"Please..... this should be enough," Beatriz whispered, falling to her knees, utterly exhausted.
Fransisco swirled the wine in his glass and took another sip, unfazed. "What? I haven't even finished my bottle. Do it again."
"No more... please," she begged, her voice cracking as tears began to drop to the floor.
Fransisco rose from his chair, walking toward her with deliberate steps. His fingers brushed her waist gently. "You know," he murmured, "it's your fault for being this beautiful. If you want to curse someone..... curse yourself."
"Please, enough... If you're looking for beauty, there are plenty of models here. Why me?" she cried, trying to push his hand away.
His gaze darkened, eyes narrowing like a tiger's. "Bitch, how dare you?" he growled. "Don't resist me."
He grabbed her by the hair and forced her down on the bed, pinning her hands above her head.
"No! Please! I'm sorry...." Beatriz sobbed.
Fransisco smirked. "God.... those expressions. You're seducing me without even trying." He leaned in, his breath brushing her lips.
Then he suddenly pulled back.
"But I really do love you," he said softly.
Beatriz stared at him in disbelief. "Is this how you treat someone you love? How can you do this? Are you a monster?"
Her defiance seemed to amuse him.
"Oh my, beautiful. That fire in your eyes... reminds me of my younger days." He kissed her neck, slowly.
Flashback: Instituto Arcádio de Porto – School Cafeteria
Laughter and chatter filled the lunch hall. But in the washroom, a boy sobbed, drenched and filthy.
"Please forgive me... I won't complain to the teacher again," he cried.
Jose Antonio stood over him, fists clenched.
"You said that last time too. And then you went right back to snitching. This time, I'll make sure you remember who I am."
"I promise...I won't talk to her again!" The boy covered his face in fear.
"You stink." Jose raised his hand to strike him again....
but someone caught his arm mid-swing.
"Easy, kid."
Jose turned. "Senior...? What are you doing here?"
"Senior, please help! He's beating me!" the boy crawled over and clutched Fransisco's leg.
"Get lost." Fransisco kicked the boy away without hesitation.
"Wait, why did you....." Jose stopped mid-sentence, startled by the sudden cruelty.
Fransisco washed his face calmly in the sink. "I've heard a lot about you, Jose. Want to join our little gang?"
"Me? I'd be useless to you. And... what exactly does your gang do?" Jose asked hesitantly.
"We're not delivery boys. We deliver substances to customers. You know what I mean." He wiped his face clean with a handkerchief.
"Why me? There are people better suited for this. And why should I trust you?" Jose began edging toward the door.
Fransisco stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Because you're just like us...a bully. You don't give a damn about school rules. How many kids have you beaten up so far?"
Jose turned sharply. "Beating up kids and selling drugs are two very different things. Let me go or I'll report you to the police!"
Fransisco laughed quietly. "You won't. I know your secret.... you need money, don't you?" He let go of Jose and stepped further inside.
Jose froze like a statue.
Then, trembling, he followed.
"Wait. Please, wait." Jose grabbed Fransisco's shoulder. "How do you know that? Who told you?"
Fransisco turned slightly. "I know enough. Your aunt and uncle.....they're not helping you, they're torturing you. So you take your anger out on school kids. Your parents? Comatose. You've done a good job hiding it, but nothing hides from me."
Jose's grip loosened.
"You need money," Fransisco continued. "With me, you won't have to beg. You can fly free. How long can you keep your parents in that second-rate hospital? Money can change everything."
He moved to the sink again.
Jose stood still, lost in thought.
As Fransisco walked past, he whispered, "You asked why I chose you. Simple. A starving dog never bites the hand that feeds it."
Jose flinched. "Why should I believe you? What if you're just going to use me and throw me away?"
Fransisco smiled. "That's a fair question. But tell me.....what choice do you have? Your uncle and aunt won't help. You're not going to win a lottery. Every day your parents slip further away. So what can you do, Jose? Answer me."
Jose looked down, unable to meet his eyes. His fists trembled.
"Here's the deal. Give me your trust. It's a gamble.....you win with me, or you die with me. But at least with me, you have a chance. If you're not interested, that's fine. Just keep watching your world crumble." Fransisco paused at the door. "Who knows if you'll even find me later? And what kind of person I'll be then?"
He dropped a card at Jose's feet. "I'll be at Douro River. Call me when you get there. Six p.m. today."
Fransisco left.
The final bell rang. School was over.
Jose walked through the streets until he reached a hospital. Inside, two patients lay unconscious in adjacent beds.
He sat down beside them and rested his head near his mother's hand.
"What should I do...? Mom, Dad... please, give me an answer."
The door creaked open.
A nurse stepped in with a gentle smile. "I'm sorry, sir... but you'll need to speak to the cashier before visiting hours end."