Brazilian Lounge

twenty-three

Chapter twenty-three
Back to Aftonio's point of view:

The song started to fade away from my hearing as I looked at Pia, still going according to the dance routine. She's never going to forget our dance - she didn't forget it at the bar, and she didn't forget it on the highway. I loved our memories.

Everything around her seemed to be a blur, it was like she was dancing alone in a white room.

Suddenly, she stopped.

"Why'd you stop dancing?" I asked her, pausing my moves as I heard the song on full blast again. Pia looked behind me, causing me to turn around. Ms America was walking away, in front of the limo.

"Hey!" Pia called out, but she faced me quickly to whisper, "what's her name?" I regretted shrugging. Pia gave me a look as if to say 'what the fuck is wrong with you?'. She ran after Ms America.

I stood behind and watched Pia talk to her. I couldn't hear anything at all, but after a while they giggled before making their way back to the limo.

As confused as I was, I climbed into the ride after them. I just made Ms America upset...but Pia got her to feel better? What happened?

"Previous destination, Dude!" Pia instructed the driver. "Guys, let's just have fun tonight, huh? All three of us." Pia suggested.

"Let's." Ms America cheered as the driver got us onto the road, heading forwards. I grinned at the ladies.

After a few minutes of laughing at absolute nothings, we pulled up in front of a very neon-looking building.

"Come on," Pia urged us, taking a hold of Ms America's hand and rushing out of the limousine. I followed them to the front door of the club. Pia shot the bouncer one smile and he warmly welcomed her and Ms America in, but stopped me by shoving me backwards against my chest.

"Pia!" I shouted out, but the music from the inside was too loud. They both disappeared into the club and I was left with the bouncer. "You're not gonna let me in?"

"Go home." He simply said, not shifting at all. I was mad.

I have no fucking idea where this club is, where am I? I wasn't let in a fucking club because I'm a guy?! Two of my romantic interests are clubbing together...without me. It doesn't get much worse than this, I thought.

I took out my phone to call an Uber cab but, to my luck, there was no signal. I felt like screaming. Pia's limo's driver started the engine. I rushed over to him.

"Excuse me, Sir," I started, bending slightly to look him straight in the face. "Do you mind driving me back home?"

"Unless you live five minutes away from this place, no-can-do, Pal," he looked at me, showing no expression.

"I can pay you when you drop me off." I offered.

"I don't work for you. I can't leave my post, you know? Sorry, Pal." He started to roll up his window.

"I was still-" his engine roared before driving away. "Fuck you too, Mate." I mumbled, kicking the ground with the tip of my shoe. I was left in the dark...literally.

I sat down on the paving next to the club and waited for something.

Eventually my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a phone call from...my uncle. Strange.

"Hello?" I answered the call.

"Aftonio?" His voice sounded softer than usual.

"Yes?"

"Deus," he started, making me worry. Why would he curse? "Aftonio...your mother...um," his voice was cracking, his tone was morbid and his words were hesitant. I knew what he was about to say, but I wanted to know for sure. I waited for a few seconds, but grew impatient.

"What? What is it, Uncle?" I heard him sigh. My madness deepened. "Uncle," I spoke again, my voice even softer than his, "falar." I instructed.

"She's...she passed away, Aftonio." The pain felt nonexistent, but knowing I was right with what I thought made me feel something. That was enough for me. "Look, I'll call you tomorrow...uh, you know, about the, um...about the details and...and service." His hesitation made me feel slightly sick. I couldn't shed a tear, I hung up on him and continued to sit in silence, pushing back the wrong emotions.

What am I doing with myself?

I heard the door swing open, letting all the noise from inside flow out into the thickened air. Two pairs of footsteps were nearing me, but I wasn't in the mood for other people. Before I could stand up and find a new spot, my gaze was met by Pia's. Ms America stood next to her.

"How come you weren't in with us?" Pia whined. I shrugged. "We came back out to fetch you! Why you just sittin' there, like a lemon?" She giggled at her words. Usually, I'd think about how adorable she was being, but she got me in a complicated mindset.

"How about we just go home?" Ms America spoke up, looking at me with concern.

"Buzz kill! How come?" Pia complained. I watched Ms America.

"I'm really not feeling well. Sorry to kill the fun, but I'd really like to go home." She explained, but I had a hunch that she wasn't telling the complete truth.

"Of course. I'll get my driver, we can go home. Here, put your number in my phone," Pia handed her phone to Ms America. "So," she started speaking to me after Ms America left to the parked limo on the other side of the lot. "Jillian really is something, isn't she?" She helped me up.

"Who?" I said, more bluntly than I anticipated.

"Oh, you don't know her name," she laughed. "I can't believe you don't know her name. It's Jillian." How could it be Jillian? It should have either been Ilyana or - those were code names. What the fuck does she do for a living?

"My mum died." I stated. Pia paused to look at me. "I'm fine though."

"Aftonio," her voice didn't sound so sweet anymore, even though it was her usual voice. "I'm here if you wanna talk. You could tell me your favourite memory of her-"

"Memories aren't everything, Pia." I stated bitterly, walking towards the limo.

At that moment...I knew that the main thing about Pia that I liked was everything we've been through and what we've done. I wasn't as excited for what was to come.