Chapter 5 5

Bruna took her shower longer than usual that morning. She was late every day even so she wasn't worried about the time. She put on all her new bracelets, put on makeup, which was rare to do, and looked at herself in the mirror satisfied:

- What does this life have in store for you, Bruna?

When she entered the room, she didn't notice the teacher's routine disapproving look at her for being late, which was strange. Patricio incredibly didn't ask her if she had given Adrian the message, as he always did. Catita didn't set her eyes on her and Maiquel didn't look her up and down longingly, as usual.

She sat down trying not to attract too much attention, as everyone was paying attention to the teacher's explanation.

- There was a man who came looking for you twice in the room. - said Patricio in a low voice so that only she could hear him.

- What did he want? she asked curiously.

- I don't know... Well dressed... Did you get into any trouble? he asked.

She laughed:

- Of course. What would I get myself into, Patricio? I'm too straight to get into any trouble.

- Maybe it was an investigator... or something.

She laughed out loud, unable to contain herself . After a few disapproving looks, everyone returned to attention in class.

- Maybe I killed someone in the time I left class yesterday. - She said, finding his comment funny.

The teacher didn't say anything, but looked at them warningly and the two immediately stopped talking. She started to take her class notes and soon Patricio whispered in her ear:

- Did you give Adrian my message?

- If I say I forgot, would you forgive me? - She said really feeling sorry, because that time she was really willing to deliver his message.

- I think I better call him, because you always forget, don't you? Doesn't even look like his girlfriend.

- But I really am not anymore. she confessed.

- Like this? he asked in disbelief. – Have you ended the engagement?

- Yea.

- What? he asked in a loud voice, forgetting they were in class.

She patted his arm to keep quiet, but he insisted:

- I always thought you two would get married.

Before her private life became more important than the class, she decided to end the matter:

- I really wouldn't like to argue with you about it, Patricio. This only concerns me and now I'd like to pay attention in class, if you'll excuse me.

She had no intention of being unkind to him, however it was the only way he could stop the matter. But soon Maiquel and Catita, who were close, got into the matter too:

- I knew that sooner or later you would lose him, Bruna. It was just a matter of time. - said Catita.

Apparently Adrian had not commented to his friends about what had happened, as they were quite surprised. Bruna thought about saying something to her as a form of defense or that would affect her in some way, but thought better of it and thought she shouldn't do that there, during class. She herself was sure that she and Adrian would come back sooner or later, as it always was. But he didn't owe his friends an explanation.

A light knock on the door made the teacher stop her explanation to answer it, while some started talking about other things. The teacher nodded, looking at Bruna. Soon the elegant man, dressed in a suit and tie entered and behind him several other men, all carrying various bouquets of roses of every possible color.

- They are for you, Bruna. - he said.

They placed some on her desk, others on the desks of her close colleagues, others on the floor, taking up a large space around them.

- T-Thank you ... - she said almost without words.

- Don't thank me, thank the man who sent you all this. I confess that in many years in this profession I have never delivered so many flowers to the same woman. - He said smiling kindly.

Just as they had entered suddenly, they left and she stood there, confused, trembling, her heart pounding erratically, not knowing what to do.

The teacher, seeing his confusion, decided to help:

- Maybe you're looking for a card, Bruna, so we can find out who sent this beautiful surprise?

In the bouquet next to her was indeed a small white card held together by thin gold clips . She opened it with shaking hands, but she knew who had sent all those flowers. She looked at Catita, to make sure her rival was watching everything that was happening. And from the look in her eyes, she was also sure who had done it. She began to read aloud:

Bruna, I don't know the best way to apologize. I never intended to hurt her with my joke. But in the midst of the possibility of being without you, a certainty came to me: my love. I do not live without you. Will you be my bride again? Or rather, do you want to be my wife?

Adrian

Bruna looked at everyone confused and excited.

- Apparently you will now be able to give my message. - said Patricio, laughing happily.

Bruna hugged him, because she was immensely happy. And yes, he needed to share that happiness that overflowed in his heart with someone. Of course, everyone was already waiting for that and it didn't take long for her to receive a round of applause for the beautiful way she was proposed. She looked at Catita, who was also clapping her hands smiling, which confused her. Why did she look happy? Or would she have enough self-control to pretend it didn't shake her? But it didn't matter what Catita thought at that moment. Bruna needed to think about her, about Adrian, and about the wedding that was going to happen soon.

- I think I'll need to leave, teacher. - Bruno said smiling.

- I imagined. - she said smiling. "You turned my class into a riot. – she feigned displeasure.

Bruna left the room smiling. She would go immediately to Adrian's house, thank him, apologize for the way she'd acted, in fact the way she'd been acting for the past few weeks. But when she reached the end of the hall, she saw Adrian waiting for her, leaning against the pillar. He had his hands in the pockets of his faded jeans, his shirt tucked in and a bit out, wearing casual shoes and his hair perfectly styled with gel. She stared into those green eyes that she loved so much. She wanted to run to him, but her legs were shaking so badly she couldn't move. She opened her arms and she ran to him, who lifted her easily off the ground, hugging her tightly.

- Am I forgiven? he asked.

- And you still ask? You will always be forgiven.

- Still love me?

- Further...

- I love you so much, Bruno.

He took her to lunch at a restaurant in another city. It was very elegant and beautiful and the view from the window overlooked a small lake with a flower gazebo.

- How can you surprise me so much, Adrian? she asked. - I didn't have to do all that... I would have forgiven you anyway. she confessed.

- Why didn't you warn me before? I would have saved a lot of money. - He joked, taking her hand affectionately.

The two laughed:

- I'm just kidding. - he said. – For you I would do anything.

- I... I'm speechless, Adrian. I feel like the happiest woman in the world. I never thought that you would ever do this for me.

- My hopeless romantic... - he said looking at her tenderly. – I really wanted to be excused, Bruna. He said in a more serious tone. – I never meant it. I swear it was a joke.

- I believe in you, Adrian. I know I did wrong. We could have talked and worked this out last night. I don't know how sorry I am for my attitude... I forgive you, of course. I don't know if I'll ever be able to not forgive you, because you are my life. But don't abuse what I just confessed. – she said laughing.

In front of her, seated, he pushed on the heavy bracelets and his fingers found the scars on her wrists. He gently stroked his wrist and said:

- How I want you, Bruna.

She lowered her eyes and said:

- I know that, Adrian... I want it too. But you know how I feel about it... It will be on our wedding day.

He withdrew his hands and sighed. She knew it was time to talk about this matter seriously. After all, the whole fight had been over the matter of marriage, when he'd assured her he wouldn't marry her. But he had to put it into words what he had written on the card or she wouldn't believe him.

- Adrian, about what was written on the card...

- I wrote what I think... And I'll stick to my words.

- Adrian, it's not about keeping your word. It's about you wanting it for yourself, you know? It's very important to me... And if it's not for you, you need to tell me the truth.

- But it's what you want most, Bruna.

- Yes, that's what I want most: to get married and start a family. And if you don't want that, you're not the one for me, Adrian. – she said seriously, and this time it wasn't like a threat to get him to stay with her, but really an ultimatum to let her go if he didn't have the same intentions for the future as she did.

- How can you tell me that, Bruna?

- Adrian, I know your insecurity about marriage, but I honestly don't understand your fear... But I know that we have disagreed a lot about it for a long time. I have no doubts about your love for me, so it's even harder for me to understand why you run away from it. I've been wondering if our future is together ...

- I have no doubt that I want you in my future, Bruna. And I can't see myself without you there. I just don't understand your hurry in all this... We are young, we have so many things to live for yet. I want to marry you, I'm sure of it... I'm just not sure I want it right now.

- I thought the card was a certainty regarding marriage...

- Of course... I... I'm afraid, yes. I won't say no. And don't even ask what I'm afraid of, because I wouldn't know the answer myself. But I'm willing to overcome it... For you will be by my side. Let's get married... whenever you want.

- Adrian, I don't want you to feel obligated.

- But sometimes you leave me with this feeling, Bruna. – he confessed.

Bruna got up from her chair and left confused. He really wasn't sure what he wanted. And she knew exactly what she wanted for her future. And even though she loved him dearly, she wanted him to be honest and leave her if he didn't have the same interest as her. She wanted to get married and start a family. And I was prepared for that. She didn't want to wait any longer, because she was with the man who was ideal to be her partner forever. He went after her, as he always did:

- Bruno, please...

- Your confusion makes me dizzy, Adrian... And more confused than you I think. – she said, stopping.

- I love you.

- Are you sure about this, Adrian?

- How can you be in doubt after everything I've done for you today?

- Do you think roses are proof of love, Adrian?

- I want to marry you, Bruna... I really want to... Help me to lose this fear. You can choose the date... I'm ready.

- Beginning of December. she said firmly.

- But... Less than 2 months to go...

- I don't mind big preparations. It could be pretty simple. - she assured . - I don't give up the wedding dress and the church.

- All right... We'll get married early December. – he said smiling.

- Do you swear?

- Do you want me to sign a term of commitment? He said, crossing his fingers in jest.

She laughed and hugged him affectionately.

- I love you, Adrian... I can't believe we're getting married...

- I love you too...

They went back to the restaurant and had lunch together. He didn't go to work that afternoon. They spent the afternoon walking around the city where they were, seeing some places and planning about the wedding. She thought he became quite excited as they talked about what it would be like.