Chapter 21

Maria Eduarda

Honestly, I don't know how I managed to get to my classroom. When I arrive, silence is established, and I look at everyone with curiosity, finding this strange.

I thought that the teacher would already be in the classroom, and luckily he wasn't. Honestly, what I wanted was to get back into the arms of my Prince Leon Vitorino.

- Who is that man you were kissing? - I am woken from my thoughts and look at the questioner. It was Pedro.

- No one you care about-I didn't like the way he spoke to me.

- So you mean that the hollow dick saint is dating?

- Pedro, I don't have to tell anyone about my life here!

- My, how someone is annoyed! - he mocks me, and says to everyone in the room: - Did you see Duda putting on a show with that old man?

- Pedro, stop it! - I ask, wishing the teacher would come soon.

- Tell us more about the old man.

Honestly, I didn't recognize him, the way he was putting on a show and teasing me seemed not to be him, but someone else.

- Peter, I'm not going to talk about my life to you or to anyone else in this room.

- But you have to tell us about the old man, is he good in bed? - I looked at him still not understanding what was going on in his head.

- Pedro, shut up! - I ask, my patience wearing thin.

- No, let's continue. Tell me, go on, be a good girl, not a whore! - I look at him shocked. I never imagined him saying that kind of thing, it was as if he wasn't Pedro there.

And the way he said "whore" kind of shocked me and left me with one foot back. He wouldn't have been able to do that to me, would he? I kept asking myself. Pedro seemed really paranoid, and only got a grip when the teacher came in. I couldn't wait to tell Leon about my suspicion.

I changed tables and tried to stay as far away from Pedro as possible, but I could always feel his gaze following me. I wondered how I never noticed this.

I thank God that the hours passed quickly and it was almost time for Leon to pick me up. I hardly hear what the teacher says, I only realize that the students were getting up. I pack up my things, grab my backpack and leave quickly, not wanting to bump into Pedro again.

I leave the building and see that Leon is already waiting for me outside. He waves to me, and I wave back. I couldn't wait to get close to him and throw myself into his arms.

As I am walking towards him, I am grabbed by the arm, and when I turn to scream I am faced with Pedro, unrecognizable.

- Let go of me, Pedro! - I ask, trying to control the fear I felt from him.

- Now, now, where do you think you are going?

- Let go of me, Pedro, who do you think you are? - I shout, and see Leon pulling Pedro away from me.

- You didn't hear what she asked, did you? - Leon was enraged.

- What? - Pedro plays dumb.

- Who do you think you are? - Leon pulls Pedro up and pushes him against the nearest wall, squeezing his neck tightly.

- Me? I'm a man who will destroy you! - he says, as if he were crazy, or maybe he really is.

- Oh, you think you're smart, don't you? - Leon threatens him and squeezes his neck even tighter, making him choke. I pull on Leon's arm, and almost can't, he is so strong.

- Leon, let him go," I ask, calmly, as Leon puts another arm around his neck.

- Did he hurt you?

- No, he didn't hurt me," I warn, wanting to reassure him and get it over with, seeing that we were the center of attention.

- Are you sure?

- Yes, he's just a jerk anyway," I answer, reassuring him, and ask once more, "Leon, let him go, please. You don't deserve to get your hands dirty because of him.

I notice that Leon is still hesitating, and finally lets him go. I saw that my prince was still upset, and I hug him. I realize that Pedro is lying there on the floor coughing and looking at me angrily.

- Now calm down, he doesn't deserve your anger.

- But he was touching you! - he says, possessed.

- He's not touching me anymore!

- I don't like any man touching you! - he looks at Pedro and says: - If you come near my girlfriend, I won't take responsibility for my actions.

- You'll regret threatening me," Pedro says, looking at us angrily, and walks away.

Leon pulls me into his arms and hugs me. I go willingly to him. I look around to see if anyone is near us, and realize that the little show is over and everyone has left.

- What happened? - Leon asks, worried.

- Nothing.

- Are you sure?

- Positive.

- So now that everything is fine, you owe me something," he says, very sensually.

- Oh, yeah? And what do I owe you?

- You owe me a kiss!

- So let me pay you back," I rise to my feet. Our mouths meet and we kiss very slowly for a while. When we part, we are panting, and I joke: "Gee, every time we kiss I get shaky legs and shortness of breath. We'd better stop kissing.

- But no way! - he says, kissing me again, and this time I feel his tongue on mine. The onlooker would think we were putting on a little show, but for us this was just to satisfy our longing.

- Leon, I'm hungry! - I say, still gasping for breath, and when we let go I almost fall over. My legs had turned to jelly. I hear Leon's humorous voice teasing me:

- Can't you walk?

- Your fault! - I accuse him, and he gives me a panty-wetting smile.

- My fault? - he says, as if he didn't know he had a power to mess with me. - If you knew that right now I need a bath...

- A bath? - I see that the pants he was wearing were quite bulky and I giggle.

- Oh, so you noticed?

- Well, there's no denying it, no! - I point to the beautiful bulge.

- This is your fault! - he takes the backpack from my shoulder and puts it on his, pulls me into his arms again and puts me in front of him.

- Nothing is my fault!

- But of course you are! - and starts whispering in my ear: - You are guilty of making me unusually horny, you are guilty of being so beautiful, you are guilty of being so hot, and you are so guilty of wanting me to do every single thing to you!

- And what things do you want to do to me? - I tease him, not recognizing myself.

- Oh, my queen, the things I want to do with you are quite improper.

- And when will you want to do these things with me?

- When you, my queen, are ready.

- And why do you think I'm not ready?

- Oh, my pretty one, we must capture the madman, and only then will you be free to give yourself to me.

- I love you, Leon! - I speak, sincerely, knowing that he was right, as much as I want to give myself up, the feeling of being watched is horrible.

- I love you too, my love. Now, let's go to lunch, I need to feed my queen.

We went to the car, and from there we went to the mall for lunch.

The food was wonderful, and the company, to say the least. Being with Leon was the best thing that had ever happened to me. As soon as we finished eating, I saw some ice cream and told Leon:

- Leon, I want some ice cream!

- Ah, let's go then!

I choose an ice cream cone filled with dulce de leche.

- My goodness, that's delicious! - I sigh. I'm crazy about ice cream.

- Damn it! - Leon grunts.

- What's wrong?

- Nothing, no.

I look at him suspiciously.

- Do you want some? - I offer, and he takes the ice cream into his mouth and licks it in such a sensual way that it makes me shiver. Leon returns the ice cream and, without realizing it, kisses me very well, running his tongue over my lips.

- Duda and ice cream, my two favorite desserts.

- Ice cream and Leon are also my favorite dessert," I wink and bring the ice cream to my mouth. I drink it until it's finished, and Leon takes it with me. That's because he didn't want to buy it because he didn't feel like it, imagine if he did. When I'm done with the ice cream, my hand is all greasy, and I tell him: - Leon, I have to go to the bathroom to wash my hands.

- I'll go too, I'll meet you here in the hall.

We each go into our own bathroom. I don't take long and come out, and am startled again to find Pedro right in front of me.

- What are you doing here? - I ask, taking care not to raise my voice.

- Why, I'm waiting for you, my love! - he says quietly.

- Are you crazy? Coming after me?

- Me, crazy? - he mocks.

- Go away, Pedro, Leon will be here soon and beat the crap out of you," I threaten him, and he gives me a cold smile. At this point I get a bad feeling when he replies:

- I think your old man is going to be half incapacitated by now to come to your rescue - Pedro sneers, and I take a step back.

- Peter, what have you done to him? - I feel terrible fear.

- Why, nothing, I just put him to sleep for a while!

- You're sick!

- Me, sick? Of course not - he comes towards me, and I walk backwards until I end up against the wall. Pedro puts his hand in his jacket, takes out a revolver and points it at me, saying:

- Without so much as a peep, you will leave very slowly and arm in arm with me.

- Please, Pedro, leave me alone! - I ask, but I know it was useless to talk to this crazy man.

- I won't, now be a good girl and let's leave very quietly, as if nothing was happening," I stare at the bathroom door, hoping that Leon would appear and everything Pedro said would be a lie. - Now let's go, and without a peep, or you'll die, and you can be sure that I'll come back to the bathroom and finish that old man off for good.

- All right, Pedro, I'll go with you! - I finally give in, and see his triumphant face. I take one last look at the men's room door and walk away knowing that maybe this was the last time I would see my Prince Charming.

As we walked down the corridor of the mall, I kept looking to see if I saw any security guards, and nothing, it was as if they had vanished from the map. And we left the mall without anyone saying a word.

When we arrived at the parking lot, a group of people was passing by. I try to get free of him and shout loudly:

- Help me... - and nobody looks at me, it was as if they weren't even listening. The fear I felt there was enormous, and then I felt the barrel of the gun on the back of my head.

- I warned you! - and I feel an excruciating pain. I felt that my legs were running out of strength and that my head was going to explode. I slowly gave in to the darkness, but before it got me completely, my sister Vanessa would be devastated when she knew I wasn't coming back. I say a prayer and ask God to help me.

- Leon, my love, forgive me! - I whisper to myself, and fall into darkness.