NOT GIVING UP ON FOREVER

Chapter 57

"Can you help me with the snacks?" Ricardo asked the girls, and they both nodded.

Anna and Leticia became friends in a minute. In peeling potatoes and other vegetables, they discussed their lives and dished about everyone around them.

Several other girls joined them. Anna was pleased to be finally in female society, and all went on swimmingly together.

Suddenly the applause was heard from the hall, and people shouted in chorus, "An-na! An-na! An-na! An-na!"

"What the..." began Anna, but Ricardo smiled broadly and grabbed her arm, pulling her into the crowded room.

Anna was genuinely horrified. As she pushed through the smiling, unfamiliar crowd, she struggled to think of a rational explanation for the situation. Ricardo pushed her into the center of the room, where Teo was leaning on his guitar and smirking.

"Teo, what the..." The second attempt to discover the situation was...

Interrupted.

Because Teo took her in his arms and kissed her passionately.

At the same moment, the lights dimmed, Ed Sheeran's romantic song "Perfect" came on, and bubbles of different colors appeared in the air. There was a smell of coconut, and Anna saw one guy (already very, very drunk one), pulling light silk, which Anna had not even noticed before, from all the pieces of furniture, exposing huge bouquets of flowers—green roses and tons of cups with coconut cocktails.

They were her favorite flowers. How did Teo know? Anna's eyes widened in surprise. She looked at him admiringly, spinning slowly in the dance.

"Surprise," he whispered. "I know it's nothing compared to what I'd like to show, but take it as a sign of my admiration for you." And he sang along to the music.

Anna couldn't find the words. She just hugged him tight and closed her eyes. She could only hope that he would feel her gratitude. Everyone clapped. When the song ended, Teo stood in the center of the room and shouted so everyone could hear:

"It's her. And I love her."

Everyone whistled and whooped, grabbing the cocktails. There were shouts of approval and admiration. Many girls enviously pouted and said they were wasting precious time at this party.

Anna felt happy to be dressed up accordingly to the moment- her black dress complimented the bright makeup, and her wavy curls framed the face most exquisitely. She felt the looks of admiration and the genuine compliments on her beauty filled her—and Teo—with pride.

"You're so amazing!" Anna exclaimed." I'm shocked! These are my favorite flowers! How did you know??"

"I..." Teo began mysteriously when the phone rang, and his face changed as he looked at the screen.

It was Randall.

Immediately realizing who was calling, Anna grabbed Teo's hand, trying not to give him the chance to pick up.

"Teo, forget the call. Teo, look at me. Such a romantic moment, please, Teo, let's not spoil it."

Teo gently disengaged his hand and, as if looking sadly at Anna, went into the kitchen. Anna tried to run after him, but as luck would have it, many people started coming up to her with congratulations, endorsements of Teo's gesture, advice on how to keep love alive forever, as if they had announced a wedding.

Tarrying two minutes was enough for Anna to miss the phone talk. When she ran into the kitchen, Teo was standing by the fridge, drinking juice. There were a couple of other people in the kitchen, but they evaporated as if they felt the tension.

"Teo. Did you talk to him? What did he say? Why had he called?"

Teo's eyes flashed.

"Maybe you can explain why Randall called me when I decided to surprise you, Anna?"

"Teo, I... I don't know."

"Well, then, I will throw some light on such an important question. You agreed to meet him. And I was clearly not informed."

"What? I just said I'd think about what I could do, I..."

"Do I look like a fool, Anna?" roared Teo. "Don't you know the concept of respect? How long can you throw that filth in my face?"

"Teo, stop! Don't say that! I do respect you!"

"Then what kind of meeting is this behind my back? Randall called to inform me you wanted to see him at the center tomorrow, my love! Can I give you a ride to such an important meeting? What time did you agree? At six? Five o'clock? Maybe the meeting will be held at night?"

He tossed the juice box into the bin, turning it over. Anna started to gather up the scattered food, but Teo stopped her and held her in both hands, looking into her eyes.

"Teo, you're hurting me!" Anna cried, and he released her at once.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to."

"I didn't make an appointment with him. Let me talk to him!"

"Talk? Anything else?"

"I want to know what he's talking about! He asked me to meet him to clear things up, and I said I'd think of something."

"So, you want to see this man after what he did?"

"What?"

"He said you didn't want to talk to him anymore because he slept with some girl. And yet when he whistles at you, you run wheedling to him like a dog."

Grabbing a glass of water from the table, Anna poured it into Teo's face. For a few seconds, he stood as if thunderstruck, and Anna thought he would hit her. His eyes filled with fury, and Anna automatically covered her face with her hands, expecting a slap or a blow.

"It was the first and last time you did something like that."

Opening her face, she saw Teo step away from her. He was breathing hard and struggling to have a command of his brain.

"Begone," he said through clenched teeth.

"I'm not a dog," Anna replied bitterly as she headed out of the kitchen.