up the hill, windows down, hazard lights on, and everyone was staring at me curiously, the guys at the checkpoint were about to jump into the car, eager to gossip. I headed straight to the boarding house with tears stuck in my throat, tears of pride, tears of achievement, tears of victory. Nobody knew I was working towards this, and I know my mom is going to be so damn proud of me. I arrived in front of the boarding house and it was full of motorcycles, even the one belonging to the boss of the hill was there, but I didn't care about anything or anyone. I didn't realize it was lunchtime. I couldn't hold back, even under the curious gazes, I arrived honking and everyone looked outside. My mom was very close, serving the boss here, and she looked back startled. "No way, whose car is this?" she asks, leaving the tray on his table and turning towards me. "It's ours, mom, I just bought it, it's ours," I say, holding back tears, and she starts to cry. People always underestimated me, always pointed fingers, judged me for being fat, but I never needed to do what those girls did to get breast implants, and this hug is the biggest reason for everything, it's what makes it all worth it. "Oh, I'm so happy, you deserve so much, my princess, I'm so proud of you," she says, crying, and I wipe away the tears that insisted on falling from my face. "Thank you for everything, mom, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be half the person I am today, and this achievement is ours," I tell her, and she denies it. "This achievement is the result of your effort, you are the greatest pride of my life, you are an example of strength and dedication," she says, making me even more emotional, and a woman calls her. "Hey, Mrs. Adriana, we're still waiting for our lunch," the woman was at the table with the boss of the hill, the deputy, and a few other men, just her and another woman there, in the middle of a bunch of men. "Ahhhh you didn't even tell me, girl," Luana arrives and jumps to hug me. "You deserve the world, friend," she says, and I see her step back and make a disgusted face at the deputy here. They have a thing, or had. Luana is wild, and I'm confused by them and don't even interfere. I see the boss of the hill staring at me seriously, he looks at my entire car and gives me a slight nod and a half-smile. "Sweetie, come have lunch, come on Luana, you too," my mother calls the two of us, and the only available table was next to him. I took a deep breath, feeling my body heat up under his intense gaze, ignoring everyone who spoke to him, and I went to sit there with Luana to have lunch. My mother brought our order, and we didn't even need to choose because she already knows what we like the most, and especially since today is Friday, it's feijoada! The hill was buzzing with activity, I think the party is going to be today, and that's why there's all this movement. I haven't been to a party in ages because I haven't had the time, even though I really love a party, to be honest. I'm not ashamed of my body, I like to dance, I like to move, I like to feel alive, and not just here on the hill, because I go everywhere. I'm a person loved by those close to me, and I love movement, I love life. And no matter how much they try to sabotage me, sabotage my self-esteem, my confidence, they never achieve anything, they only make me stronger. "Oh, Mrs. Adriana, that's not what I ordered, how annoying," I hear her complain rudely to my mother, and I immediately change my posture, "These people don't want to work and keep doing everything wrong." When she says that, my blood boils. I get up immediately, but before I could open my mouth, the boss intervened. "You're not even paying for this stuff, and you think you can talk like that to others?" his deep, loud voice echoed throughout the place. "What the hell do you think?" he's being really rude to her, and my whole body shivered at that moment. "Never disrespect anyone in front of me, not even a street beggar, you have no right and are nobody to do that," he says all arrogantly and walks past me. He stares deep into my eyes while I was boiling with anger over the situation. I didn't look away from his eyes, and our exchange of glances made me feel even hotter. He mounts his motorcycle, and before leaving, he looks over my entire car, analyzing every detail, and speeds up the hill, with his security guards hurrying after him. I sit back down, listening to her grumble, talking a lot about him, and Luana calls me, bringing me back to reality. "What was that?" she asks me in a faint voice, and I felt my throat dry and didn't even know what to answer her.