Erasto Gaertner is so big that Malú took half an hour to find his new classroom. As soon as she enters, all the students and the teacher stare at her, reproving her tardiness. The young woman takes a deep breath, adjusts her hair and her backpack, walking to a vacant place at the back of the room. He decides to stay there until the end of all his classes. He puts on his headphones and lowers his head, traveling to the world where none of this had ever happened.
— Yes, I'm sure it's her.
— No, the girl in the newspaper is prettier.
— Hey, watch out.
— Stop pushing...
— What a dick, she came to the same school as him.
— That's disgusting.
— Could they really...?
— Shhh! She's waking up...
Malú opens her eyes finding almost everyone in her room around her. She runs her hand over her face for fear of having been painted by the students. The young woman gets ready in the chair, while a boy approaches with the cell phone and asks:
“That's you, isn't it?” Malú looks at her cell phone screen. In it appears a photo of Thiago holding Malú and trying to hide. What is written in the title, made the situation controversial: CANDIDATE FOR SENATOR AND HIS AFFAIR – And you yes!
Malú takes the cell phone from the boy's hands, while an uproar forms around him. Screams, curses and mockery surround the short–haired young woman who can't stand it all and runs out of the room, desperate. This isn't happening... This isn't happening... The group of students appears heading towards her, which makes her run again. Tears cloud his vision to the point of bumping into a woman coming towards him.
— No running around inside the school. – warns the woman with beautiful brown hair loose over her moss green suit, holding Malú by the shoulders. She then realizes that the girl is crying, leaving her confused — What happened? What was there?
— Nothing No, coordinator Lara. – answers the cell phone guy. — She ran out of the room with my cell phone in her hands. Ask her to return it, please?
—I know it was nothing, Tomas. Even more with you involved. – retorts the angry woman. She takes the cell phone from Malú's hands and looks at the photo, her eyes widening. Then he gives it back to the boy — You go back to the classroom – then she looks at Malú — And you, Maria Luísa, come to my room.
***
Thiago runs through the school corridors looking for Lara's room, which is waiting for him impatiently under Malú's curious gaze. As soon as the candidate arrives, the coordinator gets up relieved by his presence.
—You've finally arrived. – she exclaims with a smile. She looks at Malú and asks — Maria Luísa, let me talk to your father alone. Sit down there in the hallway for now.
Malú gets up, still wiping her face, as she passes by Thiago without facing him. As soon as the young woman closes the door, the woman points to the place in front of her, indicating for Thiago to sit.
—What's up Lara? What did Malu do? – he asks seriously, refusing the request.
—She, nothing. But the students read the article about your “case”. – Lara replies.
— You know it's not true. – reacts Thiago, annoyed.
— I know, but the students' parents and students don't know. Thiago, for Malú's sake, you need to tell the truth about her as soon as possible. – Suggests Lara.
— That way I will expose my daughter – claims Thiago.
—Your daughter is already exposed. If you don't reveal who she is to the public, I won't be able to keep her here.
— I need more time, until everything is resolved – answers Thiago.
—You don't have time anymore and you know it. I told you when you decided it would be best to put your daughter here – recalls Lara
— I need to go, I have to take her to the psychologist – Thiago replies, leaving the room. He stops beside Malú — Let's go.
***
Thiago pulls over the vehicle in the parking lot of the psychological office. Malú comes down with his tablet and with a tired face. He can't forget the disapproving faces of his classmates, just thinking about having to go back to school makes him feel nauseous. Her father takes her arm and leads her towards the back door of the office.
— Welcome! – greets the receptionist, happily — Wait a moment and the psychologist will attend to you.
Malú sits in the green armchair and looks at the television. Political hours are passing and in a few minutes he appears in Thiago's face, causing everyone to stare at him in surprise. She can't understand what is said in the advertisement, but it doesn't matter as she is looking to not have to talk to him.
— Maria Luisa? – asks a young brunette woman with short curly hair.
Malú gets up and goes towards the psychologist who gives him a huge smile. The psychologist extends her hand and introduces herself:
— Pleasure, my name is Ariadne Lacerda. Lets go in?
Malú passes by her, while Thiago gets up, smiles towards the psychologist and turns towards the exit.
'Aren't you coming?' – asks the psychologist, curious.
— No, I have other commitments waiting for me, but don't worry, I'll be back to get Malú.
— Well, it would be important for you to participate in the sessions – explains the psychologist, who stops when she sees Thiago looking at his watch, impatient — Unless you have something more important than your daughter...
— I promise that next time, I'll participate – Thiago replies without even looking at Ariadne.
He goes to Malú and kisses the top of her head, then leaves quickly. Ariadne looks at the young woman and gives her a smile, receiving an eye roll in response.
Thiago gets in his car and tries to call Vera one more time, who this time answers on the third ring:
— Hello, Vera? I need you to call the reporters and hold a press conference at my house.
—Are you sure?– asks the blonde on the other side.
— Absolutely. I'll be in the office shortly and I'll give you the guidelines.
***
TIC Tac...
TIC Tac...
TIC Tac...
TIC Tac...
TIC Tac...
Malú has been looking at her watch from the moment she entered Ariadne's room. She had no desire to write anything to the psychologist who was staring at her without saying a word. It looks like it had turned into a statue. The young woman with black hair takes a deep breath and continues to pay attention to the hands of the clock that marked the end of the session.
—Session is over. – Ariadne warns, writing something on her file.
Malú gets up hurriedly and heads towards the door.
— See you soon – the psychologist says goodbye — In the next session I would like you to write about yourself. It would help a lot in your condition.
Malú slams the door hard, making a huge noise. He didn't feel he needed psychological treatment, but his life back. She sits on the sofa in the office where she should wait for Thiago. After ten minutes he leaves the reception, going to sit on the steps of the stairs that give access to the parking lot. Grab the headphones, connect to the tablet and put your music to play. Gradually her eyes close and her mind moves away from everything that consumes her. I need you mom...
— Malú – calls a female voice that touches her shoulder — Open your eyes, we need to talk...
Maria Luísa opens her eyes, but she can only see who it is when she puts a hand over her face. She smiles as she takes off her headphones to speak to her mother.
“You came ,” Malú says happily.
— Yes, you called me and here I am – says Anna smiling — What happened my angel?
—Things are pretty rough around here, Mom. People aren't what they seem, they've hurt me so much that I don't know who to trust...
— My love – says Anna, touching her daughter's sad face — Trust what your heart says...
—I just wanted things… to be like before.
—Nothing can be the same, my love. But be sure that everything will work out and you will be happy as before or even more. Give it time and you will see that everything will be as it should be...
— But what about my voice? Will she come back?
— Madam, wake up! – calls Thiago shaking Malú — What are you doing sitting here in the parking lot?
Malú wakes up scared looking around. Some photographers in the distance were taking pictures of her. She has no idea how long she had slept, but she knows that she had managed to annoy Thiago, who lifts her up on the stairs.
— Let's go – orders Thiago, opening the door — I asked you to wait inside. Dammit, now they'll have more news.
He gets in the driver's side and drives the whole way without saying a word to Malú, who thanks him for not having to talk to Thiago. She looks at the beautiful scenery on the way just thinking about what her mother said.
***
Thiago and Malú enter the mansion and are soon greeted by Vera, who has four cell phones in her hand and has a distressed expression.
— At last. The press conference staff is already waiting for you in the room – comments the public relations officer, walking alongside the candidate — They are already updated with photos of Malú in a psychiatric clinic.
— It was a psychological office – corrects Thiago, seriously.
— Anyway, that was on their agenda – Vera retorts — Thiago, you're going to have to talk about Malú.
— I would give twice as much not to talk, but things are getting out of hand – answers Thiago, putting the microphone on his lapel. He looks at his daughter and says, —Go to your room and leave only when someone authorizes you to.
Malú promptly obeys, climbing the stairs as fast as he can.
— Let's start by talking about the proposals, then about the marriage and finally... About your daughter – explains Vera.
— Let's talk about proposals, marriage and all the projects I've done in Curitiba. And we will avoid talking about Malú as much as possible, we will only say that she is my family and nothing else. I want her to have some privacy for now.
He sits in the armchair facing the journalists who are in an uproar.
— Good afternoon everyone, let's go to the press conference – greets Thiago with a smile on his face. —You can start with the questions.
— Good afternoon, Mr Candidate – begins the young man with brown hair – I would like to ask who is the young woman who is on all the covers of the main regional magazines? Is it true that she is your daughter and that she is crazy, that's why you hid her for so many years?