Chapter 2 Chapter 2

"Don't say that, Mary. I'm married."

"I know, Cristina. But you know that nobody is made of iron. Is it finally your time to find a lover?"

"Don't talk nonsense, my friend. Imagine if Bruno hears this. He'll come after both of us."

"Sorry. It's just that I'd really like to see you free from that man."

"But he's good to me."

"Good to you, Cristina?"

"And this mark on your arm? What happened?"

"Ah, I hit my arm on the washing machine when I bent down to pick up Tom."

"And it would turn purple like that? I don't know..."

I realized that Mary knew I was lying. But I didn't want to talk about it.

"Focus on the biker who rode past looking at you. He's going to take off his helmet now."

When that man took off his helmet, I was impressed. He had a kind of beauty we didn't usually see at this type of competition. Usually, the men were married and, along with their wives, carried a certain amount of middle-aged belly fat.

This rider didn't. He was wearing a suit that seemed glued to his body. From a distance, we could see every muscle working as he sat on that motorcycle.

It was as if Mary had put a curse on me. I had never looked at another man, but that one caught my attention.

"What's his name again?"

"Ferdinand Barbosa."

"Wow! She even remembered his last name and she's not interested?"

"Stop it, Mary."

"It's true. Do you know the names of the other competitors he called? I bet you don't."

"Shut up, friend. The competition is about to start."

At that moment, Mary turned toward the stage and saw the biker before he put his helmet back on.

"I'm shocked. He's a Greek god. Imagine, Cristina, you sitting on that motorcycle, speeding down the road with him."

"Stop it. I already asked you."

"Sorry, friend. I'll stop. But if you don't want him, I do. I'll get his name and look up his Instagram. What's his name again?"

"I already forgot."

"Stop lying, Cristina."

"It's true. I already forgot. Pay attention, my husband is competing."

One by one, the announcer called the motorcycles competing in the beauty category. When it was Bruno's turn, all the men from the group began honking their horns. The women shouted my husband's name and clapped.

If the cheering alone decided the winner, Bruno would be champion. He entered perfectly and performed a risky maneuver that earned loud applause from the audience. That could guarantee him extra points.

I was happy because my husband had a chance of winning. I no longer remembered the man on the fluorescent green motorcycle. It had happened suddenly, but now I understood Mary and her desires better.

Bruno left the stage and made way for the other competitors. Before the tenth competitor was called, he was already back among us.

"I think I have a chance of winning, my love. How did I do?"

"You did great, darling. Didn't you see everyone clapping?"

Mary came over to congratulate him, just like all the other bikers from Sorriso Negro.

"Congratulations, Bruno. You were incredible."

"That trophy is already yours, my leader. You won."

Everyone was confident Bruno would win. But he wasn't the winner until the final competitor had performed.

"Do you want something to eat?"

"No, my love. I just want some water. It's really hot today."

"It really is, darling. All I can think about is the beach, the two of us together in the ocean."

"I'm hoping that becomes reality, sweetheart."

"It will. Let's wait for the results. They'll be announced soon."

"Competitor number 016, Ferdinand Barbosa."

Mary looked at me from a distance. It was as if her eyes were telling me something about that competitor. Bruno was standing beside me and watching the entire performance.

That biker entered the stage, and I tried not to pay too much attention. It seemed like he was looking at me, but it was probably just my imagination.

The competitor put on a spectacular show. He performed an extremely risky maneuver, and I noticed that he received louder and longer applause than my husband.

Besides the motorcycle, which looked completely unique with its exclusive paint job, that biker was a professional. No one could do what he had just done on that stage.

"Wow."

Without meaning to, I let out an exclamation that sounded like approval of the biker's performance. To my husband, that was a sign of interest. Bruno watched even my every breath.

"Wow, you're interested in him? Why did you say wow? If you want him, go be with him."

"What is this, Bruno? I just thought his performance was good. But you're the one who's going to win, my love."

"It doesn't look like you were just enjoying the performance."

"What do you mean, darling? What are you trying to say?"

"That you're already checking out another man, Cristina."

"Don't start, Bruno, please."

"Cristina, I didn't bring you here so you could keep your eyes on other men."

Bruno grabbed my arm tightly after saying that. It seemed like he knew exactly where he had left his previous mark. He grabbed the area that was still purple, making it hurt even more.

"Stop, please. Everyone is looking."

"You're my wife. I can do whatever I want with you. Shut up."

"Bruno, my love. Please, stop. You're competing. You need to concentrate. You still have more competitors to face in the other two categories."

Saying that made him temporarily forget about the biker on the fluorescent green motorcycle. I couldn't even see the end of his performance.

But after what Bruno had done, the last thing I could do was look toward that man again. Bruno might punish me when we got home.

He walked away and went to celebrate with his friends, waiting for the results of the top three competitors in the beauty category. Meanwhile, Mary approached me.

"I saw him grabbing your arm. How long are you going to keep living like this?"

"Mary, I don't want to talk about it. Can you believe he was jealous of the biker on the fluorescent green motorcycle?"

"Didn't I tell you? He was looking at you."

"Stop it, Mary. You could get me into even more trouble. Bruno is watching us. He knows how to read lips."

"I want that Bruno dead."

Right after Mary said that, a motorcycle approached the two of us from behind. At first, I thought it was Bruno, getting ready to compete in another category.

But when I turned around, I realized it wasn't my husband standing there. I froze, lost my breath, and my stomach began to twist. Mary grabbed my hand tightly after turning around and realizing who it was.

"Hello, sweetheart. May I know your name?"