Chapter 8 8

Angela took the week off to help Bruna with the wedding preparations as they had just over 2 weeks to organize the perfect wedding. Bruna had already done many things, but Angela knew that in the last few weeks she would be nervous. The date set was December 3 .

Bruna didn't even see the time pass of so many things she had to do in the last week. And when he realized he was days away from the event that would be the most important of his life. That day, while putting on her bracelets, looking especially at the last one she had won from Adrian, she remembered how much she had given the wedding invitation to Maiquel and Catita. She had the impression that the two would marry one day, as they were very close. She had delivered in college. He had insisted that she deliver and not the two of them go together, as they had done with the other guests. Adrian hadn't even realized her bad intentions with his friend and his ex-girlfriend .

- Well, Catita, apparently I managed to hold him. – Bruna said with an air of superiority.

- Adrian was never a trophy, Bruna.

- It will be? For me, certainly not... But I think it always was for you. At least it always seemed to treat it that way. I would be devastated in your place.

- I'm not and I won't be devastated, Bruna. I'm going to my friend's wedding, my ex-boyfriend, and I'll sit in the front row, that's for sure. I never meant to destroy your relationship. I confess that I was always attracted to Adrian, but I'm sure it was never love. Our relationship has always been much more physical than emotional, if you know what I mean. I never had his heart... But the body I had all... And what a body, isn't it? – she scoffed. – Our relationship has always been very ... warm , shall we say. And you know what I think of the relationship between the two of you? Pathetic... This is the truth. I know an Adrian you'd be shocked to know. We've done things in the past that he certainly hasn't done with you or any other girl. We spent fervent moments that time will certainly not erase from his mind. - She laughed. – How foolish you are, Bruna. Very young and... Immature. Love is not everything, my dear. Always remember this : love is not everything.

Bruna was so angry that she slapped Catita in front of everyone who passed by. She herself was surprised by his aggressive reaction to Adrian's ex-girlfriend. What would he think when he found out? She expected Catita to react, but there was none. The girl simply said, with a steady gaze:

- I may have lost, Bruna. But you've won and you're not even sure the trophy is yours. You pity me. - She said leaving without showing anything but disdain.

Maiquel let Catita go and stood there, confused, nervous, running his fingers through his disheveled hair:

- Catita is not like you think, Bruna. She doesn't really love Adrian. They're friends, that's all. What happened between them was just sexual... And it's been a long time... Many years to be precise . He always loved you... No one doubts that. I don't understand the reason for so much rudeness and aggression against her...

- I should not have done it. I do not know what to say. – Bruna confessed regretfully, with some curious looks from outside still on her.

- She doesn't see you with such hatred... Believe me. She never wished you harm.

- I'm not sure about that... The jokes, the ironies...

- She's ironic... She's always been like that. Anyone who knows her knows that Catita even makes fun of herself.

- I lost control. I do not know what happened. Please tell her I'm sorry.

- No... I won't do that. You who owe her an apology and need to do it in person. When I don't know, but you know you have to.

- Maiquel...

- Don't say my name like that... - He said looking into her eyes, confused. – When you talk like that, it messes with me, believe me.

- I do not understand.

- Unprotected... I always have this feeling when I'm with you. She always seems unprotected, sensitive... And that's different from what I'm used to with women. That's why I find her so... Special. I always tell Adrian he's lucky to have a woman like you. The ideal woman to live the rest of her life.

- The ideal woman... - She laughed confused and nervous. "Here's something I've never heard before in my life.

- I know we have our differences, but I've always admired you a lot. She ran her hands through her straight hair. - You are very special. And because I'm very good friends with Adrian, I never tried to steal her from him, even though I felt everything I always felt inside me...

Bruna took his hand away from her hair and took a step back, startled.

- Maiquel, please don't continue...

- Why do you have to be so sweet and sweet? And today I saw a new face: the aggressive Bruna, who doesn't always passively accept everything. You managed to get even more beautiful angry.

- Maiquel, I already told you... I don't want to know anything else.

- And even though I know you want this marriage more than anything, I still see sadness in those big blue eyes. And I can not understand why . You are a great mystery, Bruna. And I don't think Adrian is the man to unravel it.

Bruna laughed ironically:

- And you're the man to unravel me, aren't you?

- No, it is not me. – he said firmly.

Once again she was confused. What was he trying to say or do? While she was a little afraid, his words about her brought her a certain enchantment. Maybe the fact that another man besides Adrian admired her made her a little confident and happy.

- And who is this man? – she asked smiling showing her beautiful white teeth.

- I don't know... But I'm sure it's not me, your faithful admirer, or Adrian, your great love.

- Now you're predicting the future? – she scoffed again. "Or trying to scare me in some way about my marriage.

- I'm not the right man... But I can try to be.

- I thought you were Adrian's friend, Maiquel. She smiled nervously. 'Your catchphrase didn't work. I love Adrian and he has always been and always will be the only man in my life, ideal or not.

- How can you be so sure? He was her only boyfriend.

- I'm sure... Enough.

- Have you ever been curious to taste another kiss?

that question petulant on his part :

- No... Much less yours, Maiquel. What kind of friend are you, who hits on your friend's fiancee weeks before the wedding?

- Never doubt my friendship for Adrian, Bruna. We were always good friends... Until he met you.

- I don't understand where you're going...

- Maybe the part where you tried to end all his friendships.

- How can you say that?

- We were always together... We always did everything together. Until you show up in his life and slowly take him away from us.

- I never forced him to break friendships.

- Everyone knows you never put up with his friends. You are jealous, insecure about him, and possessive. You won us over in the beginning so that we would accept you. Then all he did was try to avoid meetings, even the banal ones, like a group lunch. You can confess to me, it's just the two of us here.

- Don't blame me for Adrian preferring to be with me than with you. Does Cristiano love Cassiane and am I to blame for this too? Only you and Catita will remain, that 's the truth.

- Adrian didn't leave us because he wanted to and you know it. So why should I owe him allegiance?

- I can't believe what I'm hearing...

- Do you know what I think? I guess you don't know what friendship is, do you? His little world comes down to his mother and Cassiane and it has always been that way. You've never had a friend in your life . This is what I think. He lives in his closed world and doesn't let anyone be part of it. And decided that Adrian would also be part of the world you created, without interference... Perfect. Now you will have your wedding planned of a lifetime... And it will also be perfect, as everything is with you. We, Adrian's friends, are the only imperfect ones in his world.

She let a tear run down her cheek and pulled the bracelets that covered her wrists, leaving the marks she carried with her from the past into view:

- Then look at my perfect past. - she said. - You arrogant and presumptuous.

He looked at the scars in astonishment and after a while said:

- I never knew...

- Don't judge, Maiquel. Don't try to know what I've been through.

- I'm very sorry.

- You don't have to feel. It's over. It's just an imperfect past that I live with every day.

- I understand a lot now...

- What changes, Maiquel? Nothing changes... I just wanted to prove that I have my problems too, you know? If I accidentally took Adrian away from you, I'm sorry. I also never thought they could miss him so much.

- We were friends since childhood...

- As you said yourself, I don't know much about friends...

- Sorry...

- Everything is fine. She said shrugging her shoulders. - No need to apologize. You're speaking your mind... Although it hurts a little to know the truth this way.

- Bruna, I know how much you love Adrian... But you can't suffocate him with this love. You need to have security or you will lose it. Today it's friends, tomorrow it could be co-workers or even the work itself... I'm saying this for your own good. - he said in a calm and gentle tone.

- Thank you for the tips. I need to go now. Let's just say that delivering the invitations to you and Catita wasn't easy. - She said wiping her tears. - And... If you can not tell anyone what I showed you, I would appreciate it. It's very personal, believe me.

- I would not do that. - he said. – I respect your decision.

She saw his blue eyes reflected in the mirror, returning from delivering the invitations weeks ago. He noticed a tear streaming down. It had been a while since everything had happened, but whenever she remembered it hurt a little. She still felt a little upset that she might have interfered with Adrian's friendships without realizing that several people were involved. She really didn't have any friends, so she didn't really understand affection and how relationships took place in that sense. And he regretted having unintentionally ruined promising friendships of people who liked each other very much . And mostly to have harmed her beloved Adrian. It had never been his intention. She just wanted him more time with her... And for that she took him away from other people.