"I'm drying a floor, not running a marathon." Helena frowned in outrage at my response. "I don't think it's appropriate for you to do that.""May I know why?" I questioned critically, already imagining what would come next. "Because... You don't do these things." she explained awkwardly, gesturing toward the cloths and the floor. I frowned, almost offended by her statement."As far as I know, I have hands and all the limbs that enable me to perform any kind of task, Helena. I don't understand your point." I acidly rebutted. She sighed and touched her temples for a few seconds, then looked at me again. "You understood what I meant.""No, I don't. Why don't I do 'those things'? "I insisted. Helena huffed impatiently. "Do you really want me to clarify? I thought just the place you live in already made it implied." She retorted, tipping her head slightly to the side with a smile at the corners of her lips.I remained with a displeased and closed expression."Did you assume a character

"You're the most animated person I've ever seen washing a dish," I joked, still in the same position watching her. Helena was almost purple and I laughed, making her laugh with me amidst her bashfulness. "She shrugged, still laughing, and I agreed, leaving the door and walking to the fridge in search of a glass of water. "Let me get it for you," she said as she saw me grab a glass and open the fridge. "No need. You can keep dancing if you want, I didn't want to get in your way." I joked, calmly sipping the cold liquid, and, glancing over, I could see her eyes narrowing in my direction. She mumbled an almost inaudible "that's funny" that made me laugh briefly and turned forward, drying the sink. I saw her yawn and scratch her eyes, still cleaning the place. I went over and deposited the glass there, motioning with my hand for her to stop doing that, receiving a confused look in response when she turned to face me. "Can I get you anything?" she asked bewildered, and I nodded my head

"Hey, Helena! Good morning, young lady." Cicero entered the place with his typical grandfatherly manner, carrying some bags with him. He was an extremely nice gentleman in his fifties who was always smiling around. Like my mother, he had also worked for the Carters for years, but as a sort of butler."Good morning! How are you?" I smiled broadly at him and went to help him with the bags, placing them on the table and already removing the bread rolls from there. "I'm fine, thank you! What are you doing here? You're going to be late for class, young lady!" The gentleman reported exasperatedly, drawing a laugh from me. "My mother woke up a little unwell this morning, so I volunteered to serve coffee today," I explained as I adjusted the coffee pot, which soon began its work. "Oh. What's wrong with her?""Flu" I grimaced, taking the cold cuts out of the fridge."I'll make some tea that's shot and gone and take it to her." Cicero expressed excitedly as he followed me, I laughed and tha

"I don't think he needs me anymore," I joked, pointing with my head at the dog. "I'll be right there, then," I told John. He seemed to awaken from some reverie and looked at me seriously, seeming to sway about something. He looked away, ruffled his hair in a way that bewildered me, and then looked at me again, quickly running his tongue over his lips in a natural way that, if it had been on purpose, would not have been nearly as mesmerizing as this unpretentious act.God, he was so uneducatedly handsome.Liking someone is a strange business, because the person is just there breathing and you think, "Holy shit, what a wonderful human being." Still reluctant, Carter finally said something."I don't know what our level of closeness is," he began, and I looked at him strangely, staring at him with the biggest possible blank stare, "but... You seem to be the only person I can have a decent conversation with." John laughed humorlessly. I froze without understanding the reason for his ra

Walking distractedly inside the condominium, I noticed from a distance that the hall used for residents' meetings was "full," probably for this reason. The buzz of people in its external area indicated that the meeting was already over. As I approached the place, I noticed that a little girl, "who couldn't have been more than four years old," was standing on the sidewalk, looking somewhat frightened. Strangely enough, I approached her cautiously, seeing her shrink back as soon as she realized my presence. I bent down with the intention of staying at her size, smiling amiably at the little girl and demonstrating that I wouldn't do anything to her. "Hi." I began. "Cool teddy bear" I spoke, referring to the toy wrapped around her little arms. The little girl looked grudgingly at it, and soon after at me, expressing no reaction at all. "What's his name?" I tried again."Mister Bubu." she answered in a mumble. I smiled at her response. "Cool name! Hi, Mr. Bubu." I greeted him, laughing