5 Ana

I woke up the next morning with my head pounding. On the next table I saw a medicine chest. Marcelo already knew I would wake up like this. I smiled; he was always very attentive.

I then went into the kitchen and got a glass of water and drank it with an aspirin. I grabbed a pair of denim shorts and a low-cut white blouse from my new clothes bags and got into the shower. After showering, I cleaned up yesterday's mess. I turned on the radio and this time tried not to focus on the lyrics, just the beat; it worked.

After everything was ready, I went to the market to buy some groceries. Today I was going to make lunch. I sent a message through WhatsApp to Marcelo.

'Good morning beautiful. I'll make lunch, so why don't you join me, ok?'

He answered me almost immediately. 'Okay, I'm looking forward to tasting your culinary talents, haha.'

It was a beautiful, sunny day. Kids were playing and enjoying the weekend. As I walked past, I attracted a few glances, which had started to make me a little uncomfortable.

Two guys were standing on the corner talking. One was tall and strong, dark skinned, with a tattoo on his neck; the other was short and blond, with piercing eyebrows.

"Look bro, how hot," the tall guy said loudly to the other.

"True bro, how beautiful," said the other.

I sped up my pace a little, but I confess, I enjoyed the attention. I couldn't remember the last time someone had looked at me like that with desire in their eyes. Before I met Fernando, I was coveted, wanted among boys. But I had never fallen in love with anyone until he arrived and changed everything.

"Forget him Marina," I say softly.

I bought everything I needed to make a lasagna and went back the same way home. One of the guys got up his courage and came over to talk to me.

"Hi princess, need help with the bags?" The guy with a tattoo on his neck said in a seductive tone.

"No thanks, they're light," I said with a smile.

"What a beautiful smile. When are we going to go out?" asked the guy.

"Thanks, I already have a boyfriend," I lied.

"What a lucky guy, huh," he told me disappointedly and walked away. "The princess has a boyfriend, bro," he said to the other guy.

I got home and prepared the lasagna. While it baked, I opened my notebook and started putting together my resume. Marcelo arrived around 13:00 for lunch and brought a jar of ice cream.

"I regret not having arrived sooner. I was in Palhoça and there were no passengers coming from that direction," Marcelo told me.

"Okay, the lasagna is done now," I smiled.

"Um, it smells wonderful. Seems she can cook," he spoke admiringly.

"I'm a Master Chef in the kitchen, honey," I laughed.

"You know, I'm enjoying this. The house is tidy, food is on the table; I think I found my maid!" said Marcelo jokingly.

"It's the least I can do for your hospitality," I smiled shyly.

"Ana is coming to lunch with us. Do you mind?" asks Marcelo.

"Of course not! Was she the one who lent me the clothes?" I asked, interested.

"Yes, and she also got the tickets for today's party. She's a good friend; you'll get along well," he exclaimed, excited.

"About the party: I don't know if I want to go. I'm still very sad. I don't want to spoil your party," I comment sadly.

"Yes, you will go. It's not worth not having fun because of a stupid man," said Ana, suddenly entering. "A pleasure to meet you, my name is Ana. And you're Marina, the girl who caught my brother's attention outside," she said, laughing.

"Your brother?" I asked curiously.

"Yes, the guy who talked to you earlier on the street and you said you had a boyfriend." She gave me a wink. "I won't tell him it's a lie, rest assured," she said reassuringly.

"Yeah... Well, I just didn't know what to say," I confessed.

"Oh, he's totally not worth it. It's fine!" she blurted out, looking at Marcelo, and they laughed. It was hard not to follow along with them.

I set the table and we had lunch. The two of them kept repeatedly praising my lasagna a lot. I remembered that my dear grandmother gave me this recipe. I hadn't seen her for years, 5 years to be more exact. The memory made me sad and homesick. I decided to try to visit her soon.

"Time for ice cream," announced Marcelo.

"Have you had enough? Do you have enough room for ice cream?" I said jokingly.

"Of course I do! For ice cream there is always space," he told me, smiling.

"So how will you be dressed tonight?" Ana asked me.

"I'm not sure. I'm thinking something that doesn't attract so much attention," I commented thoughtfully. The last thing I wanted was for me to be noticed.

"No, we're going to have you draw attention and catch a lot of boys," said Marcelo. "Tonight, just forget that bastard."

"Oh no, I don't want to be with anyone. It's not time to get involved with anyone," I commented seriously.

"Friend, it's just making out and nothing else. You don't even need to know his name," said Ana, looking at Marcelo as if she remembered something. "Right Marcelo?"

"Oh Ana, it was just once," he said embarrassed.

"Yes, I know," Ana said, her voice dripping with irony.

I got a little lost in their conversation; they had a connection I never had with any friend.

"Let's look at what you bought here." Ana took the bags and made me wear several pieces until she arrived in that black dress. "That's it! This one you're going to rock!" and handed it to me to prove it.

"Girl, that's everything!!! I already want to borrow it," said an open-mouthed Ana.

"Go there, give us a parade," Marcelo encouraged me.

"If I were a man I would want you," said Ana in a joking tone while giving Marcelo a wink.

"You both are going to make me embarrassed!" I said and felt my face was already hot.

I exchanged the dress for the outfit I was wearing before. Ana continued to stare at me, making me a little embarrassed.

"It's 16:00 right now, so it's still too early to get ready. What do you want to do?" asks Marcelo.

"We could just lie here on the couch and watch a series or a movie. What do you think?" speaks Ana.

"For me, that sounds great," I said, agreeing.

We started watching a series, but no one liked it, so we put it in a horror movie. We then spent a very pleasant afternoon together.

"Well, it's already 19:00. I'm going home to take a shower and I'll be back here to get ready together, ok?" explained Ana.

"Okay sweetheart," said Marcelo as he kissed the air near her.