Chapter Text
Marcela woke up early the next morning, it was Sunday, however, she still had a lot to do. There was nothing to eat and it was still too early to buy anything. She saw the information about the nearest market and noticed that she could walk, while waiting for the store to open, Marcela took the time to take a shower and organize her belongings again. She remembered to call her parents and let them know how she was doing and how the move was going, and so she did. Since she came to the US she hasn't been back to Brazil, not even for the vacations, she missed her little brother and her mother and some friends she still tried to keep in touch with, but not the rest.
Her parents did not know Marcela's real situation, they thought that the girl lived a perfect life, however, she faced difficulties in all the places she went. Being an immigrant in the USA is not easy, especially for Latinos, who are not accepted, always doubting their capacity and telling them to "go back to their countries". Each day it seemed to become more difficult, not to survive, but to deal with it all. If she didn't have a support network, her two friends, the woman was sure she would be lost. When the time finally came, the young woman got ready and left.
Marcela returned satisfied after seeing how cheap the neighborhood market is in comparison to the one near her campus. She was holding two "eco bags" that she had customized and was looking forward to cooking in her new home. When suddenly an old black car, resembling an impala, drives slowly beside her, and a tall, thin man with very small hair, a goatee, and a small tattoo of writing on his neck and half based on his ear, leans on the window of the vehicle and starts talking to her.
-Hey baby, how are you? Are you new in the neighborhood? I've never seen you around here!- He stands leaning on the car window with his whole torso out.
The woman kept walking as if it wasn't happening.
-Hey bebé, don't ignore me! It's not every day you see a hyna like you! I just want to meet you." She continued to ignore him and then heard two men who were also in the car, making fun of the man. - He knocks twice on the side of the car.
The car stops, and the man gets down and drives away. Marcela hurried her pace and spotted several people on the street. "He's not crazy to try to do anything to me in front of so many people! Or is he?" The woman began to become distressed, yet at the same time, she was trying to calm herself down. "That man is not going to do anything to me today."
- Bebé, stop it, will you? I even got out of the car to talk to you - He walked faster and stood behind the girl as he spoke - Wow, but you walk fast - She didn't even look at him - Is it because I have to introduce myself? I'm sorry baby, I'm Sad Eyes.
Upon hearing this name the girl grimaced. "What kind of name was that? It might even be his street name, but what an ugly thing."
-Look, finally a reaction, now tell me who you are and what you are doing here! - He says and holds tight to one of the girl's bags.
Marcela stops and stares at him from head to toe. He was wearing a white shirt under a black blouse, his shorts were gray and baggy with high stockings. He was a thin guy, didn't look that strong, had Mexican features, and certainly spoke Spanish. The man fit the description Monse had given the night before, and apart from the color, so did the car that dropped him off. He appeared to be a gangster. "Maybe he's not so good at ignoring." The woman took a deep breath, she needed to calm down as anger was about to take the place of the fear she felt a few seconds ago.
-I am a new resident in the neighborhood -The Brazilian gives a forced smile that soon disappears. She pulls her purse to herself and brutally goes back on her way. The man continues to follow her.
- I've never seen women as hot as you around here - The journalist clenches her fists tightly on her bags, trying to hold on - What's up, bebé? What street did you move to? If you want, I'll walk you there so we can talk more - He passes his arm around her waist, and automatically Marcela disengages abruptly and anger takes possession of her body.
- Porra vai tomar no cu! - She turns to the man - Do not touch me with your disgusting hand. You're unbearable, aren't you? No te calles. What the fuck did you come after me for? Because you, skinny like that, will not get anything from me - Marcela was so angry that cursed in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, the man did not expect such a reaction but smiled in the corner.
- Roof roof hyna! You're wild - He barked, he really had imitated a dog - You don't have to be like that, I just want to talk - he put his hands up as if he was surrendering. The cynicism in his voice and actions irritated the Brazilian even more, her hunger was already knocking at the door and her head was full of problems. This guy picked the wrong day to irritate her.
-It's not possible! - She looked at him incredulously and started to gesture. You keep imitating dogs like crazy, calling others - Bebé. How old are you, 40 years old? - Sad Eyes looked at her in disbelief, he really felt offended.
-I'm 23- -He said seriously
- With that dead face? - She gives him a judgmental look - I guess a little less weed will do the trick - She says, draping the bags over her shoulders. - Excuse me, unlike you, I have better things to do - Sad Eyes was angry, so he quickly reacted to the offenses.
- You stay here, prophet! You're not going anywhere until you tell me what you're doing here - He shouts and suddenly holds the young woman's arm so tightly that she feels pain.
- Do I look like, a prophet, you crazy pendejo? I just found out what a prophet was yesterday! I'M NOT A PROPHET! - The scandal was formed and some people passing by stopped to watch what was happening, but no one stopped to help her.
- Tell it to the boss! - With his other arm he takes the cell phone from his pocket and begins to make a call. In a moment of distraction, Marcela manages to get loose and instinctively punches the man awkwardly. Sad Eyes is dizzy for a few seconds but he listens to the phrase the woman says before running away.
- I am not a prophet! RACIST!
With this line, Marcela runs off at full speed, holding on tightly to her eco-bags, none of her purchases could fall out. She ran and almost ran over the people in front of her, but she listened to the people she was passing as she dodged her pursuer. The woman was desperate and in the middle of the run, her slipper fell off her foot. She stopped abruptly, almost falling over, and went back to pick it up. She had no money to buy another one and this was the "Havaianas" that she had brought from Brazil, she couldn't lose it. As she picked up her flip-flops when she saw the man approaching. Marcela quickly put the flip-flops on with difficulty and realized that she had no more time to run away. She grabbed the first thing she saw inside her shopping bag and threw it at the man who was closer than ever. Her Tupperware bottle filled with water hit him squarely in the face. The woman was lucky that this was the first thing she saw and that it hit him, she mentally thanked herself for always carrying the bottle with her every time she went out. She took her cue and took off running again faster than ever.
Marcela only stopped running after she couldn't take it anymore, she entered an alley and leaned on the wall to rest. She was extremely sweaty, probably stinking, and her heart was beating wildly. She pulled herself together and went home. When she arrived the first thing she did was to throw herself on the sofa, but since she was dirty, she threw herself on the floor because she didn't want to dirty the newly cleaned sofa. As she lay there she went over everything that had happened in her mind. What had happened? It was her second day in that neighborhood and something like this had already happened. What else would she go through in this place?
After a long time, she had the strength to get up and went to the bathroom to take a shower. While she took off her clothes, she couldn't stop cursing the "Sad Eyes" guy. How could he be such a son of a bitch and still mistake her for a prophet? She hammered on that question until she looked at the clothes she had just taken off her body, a green blouse, and black pants. The girl looked in the mirror and remembered Monse's words the night before. "Gangs are separated by colors, prophets wear green[...] prophets are black[...]". Marcela mentally cursed herself and finally said:
-I hate this country
Meanwhile...
Sad Eyes arrives at his boss's house holding a lilac Tupperware bottle and his face red.
-What's up man? Did you fight in the street? - The man laughs - And this water bottle? It suits you, actually - He laughs but stops when he sees Sad Eyes looking serious.
- I mistook the new resident of the neighborhood for a prophet. You know that prophets are trying to infiltrate our streets any way they can and want to take them over. When I saw her dressed like one of the prophets I went to clear it up. But she got stressed at me and punched me and I chased her. I only noticed that she was not a prophet when she came back to pick up the slipper that fell off, threw this water bottle at me, and cursed me in Spanish. A prophet would not act like that, she would have thrown it in my face long before now.
The man looked at him with contempt and ran his hand through his goatee. His right arm, but the subordinate mistreated a resident and a new one who shouldn't even know the neighborhood properly. But at least he was loyal enough to admit his mistake.
-I am ready for my punishment - Sad eyes said truly sorry.
- I hope you are! - The gang leader gets up from his chair and grabs his cell phone to make some calls.
[...]
For several days at the same time, the gang leader observes Marcela at the bus stop, he remembers the characteristics given by his subordinate and recognizes her. The man takes a picture of the girl and sends it to Sad Eyes, who despite his latest mistake, has not stopped being his right-hand man, also because of the leader's protection, who has not let this problem reach the ears of his superiors. It was the first mistake the man had made in years in the gang, so he could still keep him close. Sad Eyes confirmed that this was the woman from the incident, and the man watched her catch her bus. He knew that he would have to compensate the girl somehow but he didn't know how yet.