Doce
My college assignment is killing me. I haven't been able to sleep properly for days, and I couldn't even write two pages of what I needed. That assignment is frustrating me to the point where I'm seriously considering dropping out of college.
"Hi, love," Carlos says, entering the room. He puts his hand on my shoulder and goes to the bathroom. "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not," I reply angrily, closing the file. "Law is not for me."
"Why do you think that?" Carlos asks from inside the bathroom.
"Because I can't do anything they ask of me. I find everything boring and exhausting..." I shout so he can hear. I bite my lips as I think about the idea I had during those days. "I think it's better to quit college."
"What?" Carlos asks, appearing from the bathroom and stopping at the doorway. "Why would you give up on your degree?"
"Because I think it's not for me... I don't know... things are getting complicated, and I... I'm not good at this."
"Dália," Carlos says, turning my chair and looking at my face up close. "You're saying this just because you encountered an obstacle. Come on, what is it? If I quit every time something happened in the project, I wouldn't be here. I've been in the project for a year and I haven't given up on it! Now, just because you have a difficult assignment on your hands, do you want to quit? Dália, the secret to success is persistence. So face this assignment as if it were your enemy, and I'm sure that tomorrow when you have it in your hands, you will have given up on this idea."
He gives me a peck on the lips and walks to the wardrobe, where he takes out a clean tie and shirt. I turn my chair and watch my husband getting ready to go out again.
"Where are you going?" I ask, crossing my arms.
"Happy hour with the guys," Carlos answers, adjusting his tie. "Elson wants to get the gang together."
"Okay," I say, taking a deep breath afterward.
"I promise not to stay out too late," Carlos says, kissing my forehead. "I love you."
"I love you," I say as my husband leaves.
I look at my assignment once again: it's my enemy, and I need to face it. Then a window pops up on my computer, distracting me:
Mr.X says:
Good evening, Dália. How are you?
Dália Penedo Salazar says:
Not good. I have a college assignment to do... and oh my... I haven't made much progress, and it's due tomorrow. I'm desperate! The assignments are getting harder and harder, and I've been seriously considering dropping out of college. Carlos thinks I shouldn't give up just because of an obstacle, but I've been feeling this way for some time...
Mr.X says:
Calm down, Doce. I agree with your husband. I think before you give up on your college, you should think very carefully. What is your assignment about? Maybe I can help you.
Dália Penedo Salazar says:
Administrative act. I didn't find much-related information... I'm lost. The deadline is early tomorrow.
Mr.X says:
I have to go, my wife just arrived. I promise to help you with this assignment. Don't give up. See you later, Doce.
Dália Penedo Salazar says:
See you.
Hours pass, Carlos hasn't arrived, and my assignment is still exactly where I left it. I rest my head on the desk, dead tired. When I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder, startling me.
"Dália, come to bed," Carlos says.
"What time is it?" I ask, rubbing my eyes.
"Four," Carlos responds, pulling me against his body and leading me to bed. He covers me and kisses me on the forehead. "Good night, love."
"Good night," I reply, falling asleep.
***
The sunlight hits my face, waking me up. I stretch slowly and turn to my clock, which shows eight in the morning. I jump out of bed; I'm late for class, and I haven't finished the assignment. I rush to the bathroom and get ready. I return to the computer in despair; undoubtedly, I'll get a big fat zero on this assignment, which will cost me more hours of studying. Then I notice that the chat window on my messenger is blinking with Mr.X's name.
Mr.X says:
I hope this helps, Doce. Have a great day.
administrativeact.docx
I open the file and scroll through it, surprised. Everything I need is there; Mr.X has prepared the document for me to print. I sit down, add the header, and print it out. I'm late, but I have the assignment in hand.
A week later, my professor hands back the assignments, and mine has a big ten on it, surprising everyone, including Filomena, who has been avoiding talking to me since the other day. So I decided to share with Mr.X the conversation I had with my friend:
Mr.X says:
Don't worry, Doce. Your friend is just like those young girls I told you about: They associate sex with love and end up getting hurt unnecessarily. If they had the same maturity as you, they would know how to differentiate real feelings from virtual sex. It's just fun, nothing serious, and I'm glad to know that you don't take it too seriously, Doce.
Dália Penedo Salazar says:
Can I ask you a question?
Mr.X says:
Always.
Dália Penedo Salazar says:
Why do you call me "Doce"?
Mr.X says:
"Doce" means "sweet" in Portuguese. And you are the sweetest person I've ever met. But if you want me to stop, I can call you Dália again.
That sentence touched me. X thinks I'm sweet... it sounds strange, but I felt unique and special to him. I liked the nickname.
Dália Penedo Salazar says:
No, you can keep calling me Doce.
Mr.X says:
Great. Now I have to work, but I'll be back later. I hope to find you here.
Dália Penedo Salazar says:
See you, X.
Mr.X says:
Goodbye, Doce.
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