CHAPTER 3

| FABIO |

There are ten minutes left to give four hours in the afternoon, end of hours for the public, but not so does it mean end of service for me. I'm probably only going to get out of here around 7:00 p.m., because just like the other bank employees, I still have a lot of other internal activities to do behind closed doors that people don't usually know about.

What's up, boss? Could you break my branch today and release me early? -Hector asks with the biggest dick face sitting loosely at the end of my desk.

Hector, besides being an employee on the command hotline I manage, is the best person who could define the word friendship in my life, except at times like this when he tries to play the smart guy on me. Another contributing factor to our approach and intimacy, to the point that he talks this way with his boss in the workplace, is the fact that he is the father of little Athens and Apollo, one of my son Lorenzo's best friends, for whom I have a more than special affection, since I consider them as if they were my own nephews and the idiot Hector as my brother.

First thing, get off my desk now. Second, I'm superior and not your father to keep giving you stewardship. So get out of here and go work like everybody else. If I have to stay late here you have to stay too, big boy. See if there's anything like that...-I mean by pushing your heavy carcass away from my papers and documents that are properly organized on the table.

- He stays late and kills himself from work because he wants to, handsome. -he mocks back and I roll my eyes to the little one I know will begin. - What's the point of being a manager in this bagif you don't take advantage of the perks the job offers? You're playing the idiot, my friend. -he claims as if he were explaining the greatest truth in the universe to a dumb person.

- No, I'm playing the good employee what you should be doing, too. - I hit and Hector pretends he's vomiting while I speak patiently.

Children.

How can I still be friends with a guy with almost zero maturity like him? Athens at only ten years of age should be more mature intellectually speaking than the father himself.

This place is still going to kill you, Fabio. Listen to your friend's words. I see the future, man. -he points to the building referring to the bank, and once again insists on this that has long been talking to me.

-Shut up, sir, I see the future.

Okay, I'm going your cocky ass. You need to get out of that bat cave you call an apartment and have some fun to see if you're amazed at this old people's rabugice that's impregnated in that soul, man.

*

Hey, Enzo. Everything all right out there? - I ask when I enter the house already at night and I am received by the smell of something burned in the air.

Hey, Dad. More or less... -he responds with a yellow smile on his lips lowering his gaze to the pot that is stirring when inside the kitchen.

Trying to set what on fire this time? -I question humorously as I get out of my suit and tie in the process of peeking over your shoulders.

Something that certainly won't be edible. -says when turning off the fire and throwing the frying pan into the sink by then turning on the faucet. I'm sorry, Dad, I wanted to get dinner ready for when you got home from work, but...

It's all right, boy. The intention is that it matters. - we laughed accomplices giving up the spoiled food on the sink. - We both know that even Dante cooks better than you, Enzo. So... Don't even try next time or we're suffocated by this little fire. -earring scaring away the smoke in the air with your hands and we head to the room where the air is purer and breathable.

That's how you offend my feelings, Dad. Lorenzo laughs and I watch him better now, he's all dressed up, he looks ready to leave.

- Oh, Dad, I almost forgot, i met our new neighbor at the front door today. -he comments and I center on the task of getting rid of social shoes by placing them organized next to the couch.

Is that right? - I'm interested in the conversation. A woman? And what does she like? Did you talk to her about anything?

- Yes, yes to both questions. -Lorenzo responds, I fold the sleeves from the shirt to the elbows, I open a few buttons and suddenly I feel more relaxed with the loose clothes on the body.

-Her name is Maya, she's tall, a little lower than me, light hair, has oriental features, and ah! She never confuses her with Japanese, she loves to point out the fact that she is Korean. -he laughs and continues with his description. -Must be in his twenties to thirty-somethings, is a doctor, I think cardiologist and ... what else? -Lorenzo seems to ponder in search of more information in his memory and I hold the laugh.

- Wow, so little time and you already know all this about the girl, Enzo? Then they say women are gossipy. - debauchery with irony. You look like a stalker like that, boy.

- And she's kind of cute... ...and he ignores my comment while she's on the subject. But you're definitely not my type.

- Oh, I know who's your type, kid, I comment with a malicious touch of the phrase. green eyes... big mouth...

That's enough, Dad! -Lorenzo stands on a jump, his face is burning and I laugh. I have to go now. -he says hurriedly walking towards the door.

And where's the little boy going at this hour? - I ask him trying to stop the laugh.

- Um, it's... -he scratches the nape of the neck embarrassed and i immediately have my answer. - At Aunt Ana Julia's house say hi.

I knew it, kid! I know aunt Ana that this little rascal is going to see... It's more for her eldest daughter in question, and it's not just for the purpose of giving a simple hi that I know well.

I know you better than you know yourself, Lorenzo Fonseca!

You're my son no longer atoa, I laugh at that thought as I watch you disappear through the door as you walk out like a fugitive from the law.