My Guy Best Friend

It was winter in Belúvia, a season of great sorrow for the Potenzza family. Exactly ten years ago, during that same time, Margareth Potenzza's eldest son, Philipe Potenzza, had tragically died in a car accident, leaving only young Lorelai, who was just nine years old at the time, and her older brother Charles, who was fifteen.

After their father's death, Lorelai had to go live with her grandmother in Alvorada, while Charles went to a boarding school. They had to distance themselves from everyone, leaving behind Lorelai's best friend Molly, the youngest daughter of the Contreras family. But for Lorelai, the greatest pain was being separated from her beloved aunt Ramona.

Lorelai and her aunt had a mother-daughter-like relationship, as Lorelai's own mother had disappeared shortly after her birth. Ramona always advised her niece and taught her about love, and Lorelai adored her for it.

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Ramona had pleaded with her mother to let Lorelai stay at her house, but Margareth remained adamant.

"Mother, wouldn't it be better to let Lorelai stay here, where she already has friends and her cousin?" Ramona said, looking at her mother with pleading eyes.

Margareth gazed back at her with a disdainful look. "Absolutely not. After the death of my son, it is my obligation to raise the girl. Now, this burden is mine."

It pained Ramona to hear her mother refer to Lorelai in such a way, especially when Lorelai had always been so gentle, the sweetest little creature Ramona had ever known.

"But, Mother, think about it, for God's sake! Lorelai has just lost her parents and has been separated from her brother. It would be better for her to be with someone her age, and I could guide her."

"Enough with your foolishness! Lorelai is a scatterbrain, she would only bring trouble. And you know that she and Rebeka despise each other. God only knows why there's so much rivalry between them."

Ramona rolled her eyes impatiently. "Come on, Mother, it's just a childish quarrel. They will be friends soon enough."

"No, it's not a quarrel," Margareth insisted. "They will always be enemies, even if it's hidden. You know about the Potenzza curse."

"The curse didn't affect our generation, but it may affect your daughter if she continues to associate with Lorelai... and those Contreras children."

"Poor Beka, she will have to endure the envy of a crazy and ugly cousin who will destroy her happiness."

"Mother, don't say that! Lorelai is the sweetest girl I've ever seen, and she's perfectly sane. She's just absent-minded, but she's an angel. And this curse story is a silly superstition."

"Really? Do you truly believe that, my dear?"

"I do!"

"Fine, then tell me, what are the only connections between Rebeka and Lorelai besides you?" Ramona felt her body tremble as she realized her mother might be right.

"Well... Rebeka is in love with her cousin Charles, and that sometimes causes jealousy in Lorelai. And... the other connection between them... is Jhonatan. Lorelai and Rebeka both adore Jhonatan and are always competing for his attention. But... it can't be true! They're just children! Besides, these connections are just coincidences... they don't prove anything."

"Yes, it could be, Ramona. It's at this age that feelings solidify, and the curse will be triggered when the youngest Potenzza turns eighteen."

"But... Mother, the youngest is..."

"Rebeka! Yes, Ramona, your daughter will trigger the curse. She is the center!"

"But how? The center? How can you be so certain that the center won't be Lorelai or Charles?"

"I don't know, it's just a hunch. Rebeka is the most beautiful."

"Beauty isn't everything, Mother. It's inner beauty that counts. Sometimes, certain actions of my daughter make me think that she's far from being an angel. She can be manipulative, she lies, she conceals things."