Chapter 12

Isabella: Shall we do something? I said trying to change this awkward boring atmosphere

Nicolas: what do you have in mind?

Isabella: I don't know, anything

Nicolas: What do you like to do?

Isabella: Oh, a lot of things, eating, going out for a walk, shopping, movies, etc. ...

Nicolas: so, choose something you like and I'm in

Isabella: a movie? I suggested

Nicolas: sounds cool he said smiling.

Shall we watch the movie right here?

Isabella: I don't know, my father is going to arrive early today and as he is overprotective, I think he would not like to see you here.

Nicolas: We can watch it at my house, if you wish.

Isabella: what about your mother?

Nicolas: what about her? She is working, and my brother is going to school. I am home alone

Isabella: oh yes, ok I said smiling a little distracted I am pensive at this moment about being alone with Nicolas at his house

Nicolas: so how does it sound?

Isabella: alright I answered trying to look secure, but in fact I was almost regretting my decision, would you wait for me to change?

Nicolas: Okay, go

I went up the stairs, put the roses in a glass of water on the nightstand next to the bed, went to the closet, put on a patterned red skirt with a high waist, a black blouse, put on a beige flat sandal, let my hair run on my shoulder put on a perfume, took out my cell phone bag and looked at myself for a few seconds through the mirror, I wasn't really sure if being alone with Nicolas at his house would be a good idea, just thinking about it made me feel butterflies in my stomach

Wow, stunning he said smiling sideways while I was coming down the stairs

-thank you!

Nicolas: is this whole look just for a movie watching?

Isabella: Yes, let's go, I said while opening the door.

Nicolas: ok, Ms. Isa. Let's go we passed the door and then we walked towards the car.

Nicolas: Ice cream first?

Isabella: I'm on board

Maybe the coolness of the ice cream made me chill a little

(Minutes later at the ice cream parlor ...)

Isabella: I want chocolate with vanilla

Nicolas: I want prestige* and lemon

We placed orders, took the ice creams, put some additional frosting and syrup on top and sat at a comfortable table near the door.

Isabella: geez Nicolas, you got me jealous now I said pouting and looking at the chocolate flakes he had, I admit it, his order looks way more delicious than mine and I wanted to switch

Nicolas: sorry to hear that, he giggled

Isabella: hey, now I'm jealous and sad, I said smiling.

Shall we change?

Nicolas: Nop Nothing will I switch

Want some? I can't! He said teasing me, pouting and smiling as I squinted. Yummy! these chocolate flakes here in my ice cream are so good he said devouring them from the ice cream topping

Isabella: alright. go on

Nicolas: Really, it's very good! what a pity that yours doesn't have it, he said and I grabbed a spoon I took some ice cream from mine and put it on his cheek and laughed

Isabella!! Nicolas gasped at me with the face of someone who couldn't believe what I did. I can't believe you did that, he said, smiling, and wiping his face with a napkin.

Isabella: you started it I said smiling

Nicolas: hold it. I'm hurt he said frowning

Isabella: Oh, really? Don't be such a baby

Nicolas: just wait, saying in a threatening tone

Isabella: wait for what?

Nicolas: for this, he said taking a spoonful of ice cream and rubbing it all over my mouth, nose, forehead.

Isabella: Oh my God, Nicolas! I will kill you boy I said indignantly cleaning my face

Nicolas: I need to take a photo, he said holding his cell phone. Oh, my belly ….

Isabella: no! Don't take a picture!

Nicolas: too late, but you look even cuter like that he said smiling helping me with the napkin.

Isabella: so funny! I can't see any fun in that, I said through the ice-cream still on my face with my arms crossed

Nicolas: you look cute angry, you know? He said pinching my nose Come here he says, gently pulling my chin and gently wiping the rest of the ice cream that was still on my face

Nicolas: You're not really angry, are you?

Isabella: be careful

Nicolas: sorry, it was just a joke.

You started rubbing ice cream on me he said justifying himself and I just remained quiet.

Nicolas: (ox ox ox, black-faced ox, take this girl because she is tantrum! * _he sang making me waving from side to side.

Isabella: stop being a clown! I said smiling.

Nicolas: If I have to be a clown to make you smile like that, I'll do it

Isabella: that's ruderous

We stayed there for a few more minutes until we finished eating the rest of the ice cream and shortly after we finished, we went to his house

Isabella: Your house is beautiful I said sitting on the couch.

Nicolas: Thank you, do you want to watch the movie here in the living room or in my room?

Isabella: I prefer to watch It here in the living room, but I imagine that if your mother arrives or someone else, I think it would be uncomfortable

Nicolas: she doesn't care much for that, plus, she would be spoiling you at least offering you juice or a cookie all the time

Isabella: I understand, I still would feel uncomfortable.

Nicolas: So, let's go to the room

Isabella: but ...

Nicolas: no buts, come already he said leaving me behind and I had no option but to follow him

I sat on the bed with my cell phone in my hand, his room was very large, there was a very comfortable chair, and some shelves full of books, I put the bag on a dresser and sat on the edge of the bed while he looked for a movie on TV for us to watch.

Nicolas: feel at home

If you want to go to the bathroom, it's right there

Isabella: thank you.

Nicolas: Do you have a movie or series in mind? He said, turning on the TV on Netflix

Isabella: I like romance, supernatural, science fiction ...

Nicolas: just name it

Isabella: Um. I hesitated picking out a romance film, put this one I pointed to a movie and so he did.

Nicolas: If I have stinky foot, don't complain,” he said, laughing and taking off his sneakers.

Isabella: Oh no, seriously? you have stinky feet?

Nicolas: Of course not, just kidding, said chuckling

Isabella: that’s better, you kid a lot

Nicolas: are you going to stay there? He asked me sitting against the headboard while I was still sitting on the edge of the bed

Isabella: I'm good right here I said and he rolled up his eyes

Nicolas: you are very shy Isabella! I don't want you to be uncomfortable like that, if you don't sit next to me, I will think that you're scared of me or something, if you don't want to continue, we can stop.

I felt so guilty for the uncomfortable moment I created

- when you're uncomfortable with something, just let me know please

Isabella: I'm fine, it's just ... I've never been alone with a boy before.

Hours later I was thrilled, the story was so beautiful and moving that when we finished watching, I was still kind of sad with tears in my eyes. Nicolas kept smiling and telling me it was just a movie. He turned off the TV, and we sat there talking about movies and series.

Isabella: I think I should be leaving, it's late_ I said looking at the clock that was already 7:12 pm

Nicolas: I will drive you home

Isabella: Okay.

We went down the stairs .no one had arrived yet.

We went to the garage, got in the car and headed for my house.

Nicolas: here you go, safe and sound he said opening the car door as soon as we arrived

Isabella: Thank you. I loved the movie and the ice cream

Nicolas: so, did I, thanks for saving my afternoon.

Isabella: see you tomorrow.

Nicolas: see you tomorrow Isa, may god be with you, bye he said giving me a kiss on the cheek and leaving, this way of saying goodbye caused me a chill down my spine and left me smiling with the wind afterwards

Upon entering the room, I soon found the roses on top of the nightstand, so I took them and hid them under the shaggy carpet on the floor and I reviewed everything like the scenes of a movie, every detail of him, every feeling that he caused me to feel

*1 prestige cake: a kind of Brazilian dessert usually served with Ice-cream

*2 ox ox ox. black faced ox: a verse of a Brazilian children song usually sang when a child throws a tantrum

Nicolas

I had just left Isa, and by the time I got home, my mother had already arrived.

Luana: hi son

Nicolas: Hi mom I said giving her a kiss on the forehead

Thomaz: who was that girl Nicolas?

Nicolas: how do you know there was a girl here?

Thomaz: I was coming when I saw you going out with her

Luana: What girl? she said smiling. Are you dating son?

Nicolas: No mom, It was just a friend

Thomaz: just a friend you say, he said with a wide smile. "just a friend"

Luana: Ah got it. I will prepare us dinner, she said leaving for the kitchen.

Nicolas: and I'm going to take a shower.

[...]

Bedtime and as always after reading the bible I knelt by the bed to pray

Dear lord, I thank you for another wonderful day, for your kindness, love and mercy. I ask you to work on me, unfold my heart give me another one according to your will, a pure heart full of love, humility and whatever pleases you, may I walk in your ways bearing fruit and growing in life, taking your seed, fulfilling here all my duty as a child, may people look at me and see you through me, may in fact I express you in the best possible ways, in my actions, words, thoughts, make me a new person with every new day that comes! Never allow me to be away from you, keep me from everything that is impure, evil, empty and without your love, everything that hurts and adds nothing to spiritual life, Make me pure, make me holy, make me a man! I know you are faithful; I still wait for your answers Lord, I pray and by faith I thank you. Amen! "

When I lay down on the bed, I soon felt something strange and when I looked to see what it was about, it was over there, Isa's cell phone. I placed it carefully on the dresser next to mine, and when I was about to go back to bed I heard a notification popping up , I couldn't help but notice on the screen, a message had arrived via WhatsApp from a boy named Lucas

"Lucas: why didn't you go to training today? I bet you were sleeping"

Soon he sends another message

"Lucas: dreaming about Nicolas again"

Again?

And for the third time I lay down but this time with several thoughts in my head. I started asking myself, have Isa been dreaming about me? Is it Just an ordinary dream or a prophetic dream? I was already anxious to ask her if she had even dreamed about me and how it had been, for that could be a sign for our future, and after all, God reveals the future to us in dreams , a certain confirmation comforted my heart that Isa could be the chosen one for me .