CARLOS'S LIVING ROOM

Carlos is already bathed and wearing light clothes, a tank top, and shorts, sandals on his feet. He emerges from the kitchen with a beer can in his hands. Carlos is single; the house shows it by the furniture and the slight disorganization. Carlos sits on the couch and takes the remote to turn on the TV, but stops when he hears a woman's voice.

"Carlos? Can I come in?"

Carlos leaves the remote and the can and goes to the door. She opens it and appears Miriam Abreu, 18, red-haired, helpful. She has a plastic bowl in her hands, indicating something to eat. Carlos smiles and lets her in.

"I brought it for you. It's my mother's recipe: iced coconut cake with lemon-flavored icing. I even scraped the peels to give them a green color.

Carlos opens the pot and sees the generous piece.

"Thank you very much, Miriam. Do you want anything?"

"No, I came to see how you are doing. You know, Cassio told me that you prevented a thief from robbing Monica. Surprising."

"Isn't that right? Surprising that in our neighborhood these delinquents start to appear, robbing in broad daylight!"

Miriam is embarrassed, "Actually, I meant 'surprising' was your performance."

Carlos reacts without understanding her praise, "Nothing is surprising, Miriam. You are a good friend, but I just did my duty."

"So, since you want to see it in that light... Keep doing your 'duty', which we are grateful for. Well, I'll be right away."

Carlos smiles at her, "I'll tell you how it was later, but I already know that it’s delicious."

Miriam smiles, nods, and decides to leave. Carlos accompanies her to the door and closes it. Then he sits back on the couch and turns on the TV news. While the anchor narrates the news, he takes another sip and tries the cake. A delight, he reacts positively.

 CASSIO'S ROOM - MORNING

The following day, Cássio and Miriam are each on a sofa, coffee cup in hand, talking about yesterday. The door to the living room is open.

"So, did he approve of the cake? Can you imagine if it was the same for your wedding?"

"Oh, Cassio, God hears you. I'm very hopeful. And I’m pretty in love, especially, when you narrated to me in detail the rescue of Monica."

Cassio scoffs, "The idiot Célio, wanting to impress Monica, ran after the thief. But he was more sluggish than a snail, he was never going to reach him. The police car came out of nowhere doing the "uó, uó, uó, uó" and after overcoming the miscreant; it took a turn and blocked the street. Not even the bus that was going to leave could, because the street was closed. The bad driver didn't want to wait for Monica, can you believe it?"

"There are people who have no clue."

Sandra's voice is heard, "Really, right?"

Cássio and Miriam are frightened by Sandra passing through the door; she had not been seen by them before.

"Sandra! Come on, it's time for coffee."

"How are you, Sandra?" Miriam asks her.

Sandra, always serious, looks Miriam up and down, "I'm good, thank you."

Cássio explains, "I'm here curious to see if Miriam managed to win Chief Roldão."

Miriam is laughing, "Don't mind, girl, your boyfriend is really silly."

Sandra barbs, "And do not I know?"

Cassio doesn't catch the hint, gets up, and goes to get another cup of coffee.

Sandra makes sure that where she is sitting she is not getting her clothes dirty, knowing about her boyfriend's unhygienic habits.

She thinks by herself, "So does it mean that Miriam has an eye on that handsome Chief, Roldão? Really "Ão", big. Naughty..."

Sandra smartly smiles...