2021-01-03 19:40:571998
In the reign of Royal Hill, the sun shines in a cloudless sky, on another beautiful morning in the Rhodia River neighborhood. It’s a housing district for working-class families but non-slum, well-presentable, mostly quiet, and decent residents. We have the main square called Praça da Granja, the church, tree-lined and paved streets, houses with minimal fences or walls, buses traveling, and finally, the main avenue. This one is busier, with small and varied shops, and people traveling on the sidewalk. We have a facade of Cascais Bakery, Cor-de-Rosa Stationery Store, and Malthus Snack Bar.
Near the snack bar, Monica Silva, 19, light-brown, serious, and responsible, dressed socially in a woolen coat, is walking hurriedly to the local.
AT THE MALTHUS SNACK BAR
Monica enters and takes a look. The cafeteria is in normal activity. It’s a rectangular enclosure, with plastic tables, and a marble counter for cash and orders. Monica smiles, she likes the place. Aurélio Malthus, 42, is the owner of the business. Aurélio is cleaning the counter with a flannel. There’s ambient music.
Monica goes anxiously to the owner, "Good morning, Seu Aurélio! Have we news?"
Aurélio smiles at the customer, "Today we have coxinha without catupiry. I always thought people liked the sauce."
Monica grimaces, she hates catupiry, "Of course not, it makes my mouth taste weird. I'll take two."
"They were fried just yesterday. Health inspectors are watching around if we are serving old savories."
Aurélio takes the savories.
Monica replies, "But you would never do that to us, your loyal customers. At least I think I deserve the good and the best."
Aurélio laughs, "Your friend has arrived, and is making my day."
Monica looks at the tables with more attention. She sees Annie Lime, 19, a brunette and loving person, sitting at a corner table, devouring pastries with zero civility and a cane juice cup. Monica takes the coxinha and goes towards her. The two meet and Monica sits. Annie reacts surprised.
"Monica! You really came, it was taking too long. Do you want to starve me?"
Monica laughs, "You will never die of hunger while at the Malthus Snack Bar. I don't know how he manages to keep the stock."
"You talk like I'm a heartless starving man."
"That you are not."
"Hungry?"
"Heartless."
Monica laughs louder. In the background, Aurélio holds a giggle.
Annie speaks back, "Oh, you're annoying! So, what are you going to do today?"
Monica takes a thick brown envelope from her purse. The reason for the thickness is the sheets of paper taped on the computer. Monica hands the contents over to Annie. She wipes her hands on napkins, takes the envelope, and looks at it. She leafs through it.
"It's your first book." She stresses the title, "'Love came later'. And why hasn't it arrived now?"
Monica explains, "It came later because the couple will take a while before they fall in love."
Annie turns interested, "Um... I understand... And then, do you think you can do it?"
"Oh, my dear, if I don't think I can do it, who will think it for me?"
"You're right, my friend. Positive thinking."
Monica looks at the wristwatch, "In addition, the hour is passing. Taking the bus here isn't easy. The neighborhood is growing, and new residents are coming, so this bus schedule will have to be extended"
Annie is hopefully, "So, you go on, Monica! Good luck, girl!"
"Thanks!"
Monica gets up and goes back to the counter, "How much is it really, Seu Aurélio?"
Aurélio answered her kindly, "Pay me when you become the first famous writer at Rhodia River!"
Monica gets touched, "Oh, Seu Aurélio... Thank you very much for your support. See you. I promise I will pay!"
Monica hurriedly leaves. Aurélio remains with a smile. Other customers are approaching and he answers them.
AT THE BUS STOP
Monica standing still, she is waiting for driving. The wind shakes her hairdo cut at shoulder height. But with the wind, comes dust and bad smell, they are the issues of urbanization. Other passengers react with displeasure. Monica checks if the bad smell has not passed to her clothing.
From another angle, we see Célio das Graças, 19, and Cássio Lama, 19, both best friends, they chat animatedly. Célio is very tidy while Cássio remembers hip-hop or grunge style from the beginning of the decade. Célio sees Monica and greets her.
"Hello, Monica! Going to town?"
Monica shakes her purse, "I'm going to deliver my book."
Cássio scoffs, "Oh, come on, those sketches of love stories? Blergh! You're not taking it to the National Library, are you? It’s still far from Cecilia Meirelles."
Monica answers him worthily, "For your information, you first have to take the book to a publisher, and that's where I'm going. Second, you have to wait if the publisher is going to like my book. Third, he has to see if my book is going to sell. Then I can think about having a copy of my best-seller at the National Library."
Cássio gets vexed. Célio and the passengers are admired with the knowledge of Monica.
"Wow!!" Célio says to Cássio "Go on, that's what you get when you mess with who knows the subject!"
Cássio disguises, "Hey, maybe Sandra wants to read it when it comes out."
"You better make your best to buy one copy for her as a Valentine's Day gift!"
Monica looks away behind them, "Boys, I'm loving talking, but here comes the bus."
"Bye, Mo—"
As soon as Célio starts to speak, a thief appears out of nowhere and pulls Monica's purse, since she was distracted by the bus coming. Monica feels the pull and reacts with revolt.
"Hey! My purse!"
"What a bastard!" Célio says.
"Catch the thief!" Cássio yells.
Monica gets undecided. She wanna catch the thief, but her bus is approaching. Without the book, the bus is useless. She reacts in revolt...
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Chapter 360 The end of a dream
BAKERY CASCAIS - DAYFábio enters the bakery and is amazed by what he sees: Monica prostrated in the chair, finishing crying, with Annie sitting next to her, comforting her and assuring her that she was not a bad friend for Carina. Jonas continues to serve customers, sometimes taking a look at both.Fábio approaches the two girls with concern, “Monica! What happened?”He kneels to her. Monica smiles slightly, touched by his concern, “It’s okay, Fábio. I was worse. I just remembered Carina and the worst step she’s going to take in her life.”“You are thinking about the lunch she has with the damn parents.”Annie explains, “It’s just that Monica is feeling guilty for not preventing Carina from going to that lunch.”Fábio caresses Monica’s hair, “My love, you tried, but Carina needs to make her decision. After all, everyone has to carry their load.”“She is going to suffer, Fábio. At least I asked her to keep an eye on the family. She could take advantage of the fact that she is going to
Chapter 359 The last chance for Carina
PENHA’S HOUSE - DAYEverybody took the day to ask Ricardo trick questions. However, he felt it was not the time to answer or lie to the inquirers.He just weaves his classic silly little smile and avoids the subject, “Calm down, Penha, you don’t need to create conspiracy theories. The guy disappears from the bar for three days without giving any satisfaction. I thought he moved out of the neighborhood. I didn’t understand the disappearance.”Penha narrows her eyes, hardly believing what she heard. He kidnaps Wellington and then asks “why did he disappear?”“I hope he disappears. I always thought he was too good for your business. You were in danger of being reported by him.”Penha already knew the truth, since Wellington had told her. She just teased Ricardo, as if she had fun with it. She wanted to see his reaction.Ricardo was more nervous, tense, taking a deep breath, and “counting to three” so as not to reveal himself more than he did at the Malthus snack bar. Not with Penha.“Any
Chapter 358 I found you
MALTHUS SNACK BAR - DAYAurélio is teaching Luís how to properly serve customers. Wellington is sweeping. Nobody notices the window, where Ricardo is looking at the three with dismay.Ricardo goes back a few steps and enters the snack bar even with the “closed” sign on the door. The three men turn their attention to the door opening and closing and are surprised.“Ricardo?” the owner says, “We haven’t opened it yet, but we already have snacks in the showcase.”Ricardo looks with disgust at the snacks, “I don’t want to be a victim of the ‘Salmonella bar’ anymore. What are these two doing here?”Disgusted, Wellington drops the broom and approaches him, “You can ask us, directly. We are here!”Aurélio gestures for Wellington to calm down.Ricardo goes on talking, “And you, Wellington? Are you working here now? Aren’t you going back to the bar? Rubens is waiting for you until now!”Wellington looks at Aurélio in doubt, Aurélio responds affirmatively with a slight nod.“No, Ricardo, I won’
Chapter 357 Moving out
PENHA’S HOUSE - NIGHTPenha is disgusted by Ricardo’s unexpected visit just to ask if she is going to lunch tomorrow. Because she had no intention of going.Even with her clear body language: pouting, arms crossed and one foot hitting the ground, Ricardo does not undo the classic little silly smile.“Did you interrupt my movie... for this?”Ricardo sits in the armchair closest to the coffee table and puts his feet on top. Penha can see from the soles of one of his shoes that Ricardo stepped on ox feces.“Get those dirty feet off my coffee table!”“You haven’t confirmed me yet, sis. The dress that Carina chose is beautiful. Did you choose yours?”“Get outta my house now!”Ricardo threatens to rub his foot with his dirty shoe, showing that he knows the situation of his shoe.“Come on, sis, say yes! A family lunch, with dad and mom...”Penha is about to cry, she is very nervous. She just wants Ricardo to leave, “Please, Ricardo, stop this clowning! I’m not going to show up for lunch to h
Chapter 356 The art of boring
PENHA HOUSE - NIGHTAfter Penha and Wellington cancel the lease agreement, the two say goodbye and Wellington leaves. Carlos leaves behind, without saying a single word, just smiled mysteriously at Penha, as if he knew she had just slept with Rubens.Then she takes a forgotten flannel in a corner and begins to try to clean the spilled coffee on the sofa, as it has practically dried, staining the fabric. Rubens, sensing the empty house, leaves the room furious and in long strides.Rubens takes Penha violently by the arm and makes her turn to him. Penha is startled by being taken by surprise and widens her eyes.“Hey, what are you doing?”“What did that kid come to do here?”Penha tries to get rid of Rubens, but he won’t let her go.“Let go of me! He just came to end the lease! He won’t be living in the kitchenette anymore!”“Did you send him to the bar today?”“I was so shocked by his decision that I didn’t even remember!”Rubens squeezes Penha’s arm tighter and she screams more, “You
Chapter 355 The rental contract is over
WELLINGTON KITCHENETTE - DAYCarlos cornered Rosa asking her to explain to everyone how Penha is Ricardo’s sister. She gulps, nervous.Wellington looks at her more deeply than the others.Finally, she decided it was time to end the mysteries. She gets up to explain better, “Yes, people. It’s true. Ricardo is Penha’s younger brother. However, since they moved here and built the building, they have presented themselves as lovers.”“But, why is that disgusting lie?” Everybody notices Wellington’s afflicted and distressing tone.“Because Ricardo believes that by presenting himself as a boyfriend, he prevents other men from flirting and taking Penha to bed.”The girls are embarrassed.Annie blushes and asks, “Doesn’t Penha know how to simply say ‘no’ to the perverts?”“No. She deliberately accepts to sleep with anyone who invites her. She has a boyfriend who is in Europe doing a Master’s or Doctorate and doesn’t even dream that his darling is horning him.”Wellington is very ashamed of him
Chapter 354 Time to revelation
RHODIA AVENUE - AFTERNOONMore people gather to see Célio’s rescue, which hung in the window of Wellington’s kitchenette. Even Aurélio and his clients left the snack bar to see.“Guys, these windows... Who was the idiot who bought these big windows?”Monica, Sandra, and Annie exchange mocking gazes: they all imagined it was Ricardo’s idea with the masons.WELLINGTON’S KITCHENETTECarlos strides in and goes to the window.“Hang in there, boys!”With another strong man, it was easier to pull Célio back safely. When they finally succeed, he can hear the palms and cheers of those present from below. Célio runs to Wellington’s bathroom to throw up, he’s still scared.Wellington and Luís laugh out loud. Carlos then notices the boxes and suitcases, “Hey, what’s going on here?”Wellington stops laughing and announces to Carlos, “Officer, I’m moving out of here. I don’t think is right to live in the place where I have to pay rent for my kidnapper’s girlfriend.”Carlos smiles in understanding,
Chapter 353 Hanging by the window
PENHA’S HOUSE - DAYPenha opens the door for Rubens, who hurries in and looks worried. She closes the door and signals him to sit down.“I was going to offer you coffee, but you need chamomile tea.”“This is no time for jokes, Penha! The situation is getting more complicated.”Penha purses her lips in indifference; everyday things are complicated. She sits in the other armchair, “Every day you live in confusion. You guys don’t seem to want to live in peace. And if I guess, it has to do with Monica and her friends.”Rubens doesn’t like the tone of Penha’s voice and replies harshly, “It has to do with that bastard Wellington who didn’t come to the bar neither Wednesday nor yesterday! What is he thinking?”Penha, on the outside, remains calm and indifferent; but inside, she is overflowing with relief. It was what she wanted most, for Wellington to get out of that snake’s nest, “You’ll see, he found a better job and couldn’t even tell you.”“We paid above the minimum!”Penha is irritated
Chapter 352 More pieces of evidence
MIRIAM’S ROOM - DAYMiriam is talking to Fábia Peres. The two got on well again after Sandra’s advice. Cleverly, Miriam leads the conversation to the topic of lawsuits.“Oh, Fábia, you don’t know the worst: I talked to Carlos and he said that he won’t insist on objecting to his fate at the trial. That he will acknowledge that he was wrong and accept the punishment.”Fábia Peres is gaping. Then the officer who always behaved like a warrior, dropping the towel so easily?“What does the officer have in mind, Miriam?”“He said he doesn’t mind losing the case, as long as he can get Ricardo behind bars. He’s gathering proofs and evidence.”“And is Carina going to marry this guy?”“Hopefully, she’ll fall flat on her face when she finds out the whole truth on her honeymoon, with the police invading their suite, ha, ha!”The two girls giggle maliciously.“Girl, on the subject of the trial, I’ve been thinking about something. If the officer is not offended, I can ask my father to pay the compen
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