1982
A barbecue is being held at Tiago's house.
This is not the barbecue discussed in the previous chapters. This is another celebration.
Silva Construction Company is celebrating the achievement of more clients. Time has passed, and the company's fame continues to rise in Lagoon City.
Igor's house has been finished, and like Tiago's house, it draws sighs of admiration from the whole neighborhood.
Josias is sitting on a bench with Melissa, the two of them talk and eat the meat with forks and plastic plates. They all follow the same manner. Nobody is eating with the hand.
No one is overdoing it and dancing frantically. Air Supply's song "Even The Nights Are Better" set the mood for the party.
Dora and Simeon are in another corner of the backyard, still amazed by the excellent construction of the house, as if they were the first time.
"My congratulations to Seu Romualdo. He knows how to build and run a team." Dora praises.
Pamela is throwing up everything she ate in the bathroom latrine violently. Carmen is beside her, shaking her head."There, now you got what you wanted." Carmen 'comforts' with her head in denial.Pamela controls her breath and manages to lift her head. She is greenish and her eyes are cloudy. "How can you think of such a thing? Since when did I want a child?""From the moment you slept with anybody," Carmen responds with mockery.Pamela remains seated on the floor, next to the latrine. "Since I slept with Josias, you mean."Carmen burst out laughing. "I don't believe it, are you going to go on with this story? Wouldn't it be easier to lie that the son was Wallace's? Are you really going to tell the whole neighborhood that Wallace was betrayed?""Yes, and I know that Wallace will forgive me." Pamela smiles wryly."Wallace got along with Josias and Melissa again." Carmen reminds her, "He got along with his younger brother again. They w
The Freire family argues violently because of Pamela's sudden pregnancy. Wallace is sitting in the armchair in the living room as if he were on the dock, while the others remain standing."You have to break this relationship right away!" Isabel points her index finger, almost piercing Wallace's eye, "I was very patient with that girl, but she is proving to be an unpleasant girl.""Is it just because she got pregnant by Josias?" Wallace asks nonchalantly."Brother, will you believe this slander?" Uélton asks worriedly."Until nothing is proven to the contrary, I need to believe in my girlfriend," Wallace replies dryly.Harold purses his lips and replies mockingly, "If that is true, then the slut doesn't respect you, son. Forgive me for using strong words, but this is the truth.""No, Dad, I won't forgive you!" Wallace changes, "You are also a God-fearing man; you should watch your vocabulary.""Speaking of Church, when did Pamel
Pamela feels entitled to be offended when she sees that Teodoro doesn't believe her lie. She gapes and puts her hands on her hips. "Oh! Are you going to mistreat a pregnant woman and deny me shelter?""Why did your parents throw you out of the house?" Teodoro counters with another question."My parents don't give a damn what happens to me. When I was run over, it was Carmen who took care of everything. She managed to get shelter at a friend's house.""And she didn't make it, or didn't want to take you along!" Teodoro gives a ruthless laugh, "Look, girl, you should enjoy all this and reflect on the mess your life has become. There is still the fact that your stay here could make things even worse."Pamela leans on the counter and makes the malicious suggestion, "Are you afraid that Josias will cheat on Melissa for the third time if I live close to him?""You really are a big brand liar; what's worse: you believe the lies you tell yourself. Get out o
"You can rest assured that I will keep the apartment. I have nowhere else to go."Pamela, with the face of someone who accepts the challenge, shakes the key in her hand and turns her back on Teodoro, walking boldly to the apartment.When Pamela enters and closes the door, she lets out a sigh of relief. She had seen what Josias's room looked like and was not surprised to find hers: a simple bed, an old chair, and a dresser that wouldn't fit all the things she stuffed in her suitcase."It seems to be the pattern for this joint. But, this is temporary. I will excel and I will have my son married to Wallace." She smiles hopefully.***Monday, working day. Melissa is wearing the same formal work clothes that Elisa had given her, but now that she is getting paid, she thinks about buying more.The family is gathered at the table to have breakfast. Miraculously William is wearing the uniform blouse."Daughter, when you want to buy more clothe
Wallace smiles slightly when he sees Melissa leave Romualdo's office abruptly, because she said she didn't want to hear about the conversation, but was listening in secret.But when it comes to falsely accusing the man she loves, Melissa turns into a beast. "I can't believe that damn woman repeated the lie to you!""Melissa, have more respect for my girlfriend." Wallace is indignant."Is she really your girlfriend? Why did she cheat on you, even if it was with Josias? Don't you feel at least a bit outraged by that, humiliated?"Wallace is slow to respond, to say this absurdity. "I love her, Melissa.""But, she doesn't love you, she's pregnant with someone else!" Melissa crosses her arms, "Break this ridiculous courtship and find another girl who is worth it.""Worthwhile girls are no longer available on the market," Wallace utters that phrase that is more like a teaser, looking enigmatically at Melissa. She notices and turns red.Tiag
Wallace is returning from Pamela's house when he meets William, now in a soccer team uniform. The two are surprised."William, did you know that Pamela was shooed out of the house?" Wallace asks as if this is his fault."I think I must have heard of it," William speaks with uncertainty, which makes Wallace angrier."Gee, how can you do such a thing? You treat Pamela as if she is the worst thing in the world, so she revolts and does evil."William smiles mockingly. "Not really, man. Bad things happen to everyone, the difference is how you react to them. Pamela could turn it around by being a good person, but she decided to be the other way around and is now reaping what she sowed.""Yes, your future brother-in-law has successfully sowed a seed in her womb." Wallace hits William's weak spot.William breaks his smile. He did not want to enter into a debate with Josias, he was so far avoiding confrontations, much to the delight of his dear siste
Josias crosses his arms and becomes frowning. Why did William soon believe this lie?"We will never get along, right, William? You will always hate me and you will never accept me as a brother-in-law. Okay, this is your decision. But, do you need to believe any slander they speak against me?"William gets up, distressed and desperate. "I'm not taking your feelings into consideration, but my dear sister's! Because if it's true that you cheated on her a second time, then she can't go on with you! I ran into Wallace earlier, and the idiot said he will continue dating Pamela.""Yes, that disgusts me too, but I didn't betray your sister even for the first time." Josias makes a point of stressing.William shakes his head. "You confirmed that you took Pamela to your filthy room, so there's no use denying it now.""William, does not it cross your mind that I could lie to you right now, saying that I am not the father of Pamela's baby when in fact I am?" Jo
Teodoro leaves the radio on in Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" song and retires to the kitchen to prepare dinner. While the lobby is empty, William enters, looking for the landlord.When realizing that he is far away, hearing only his whistle according to the song and the noise of the pots, William takes advantage and enters the corridor that gives access to the stairs. However, something inside him alarmed him. Was it worth the stairs? Wouldn't Teodoro have recommended a room on the first floor for Pamela?"When the pregnancy progresses, it will be worse for her to climb stairs." William reasons.Then he goes down the hall on the ground floor. The first door at sight was open. William looks inside and realizes that this is Teodoro's apartment. Then he goes through other doors. One was closed, William knocked on and gently asked if Pamela lived in the room.Upon reaching room six, the door is also closed. William is determined to knock on all the closed doors