The Turning Point

CHAPTER NINETEEN- UNTIL WHEN?

Heloyse

Two weeks had passed since the last time I saw him.
That day, I accompanied Cielo to town to buy peppers, essential for the chili she would prepare for dinner.
While driving down the dirt road, as I passed Will's farm, I felt my heart waver. It was inevitable to wish to see him, even if just a glimpse. I shook my head, trying to shake off the feeling, and continued driving.
After we finished shopping, Cielo suggested we have lunch at Johnson's restaurant. The place had a rustic decor that seemed to invite us to tranquility. Although it was almost full, we got a secluded table in a corner that offered us some privacy.
It didn't take long for Johnson to appear to greet us, with his warm smile that seemed to light up the room.
"It's good to see you here, Lisy. And you too, Mrs. Cielo."
"I was looking forward to showing Lisy how delicious the food is here. I've already told her that this is the best restaurant in town," Cielo replied, enthusiastically.
A small dimple formed on his cheek, adding more charm to his smile. We sat down and enjoyed an impeccable lunch, where every detail seemed to have been thought out to please us.
When we finished, Cielo walked away to talk to Victoria, the lady from the beauty salon. I greeted her and headed to the truck. However, before I could get in, I heard Johnson's voice calling me.
"Lisy!"
I turned around, finding him a few steps away, walking towards me.
"Do you have plans for next weekend?"
"I hope not," I replied, without enthusiasm.
"Great. I'd like to invite you to the movies with me."
"I don't know if I want to go out," I said, hesitating.
I saw the disappointment spread across his face, and for a moment, I felt the weight of my refusal.
"Okay," he said, after a pause. "Does this have anything to do with O'Connor? Everyone has been talking about you two since the party."
I sighed, choosing my words carefully.
"No, Johnson, I just don't want to go out. Besides, I'm terrible company. And about the rumors, people believe what they want. But what they believe is not always true."
He smiled restrainedly, as if trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Of course. Excuse me. And, just for the record, you look very beautiful today."
"Thank you. And don't apologize. I'm just not in a good mood."
"Maybe I can change that."
"I'm serious, Johnson."
"I am too, Lisy. You keep your distance, you don't make friends. That's not good."
"I don't care about making friends."
"Okay, I won't insist on something you don't want, but I'd like you to allow me to be, at least, your friend."
For a few seconds, his words hung in the air. He was right, and his kindness disarmed me.
"All right. We can be friends, but I really don't want to go out."
A smile broke out on his face, sincere and satisfied.
"It's a start."
At that very moment, Cielo returned. Johnson said goodbye with a slight wave.
"See you later, Lisy. If you need company, you know where to find me."
"I do."
I got into the truck, closing the door, and soon noticed Cielo's curious look.
"What's wrong?" I asked, suspiciously.
"And you still say you're not beautiful. Imagine if you were..."
I rolled my eyes, but a smile escaped. I started the engine and we drove off.
It was already night, and this time, I declined Thom's invitation to join the group. Night has always been a refuge for me, a hiding place where silence allows my thoughts to find order. Walking under the dark sky was a habit that had been with me since my old house, and on that dirt road, I felt the same tranquility.
I pushed the gate and followed the path, surrounded by the sound of crickets echoing in the cool air. The darkness didn't intimidate me; on the contrary, the absence of lights created an incredible scenery, as if the road were just mine. My gaze wandered across the sky, and my mind delved into old memories, until the illuminated outlines of the O'Connor farm appeared in the distance.
It looked so vibrant, so alive, and even against my will, I wondered what he was doing at that moment. Was he alone or in someone's company? I quickly pushed the thought away. I didn't want to imagine anything about Will, much less let him occupy space in my reveries.
I continued walking, but the beam of a headlight interrupted my peace. I blinked a few times to adjust my vision and moved to the side of the road. The vehicle slowed down and, to my surprise, stopped beside me.
"Heloyse?"
That voice... I would recognize it anywhere, like a melody etched in my memory.
"O'Connor?" I said, surprised.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Not that it's any of your business, but I'm walking. The night is pleasant... or it was, until you showed up."
Yes, I went back to treating him like a stranger, as he described us in the garden.
Will leaned out the window, analyzing me with that penetrating look that bothered me so much.
"This region is quiet, but I don't think it's wise for a woman to walk alone on a deserted road at night. You were lucky it was me who showed up."
His tone carried a mix of warning and provocation that deeply irritated me.
"Yes, yes, I'm lucky you were my savior. William, the hero of the prostitutes."
He frowned, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Still the damn dress? You know how to hold a grudge, don't you?"
"Grudge? Imagine! You're too insignificant for me to waste my feelings on you."
Before I could back away, he opened the truck door forcefully, got out, and in a few steps, was in front of me. I tried to run, but he easily caught up, pulling me against his chest.
It was strange. He hugged me tightly, as if he wanted to merge our bodies, and for a moment, I felt something different. He didn't seem like the same arrogant Will as always. He seemed more like the man who kissed me under the moonlight, while the flowers exuded their perfumes.
"I'm insignificant, rude, and even despicable. And that's something no one can change. But it must be difficult for you, isn't it? Trying to understand how someone you consider so irrelevant can mess with your insides, touch parts of you that you don't even understand. It must be confusing to realize that, no matter how hard you try to ignore it, there's something about me that provokes every one of your nerve endings, something you can't control."
He leaned in and kissed me. It was a possessive kiss. I tried to push him away, but my body seemed treacherous. Instead, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his hair tightly, surrendering to the moment.
It was as if that kiss was a storm, and I, lost in the middle of a desert. Nothing seemed to quench the thirst he provoked. It was an overwhelming sea in which I fearlessly plunged, willing to drown just to feel it all again.
When we pulled away to catch our breath, he held my face in both hands, his uneven breath mixing with mine.
"There's nothing more exciting than feeling your taste in my mouth," he murmured, before kissing me again.
His hands slid down my back, pulling me even closer.
"I wonder when my mouth will have your full taste," he whispered, making my heart race.
Then, suddenly, he let me go, as if something inside him had pulled him back to reality.
"I was angry, Heloyse. Angry because all eyes were on you, each one wanting you in a way I couldn't ignore. It consumed me inside. The mere idea of another man wanting you, touching you, was enough to make me lose control." He paused, as if searching for the best way to continue. "But it's important that you understand something: what I feel for you is just attraction. Nothing more. Nothing beyond that."
Without waiting for an answer, Will turned around, got into the truck, and drove away, leaving me there, motionless, with his words echoing in my mind.
"Until when will you collect tears, Lisy?"