Pamela needed at all costs to prevent Melissa from coming to the logical conclusion, that she was doing everything in her power to keep her away from Josias.
So Pamela gets up, approaches her best friend, and takes her hands. In an appealing tone of voice, she replies, trying to be convincing.
“Melissa, I swear with all my heart: I was worried that Josias would harm you.”
“So you confirm that you lied?” Melissa clings to that detail, “Didn't Josias tell you at the construction site that he wanted to take me to bed?”
Pamela bites her lip. She didn't want to go back to what she said. “He said yes, dear.”
“But, that's not like him!” Melissa lets go of Pamela's hands and walks around the room stomping her feet. She looked like a stubborn child.
Pamela tries to soften the situation without admitting that she has been lying. “Melissa, I think when he said that, he was not serious. Y
Teodoro remembered that the name of the girl Josias is trying to date and marry was Melissa. Was this gentleman her father? Was it time for the father-in-law conversation?“Better that you wait here, I'll call him.” Teodoro walks away, not trusting him at all.For a few seconds, Teodoro thought that Simeão might be one of the henchmen of that moneylender who discovered Josias's whereabouts and came to kill him.Upon knocking on Josias's door, the boy opened almost immediately.“Forgive me for interrupting your nap.” Teodoro apologizes.“What nap?” Josias chuckles, “It's so hot today that I can't sleep. I'm going to ask you tomorrow to wash the sheets on the bed, they are sticky with sweat.”“You can leave it, my son. Now come on, someone is looking for you. Simeão Campos, claims to be the father of your girl.”“If the conversation is productive, she really
The days go by and things go back to normal. Josias is overjoyed and works harder at Seu Romualdo's construction site.Romualdo, realizing that Josias is in a better mood, decides to refer him to one of the masons, Robson, so that he can teach him how to plaster the walls.Uélton was 'promoted' back to preparing the plaster and he had to deal with the hoe again. With teachings and incentives from Josias, Uélton overcomes this difficulty and manages to perform the service.In one of the breaks for lunch, Josias tells in more detail the conversation he had with Simeão. Uélton, however, was not satisfied with one detail.“He didn't tell you who slandered you. This is a note that clashes with the set.”“I'm 70% sure it was that Pamela.” Josias concludes while chewing bread with mortadella, “It was a lot of 'coincidence': she causes that scene on Friday, and on Saturday Melissa's father shows up
“Will be a lunch at your house with the bricklayer assistant?” Pamela exclaims as if Melissa is announcing that she is pregnant.“When are you going to stop calling Josias ‘bricklayer assistant’?” Melissa frowns, already impatient with the nickname given by those who hate Josias.“When he becomes more than a bricklayer helper!” Pamela scoffs, trying to hide her anger. She opens the door and gives Melissa more room to enter. The two sit on the sofa in the living room.“And then, because of your anger, will you stop eating chicken lasagna?”“I will come to offer you moral support.” Pamela remains mocking.“Other boys go too. Maybe you get to know someone.” Melissa genuinely encourages.“I don't need to meet other boys. I was keeping an eye on William.” Pamela burst out laughing, but Melissa remains serious.“Do I need to remind you that
Pamela abruptly hangs up after hearing footsteps down the hall. However, it seems that there are no more steps. The seconds pass, and no one else appears in the living room.Hey, was Pamela hallucinating, listening to things, was she so nervous?Pamela shakes her head. She needed to relax, choose another sensual dress to scandalize at lunch this Saturday, and plan how to seduce Josias.On the other side, Fabrício realizes that the call has gone silent and rests the phone back with great force. He's furious, how dare Pamela be so audacious and rebellious?He goes to the second floor, takes a quick shower, and wears elegant clothes, a yellow shirt that still smells new, and jeans that have only been worn once. Pricey brand perfume and stylish glasses complement the look.He takes the car keys and goes away in his Gol, burning out tires, as if he were taking someone to the hospital. Upon arriving at Happiness Slum, he again almost runs over the
Josias narrows his eyes with displeasure when he hears Uélton warn that Fabrício is going to Melissa's house.They did not say that Melissa is committed to Josias and they are about to date.The madman still thinks he has a chance with Melissa and will probably complain about Josias to her, exaggerating the story and telling it his way, hoping that Melissa will be indignant at the rudeness that Josias said.Josias then pulls Uélton by his shirt. “We are going to buy the pieces of bread that Seu Romualdo must be waiting for.”“Aren't you going to defend your beloved, boy?” Uélton is astonished.“I trust that Melissa will be able to discard that idiot with all the feminine sweetness. Still, it’s good that Seu Romualdo knows first.” Josias concludes with a confident smile.So, after buying bread and butter cookies, the two boys go back to the construction site and explain to
Melissa smiles when she sees Josias at the window. Fabrício realizes how she smiles, animated, excited, her breathing gets stronger. She never smiled at him like that. The disappointment is huge for Fabrício.Fabrício begins to feel that he is wasting his time. Pamela introduced him to Melissa with the information that the two matched. She said that Melissa liked him.However, he is seeing that Melissa likes Fabrício, but she loves Josias.But, instead of withdrawing from the scene and admitting defeat, Fabrício decides to join more forces and fight.It was not a question of winning Melissa; it was a matter of defeating Josias. The two barely met and Fabrício did not look like him. Josias's opinion is probably reciprocal.“Josias, come on in!” Melissa gestures for him, practically oblivious to another guy who is still kneeling.Josias enters looking at Fabrício with disdain.
Fabrício is walking 40 km on the main street, to avoid further comments that he almost ran over a Happiness Slum resident. He fears that local criminals will mark his car for retaliation.“I should have been crazy to have accepted all of this.” Fabrício regrets.When his car leaves the favela and enters the avenue that goes to the city center, Fabrício sees Pamela in uniform, leaving school, looking like someone who did well in the retake test.Fabrício smiles maliciously. This joy for Pamela will end.He continues with Gol and brakes beside her. Pamela notices the car stopping and opens her eyes wide. Fabrício's vision sends shivers to her bone.“Fabrício, what are you doing here?” She asks in falsetto.“I came to chat with you. Get in the car!” Fabrício orders severely.As the avenue is busier, the fact that Fabrício has his car 40 km away st
Pamela reacts in shock when Josias practically guessed that it was she who slandered him for Simeão. However, as he asked, this can only mean two things: 1) He knows the truth and just wants honest confirmation from it; 2) He doesn't know and genuinely wants to know about her. What would be the correct option?Josias carefully analyzes Pamela's amazing reaction, trying to decipher whether this is surprise or fear.To break the silence (and right now no tenant is going down the hall) Pamela decides to take a chance on the second alternative.“No, Josias, it wasn't me!” She lies.“Why were you so nervous about my question?”“Because Melissa told me how frustrated your meeting was.” Pamela's mind works fast. Lying takes a lot of work and takes a lot of neurons.“How did you hear about this story?” Josias asks without changing the questioning expression on his face.“I was invit