Coincidences

Coincidences
Ricardo

The trip back to São Paulo was quick, quiet, and—somehow—light. When I got to my apartment, I realized that weekend getaway had done more for me than I’d imagined.
The next morning, I was back at Alcântara Constructions, and for the first time in months, I actually felt motivated.
The rhythmic sound of typing filled the office when I heard Henrique’s lively voice behind me.
— I called you several times on Sunday — he said, walking in without knocking, as usual.
I kept typing, pretending to focus.
— The trip to Campos do Jordão was amazing — he went on. — You should’ve come with us.
— I was traveling — I replied without looking up.
Henrique dropped into the chair across from me, studying my face.
— Oh, really? — he asked, leaning forward with a teasing smile. — And that little grin right there… what’s that about?
I tried to keep a straight face, but the thought of the mysterious brunette I’d met in Brotas escaped as a brief, involuntary smile.
— Nothing that concerns you — I said curtly.
— Didn’t know work was putting you in such a good mood — he teased.
I sighed.
— Who said it was work?
Henrique raised an eyebrow, looking triumphant.
— A-ha! So there’s a story here. — He leaned even closer, scanning my face. — You’ve even got that glow in your eyes, cousin.
I rolled my eyes.
— Are you planning to stare at me until you figure out my emotional state? — I said with a laugh. — Or did you suddenly develop a thing for men? You’re practically leaning in for a kiss.
He burst out laughing.
— Even if I did, you wouldn’t be my type. Cousins can’t hook up.
I couldn’t help laughing too.
— Idiot.
— Idiot, but with good taste.
— All right, I’m free now. — I turned to face him, my desk between us. — What did you actually come here to talk about?
— You’re different — he said, ignoring the question. — You seem… relaxed.
I stood up, turned my back to him, and walked over to the shelf where I kept a bottle of whiskey. I poured a drink and handed him the glass.
— Thanks, man, you’re so thoughtful — he said with mock sincerity.
I decided to steer the conversation back to work.
— I’ve been thinking about the affordable housing project. — I adjusted my tone to sound professional. — I need someone to assist me directly. I’m overloaded, and my secretary already has too much on her plate. Someone studying engineering would be ideal.
— Exactly — he agreed, suddenly serious. — Send me the formal request by email, and I’ll approve the position.
— Perfect. — I sat back down.
Henrique took a sip of the whiskey and then looked at me again with that mischievous grin.
— Now that the business talk’s over, let’s get to what really matters. — He set the glass down. — Did you sleep with her or not?
I shook my head, exasperated.
— You’re unbearable.
— So that’s a yes? — he asked, amused.
I sighed.
— Yeah.
Henrique’s grin widened, and he clapped his hands together.
— Finally! I was starting to think my favorite cousin had become a monk and was planning to move to Tibet.
I rolled my eyes but chuckled.
— I’m your only cousin, Henrique.
— And the slowest one when it comes to realizing a woman’s into him — he shot back. — So who is she?
— I don’t know.
— What do you mean, you don’t know?
— It was just one night. — I shrugged. — We didn’t even exchange names.
Henrique stared at me, surprised.
— A stranger? That’s new for you.
— Yeah. — I smiled faintly. — But it was… different.
— I bet it was. — He laughed. — “Different” is what you say when you’re trying to convince yourself you didn’t like it.
— Her name’s Ruth, all right? — I blurted out, making it up.
Henrique frowned.
— Ruth? That sounds like someone’s great-aunt. — He made a face. — I prefer my Júlia.
The sound of that name stirred something in me—like an echo, a shapeless memory. I couldn’t explain it, but every time I heard the name of the girl my cousin claimed to be in love with, something inside me reacted. Not unpleasantly. Quite the opposite.
Of course, Henrique didn’t notice and went on excitedly:
— Trust me, cousin. Júlia’s the one for me. She just hasn’t realized it yet.
— “Your” Júlia? — I said, laughing.
— That’s right. — He raised his glass in a mock toast. — And you’re going to be the witness when we start dating.
I smiled and shook my head. Henrique downed the rest of his drink, while mine sat untouched. I then emptied my glass in one go, unaware of the surprises fate was already setting in motion.
Júlia
Cecília came back on Tuesday glowing. In love—there was no better word for it. She talked about Jaime nonstop, and the moment her phone rang, I already knew who it was.
I was genuinely happy for her, but deep down, a twinge of fear lingered. I didn’t want to be a burden in her life or get in the way of that bright, lighthearted phase she was living.
Over the next few days, it became clear that they were inseparable. The apartment felt emptier every time she left, and I felt more and more out of place.
That Tuesday afternoon, I returned from yet another job interview—another failure. I hadn’t made it to the final round, and to make things worse, I didn’t even have the energy to go to class that night.
I stopped by the mall near campus, bought a coffee, and sat in the food court with my books open, trying to review for an upcoming test.
But concentration was an illusion. With every paragraph, my thoughts drifted somewhere else—to my father, the job I’d lost, and inevitably, that night in Brotas I was trying so hard to forget.
— Good evening, beautiful lady.
The voice came with the scrape of a chair pulling up in front of me. I looked up to find Henrique, smiling as if fate had just done him a favor.
— Good evening, Henrique — I replied, trying to sound polite.
He seemed thrilled by the “coincidence,” and I forced myself not to look tired. Henrique was kind and funny, but there was something about his forwardness that made me uneasy. Not because of him, exactly—but because of everything I’d been through.
— Studying? — he asked, unnecessarily, glancing at the books and notes scattered across the table.
— Trying to — I said, forcing a small smile.
— I’m here for work — he added, sitting up straighter as if to justify being there.
— I see. — That was all I managed to say.
The conversation died for a few seconds before he asked, in a tone that almost sounded gentle:
— Did you find a new job?
My stomach tightened. Just hearing the question made me tense. I knew he was only trying to be nice, but I dreaded him bringing up that job offer again—the one at his company. Henrique could be persistent, and I didn’t want to mix my vulnerability with dependence on anyone, least of all a man.
Sensing my silence, he quickly backtracked.
— Sorry, that was rude of me.
— It’s fine — I lied, lowering my gaze back to my notebook.
He seemed to consider saying more but eventually sighed and stood up.
— I’ll let you study in peace, then.
— See you around, Henrique — I said with a faint smile. He returned the gesture with a brief wave.
As he walked away, I let out a long sigh, resting my chin in my hands. It felt like every conversation, every attempt to move forward, just reminded me how stuck I was—no job, no direction, and now, a memory that refused to leave me alone.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the image of the man from Brotas. The green eyes. The stranger who, for one night, had made me forget everything.
A mistake, I kept telling myself.
A mistake I couldn’t—and didn’t want to—repeat.