Chapter 40: The victory

Just like a bull, before advancing on its opponent, it is panting and only then attacks. That was where Filipe found himself, panting and eyes boiling with rage.

I was a little scared, obviously. But for some reason, which may seem silly to some, I was absolutely sure that Filipe wouldn't hurt me. Not physically.

"You mean I'm not a man?" Question getting even closer to me, leaving a minimum distance between our bodies.

"You can't rule everything and own everything." I speak firmly, looking into his eyes. "Fernando may have screwed up, but he's getting married. Fernando needs a house for his wife and eventually for his kids. Having that house in his name won't make you feel any better." I speak in a normal tone of voice.

"So what do you suggest?" He asks with his jaw set, holding back his anger. "Do you want me to take care of someone who has always humiliated me? Do you want me to become his little friend? Spare me Giulia". He says turning his back on me.

I walk until Filipe has gone and we are face to face again. Filipe was sulking, like a child who's been told he can't do something.

"I'm not asking you to befriend Fernando and play golf on Saturdays." I speak and Filioe shows a small smile, which soon disappears. "I mean you suffered a lot and the people who were supposed to protect you, hurt you. I'm not asking you to bond here, I'm just asking you not to become like them."

Then Filipe looks me in the eye, his face full of confusion and surprise at my words.

"Fernando tried to kick you out of the family and that hurt." I speak and remain silent.

I could see that Filipe was holding back the tears to not break down right there, so I held his hand and started petting him there.

"Don't do what they did to you, don't go down to their level and try your hardest to be different." I speak and Filipe stares at me intently. "It's your family and you're responsible for them, you don't have to repay them with malice. Repay them with kindness and oh yes, you'll hurt them." Filipe listened to me, still thoughtful. "They will have such a bad conscience and it will haunt them until the end of their days."

I finish and allow myself to breathe, only now had I realized that I wasn't breathing. Filipe was crestfallen, not out of sadness but lost in thought.

Sure enough, Filioe was analyzing my words and weighing them. I was anxious, crazy to know what his solution would be.

"Hang on". Filipe just talks and goes back to the car.

At first I think Filipe is going to take the car and drive off, like any fool would. But I watch him from afar, lift the car seat and put out a paper. Filipe locks the car and turns towards me.

"What it was?" I ask confused by her attitude.

"No big deal, shall we?" Question showing me the smile and taking my hand.

I find his mood strange, because a few seconds ago we were fighting and now he was showing a smile. Filipe could forgive me, but I only expected the worst from him. Filipe entered the house and went to the dining room, where we always had our meals.

The room was crowded as usual, so I tried to take my hand away from Filipe's, but Filioe held it tightly. I looked as if he might be able to rip his hand off, and he was, but Philip shrugged it off.

"Good morning everybody". Filipe speaks with the biggest face in the world.

The chair in the corner was empty, clearly because that was where Filipe sat. Fernando sat very close to Filipe. Fernando had several bruises on his face and his face was not in the best condition, unable to control myself from laughing.

Because Fernando was making a king of the world and untouchable face, but he had several bruises on his face. Those who didn't find it funny, it's because they didn't see it with their own eyes. Filipe sat down in the chair and crossed his legs, as if he were very comfortable there.

The weather was sweltering and I glanced at Vidia with a small smile, but I got no response. Quite the contrary, Vidia looked at me as if I were the cause of all the problems.

I wasn't innocent and obviously I was involved in the affairs, but I would never be blamed for anything. I was just in the middle of two dumb and senseless bulls, in a very fragile moment for me. I don't know if Vidia remembers, but I was on top of a runaway horse.

"What are the events for today?" I ask feigning animation, trying to break that terrible ice.

"One of them you already lost, which was the choice of the color of the wedding invitations". Vidia answers me, still staring at me sternly.

I stare at her like she's kind of lost, but to tell you the truth, I was really, really lost. I looked at Filipe and saw that he was calmly eating a piece of pie, as if his cousin weren't shooting him right next to him.

I really wanted to laugh, after all Filipe seemed to have no scruples. But I wasn't in a more favorable position than Filipe, in fact we were both being shot. Filipe for Fernando and I for Vidia.

And of course, even though they were talking, all the guests were watching us. It even felt like we were in a theater and the four of us were the protagonists.

I took a melon and began to eat calmly, as calmly as the environment allowed. Then I grabbed some sweet rolls and started to eat, realizing something.

It was the second time I had coffee, so I tried to eat little. Filipe was having tea, which I had noticed was his habit.

"Fernando my dear!" Mel arrives, drawing everyone's attention.

Mel looked at Fernando's bruises in shock, her mouth open in shock. She ran towards her son and began to study his body and face.

"But what happened?" Mel I ask in distress.

Me, Filipe, Vídia and Fernando looked at each other. But unlike the three of us, Filipe had a small, victorious smile on his lips.