Ana Oliveira Part 2

Days turned into weeks with the anticipation of seeing him in class. But he never showed up. The days dragged on, and while Isabela chattered endlessly, making me smile and forget, whenever my eyes left hers, they searched the room for that boy with the perfect, rebellious look. But Josiah was never there.
Bernardo looked lost, solitary, dejected, even dim, while the bullies, who only showed up when Josiah wasn’t around, taunted him throughout the class.
Had my kiss been that bad? Or was it my lack of experience? Damn it! I wondered a thousand things and found no answers. How could someone take you to heaven in minutes, only to throw you into hell without a second thought?
Josiah was like a roller coaster, lifting me up and bringing me down, and I, dizzy, missed the boy I had only seen twice in my life. Determined to find out more about his disappearance, I walked to Bernardo’s desk and sat next to him. He seemed surprised to see me there but then closed his expression and rested his face in his hand.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“No!”
“Do you want to talk?”
“Not again!” he grunted, rolling his eyes.
“Why did he disappear?” I mustered the courage to ask, finally seeing him look at me.
“I’m not a gossip. Ask him directly!” Bernardo said. “Now go back to your friend and leave me alone!”
Shocked by his rudeness, I sulked for the rest of the class. When I got home, my aunt was asleep, drugged up on the living room couch. I walked over and kissed her on the cheek, feeling a pang in my chest. She had been so unwell lately. She had been grieving, but since my first day of school, she had changed. It was as if her life had been drained. I found her crying in corners, staring out the window, clutching the locket she used to wear around her neck. The locket with the photo of her and my mom as children...
A sliver of sunlight entered through the living room window, shining directly on Marina’s face, making her forehead sweat. I walked to the curtains and wrapped the cord around my fingers, then looked out at the empty lawn, noticing the "For Sale" sign on the sidewalk of the neighboring property. My aunt always worried about that lot. She said she liked living in that house and that depending on who bought the neighboring lot in the future, she might end up losing her peace.
Suddenly, a piercing whistle startled me, a whistle like the one I heard on the bus on my first day of school. I recognized that sound. It had perfect notes to make a heart dance. It was his...
Excited, I ran outside, but before I bolted, I took a deep breath. I locked away my emotions and allowed myself to open the gate and come face to face with that boy in dark clothes from head to toe, now with a large ornate tattoo on his right shoulder, outlined in red and wrapped in plastic.
“Hi!” I greeted, so nervous that I felt birds fluttering in my stomach, and I could sense my heart racing to escape my mouth and speak to the boy before me.
There was no immediate response, only a broad smile with white, even teeth. My chest rose and fell, and I was sweating with my body overcome by a wave of eagerness. I was surprised when his strong arms wrapped around me, and I almost fainted from the scent that made him smell like safety. My chest tightened with the warm embrace as Josiah buried his nose in my hair and inhaled, seeming to feed off it.
He traced the backs of his fingers across my shoulders, while rubbing his nose on my forehead, moving the caress down my face, across my cheek, and stopping just beside my lips.
“Ana... Ana...” he murmured.
Josiah followed the path to a kiss, slowly and tenderly parting our lips with his tongue. It was filled with so much emotion, it hurt.
How could I miss him so much?
Why did I care so deeply for someone who had just arrived?
Why did his mouth taste like home?

“Where have you been, Josiah?” I whispered, brushing my lips against his, cradling his face between my hands.
“You can call me Jow!” he said, kissing my face lightly. “I had some things to take care of and had to go to my dad’s place for a few days. I missed you so much, Docinho…”
“I missed you too, Jow!” I whispered back, kissing his jawline. “I thought you didn’t enjoy our time together.”
“What?” he laughed, pulling me closer against him. Shivers ran down my spine as I felt something firm against my stomach. “I enjoy it so much, I’m like this…” My entire face heated up, causing a strange sensation in my body. “You’re so sweet, Ana!” he praised, pinching my cheek while smiling widely, still holding my waist.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I mustered the courage to ask.
“I was sorting out the mess inside me.”
I looked down as he let go of my waist and took my hand. I traced my right hand over the delicate chain around my neck. Josiah’s gaze followed the gesture.
“Did you like the gift?”
“Yes, it’s the most special thing I’ve ever received.”
“That’s good, Docinho,” he said, releasing my hand and lighting a cigarette. He stepped back a few inches, inhaling and exhaling the smoke through his nose. “I want to be with you!”
My heart raced so intensely I felt like I might fall. My hands grew cold and sweaty as I watched Jow with a smug smile, looking at me as if he knew exactly what he was doing to me. Unable to say anything, I swallowed hard and waited expectantly as his lips formed the four most magical words I’d ever hear:
“Will you be my girlfriend?”
I couldn’t contain myself; I hugged him tightly, making him groan from bumping into his tattoo. I bounced up and down excitedly, repeatedly saying yes and nibbling at his jawline.
“Wow, if I’d known you’d react like this, I would have asked sooner.”
“I’m so excited!” I said, realizing how silly I must look, so openly showing how in love I was.
“I only have one rule, Ana,” he said, flicking the cigarette away and cupping my face with his hands. There was a shadow on his face and a lot of seriousness in his green eyes. “Stay away from my brother!”
I furrowed my brows, trying to understand the command. Why would I be near that man? I was sixteen, and his brother seemed much older. What was the point of that request?
It was clear that Jow had issues with his brother. Problems with his father, problems with his brother… My boyfriend was a dark pot full of surprises.
“Why?”
“Because I’m telling you to stay away,” he replied, gently squeezing my face between his fingers. There was urgency in his words, and something cloudy—was it fear behind that request? What had happened between them? “You need to trust me, okay?”
“Yes,” I nodded. “I’ll stay away from him.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”