Tricky Heart (Wattys 2024)(English)

Chapter 2 - Stupid magnet!

A red car pulls into our driveway.
A brown woman in a blue suit gets out of the driver's side.
What a beautiful lady: that jacket and skirt look great on her. She walks toward us.

"Hi, Catherina! Sorry about the car."

My mother smiles at her as if she has seen an angel. "Julia, hi! Don't worry about it." They approach each other and exchange a hug. "I don't know how to thank you for this ride. I hope I haven't bothered you."

"No problem. What happened?"

"I started the car and smoke came out of the hood." She glances at the car.

A noise from a door makes us turn around. From the passenger side, Paul gets out. Black hair, blue eyes, and an athletic build. Who does he think he is?!

He wears white cordless earbuds. A black T-shirt and tight blue jeans show a toned, lean physique. We are dressed alike!

"The radiator must have broken." Paul walks over to me and pulls out an earpiece. "Hi. You're Martha, right?"

I pretend I didn't see him. "Ah! You're Paul."
The tone was fine, it was neutral enough. Or at least I hope so.

"This is my son, Paul!"

My mother extends her hand toward him. "Nice to meet you, Paul!" They shake hands.
He has a ring on his index finger: it has a drawing of a musical note on it.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Smith."

He seems so polite, however, something tells me I can't trust him. He's too good-looking not to be an asshole.

"So, Paul, are you an expert on cars?"
Maybe my mother is hoping not to have to take it to the mechanic.

"My father, he used to fix them." The corners of his mouth were no longer distended. He looks sad. "After school I can take a look at it."

"Come along if you can."

Paul turns to me. "Today is the first day of school, who knows which class we'll go to." He runs his hand through his hair.

"Soon the principal will assign the class to us. You will see that it will be easy to find."

Of course it's really nice.

He smiles at me.
Oh, no! He understood that I like him. Of course he gets it, he knows very well that all girls fall at his feet. I don't have to give him that satisfaction.

He brings his hands close to my neck. "Where did you find these headphones?"

I squeeze his wrist. He hasn't been able to touch them. "They were my father's." I let go of my grip.

Paul lowers his arm. "They must be important to you."

"They are the most important thing I have."

"You're right to take them with you."

Why is he staring me in the eyes? What does he want from me? Why don't I know what to say? Where is Crumb? I would like to shift my attention to the cat. She's in the house! It's not like she can save me from every situation.

Paul's mother's voice broke the silence. "Let's go. Get in the car we're getting late."

Thank goodness. This woman really is an angel.

Let's look away.
This guy is a magnet. But he won't have me. I'm not one of those who will fall at his feet, no! I won't give it to him.

Paul opens the door and sits in the back seats. My mother takes the front seat.

Paul has not closed the door. "What are you doing? Are you getting in or not?"

Of course I'm getting in. Stupid magnet!