Helena fully embraced the outings with Bruno, who convinced her to do not only bike rides but also a schooner tour of beaches with crystal-clear waters, white and pink sands, large waves, rocks, and the lush forest descending from the hills. He insisted on taking photos of Helena enjoying the sun touching her skin, or laughing when she caught him taking pictures of her. Helena also visited some islands and went snorkeling and diving. In addition, with Bruno's guidance, she explored some waterfalls that made her sigh, like the Cachoeira do Saco Bravo, a small waterfall with a delightful natural pool nestled in the rocky coastline of Ponta da Juatinga, from where you could see the sea so close that it felt like an infinite pool.However, none of the tours compared to visiting Bruno's parents, who always insisted on having them for lunch and afternoon coffee, even though Loreta always repeated the same kind words to Helena. The blonde loved being close to them while waiting for Bruno to
The Cachaça Festival is crowded, indicating it's one of the most celebrated events in the city. Dozens of stalls have been set up around the main church for tasting cachaças produced in the region. On the makeshift stage, there are various shows, and when Helena arrives, she sees the presentation of traditional ciranda groups from Paraty in their typical costumes. She claps excitedly during the performance, while Bruno admires her from a wooden table at the festival with a silly grin."Man, take a napkin," Jonathan says, handing Bruno a paper one. "You're drooling.""Very funny," Bruno replies, slapping his friend's hand."Seriously, in a little while, Helena will leave Paraty with you drooling over her and weighing ten kilos more," Gabriel joins in the teasing."What surprises me is that in these five days of you wanting her like this, you haven't taken her to bed," Lucas chimes in."What's the problem?" Bruno questions, annoyed with Lucas's remark."None, but that's not the Bruno I
Bruno and Helena turned towards the owner of the voice, who was with Jonathan. The girl couldn't be older than twenty, very slim, and wearing a long-sleeved dress that didn't suit the heat of that night. Jonathan hurriedly pulled out a chair for her, almost in desperation. She stared at Bruno and Helena as if expecting something to be said."Helena, this is Raquel," Bruno introduced, pointing to the girl. "Jonathan's girlfriend.""Fiancée," the girl corrected, looking at Bruno seriously. Then she turned to Helena. "And you're the famous Helena.""Hey, let's go get some drinks," Jonathan proposed to Bruno, who got up and went with him.The guys left, and silence fell between the women. Helena wanted to talk more with Raquel, but the girl buried her face in her phone, leaving little space for conversation. When she finally looked up, Helena managed to say something."I'm really glad to hear that Jonathan talked about me to you," Helena said, extending her hand with a smile, but Raquel d
"And that's how a guy broke up with me because of the color of my hair," Helena concluded the story she was telling to her coworker, Lúcia, as they walked along the busy Avenida Paulista towards the office."No way! You left town after getting dumped just before your wedding, and you went to Parati, and..." Lúcia began to say before taking a generous sip of coffee."I got dumped again," Helena interrupted, raising her coffee cup towards her friend. "Cheers to me.""Seriously, the drinks later are on me," Lúcia said."Thanks, I'll need it. Especially because I still have to face my mother, who has been warning me all along, and I didn't listen.""In the end, moms are always right," Lúcia concluded."Well, at least I got to see wonderful places and a decent distillery," Helena commented. "I even brought back a bottle of cachaça as a souvenir for you.""Thanks, friend," Lúcia said, entering the building with Helena."The worst part is that when Leandro broke up with me, it didn't hurt as
Helena turns around, finding Leandro, the owner of the voice and apparently also the owner of the bouquet in his hands. He approaches, and Helena notices that her ex-fiancé is also holding a box of Swiss chocolates, her favorites."A bit awkward..." whispers Lúcia. She clears her throat and continues, "Um... I'll head to the station because... well, I should.""What are you doing here, Leandro?" Helena asks, serious, completely ignoring Lúcia's departure."I'm here doing exactly what I said in the card," Leandro replies, getting closer, which automatically makes Helena take two steps back. He stops and continues, "Helena, I want to apologize for the things I said... I didn't mean them.""Well, you said it was what you felt in your heart," Helena recalls, narrowing her eyes. "So I don't understand why I should forgive you... You were right.""No, Helena, I wasn't," denies Leandro, shaking his head. He tries to approach again as he explains, "I was nervous about the wedding. I said thos
Regina closes the apartment door, beaming with joy. She could even jump for joy with the happiness filling her heart. Her plan was working. She could already envision herself strolling through Parque Ibirapuera once again. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice her son Marcelo's presence, who had just entered the room, adjusting his jacket."What are you up to, Dona Regina?" Marcelo asks, raising an eyebrow."Oh, you scared me, boy!" Regina exclaims, turning toward her son. She looks at him, annoyed, as she says, "Is that how you talk to your mother?""Well, it's pretty obvious from your face that you're plotting something," Marcelo replies, pointing at his mother's face. "And that wicked smile confirms it's about Leandro and Helena. You know, Dona Regina, any normal mother, upon seeing her daughter left at the altar, wouldn't want to see the guy again, not even painted in gold. But you... you practically threw our daughter back into the arms of the guy who, in case yo
"Helena, please, give me a chance to make things right. I've realized my mistakes and I'm ready to change. Let me prove that I still love you." said Leandro sincerely.Helena hesitates; she is still torn between her feelings for Leandro and what happened between her and Bruno."Leandro, I don't know... I moved on, and I'm not sure going back would be the right choice," replied Helena.The rain starts pouring heavily, making the streets shimmer with water. As she tries to protect herself and the package from the heavy drops, Leandro continues speaking:"Then at least let me drive you home. We can talk on the way, and you can decide what's best for both of us."Helena considers the offer for a moment, contemplating her options. The rain intensifies, making it clear that walking home would be uncomfortable, to say the least."Fine, Leandro." Helena reluctantly agrees. "But it doesn't mean anything has changed between us. It's just a ride home. I don't want to talk about anything."They w
Bruno was hunched over a computer, his fingers typing intensely on the keyboard. The monitor's light cast a soft glow on his features, highlighting the furrowed brow and determination in his eyes. Ever since Helena had left, Bruno had been completely immersed in his work, a fact that caught the attention of his friends. It was unlike him; typically, after parting ways with a girl, Bruno would quickly get involved with someone new. But this time, things were different.Two customers, oblivious to Bruno's apparent disinterest, chatted at the counter, eagerly waiting for his attention. He seemed lost in a world of reservation databases and schedules, paying no mind to the enthusiastic tourist leaning over the counter, her fiery red hair falling forward as she tried to catch his eye.As she leaned in with flirty gestures, Bruno's focus remained steadfast on the screen. It was as if he had built an impenetrable fortress around him, a bubble deflecting all external distractions, including t