Behind the Time - Herophine

13

HERO

I was back in London again, it was February, my experience in Africa was over and now... New things were coming! I get some messages, but the first one I choose to read is from Jô, my FRIEND:

"I loved your idea! Give soccer balls to kids in Africa, you moved me!" And lots of happy, crying and heart emojis.

I sent "Thank you Jô!" and an emoji throwing kisses.

I don't know how to deal with this anymore... "Us"... What we have... This friendship, I was cold with her... But if I talk to her the way I want to, this friendship thing won't work.
I get another message from her:

"Are you using emojis?"

"I learned from the best!"

She sends more emojis, now meaningless, zombie, bomb... And she writes:

"Try to decipher it now!"

I decide to send her an audio:

"Are you trying to tell me that you miss me and that you want to tell me something..."

She sends an audio:

"Yeah, I miss you Hero, and I want to tell you many things... But I think that for our plan to work, we can't say what we want..."

"Are you reading my thoughts? I swear I just thought that!"

"hahaha" She types, and records another audio.

"I... I hooked up with someone..." I take a deep breath, so deep it seems to have no end. Without thinking, I reply:

"Me too, Jô."

"I think we need this... You know... Try... Other things, with other people..."

I breathe again. I'm not the jealous type, but something inside me freezes when I hear her audio. And I write:

"Yes, I agree with you, Jô."

The conversation ends with several marine emojis sent by her, which makes me smile, though.

I try to think of something else, look for another unanswered conversation. I found Félix's conversation.

"29 unanswered messages". I call him:

"What was it? Why so much message?"

"Hero! Haven't you read any?"

"No! I'm too lazy to read, sum it up for me..."

"I found something that will make you happy!"

"What?"

"You'll be proud of me, it took a lot of work to get that!"

"Speak up, damn it!"

"Calm down handsome, first, are you going to come to training? I miss you!"

"I'm fucking going! I'm leaving the house! Say it!"

"I found out who the mysterious redhead is!"

"I'm coming and I want details!"

I arrive in the middle of the M-Boys training, we are always training because there are championships in London, and we can't be left out. I usually stay out, because I'm always traveling or working, but whenever I can, I play with them, after all, they're my family and I love being with them. When practice is over, I sit down with the guys and we talk about the mystery redhead.

"Her name is Amanda." I keep looking at Félix, who keeps looking at me with the idiotic face he has, without saying anything else.

"That's it?" The guys start laughing.

"Uh... You want to know who she was, didn't you?"

"Yes... But the 29 messages you sent, I thought you had more to say!"

"Gee, I told you! Her name is Amanda!"

I control myself not to jump on Félix's neck and rub his face on the floor. But Morgz, who was also in training, tries to help our friend a little.

"I was the one who found her name... I asked my girlfriend, she said that the redhead is at several parties we go to, that she always wanted to get close to you, but never managed to..."

"I think she is your fan, Hero!"

"But... She was in the room when I woke up, I went to talk to her and she ran away..."

"Sometimes she was embarrassed..." Morgz says.

"Oh little Hero... Some people are ashamed to be around such a wonderful model like you!"

Félix continues to mock me, this time I couldn't take it anymore, as soon as he realizes I was getting ready, he starts running across the football field, and I run after him. The M-Boys start yelling at Félix to run faster because I was almost catching up with him.



The month consisted of playing soccer, training kickboxing, Africa made me like this sport a lot, I had already practiced it a few times, but it became a passion there. Besides sports, there are many parties, with the M-Boys, so it wasn't just any party, it were The Parties!

On every "out" together, I looked for that mysterious redhead, Amanda. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. If she was always on our dates, she would be there too. We arrived at places, and the first thing I did was look for her. But, nothing... I didn't find her...

"Maybe another day?" Félix tried to cheer me up, bringing me more drinks, and pulling me into another circle with several girls.

What can I say... I was missing this life... Not worrying about anyone else but myself... Not suffering or trying something that wouldn't work... Now I'm free to do what I want , and hooking up with a lot of women was one of the things I wanted to do, even more so after knowing she was doing the same.

All girls wanted to take me to bed. They wanted to go beyond kissing or touching their bodies. But I controlled myself, at that moment, that was what I could give to them... I didn't want anyone in my bed, it didn't matter what my friends were going to say, although they never question that, they understood that I didn't want to sleep with any of them women. I would satisfy myself afterwards, with a nice masturbation... But I didn't want to have sex with any of those women I met at the M-Boys' parties. I didn't want anyone else coming into my life.



New month, March, new jobs, even more parties... I got invited to pose for some brands, got a haircut, got invited to watch a boxing match, and to other events I was looking forward to going to.

Like British Vogue's Fashion and Film Party 2022 in London. A very fancy ceremony, only with celebrities, and I was there, making my presence felt! Everything indicates that Hero Fiennes Tiffin is on the right track!



The days passed too quickly. It's halfway through the month when Ham, another M-Boy, calls us to go bowling, and for us, bowling is on the "Being an M-Boy" list. Of course, parties, drinks, football and raps are priorities, but bowling was and will always be one of our best outings.

My team was finishing off our opponent when... I see a red hair near the bar.

"Hero, where are you going?"

"Hero, come back here! It's your turn to play!"

I run towards the bar.

"Hey."

I tap her shoulder, and as soon as she turns to me, I realize. IT'S HER!
Amanda was drinking a pink drink, with an even more flashy straw. I remember her red bangs, her intense black eyes, I remember her body, it's definitely her. As soon as she recognizes me, she nearly drowns in her drink.

"He... Hero?"

"Are you Amanda?"

She was wearing a tight fit and petite outfit, a spectacular body, and I couldn't take my eyes off her.

"Gosh! How do you know my name?"

"How did you know we were here?"

"I...I..."

"Wait... Shall we start from the beginning?" She shakes her head, licks her gorgeous lips, placing the drink on the counter.

"Is your name Amanda, right?"

"Yes, and you're Hero! Oh my God! Can I touch you?" She touches my shoulder, as if I were an E.T, and swallows a squeak. I give a laugh that comes out of my stomach. She is mad!

"What were you doing in the room I was in that day, without the top part of your clothes on?"

"I... Oh, I'm sorry. Really Hero, I ran away... I know! It's just that... I didn't know what to do..."

"Another question. Did something happen between us?"

"No... I... Followed you to your room... In fact... I follow you on most places... I always find out where you are... My friend tells me... But then that day I stopped."

I didn't know if I was relieved to hear that or if it was better to run away from that crazy girl. Is she a fan of mine? I've never been with a fan because I know how the fame is, people usually imagine a personality for the "idol" and believe in it... They fall in love with people who don't exist and that's a problem! In fact, I don't want to be anyone's idol! I'm not famous!

"So... You just wanted to..."

"I just wanted to meet you! Now that I've met you, I won't follow you anymore, I promise!" She grabbed her drink and walked away from me.

I don't know why, but for some reason I wanted to get to know her a little more... Her way is funny... I like laid back people and... She's a hottie!

"Amanda. Wait."

"I need to get used to you knowing my name..."

"Why were you undressed in the room if we didn't do anything?"

She stares at me and something in her eyes tells me a lot more things happened that night.

"You... Don't you remember anything from that day?"

I shake my head and she's about to tell me, when I feel people jump on my back.

"Hey buddy! Wow, did you finally found the amazing Amanda!"

"Hi redhead... Our friend here looked for you at several parties but he couldn't find you huh!"

"Shut up!"

Amanda was embarrassed again. She looked around after the M-Boys attacked us with questions. She says moving further away from me:

"Hi guys, Hero, I... Need to go... See you... Someday... Someday..." She blinks and walks quickly towards the bowling alley door. We were watching the view. She's really pretty, she's not that tall, but she has one of the most beautiful bodies I've ever seen, and that piercing gaze, I'll dream of those eyes for many days... What a mouth...

"She's really hot!"

"You really are idiots!" I get mad at them. How do they get like this!

"Don't talk like that... We just wanted to get a closer look at the redhead..."

"She is hot, man! Did you at least get her number?"

When I realize, I hadn't gotten her number. I run towards the door to try to reach her but it was too late. Amanda was already gone.