The mood was playful again, but there was something different in her eyes.
"You know, Edu... I miss that," she said, absentmindedly fiddling with the edge of the table. "Marcos travels too much."
There was a slight heaviness in her voice. It wasn't drama... it was exhaustion.
I noticed.
"You know, Amanda... we're both lonely," I said exaggeratedly, putting my hand to my chest as if I were in a soap opera. "The difference is that at least you have Luke."
She raised an eyebrow.
"If you want, I'll let you have Luke too."
"No, he hates me."
She let out a sincere laugh.
"Edu, you know how to cheer me up."
I struck an exaggerated pose, as if taking off an imaginary hat and bowing.
"At your service, madam."
She laughed again, shaking her head."You must have been a heartbreaker at school."
I shrugged.
"No. I was a loner... actually, I still am."
She snorted playfully and crossed her arms, looking determined.
"Starting today, neither you nor I are loners."
I looked at her for a second, then smiled.
"Deal."
She pointed to the kitchen with renewed enthusiasm.
"Then let's have dinner before the steak gets overcooked."
I got up from my chair.
"Yes, chef."
During dinner, between laughter and teasing, I noticed that Amanda had emptied the bottle almost by herself.
I looked at the empty glass and then at her.
"You really liked that wine, huh?"
She shrugged, resting her chin on her hand.
"Sometimes we just need a little push to cheer us up."
I was curious.
"Cheer us up for what?"She looked at me with that different sparkle in her eyes.
"You know, Edu... I've always wanted to get a piercing."
"Really?" I asked, surprised. "Why haven't you ever gotten one?"
She twirled the empty glass between her fingers.
"I never felt like it. I always put it off. But today... I feel like it."
"Then go for it," I replied simply.
She smiled slyly.
"Not alone."
"What do you mean?"
"Would you come with me?"
I didn't even think twice.
"Anytime, Amanda."
Her smile softened.
"You're sweet, you know that?"
At that moment, I realised that the conversation was different. Light. No tension. No constant provocation.
She seemed... younger. Almost like me. Just two teenagers talking about simple desires and impulsive decisions.
And, for the first time that night, I wasn't nervous.
I was comfortable.
Before I left, she took my mobile phone from my hand.
"Give me your contact details."
"I thought you already had them."
"Now I officially have them," she said, saving the number.
At the door, she smiled once more.
"Let's set a date for the piercing."
— Deal.
I went home with a smile I couldn't hide.
I woke up and, before even getting out of bed, I grabbed my phone.
I had a message from her.
"Good morning 😘"
I smiled automatically.
"Good morning. I just woke up."
The reply came quickly.
"Sleepyhead."
I laughed to myself.
"Forgive me, I went to bed late," I wrote, still in a good mood.
It took a few seconds.
"And what were you doing, huh?"
I could feel her amusement even through the screen.
I decided to play along.
"I was with my beautiful neighbour."
She replied almost immediately.
"I know, playboy 😂"
I shook my head, laughing.
I decided to change the subject before she started teasing me again.
"So... where are we going?"
She typed for a little longer this time.
"Edu, I asked for help because I don't know where to put the piercing."
I stared at the ceiling for a second.
"To be honest... I don't know either."
The reply came:
"Now what, Edu?"
I sat on the bed and did a quick Google search. I found a tattoo and piercing studio inside a well-reviewed shopping centre. I copied the location and sent it to her.
"I found this one. It looks good."
A few seconds later:
"I'll go with you. But tomorrow you're going to cheer me on at the football trial."
She replied with an excited emoji.
"Deal, then, Edu."
I stared at the conversation for a while longer.
That simple "good morning" had improved my mood more than I wanted to admit.
And now we had two appointments.
Her piercing.
And my trial.