Behind The Scenes

18. Jo

He came home just to put down the fish and the groceries and he went out again, but what's wrong with him? He is acting weird. I can't stand it when he doesn't want to tell me things.
Anna has returned from the bathroom and goes to fill a glass of water. «Who bought all this stuff?» she says she confused her seeing the fridge full.
«Uhm Hero.»
«Why?»
«He said he wants to surprise us all I don't know. But do you happen to know what he is doing? He's weird» I ask, sitting at the counter, I haven't finished drinking my cup of tea yet.
«No, I have no idea» she puts a hand on my shoulder «but don't worry, he is a good boy.»
«Yes... a good boy» oh, please.
«After all, yes.»
I look at her with a frown.
«Jo, you have to go on, it's water under the bridge.»
«Yes, but I can't forget what he did, I never could» I fold my arms in front of my chest.
«Of course not, but you must forgive him. He loves you, I can see from miles away how much he cares about you, and don't tell me that he doesn't make you happy, because you would lie» she talks to me in the tone that a mother uses to make a child think.
I sigh, resigned.
«And then your favorite pastimes are the same: music, cooking, sleeping, having sex, lots of sex, fucking, fucking and more fucking» she laughs and I laugh with her. «Well, how can you not love a man who has good musical tastes, knows how to cook, likes to relax and loves to fuck? Dunno, tell me!»
«You are right!» we laugh out loud. «Oh Anna, you always make me smile, I love you.»
We hug tightly and I am moved.
«Oh don't cry, you are moved for so little? You're moody today!»
Shit, she reminded me that I should have my period today
«Sure! My period has to come, I'm going to the bathroom, sorry!» I scream as I run up the stairs.
As I imagined... This period of shit comes when you don't expect it, then strangely I haven't been feeling bad these pre-period days. I'll put on a Tampax and be fine for the next four hours.
I hear a horn sound. What the hell? I look out the window and there is Hero. He rings my phone.
«Get down.»
«Hero but I'm in overalls, where should we go?»
«It doesn't matter, hurry up!»
I disconnect the call and hurry to get down.
«Where are you going?» Anna asks me while she watches TV with Ash.
«I don't know, I'm going out with Hero.»
«Dressed like that?» she squares me.
Hero sounds the horn again.
«Yes, he didn't warn me.»
He sounds again.
«Oh my God, I can't stand you!» I tell him jokingly as I get into the car.
He kisses me. «Shut up.»
He turns up the volume on the radio and we go.
I suddenly turn it down.
«What are you doing? I like this song» he exclaims annoyed.
«Where are we going?»
«There's no point in getting paranoid, we're here!»
He gets out of the car and comes over to my side to open the door for me. «Follow me».
«You're holding my hand, where I'm supposed to go stupid?»
We enter the elevator and go up to the tenth floor. Before the doors open he kisses me and then he covers my eyes with his hands.
«What are you doing!» I exclaim laughing.
«Shhh. Keep your eyes closed, otherwise you ruin everything.»
I do as he says. In the meantime, I hear the sound of keys and a door opening. He puts his hands back over my eyes and, after taking a few steps forward, says, «Ready?»
I nod smiling.
«Are you sure?»
«Yes!»
«3... 2... 1...»
He takes his hands from my eyes
Wow. It is a beautiful apartment with a city view.
«But it's beautiful! Whose is it?» I say amazed, turning towards him who smiles pleased.
«From a local lady. So, what do you think?» he puts his arm on my hip.
«It's a wonderful apartment, the view is magnificent the evening will be spectacular.»
He looks me intently in the eyes. «Imagine if it was our home...» he pushes my hair behind my ears.
What? «Do you mean live here?»
He nods.
«Here... right here?» I can not believe it.
«Yes, Jo! Right here!»
I look around, I feel like crying
«What's up? You look... worried» he says suddenly, confused.
«No, it's okay» I start in a broken voice and a tear falls on my face. «Sorry, it's just I wasn't expecting it, really. I tormented myself all afternoon thinking about what you were doing and then was this what you were doing Why did you do it?» I throw myself into his arms.
«For you, I did it just for you. I want to make you happy, more than anything else.»
God only knows how much you love this boy
«Hero, you make me happy with just a look. I love you to madness.»
He strokes my hair. «I would do anything for you.»
He shows me the other rooms and then we lie down on the sofa.
«Tell me,» I begin «what can I do to reciprocate? Is there something you want?»
«Yes...»
«What, tell me.»
«I want another chance.»
«Will you promise me you won't hurt me anymore?» it's a difficult promise to keep...
«No, but I promise you I'll do my best to make you smile» he strokes my cheek with his thumb. «I'll try, whatever it takes.»