Chapter 4 The demanding private teacher

It was already late afternoon and Milo had to go out to buy some things. Manuel felt mentally exhausted. He still had not recovered from the night he spent with Darío and had to solve the issue of his student notebook. He figured he dropped it in the coffee, so he should have come back for it tomorrow. In addition, he had to continue with his thesis, which seemed like it would never end.

While he was making some notes, he heard the doorbell.

- Once again Milo forgot his keys - Manuel thought, with annoyance - I'm coming! - He shouted, upon hearing that they were still ringing the doorbell.

But when he opened, he found Ariel.

- But what are you doing here? - Manuel said, surprised and scared - How did you know where I live?

- I think this belongs to you - Ariel told him, showing him the student notebook - your address was on it and, after asking around, I found out where you lived.

Manuel felt like he was breathing a sigh of relief. Surely, in that struggle, he had dropped his notebook and the boy found it. He felt that he should do something for him for going to the trouble, after having treated him badly in the morning.

- Hey ... I don't have much to offer, but come on. I'm going to prepare tea.

- Sure? Wouldn't it be a bother? - said Ariel, surprised by the invitation.

- No, not at all - said Manuel, showing a slight blush that Ariel thought was tender - I see you are very exhausted and something tells me that you have another job besides the flower shop.

- Thank you. Sorry for the intrusion - said Ariel, entering the apartment.

While Manuel was preparing the tea, thousands of thoughts ran through his mind: "Why did I let it happen? I should have taken the notebook and let it go. It makes me so anxious; I still do not know what. He wants him with me. What should I do?"

Ariel, for her part, looked at the shelf where there were several books. On one of the shelves he found books by the same author, all arranged with great care. Ariel was not one to read, but he had already heard about Sebastián Botelli, the most successful new writer in the country. And on that same shelf he saw that, in a photo frame, there was a photo of Manuel with Sebastián. Manuel looked with a smile, something that caught Ariel's attention because she had never seen Manuel smile.

- Here's the tea - Manuel said, catching Ariel's attention - Do you want it with milk?

- That's fine, thank you - said Ariel, accepting the tea.

- By the way, you told me that you wanted me to be your private teacher. Why do you want it to be me?

- Do you really want to know?

- Yeah! That's why I'm asking you!

- Mmmmh ... guesses - Ariel murmured, sipping her tea.

"Are you playing with me?" Manuel thought, feeling like his anger was about to explode. That boy definitely made him angry. He probably did it on purpose. And it distressed him not to know why.

When they finished the tea, Ariel offered to wash the cups. At first, Manuel refused, but Ariel told him that she wanted to repay him in some way for his kindness.

And while Ariel was washing the cups, Manuel regretted that Milo was not there to advise him what to do in that situation. Surely, if it were Milo, he would make a pass at him and invite him to a night of pleasure. But that only came out for Manuel when he got drunk. And the bad thing was that he always ended up regretting it the next day.

As a way to distract him, he wanted to take out a book from the library that was in a corner. But he had the misfortune of tripping and almost crashing into the shelves. The only thing he could do was close his eyes and try to cushion the impact with his arms.

However, he felt that the boy managed to reach him in time and hold him by the waist, thus avoiding suffering a severe blow to the head due to his carelessness.

Ariel got close to Manuel's ear and, with a mischievous voice, said:

- Now you owe me one.

Manuel pushed him and moved away from him. At last, he sighed and exclaimed:

- Alright! I will be your private teacher! But I warn you that I am very demanding. Follow - my rules and my schedules. You better be mentally prepared!

- Yes sir! - Ariel shouted, showing a big smile of immense happiness.

Manuel avoided his gaze. Ariel was too spontaneous, so much so that he didn't know how to react.

In the end, Ariel explained a little about her life and her dreams.

- Never knew my real parents. I was adopted by a childless couple, the Gómez family. Although they were not wealthy, they still made sure that I did not lack anything. Many people feel sorry for me, but I feel lucky. I consider that my childhood was happy. Now I share an apartment with an old friend from school, so I have taken several jobs to cover the rent.

- So the pantry job isn't the only one?

- No. I also usually work as a waiter during the week. In total, I have three jobs, because I can't afford to pay the expenses with one. Even so, I would like to go to university. I am really very grateful that you help me. It means a lot to me.

- No... It's nothing, - Manuel said, avoiding his gaze again. The truth is he wasn't used to helping another boy besides Milo. And he wasn't used to being thanked, either. He definitely wasn't the same when he was with Ariel.

After ordering, Ariel left. Manuel told him to come tomorrow afternoon, if he could.

- Do you have a phone? This way we could communicate - said Manuel.

- I'm sorry. I don't have money to buy one - said Ariel.

- Well, what is going to be done? Anyway, I'll give you mine - Manuel said, writing down his cell phone on a piece of paper.

- Thanks, Manu.

It was the first time Ariel called him that. In any case, he didn't care, since deep down him fell in love with the boy.

Minutes after Ariel left, Manuel heard the doorbell ring. Believing again that it was the boy, he went to open the door for him.

However, the one who was on the other side of the door was Dario.