Chapter 7 More Than God I

• MORE THAN GOD
• When I arrived at college that morning, the vice-rector came to our office and announced that Mr. Jax Gatti had been fired and another professor would replace him, having the same academic background as the former Fine Arts professor.
• Although everyone was taken by surprise, they didn't say anything, after all the new teacher was already present and started his class in an expository, boring and not at all playful or attractive way. It seemed that the dean had done it on purpose when he replaced the professor with an athletic and striking body with a little man who looked like he had come out of the asylum to take Jax's place.
• After the class ended, I heard the following comments:
• - What happened to Mr. Gatti?
• - Did I hear you right or did they say “fired”?
• - Why would they fire him? He was a great teacher and never missed!
• - The truth is that I won't be able to take this new teacher's classes... I almost fell asleep while he was talking.
• Mirei Moana, who was guarding her belongings. Our eyes met and I gave her a smile, spontaneously and she quickly turned her face away, avoiding me.
• I felt a pang in my heart. Moana was my only friend. Not that I was excluded by others, but no one made a point of getting close to me. Especially because I didn't like being close to people of a lower social level than me. This didn't mean that Moana was superior to my peers, but her family had a well-known surname in the city and belonged to high society.
• I was leaving when I saw my father in the dean's waiting room. I went towards him and asked:
• - What are you doing here?
• - I came to talk to the dean.
• - And why are you waiting?
• - Because he was a little late.
• - How come you were late?
• - You're in a meeting and it ended up taking more time than expected.
• - And will you wait?
• - Why wouldn't I wait?
• - Why is it Júlio Dave? – I laugh, incredulous at the fact that he doesn’t use his name to prioritize.
• - I'm not God! I'm Júlio Dave, that's all.
• - Júlio Dave is much more than God.
• - You don't know what you're saying, Danna! – he shook his head, furious.
• - I know what I'm saying! God is of no importance at all. Júlio Dave... – He laughs.
• - God is not important to you! Don't compare me to God... It even embarrasses me!
• - You shouldn't be ashamed... God doesn't grant wishes. You can do whatever you want.
• - You're crazy! I can't understand what's going on in your head.
• - I just don't think it's right for you to have to wait. And... Well, if the dean wants to talk about Mr. Gatti... I think we should leave that aside.
• - No, I won't leave this aside.
• We were still talking when the door opened and two professors from the college came out of the dean's office. I was incredulous at his audacity in leaving my father waiting for two mere teachers.
• Mr. Jackson greeted my father and then nodded to me. He invited my father to come in and I was accompanying him when he said:
• - Miss Dave, if you don't mind, I would like to speak alone with your father.
• I raised my eyebrow, amazed by his boldness:
• - I... I do care. – I looked at my father, asking for support.
• But as always he didn't:
• - Danna, you heard Mr. Jackson. Your car and driver are waiting for you in the parking lot. Either go home or dismiss him and wait for me until I finish my conversation with the dean.
• Saying that, the two entered the room and the door was closed. I looked at the secretary, feeling my cheeks flush. But she wasn't even paying attention to me, fixed on the computer in front of her.
• What was certain was that I wouldn't stay there, like a mere mortal, sitting at reception waiting for the two of them to discuss a matter that concerned me, but without my presence, which was inconceivable.
• Ready to leave, I left and as soon as I accessed the parking lot, I saw Professor Jax's car arriving. Unsure of what to do, I remained motionless until he got out and walked towards me.
• Jax stopped in front of me and I looked up at him, looking at him:
• - Did you come to talk to me? – I asked.
• - Yes. – He confessed, making me smile, satisfied.
• - What do you want besides me?
• The professor took a step back, moving away:
• - Danna... Please go back on your lie.
• - I... – My voice trailed off and I couldn't say anything.
• - I have a life outside of here, Danna ... And you will destroy it... Simply because of your whim. You know I didn't touch you or even look in your direction. And if you want me to confess, yes, you are a beautiful woman and I know that any man would give anything to spend a single night with you. But I already have a family... And having a relationship would hurt my wife, my children and especially you... Because I like her, my wife, you know? And I don't want anyone to suffer... For... One night of sex. You made a formal complaint against me!
• - It wasn't me... It was my father.
• - My God... – he passed his hands over his face, worried – This is worse than I thought. I'm a nobody, Danna... Do you really think I can go against Mr. Dave?
• - He thinks... That you sexually harassed me...
• - But I didn't fucking do this! – He approached me and made to touch me, but then stopped himself and took a step back.
• I took a deep breath and confessed:
• - It wasn't supposed to take this proportion, Jax.
• - It took on this proportion the moment you got into a helicopter and threw rose petals over my house. It took this proportion when you sent me a car as a gift. He took this proportion when he pretended we had sex and this never happened. He took this proportion when he tried in every way to seduce me... And I resisted. I swear I try to understand your attitudes and if you were seventeen or eighteen years old I would even accept this fucking thought and your inconsequential attitudes. But I looked into your file... And you're 21... Or rather, almost 22 years old.
• - What does my age have to do with this?
• - You are a woman, Danna! Look at yourself!
• I lowered my head, unable to look him in the eye, feeling immensely guilty for what I had done:
• - I swear I didn't try to harm you in this way.
• - What did you expect? That you would accuse me and so I would stay with you? – he shook his head, stunned – I confess that I have been praying a lot... And I ask God not to make me take a gun and shoot you in the forehead.
• This time it was I who took a step back, frightened by his words.
• I noticed the tears streaming from his eyes when Jax said:
• - And I don't want to be this person... Who wants to kill another with such cruelty... Like I think about doing to you.
• I swallowed hard and said:
• - I'll try... Solve this...
• - Please, Danna, do this. My life is in your hands and you know it.
• I got into the limo and told the driver to take me home. I went directly to my room and took a long shower, thinking about how I would solve this shit.