The six chimes of the staircase clock indicate that it is time for breakfast. Malú is already up, finishing getting ready for school, or trying to, as she spent half the time trying to hide the dark circles under her eyes from the sleepless night she had because of everything that had happened and her curiosity about the deal made by her mother. with the Almeida.
She pulls away to see her entire body in the mirror and grimaces at what she sees: She looked just like the girls in the movies she watched with her friends and laughed, finding the outfit horrible. It was a blue coat, over a light blue shirt with the school crest and the plaid skirt that went to just above the knee that was hidden under the thick gray sock. Her hair is standing on end, even though she's creamed it to tame it. She had only put on a pair of earrings to enhance her look. The girls need to see this, Malú thinks, taking a picture of herself and sending it to the girls. Then he remembers that he hadn't been able to reach his aunt the day before, opens the conversation with his aunt and decides to send a text message:
Aline (aunt)
+553199999–999
Hi Aunt. I miss...
Strange things are happening
When you stay on let me know. I love you.
—Miss Maria Luisa. – calls Adelaide, knocking on the bedroom door — They are waiting for you for breakfast.
Malú takes a deep breath looking at her cell phone, waiting for the answer that didn't come. So he puts it in his backpack and opens the door to find Adelaide who looks at her worriedly. Malú adjusts her black patent–leather shoes and leaves, passing the maid towards the dining room, where she finds Maria Luísa, Thiago, Vera and Graziela, the latter two surprising the young woman, as they are already at the others' houses so early. They were talking animatedly, when they stopped to watch Malú's arrival. The matriarch looks at her granddaughter with contempt, it is not known if it was because of the delay, or if she could not bear her granddaughter's presence. Thiago looks at his daughter anxiously, waiting for a better contact than the ones he's had in recent days. Graziela smiles at Malú while Vera looks at the young woman with a certain disdain.
— Whoever is alive always appears. – comments Vera, looking Malú up and down, who pulls out a chair to sit down. The blonde Beauty extends her arm towards Malú —Don't sit down yet, let us see you in Erasto's uniform.
Malú stands next to the chair feeling as if she were a laboratory rat, or a zoo animal, being watched by them. Vera claps her hands, happy.
—Oh, how I missed that emblem. – Vera nostalgic comments — Of course, in my time the uniform was not so casual... Modern, but still represents the prime of Curitiba society. Maria Luísa… – calls the young woman looking at Malú's grandmother — Do you remember your uniform?
— Yes, it was a nice uniform. – Maria replies without taking her eyes off her plate — We wore green gift skirts and a crisp white shirt, not to mention white socks and black patent–leather shoes. A decent, traditional uniform that pretty much represented what the school was all about. But times change... And today they call it the uniform.
— Really, time passes. – exclaims Graziela smiling — Until a few years ago we were the ones who were going to school, remember love?
—Yes. – answers Thiago, shy with Malú's curious gaze.
— I bet your father hasn't told you since when we met, right Malú? – Asks Grazi touching the groom's black hair. She smiles at Malú and continues — The three of us were Erasto's students in the same year. And I remember we were in the same class since second grade. And in high school, at the time, high school, he asked me out on a date. I remember he said, “We are meant to be together” and gave me a surgical steel ring. Remember love?
— For you to see how life is. – begins Vera eating a grape. She looks at Malú and continues — You were always perfect for each other. Even with the gigantic obstacles they faced. Thiago always thought you were the ideal woman for him. So much so that they will get married. What fate has united nothing and no one separates. No little woman was capable of this feat...
Malú feels her cheeks red, her hand grips her cutlery so tightly that her knuckles turn white. She knows that this was a hint for Anna, then for her mother who is not here to defend herself. Malú feels angrier for not being able to defend himself against that attack, as he has no voice. Then she looks at the grape juice that is in front of her, holds the glass eagerly. I may not speak, but it won't stay like this...
— Miss, the car is ready… – Jaime warns, arriving at the dining room and interrupting Malú's action.
The person who responds to an aggression with another aggression places himself on the same level as his aggressor, Malú recalls a phrase by Hugo Lapa, which his mother always quoted to her when she was angry. The young woman gets up from the table, takes her backpack and goes towards the driver who leads her to the car.
—Why did you say that, Vera? – asks Thiago, irritated. —Why did you call Anna a little woman?
— But I didn't say anything about Anna, Thiago. – Vera defends herself, pretending not to understand what he meant — By the way, who is Anna?
— Malú's mother. – answers Thiago, seriously — And, please, just do your job from now on. Find out who the person is threatening me and my family.
—Are you being threatened? – asks Maria Luisa, worried. — How? When was that? Already have a suspect?
— Vera, show the letter to my mother. – asks Thiago, taking another sip of coffee and getting up — Vera is in joint action with the police to find out who this person could be doing this. Maybe it was just a prank call, but we're evaluating the whole situation.
— Where are you going, dear? – asks Graziela, holding the groom's arm.
— I'll take Malú to school, thinking about it, that's my obligation, at least for the first day of school. – Thiago answers, kissing the top of Graziela's head. — See you later.
— Don't forget that today at two in the afternoon, we have to go and choose the restaurant for our engagement dinner. – warns Graziela, but Thiago is already far away, he probably didn't hear the words of his fiancée.
— Show me the letter, Vera. – asks Maria Luisa, looking at the blonde who is rummaging through her bag — I need to know what we're dealing with.
Maria Luísa takes the letter from Vera's hands and slowly opens it. There are the letters cut from magazines and newspapers and placed, one by one, forming a message that says:
"Give up the campaign, or you'll lose everything you love... I promise."
— Well, we can only reinforce security at all costs. Postpone social events and public exhibitions until that person is found. – Maria concludes handing the paper to Vera.
— I think it's a little rash. – says Vera — Let's not get carried away by despair because of a threat. I guarantee that this uncomfortable situation will soon be under control.
— I hope so, Vera. – says Maria Luísa, wiping her lips on her napkin.
— And speaking of uncomfortable situations… – begins Graziela, facing her future mother–in–law — What do you intend to do with the girl? Are you going to put her in a boarding school in Switzerland? What are your plans to hush up this case? To make sure that this stain from Thiago's past doesn't come to light.
— What I'll do? – asks Maria Luísa, confused — I won't do anything, because the situation is already more than resolved. The young woman will live with us, her family.
—Do you mean to say that she will live in this house? – Graziela asks, trying to hide her frustration.
—Yes, what did you think would happen to my granddaughter? – asks Maria Luisa, curious.
—Well, I thought you were going to keep her away, as you've been doing all these years, for the benefit of your family.
— So, you think I pushed Maria Luisa away, for the sake of our family? – Asks the matriarch. She gets up and touches her daughter–in–law lightly on the shoulder. — I understand your mistake regarding my past decisions, but I want you to understand one thing: Nothing is what it seems. And certainly, the decisions I made regarding my granddaughter were the best for both of them. One day, when you're in my place, you'll understand that very well.
***
Jaime drives the car towards the concierge, when he sees his boss waving towards the car. He goes around, parking next to Thiago who knocks on the glass:
— Jaime, let me take Malú to her appointments today. – warns Thiago, excited.
The driver gets out of the car and opens the door for the young woman to get out, she doesn't understand what happened to Thiago to want to take her to school. She hadn't been taken by anyone on her first day of school in years.
The two head to his car, where they get in without saying anything. She even thanks it, so she wouldn't have to pretend she was paying attention, being able to focus her mind on her friends and aunt. Think about what each of them was doing while she had to go to her family's traditional school. Thiago pulls over the car in front of the renowned school and helps Malú to get his things out of the car. He adjusts his black suit and kisses Malú's forehead, who tries to avoid the gesture.
— I'll come get you to go to the psychologist, all right? – Thiago informs, trying to give his daughter a confident smile.
Malú shakes her head as she rolls her eyes at Thiago. He places his hand on top of his daughter's head and shakes it, ruffling her daughter's hair. In response she shoots him with her big blue eyes.
— Excuse me . – he asks shyly. —Well... Have fun, enjoy your day, do what teenagers do and... Anything just call me, Okay?
He gets in his car and waves away from the school gate. She watches the car drive away and then turns toward the beautiful entrance to the school. He takes a deep breath and walks inside the school for his first day .