C.W. This chapter has sensitive content for some readers related to: violence. Discretion Advised.
After Benxamin ended the fight between Victor and Marcel in a supposed draw, many students angered by the new interruption focused on this child prodigy to beat him up. At that precise moment, an old man walked very close to the factory and saw these young people fighting with each other for no apparent reason. He got as close as he could to see what was happening, hiding behind some trees.
Benxamin tried to talk to the students about the reasons for his decision, he stated that the fight should not continue due to the exhaustion of one of the opponents, but his efforts to placate the people seemed futile. Victor and Lester stood in front of the angry crowd to prevent Benxamin from being lynched. Marcel, for his part, stepped to the side and smiled cynically.
The old man left the place as quickly as he could, went to a nearby police station and notified the authorities about the matter in question. Several minutes later, 6 police cars appeared in front of the factory. The sound of sirens alerted the students, who ran in all directions. Victor took Lester's and Benxamin's hands to run away as well.
Marcel did the same, looked for a phone booth and called Elsa, one of his older sisters. Minutes later, she waited for him near a church, inside an old red van. She didn't say anything, she seemed to be the only one who knew everything Marcel was hiding from his parents.
Elsa realized that he was caressing the fingers of his hand, which had been hurt by Victor's reaction as if that could miraculously heal them.
She took a deep breath and it only occurred to her to ask him
“What are you going to tell your parents?”
“The usual. That I fell at school.” Marcel responded
“Don't you have to go to an audition or something tomorrow? You're not a little kid to get in trouble anymore.”
Marcel didn't answer
“I'll take you to the hospital. It seems that your hand hurts.” said her.
“If that means I don't have to go to that stupid audition, then let's go.” Marcel replied.
On the other hand, the Dautt brothers and Lester hid in an old train station. The old carriages with huge cobwebs weren't as scary as a scared rat that crawled into a hole in the wall after Victor nearly stepped on it.
This made Benxamin scream.
“AAAAAAH!!”
Victor covered his brother's mouth with his hands to the point of almost suffocating him to shut him up.
“Are you okay? It's just a rodent,” Lester explained, putting his hands on Benxamin's shoulders, who looked frantic.
“Yes! A rat... I'm afraid of those animals,” Benxamin responded, turning away from the children because he felt suffocated.
“You? Do mice really scare you?” Lester asked incredulously.
“Well yes, I'm not made of iron,” answered Benxamin, who was hyperventilating.
“Believe it or not, that's true,” Victor joked. “And he is also afraid of the color magenta. How weird, right?”
“What?!” Lester asked curious. “But, it's not even a living thing.”
“It's called chromophobia and that color means carelessness, fear of challenges and disconnection,” Benxamin explained.
“But it also means love, kindness, and patience,” Victor smiled, making sure there were no cops nearby.
“Wow! With you I learn something new every day, guys!” Lester exclaimed
Lester's reaction made Victor laugh, he found his response adorable. Benxamin did the same, covering his mouth with his hands. Lester looked confused, but then he smiled too, trying not to make a sound. It was a fun moment amidst the rats that surrounded them, but…
Victor said something he later regretted.
“I think we can go home. My nose hurts a lot,” touching his nose that was swelling.
“That reminds me you didn't answer my question. Why did you let Marcel hit you?” Lester inquired.
“Hmmm... well, I don't like hitting people. Marcel was getting tired, didn't you notice? It was a matter of time before I knocked him out,” Victor responded foolishly.
“You're masochistic?! Do you like to get hit because your opponent was getting tired? Do you take precautions in case you are the weak one? Or would you rather risk yourself to the point of breaking your ARM?!!”
“Huh?! What?! Lester… ”
“Shut up! I'm not done, Victor. You must have limits, don't risk your life for a few hits. It's my fault you got into a fight with Marcel,... ” said Lester.
“Hey!” Victor interrupted
“Victor... Shut your mouth!” Lester yelled.
Benxamin decided to watch as Lester expressed his thoughts to Victor. He really was very worried about him.
“Don't fight with anyone again. Violence solves nothing, okay? And if you want to do your stupid challenges again, do it but at least wear a helmet or just don't. Do you understand it or do I explain it to you with scribbles?!” Lester said angrily.
“Okay, okay. I'll be more careful. Friends?” Victor said wanting to make peace.
“Friends!” Lester responded even angrier.
“Victor and what are you going to tell Stella and August about your nose?” asked Benxamin.
“Would you let me stay at your apartment tonight, Lester?” Victor said anguished.
***
The Dautt brothers' birthday was a few months later. Although Lester liked to create adventure stories that he heard on the radio, or saw on TV or in the movies, he hid them under his bed because he didn't feel able to share them with anyone, at least for now; his other passion was gastronomy.
His mother taught him how to make easy and delicious desserts. These were one of the few times that Mira did not show apathy towards him, on the contrary, she admired her son's enormous interest in learning new things that would help him as an adult. She shared her culinary tricks and enjoyed those few unforgettable moments. Mira worked up to 14 hours a day; it was understandable that from time to time she would be cold towards Lester and her husband. James, for his part, watched them cook, his seasoning was regular for the demanding palate of his wife.
Lester wanted to give his friends something made by him, instead of buying a popular toy of the time - considering it was the late 80's. The three guys were much closer than before, having lunch together, doing their homework and watching animated series.
During that time, Lester was struck by a particularity of the twins; the way they communicated with each other through codes. They had a habit of writing complex messages so no one could understand what the hell they were saying.
Not that Lester was excluded by the Dautt brothers, but sometimes it was as if they had lived in a different world from him and with their own rules. Even so, giving them something for that important day was a way of showing their affection.
***
The long-awaited day arrived, and Lester looked for them with a great feeling of happiness. He thought the boys were in their apartment. Suddenly, he heard an argument just as he was about to knock on the door; they were Stella and August.
“You do nothing but complain,” said August.
“I have to do everything alone! Get out of here!” Stella yelled.
Victor opened the door to leave with Benxamin. Lester for his part, unable to hide, stared at them with two gifts he had in his hand and inside each one there were chocolate and vanilla cookies - these gifts were decorated by his mother in litmus paper with a red bow. He felt that it wasn't the right time to deliver them, he decided to keep them in the black backpack that he carried with him. The tension that existed at that moment was evident and after an awkward silence, Lester had an idea.
“Would you guys like to go to the amusement park with me? Victor, you once told me that neither of you has been there. Tonight there will be fireworks. I asked my mom for permission. It will be fun.”
“Yep,” Victor replied.
“We'd love to, Lester,” said Benxamin with an unfriendly smile.
“But, shouldn't you guys ask your aunt or August?” Lester inquired, doubting if what he said was the right thing to do given the situation.
“Sure, sure. Don't worries, man,” Victor expressed.
***
After spending a good time together, they bowled and rode as many rides as the afternoon allowed the three of them; the twins forgot their real problems if only for that day. This was one of the few moments where they really enjoyed their childhood. The children waited until it was dark enough to see the fireworks display; many families, friends and couples were also there.
Lester saw that Victor had a small stain on his jacket near his right shoulder, and he wiped it away with one of his plaid shirt sleeves and smiled at him.
“Thanks” said victor
Lester smiled again.
Victor blushed for a brief moment, confused by his feelings, he felt that something was not right. To break the ice, he started to tease Lester a bit because he knew that he was someone who took everything very seriously.
“And what were you hiding a while ago?” asked him.
“Me?! No,... n-nothing!” Lester responded nervously
“Don't be shy.”
“Now that I think back, Lester put something in his backpack. They were cookies, right?” Benxamin asked, pretending to be confused.
“It's just that I… ” Lester hesitated, but after thinking about it, he said. “Okay, okay... I can't hide anything from you, guys. Happy birthday!”
But when he took out the cookies, they were a bit spoiled.
“Well, actually it wasn't… ”
“Give them to us,” Victor said as he looked at the cookies.
“Are you going to eat them like this?”
“You're amazing,” Benxamin thanked as he put his hand on Lester's shoulder.
“Don't say corny things. You are so annoying,” Victor said, blushing.
The Dautt brothers accepted the gift, ate it while watching the fireworks and at the same time, without Lester realizing it, Victor began to appreciate him much more than before.
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