My Plump Physics Teacher

Chapter 5

Urso

What was supposed to be just a stroll in the park to get that woman out of my mind turned into torture as soon as I noticed her presence there. She was all carefree, samba dancing, as if she had no worries in life.

Everyone was staring and I was bothered by that s**t, got really nervous, no joke, they tried not to show they were drooling, but there was mystery in that sway, there was fire, and it wasn't for just anyone.

I rushed home, called Jn to go to the samba to keep a low profile, took a quick shower, got ready and saw his confirmation that he would go too, as he needed to clear his mind.

I hope there's no drama between him and his girl there, they might not be together anymore, but an ex is an ex, and no one can change that.

And to make it worse, she's always glued to the other one who keeps me up at night, so trouble is always with us.

I don't get involved in their drama because everyone knows their choices and consequences and I don't have to give my opinion on anyone's life, just as I don't like people meddling in mine.

I was all set, grabbed the bike and rode to the square in a hurry. I never stop at that bar, but I wasn't going to let her be all carefree there while I stayed on the other side of the street, no way. I wanted to see that sway up close, possibly on my lap, but that's a topic for another time, because I'll still have her in my arms.

What a mess, I was just appreciating the scene, and the other wild one showed up making a scene, damn, ruined my night, the girl got really worked up, was going to face the blonde for real, and I liked that she stood her ground. Her voice might be sweet, but she's damn firm, doesn't give in to anyone and I go crazy over that. Seriously, she's got guts, full of attitude and doesn't give space, man, she grew huge for the other one there.

I don't know how, man, but I stop in her direction, stare at her, and my soul gets warm. It's something that goes beyond the skin, I can't explain it, but it's like she has a very strong magnetism. It's something that really moves me. She gives me goosebumps without even opening her mouth to talk to me.

"Hey, that blonde's gonna be trouble, listen to what I'm telling you, you're going to have a headache," Jn tells me and I down the drink in one go. "Crazy girl, wants to mess with the other one who's quiet. If my woman gets into trouble, I get in too, you know that right?" he says and I shake my head.

"Nobody messes with Nicole, not even over my dead body, man, there's no negotiation," I say pissed off at him already imagining if someone tries to touch the woman who will soon be mine, I doubt it!

"What's up, Urso?" he starts getting into my head and starts complaining about his woman dancing with Nicole's mom.

While my girl was sitting with a frown, drinking a beer, until she started dancing again and a smile appeared on the corner of my face.

A sight for sore eyes, but for many others too.

"Another year that she doesn't even talk to me, doesn't even respond to the stuff I sent her," Jn says downing a shot and grimacing as it burns going down.

"You'll never move on, will you?" I ask and he glares at me.

"Would you get over it if you were in my skin? It's not that easy, Urso, you know the whole thing, man. I can get involved with anyone, but the moment she says it's me, I drop everything and head towards her, you know that. She's the only one I put under my protection anywhere in this world. They can do anything to me, to anyone with me, I don't give a damn, I have only one woman," he says and looks at the tattoo with her name on it. "The mark of when hell started is here, and it will never leave," he says, and I watch them ask for the bill, and I signal the waiter to put it on my tab, without her seeing.

He talks to her, and she looks at me and thanks me simply, without any boldness, while her mother is all charm, quite the charm.

They left, and I headed to my shack, didn't hang around much longer, I was tired, and tomorrow was going to be a tough day because a shipment was arriving early.

I got home, checked on my daughter who was sleeping all twisted in bed, adjusted her, kissed her forehead, and went to my room, took a shower, and crashed into bed with thoughts of her, inevitable and stronger than me.

I woke up the next day to my radio going off, someone calling.

"Hey, the guys are messing with us, man, they didn't send half the load you asked for. I held two here, come to the HQ," he says pissed off at me, and I get up in a rush.

"Hold them there and give them a warm welcome, I'm on my way," I tell him and rush to the bathroom.

I quickly freshen up, I couldn't leave the house this morning. I at least had to see the face of my daughter's new physiotherapist, but I need to go down there and sort this out as quickly as possible.

I dashed out of the house, my mom hadn't even gotten up yet, I arrived at the spot and went straight to Jn, who was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday.

"Didn't even go home, you slacker?" I ask, looking at him with disgust.

"Lost track of time at the kids' HQ," he says slyly, and I laugh.

I went to sort things out and passed the two guys, they think there's a fool here, I got in touch with my supplier and gave him a piece of my mind, it's over, I won't do business with that jerk anymore, and I'm going to mess him up for trying to play me for a fool, so he learns to be a man, damn loser, I don't have patience for double talk.

"I'm going home, there's a new physiotherapist there, and I need to get a look," I tell Jn, who agrees, giving me a fist bump.

"Later I'll go see my goddaughter," he says, and I agree.

I ran home, went straight to the outside bathroom, took a shower, my mom always left clothes there for me in case of emergency, threw the blood-stained ones in a black trash bag, and went inside the house.

I came in through the kitchen. My mom was washing some vegetables, cutting onions, with a cloth thrown over her shoulder. When she saw me, she just lifted her chin as if to say "good morning" with her eyes.

"Huh, not watching the session?" I asked, putting the gun on the counter, and she just looked at me with that face, and I quickly removed the gun and put it away.

She gave a slight smile. That mocking little smile of hers.

"Go check it out."

"What?"

"Just go. They're in Sophia's room."

She resumed cutting the vegetables, dismissing me. And that's what I did. I made my way down the hallway, curious and a bit apprehensive, with furrowed brows and slow steps.

As soon as I reached the entrance of Sophia's room, I stopped.

I froze, unable to take another step.

And I lost my breath for a moment.

It was her.

Nicole. There in my house, and I couldn't believe it. I watched her, unnoticed, feeling like I was in a parallel world with Sophia's laughter.

I couldn't believe it; it felt like some ironic twist of fate.

I've seen a lot in this life. I've seen a man drop with a bullet in his chest, no time to pray. I've seen a mother scream over her child's body, seen a partner turn traitor, seen a brother from the neighborhood beg not to die.

But some things you just don't expect to see.

Like… my daughter, with that sly little smile, lying in the lap of a woman she just met today.

And it wasn't just any woman.

It was her.

Nicole.

The same one who was dancing with a drink in her hand and pride in her eyes yesterday. The same one who stood up to protect her mother without blinking. The same one who disarms me with a sideways glance.

Damn.

I stood there, leaning against the door, just watching. And every gesture of hers felt like a silent punch. The way she looked at Sophia, how she held her, how she cared.

It wasn't fake. It wasn't forced professionalism.

It was real.

And that's when it hit me.

Because I know well people who get close wanting something. I'm tired of seeing women pretend interest just to gain an advantage. But not her. She didn't even want to be here. It must have been God who pushed this woman into my life.

My mom was completely charmed, all praise and friendliness. And Sophia… Sophia fell asleep in her lap.

In her lap.

My daughter, who doesn't touch anyone since the last therapist handled her roughly and she got scared.

Slept.

Breathing deeply, all curled up, clutching that stuffed rabbit like she had known that woman since the womb.

I felt a lump in my throat, which I swallowed.

Because I'm a man, damn it.

I'm the boss of this whole thing.

But there, in that moment, I was just a father.

My mom extended that lunch invitation. And I hit the jackpot because I wanted her to stay too.

I wanted to see more.

See her laughing.

See her talking with my mom.

See her touching my daughter like she belonged here.

And when she looked at me, as if she didn't understand a thing.

Man, I let out a "stay" like I was saying "stick around."

Stick around a bit longer. Stay here. Stay in my life.

She held my gaze. With swagger, as always.

But she was down.

And right there, I knew.

That was it. She's not just gonna invade my thoughts, but my home and family too, and I'm gonna fight for what I want.

She got up with Sophia still in her arms and shot me a look from the side. She walked past me slowly, and her scent hit me so hard I lost a second of consciousness.

"I'll just lay her on the couch, nice and easy," she said to my mom, and I felt the pride in her voice.

She fit right into the household vibe.

It doesn't even seem like it's the first day.

I headed to the kitchen to play it cool.

Getting too close to her now would be trouble. I'm the kind of guy who takes action. And I'm still trying to respect and understand. But her scent, the way she holds my daughter, the memories of yesterday's dress clinging to her body, it all messes with my head.

My mom nudged me when Nicole left the room:

"I saw your look, hmm," she teased me.

"Don't start, Mom," I tried to brush it off.

"I'm not making this up, boy. You've never acted like this with anyone, not even Sophia's mom," she said without looking at me, stirring the pot like she was stirring a wound.

"She's different," I said quietly, almost in a whisper.

"Then treat her like she's different. Cause if you scare her off, you'll lose what you never even had."

She's right.

But I'm the Bear, you know.

And when the Bear wants something... he goes for it.