Part 2 – On the Way to the Expected Day
Junior's father was sunk into the couch, eyes glued to the television. The blue light from the screen cast strange shadows around the room.
"Hi, Dad."
He only lifted his hand in a lazy wave, without taking his eyes off the TV.
Junior sighed and climbed the creaky stairs toward his room.
The room was a mix of mess and late adolescence: wrinkled clothes on the chair, posters of old bands on the wall, a video game paused on the screen. Junior threw himself on the bed with a loud sigh. He grabbed the pillow, shoved it against his face, and screamed muffled:
"June 15… I'm going on my date. I can't believe it… I can't believe it!"
He rolled from side to side, a silly grin stuck on his face.
On the morning of June 15, 2026, sunlight invaded the room. Junior stood in front of the mirror, trying to fix the knot of a tie on a white suit a bit too big for him.
He forced a smile and rehearsed:
"Hi, how are you? So… why are you staring at me like that? WOW, you think I'm handsome? Thank you… really."
He winked at the mirror, but soon fell silent. He stared at his reflection, and embarrassment hit hard.
"My God, I'm such an idiot…" he muttered, patting his own face lightly as if trying to cheer himself up.
Suddenly, BAM-BAM-BAM! The door shook with loud knocks.
"Hey, idiot!" Catia shouted from the hallway. "Your little girlfriend's already here, you little shit!"
Junior's heart raced.
"Oh my God… it's happening… it's happening!"
"You okay there, soap opera groom?" his sister mocked.
"I'll be right there, okay? Just a second! Tell her I'll be right out!"
"Oh, sure, genius. I'll turn into your messenger box now. You talk to her, idiot!"
With his heart pounding, Junior ran down the stairs, almost tripping on the steps. From upstairs, Catia kept yelling:
"You're like a ballerina, all delicate!"
He pretended not to hear. When he reached the living room, he froze in shock: Mia was waiting, elegant, with a shy smile.
"Hi, Junior. Are you ready?"
He nervously adjusted the white suit, trying to look more grown-up.
"Y-yeah, of course! I… I'm ready, yeah."
They walked out side by side. At the door, Marta waved, emotional.
"My son… already going to have his first girlfriend!"
Junior coughed, blushing, and whispered to Mia:
"Don't mind her, my mom… she loves to joke."
"Okay!" Mia replied, smiling.
Then Junior suddenly stopped. In front of him, Mia opened the door of a luxurious, shiny sedan, completely out of place in the neighborhood.
"This car… is yours?" he asked, wide-eyed.
"Yeah. My dad gave it to me as a birthday gift."
Junior swallowed hard, trying to hide his shock.
The car passed through the gates of a private airport. Junior looked around, more and more lost.
"Where… are we going?"
"To my church," Mia said calmly. "I told you there would be something special."
"Okay, but… is a flight necessary to get there? Is it really that far?"
Mia only smiled, mysteriously. When the car stopped, two figures awaited them by a luxurious private jet: a young, elegant woman, Gina, and a serious-looking athletic guy, Axel.
"You'll see," Mia said, stepping out of the car.
She greeted Gina and Axel, who waved at Junior with an enigmatic air. The jet gleamed under the sun, displaying the symbol of a stylized cross on the fuselage.
"You took too long, Mia. And who's that with you?" Gina complained, crossing her arms.
"He's my friend. Junior, this is Gina. Gina, this is Junior."
He waved, a bit awkwardly.
"And this is Axel," Mia continued. "Junior, Axel. Axel, Junior."
Axel just lifted his chin in a cold greeting. Junior smiled nervously.
"Alright," Gina said, clapping her hands once. "Now that we've met… we can go. Before we miss the best part."
The group climbed the jet's stairs, engines already ready.
Inside, Junior was dazzled: white leather seats, crystal glasses, golden details. It was like stepping into another world.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Ding, ding.
He discreetly pulled it out. A message from his grandmother.
"Enjoy the fall of the flight, and relish your death, useless grandson."
Junior's eyes widened. Quickly, he turned off the phone, his heart racing. On the other side, Gina was watching him seriously.
"So, Junior… do you belong to any church?"
"N-no… I don't belong to any," he stammered.
Axel raised a glass of wine, eyeing him sideways.
"And how did you meet Mia?"
Junior opened his mouth to answer, but Mia cut him off.
"Could you guys show him a little more respect, please?"
"Fine," Gina grumbled, rolling her eyes. "But at least say why you invited him?"
Mia looked at Junior, almost proudly, and answered calmly:
"Because he's just like me. You understand."
To be continued in Part 3