Chapter 2 Encounter

• Louis Davis
• (Nine months ago)
• "Hello!"
• "Louis, where are you? Edineide told me that you haven't been sleeping well and you're not eating!," my sister Luana complains.
• "Luana, I'm not having my best day, you know... I was sure I had found someone special and would start a family. I didn't expect to end the month so hurt, with this anguish, pain in my chest... I'm just not okay. But don't worry, I just got on a train, I'm almost sitting down, I want to arrive early for my exhibition in Washington, my mind needs to stop thinking for a while." I went to pack my things and someone bumped into me. My phone slipped and I hurried to catch it.
• "Ouch!" she grumbled and I quickly supported the girl, who almost fell to the ground. She stood still in my arms, looking at me, seeming scared for a few seconds. She was very beautiful, with tanned skin, black curly hair, dark eyes like the night, and her beautiful long eyelashes moved slowly, partially hiding her disappointment.
• I had both hands on her waist, and her body close to mine, feeling her exotic scent that I had never smelled before, and I got lost in my thoughts, I don't know what came over me, maybe it was my desire to have someone like her for myself, would I ever have a chance like that?
• "You should be more careful, instead of getting in the way and knocking down people who are trying to find their place in peace!" she seemed angry. "And let go of me, I need to find my place..." she pushed me away and left my arm, completely changing her behavior, she seemed a bit distracted by something too.
• "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was in the way, I'll pay more attention next time..."
• "Don't apologize! But how cheesy!" she put her hand on her waist and shook her head, rolling her eyes.
• "I'm not having a good day today, I think I just need to be alone..." I saw her getting uncomfortable with my attitude, she bent down to pick something up from the ground, and then I looked at the phone in my hand and remembered that I left Luana on the line.
• "Louis... Louis..." I heard from afar, and I put the phone back to my ear.
• "Luana, I'm sorry! There was a little accident here, but everything is fine now, I'll hang up now, and we'll talk later... I'll call you, okay?" I sat down as soon as I saw the girl disappear from there.
• "Kiss, Louis!"
• "Kiss, Lu!" I stood up partially looking for the girl and didn't see her anymore, I really don't have a way with women.
• I rested my head on the seat and closed my eyes, trying to think things through.
• "First, I was happy when I met Luana, I thought I had fallen in love with her, and then I found out she was my sister, the one I had been searching for my whole life... Deep down, I knew the feeling was different, something was wrong, but it hurt."
• "I erased everything I had created with her in terms of expectations, and tried something with Malu, a simple and beautiful young woman I met afterwards. The problem is that she lives in Brazil and it started to become too complicated for us to see each other, and when I took the initiative and asked her to marry me, I got this cold shower...
• Memory of that day:
• - Will you marry me?
• - Louis, I'm not sure about anything, and I don't even know about feelings...
• - But, Malu... we spent that weekend so close...
• - Can't you see that I'm rejecting you? I can't marry you, understand!
• - You looked into my eyes when we made love, how can you say that now? Did I do something wrong?
• - Just leave everything as it is, I need to leave now! We don't have a future together. - It was like being stabbed in the chest. Now I'm here, I guess I'm single again, so..."
• I will focus on my exhibition, since I started showcasing my sculpture works, I became quite famous, and now I also have a prestigious gallery in New York, and I will also take care of my sister's gallery, as she is nearing the end of her pregnancy and my nieces/nephews will be born soon.
• When I arrived at the gallery, I saw everything closed, I called my manager and realized that the event is tomorrow and I mixed up the days.
• - Damn, how did I not notice this detail?
• - It's alright, Mr. Louis, there's a hotel right in front, it's very comfortable. Enjoy the pool and the beautiful garden, did your girlfriend Malu come?
• - No, she didn't come... I think she will never come again, but don't worry, I will figure things out... - just hearing her name, my chest hurts.
• - Just don't forget about the meeting we scheduled with the lawyer tomorrow at five in the afternoon! - the manager said.
• - Where is it?
• - In the hotel's café, sir! I will be there to help you resolve it, it's in my interest to continue with the property.
• - I don't know what this client's deal is, keeps insisting on buying a property that is not for sale, but since I was already coming for the exhibition, I decided to meet him, he said he had a new proposal...
• - Be careful boss, don't trust them, they are very interested in the gallery too, sometimes they have other motives!
• - You're right, I will be cautious!
• After hanging up, I realized that I had no other choice but to stay at the hotel. I got a suite and ordered a strong drink, I would drink alone, but it was boring. So I finished the bottle and went to the hotel bar for another.
• I noticed a woman with a beautiful waist and curly hair sitting at the main counter. I approached slowly, and when I saw her, it was the same woman who fell into my arms on the train, but now she was crying.
• - Bring a glass, good lad! The pretty lady needs it more than me... - I exclaimed, and she looked at me and didn't respond, but quickly accepted the drink and downed the glass.
• - Thank you.
• - Bad day for you too?"
• - Terrible... besides my family losing a lot of money, I also lost my boyfriend, funny thing is it happened right after I found out about the problems... I'm so unlucky! - she put her hand on the bottle while looking at me firmly and poured herself another shot. For a moment, I thought I wasn't the only unlucky one there. - Listen, aren't you going to complain? I took your drink, damn it!
• - It's okay... you needed it more than I did...
• - My God, you're so soft, you need to be more assertive, actually, I'm dying to argue with someone, I need to vent today, I'm angry, irritated!
• - Then let's argue right away, I need a change... I've been dumped, I think for the tenth time, I have reasons to get wasted tonight.
• - Betrayal? - she questioned.
• - No. I proposed to her... - I had to pause for a sip of that drink. - And I found out she didn't love me, it's always like this!
• - Come with me! - she pulled my wrist and grabbed the bottle, dragging me outside.
• - Where to? - I asked.
• - If you ask again, I'll abandon you here too!
• - Oh... great! Then I'll keep quiet...