- I like you a lot, Ari.
- Why do I not believe so much in your words? - I said laughing.
I really couldn't quite identify Therry's feelings. Sometimes I thought he genuinely liked me, other times he was just using me not to be alone, just like I was doing with him. No, I didn't feel guilty about it, after all, we both benefited from this relationship in some way. And I didn't want to fall in love with him... I think even if I tried, I could, because I saw many flaws in Therry, which I believe I wouldn't see if I liked him. I found him cocky, yet handsome . I hated that he smoked all the time, even though he lived in the gym and preached a healthy life he didn't. He wasn't very committed to anything. I didn't really like his mood swings, but he always ended up forgiving and I don't even know why .
- Therry, I think you better go. In a little while Helena and Samantha arrive and...
- So? We are boyfriends. So what's the problem with them coming and seeing me here? You don't pay for this apartment as much as they do? – he said angrily.
- I'm actually tired. – I lied. “I've had a busy day and I want to sleep.
- Then promise that this week you will reserve a time in your schedule just for me... Maybe we can have lunch or dinner together, just the two of us?
- Combined. - I said annoyed, for him to leave anyway.
He got up from the couch, gave me a quick kiss and left.
When he left I lay down on the couch and breathed a sigh of relief. Less and less I liked his presence in my house. I think it was time to definitively end that bad relationship, which didn't contribute anything to my life. He was leaving me with no space and I didn't like it.
Helena opened the door, looking tired.
- How was your day, friend? I asked.
- Well, as far as possible. And you?
- Trying to make it better. - I admitted.
She went to her bedroom and came back in her pajamas and slippers and sat with me on the couch.
- A coffee to accompany the sorrows? she asked laughing.
- Why not? - I said laughing too. I was supposed to make coffee for her who was arriving after me, but I knew they didn't like my presence in the kitchen for anything, not even to prepare a simple coffee. Maybe this is due to my terrible gift for cooking.
Soon I smelled brewed coffee all over the house and like crazy I got off the couch and closed the window so the aroma wouldn't go away. I sat down on the couch again and Helena came back with two cups of sugar-free blacks, just like we liked.
- I'm ready for you to confess.
- Oh, friend and how I need it. – I said laying my head on her shoulder after tasting that perfect coffee.
- How do you manage to have so many problems and still solve other people's?
I laughed:
- I already told you it's not like that, Helena. Psychologists don't solve other people's problems... It would be nice if it were so simple to solve people's problems, especially those we don't even know.
- But you could at least anticipate the problems before getting into them, right? You were always very correct and centered. There are things you can tell beforehand, Ari.
- Yes, it seems that I look for problems sometimes...
- Well then... Glad you have me, a faithful, loyal and wonderful friend. – she said laughing. - And Samantha, who is pretty cool too, but not as much as me.
I laughed out loud:
- I agree with you. In all.
- Well, what's going on between you and Therry?
- You already knew what I was going to talk about, didn't you?
- Of course... You don't even have to be your best friend to know that this is a problem.
- I can't stand being with him anymore. - I confessed.
- You can tell when you're together, Ari. But it seems he likes you. I see sincerity in his eyes when he says you're important and stuff like that. You know I don't like him very much, but I'll feel sorry for him when you're done.
- I didn't want everything to be so serious... It wasn't supposed to be like this. I don't even know how we got to this relationship, since I never wanted to. In fact, I have no intention of being in a serious relationship with anyone right now, especially someone who doesn't touch my heart in any way. And he's been pushing his presence into my life too much the last few days. I'm feeling suffocated.
- You need to tell him that... Not in all these words, obviously.
- I know... It's past time to finish what I shouldn't have started. But I lack courage... I don't want to hurt him.
- I think he'll be sorry... There's no way around it.
- I need to have the courage and tell him the truth as soon as possible. You can't take this too long, as it can create even more expectations.
- I agree.
- But now let's put my life aside and talk about our eternal problem, our friend Samantha.
- Hmm ... - Helena said taking all the coffee at once and making a face.
- Where is she? I should be home by now.
- She's at the bar on the block above.
- Doing what at the bar?
- Looking at Jonathan.
- Samantha can't do that. I said furiously.
- We have nothing to do, Ari. She's an adult.
- But they are no longer together, she ended it all herself.
- Well, she's sorry and she's decided she loves Jonathan.
- How can she do that? Did you know he had another one, saw him with her and still stoops like this?
- She did what she should have done at the time... She ended the relationship.
- Yes, she did well to break up with him. Jonathan was an ordinary, um... I don't even have words for what he did. But I don't know if I hate him more for betraying her or her for running after him like nothing happened.
- Like I said, she's an adult. There's nothing we can do, after all, she doesn't listen to our advice.
- But we are her friends, we need to intervene, don't you think?
- No. I do not think so. At the moment she does not accept opinions and we will only fight if we insist. We'll hold her when we need to, later on. - Helen said calmly.
- Helena, we can't let her fall. - I replied. I couldn't stand the way Samantha humiliated herself to Jonathan.
- I won't do anything, Ari. Samantha doesn't hear us. In fact, she doesn't listen to anyone.
- I... I'll talk to Jonathan.
- Maybe it would be a good idea... But what will he say? Who doesn't like her. And what can you do about it? Anything. There is no way to force him to like Samantha.
- What if he likes her? Maybe it 's good for his ego to see her chasing after him like this. - I thought.
- I'm almost convinced that Jonathan never felt anything for Samantha.
- Idiot... That's what he is. – I said angrily when I thought of that pair of green eyes.
- Don't say that... Jonathan is a nice guy. It deserves our consideration.
- Helena, I can't believe what I'm hearing. - Really, I could not believe that my friend was defending Jonathan and not Samantha.
- Ari, Samantha knew from the beginning that there was no future. She practically forced Jonathan to stay with her. He insisted so much that he had no way out. We know well that he never stayed with someone as long as he did with her. Six months... Long, in my opinion . I've never seen him get involved for so long. And she was happy, even though she knew it wasn't what she always dreamed of. He never lied about who and what he was like.
- What a horrible speech, Helena. Are you saying she should enjoy it while it lasted and that was it?
- I'm the only one who can see both sides, right? Have you ever thought of Jonathan in this story? No, you only think about Samantha, because she is our friend. And we're not to blame for her actions, Ari. We warned her about everything that could happen before she started the relationship with him, in an almost forced way. I know Jonathan and you know it. He and Daniel have been friends for a long time. He's not a bad guy. He never promised her anything. It was wrong indeed to betray her and she was right to break up with him. What I don't see the point is for her now to regret it and live behind him.
- I understand... - I said even though I didn't understand much. In my opinion Helena still defended Jonathan and I saw no defense for him.
- Besides, I have my suspicions in this whole story...
- Mistrust? What would they be? I asked curiously.
- Maybe I'm wrong... I've already tried to talk to Daniel about this subject, but he didn't make much point.
- Speak up, Helen.
- I think he looks at you with ulterior motives.
- Who, Jonathan? – I asked, trying not to laugh.
- Yea.
I started laughing heartily. Helena could only be crazy.
- I'm serious. – she said without laughing.
- That never happened... There's no possibility...
- Did you ever happen to see him looking at you? Or do you think there's no way he could be interested in you? And would you be interested in it?
- Helena... You can't be serious. – I said without laughing this time. He didn't know Helena's intention in saying all that nonsense.
- Well, I'll hope my eyes and my intuition are wrong. - She said getting up from the couch. “Because if I'm right, we're going to have trouble out there.
She went to the kitchen and I drank all my coffee in one sitting, then felt the bitter but good taste in my mouth. I picked up my cup and went after her, who was at the sink.
- When did you see this? I asked.
- Sometimes...
- Why didn't you ever tell me?
- Because we had never talked about it... Besides, Samantha is always with us, so I couldn't share it with you.
- I don't see the possibility of that happening.
Helena looked me in the eyes and asked:
- Because? You're a beautiful woman, Ari... Why couldn't he be interested in you?
- Helena, it could be just a look... It doesn't mean it's desire or whatever.
- Ari, I wasn't born yesterday. I'm not idiot.
- Okay... I'll keep an eye on that. Or should I not? she asked confused.
- I think you should be smarter, yes. Just don't meet his stares, for God's sake. she said. - Not now.
- Of course I wouldn't do that. - I said more than quickly. “Just thinking about it makes me feel bad.
Helena put the clean cup away and I started to wash mine. She gave me a kiss and said:
- I'm going to take a shower and go to sleep. I'm really tired.
- And the engagement?
- Optimally great. Wonderfully wonderful. – she said laughing.
I laughed. I loved it when she talked like that. And asking about the engagement always brought her joy.
- I've never seen anyone so in love with their future husband. I said making a face.
- Hoping that time passes soon and we get married. - she said.
hugged her tightly and said:
- You and Daniel deserve all the happiness in the world... You are very special. And I'm so happy for you...
She returned the hug:
- Ari, I hope you also feel what I feel someday. And I'm sure that when you least expect it, the man will appear who will take you off your center.
- I don't want to decentralize. - I said confidently.
She laughed:
- Good night, Ari.
- Goodnight.