heatwave | Charles Leclerc | re-writing

Chapter 41

Porto, May 2023 - Victoria Marino

A month flew by since Australia and the boys were in Italy for the Grand Prix in Imola. I had some time off, so did Kika, and we decided to finally come to Portugal.

Kika was born and raised here in Porto, in the north of Portugal. She always bragged about this city, telling me how beautiful it is. Constantly saying that I would fall in love with undefeated city and how beautiful the waterfront is and impresses everyone.

- Does your mom know that we're here? - I ask, letting my suicase fall on top of her bed.

- No.

My mouth wide-opens.

- You know I don't like coming to other people's houses without them knowing, don't you?

- Yes, but my mom doesn't care. She loves you and I want to make a surprise. Specially to my brother. - She takes off her sweatpants and her sweater, throwing on a dress over her body - I've been away for a little too long and this will be really cute.

- Ok, then. - I take off my sneakers - But if your mom starts hating me for this, you'll see.

Francisca's mom is really famous in Portugal. She's Maria Cerqueira Gomes, really famous for appearing on television and doing some tv programs alongside other stars. She's young.

If you put Kika and her mom together in a room and didn't know them, you would definetly say that they're sister.

Everyone on this country saw Kika growing up, so as her brother.

João, the brother, is only four years old and is the sweetest soul I've ever met. His joyful eyes tell things that wouldn't come out from any mouth in the planet. Kika is really lucky to have him as brother.

I wish. Mine is dead.

- Come on, my mom is working and she took my Johnny with her, so just chill. She will only get home at eight.

- And what do I have to do with that - I ask, resting my hands on my hips and raising an eyebrow, making her giggle.

- I want to take you on a tour to my favourite sights here.

I stay immobile, looking at her face. She rolls her eyes back and sighs.

- Get ready, Victoria. You're so dumb... - She mumbles.

She gets out of the room and I take my clothes off, replacing the pieces of fabric that were in my body for a long, silky black dress that almost reachs my feet.

Kika and I are professionals on matching clothes. Whenever we can, we always do our best to look-alike. It's an art.

[...]

We walk down a busy street that leads to a river, I guess, and Kika starts grinning very much.

- This, my beautiful, is, how we call it, the famous Ribeira of Porto. - She points in front.

A beautiful river with some boats is in display, lots of people walking across the street, a magestic small bridge leading a way across the waters and some bars.

- This is... mind-blowing. - I look around and a feeling that never hit me, hit right now - Now I get all the times that you talked about this... this looks like a painting, what the fuck.

- I know - she simply answers. - But I promise you, it gets better.

- How can it possibly get better? - I ask, already feeling so lucky with what I'm looking at right now.

She gives me a glare and looks forward, starting to walk in the direction of the bridge. I limit myself to follow her, curious to know what comes next.

- What you see at the other side of the river is a different city that belongs to Porto. It's called Gaia. - She points at the houses in the other side, right next to that impressive mount - It is obviously beautiful, but it gets better, I swear.