Thirty-Seven: Clearing up the misunderstanding

After a few minutes, the two broke off the kiss and stared at each other for a few seconds, wondering what had happened before.

Marina couldn't hide her joy at the boy's act, much less Lucas, whose countenance radiated happiness. As they both needed some time to talk, they sat down on the sofa and he explained everything that had happened, which reminded her of the supposed message she had received from him. It took an hour of conversation before they understood each other and knew what to do.

-Lucas, if they're tricking you like this, you need to do something other than sit around waiting for the test results to come back.

-I know, Mari, but I couldn't find anything on Milena's computer. She probably thought I'd look on her computer and deleted it.

-When will the results be out?

-Tomorrow morning. I have to go to the clinic to pick it up. But sometimes I think that if this child really is mine, I'll be making a fool of myself by suspecting them.

-Oh, Lucas. Don't be like that. Everything will work out soon. But I don't think you came here just to tell me that, did you?

Gathering his remaining strength, he took Marina's hand and said everything at once:

-I came here so that you would change your mind about leaving - he watched her and she didn't show any reaction, so he gave it as an excuse to continue -I know how much you love your family and want to be by their side, but I also know that there's a part of you that wants to be by my side and if there really is that in you, I'm willing to face it to be by your side.

She stood up, took a few steps towards the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. She couldn't help herself this time and started to cry. She only realized how hard she was crying when he hugged her to his chest and stroked her hair. Gathering what little strength she had, she looked up at him, stroking his face, his unshaven beard, watching him for a few seconds before saying:

-"Lucas, I've made my choice and there's no going back. As much as I feel for you, I won't allow myself to be away from my family again. I thought you understood me when I told you a while ago. Don't think I don't have a heart, because I do, but it speaks louder for my brothers. I've always wanted to be there for them, and even if my other half wants you, it wouldn't be fair to ask you to wait for me.

They hugged, both with tears in their eyes, but he understood her side, even if he didn't have his parents around. Lucas knew the pain she felt, of not having those who love us so much with us, looking after us, giving us love and affection. But he also wanted her to forget about it for a few months and enjoy these moments together, since in three months they would be many kilometers apart.

After a few minutes, they pulled themselves together and arranged to see each other the next day after school to spend some time together, perhaps going to the square. The emotion of being around them was too great, and if it hadn't been for Miguel entering the room, they would have been kissing again.

***

Lying in her room, she thought of her kisses with him, of the beautiful words he had said to her when they were hugging, of how much he wanted her close, making her feel special, and considering this, not even the other boy was like that with her, not even when he moved to Olaria, because it didn't take him long to leave her, making her suffer. But she had already overcome this loss in her life, even if she had closed herself off for a while, refusing to ask for and accept help, closing herself off from the world.

Now she felt more mature, for not having given up on her dream of being close to her family, for no one to have made her change that decision in her life, even though she had fallen in love with Lucas and part of her wanted to stay by his side.

She had learned that every act has a consequence, and if that was hers, why not take a chance and let it happen? She would enjoy every moment with her beloved, but then she would leave without regretting her choices, she would move on with her life, without letting sadness invade her heart, she would allow herself to love him for a long time, until she realized that he needed to go and she would let him out of her mind little by little, leaving him free to be happy.

Marina has been through many ups and downs in her life, but even so, she has never forgotten the promise she made to her siblings that they would always stay together, no matter what happened to them.

Of course, she took it figuratively, but then something sparked in her mind, telling her that she didn't need to actually be there for them to stay together, but to think of the one she loved, but now it was too late and she didn't intend to go back on her decision, just because she realized it too late. But it's never too late to put things right.

Scattered in her thoughts, she didn't even notice that the night had already gone and that the sun was already rising in the sky.

She thought that minutes had passed, whereas it had been a whole night of meditation. She didn't want to get out of bed and go to school, but exam week was coming to an end and she needed to get good marks in her two terms so that she could transfer schools in the middle of the year.

Marina hadn't thought that when she changed schools, she wouldn't see the familiar faces anymore, but there was a silver lining: her friend Dayane.

The two of them would be studying together again and she herself didn't know how much she missed her. The two of them had studied together since they were little and now they hadn't spoken in class for two years, only through messages, phone calls and when she visited, but it wasn't the same.

She missed seeing her brother whenever he came home or picking her up, her sisters helping her with her schoolwork and taking her to the city mall whenever they could, feeling the breeze from the lagoon where she stayed with her parents. Here in Friburgo she had many things, memories, moments of joy, but also of sadness, which she didn't want to remember.

She had cried and smiled in that place, which had been her home for a long time. She wasn't saying goodbye, she was going back to her real home, and even though it made her feel sentimental and childish, she didn't mind, because she knew that she was happy there and felt complete like never before. Perhaps it was because she had lived there since she was born and felt safe and protected there and...

Marina fell completely asleep, forgetting that she would soon be going to school. At least she slept for half an hour, as her alarm clock soon woke her up, bringing her to real life, where choices had to be made and actions taken.