HOT DREAMS

The two friends shared an apartment in a neighborhood far from downtown Linote, a

relatively large city, for two years. They met at the beginning of high school, went to business

school together, and since they met, they have been inseparable, as if they had known each other

their whole lives.

They arrived at the apartment and were both so exhausted when they entered the elevator that

they almost crawled out when it opened. They dragged themselves to the end of the hallway and,

upon entering the small apartment, decided to take a shower together to go faster and fell asleep

as soon as their heads touched the pillow.

Nana woke up at ten in the morning and saw that her friend's bedroom door was still closed.

Clara was the sleepier of the two. Nana turned on the kettle and set the table for breakfast. As

soon as the kettle whistled, she poured the coffee and went out onto the balcony to smoke her

first and most delicious cigarette of the day while the coffee finished brewing.

Nana loved where they lived. The studio apartment had two bedrooms, and the two seemed to be

playing house when they furnished it. Even though it was rented, it was a dream come true to live

there, to be able to pay for it and have their freedom. Their parents thought it best that they rent an

apartment for safety reasons. Of course, they weren't going to give in and say that it would be

more difficult for them to throw parties with alcohol there. They were young, and to their parents,

they would always be children who had to depend on them or they would do stupid things.

Luckily, neither of them was into parties, drinking, or drugs. Except for the cigarettes that Nana

smoked and her friend teased her about, they didn't use anything stronger.

Nana prepared some bread with jam and a cup of coffee to take to Clara.

—I love you, but let me sleep more, Nana, please. Clara put the pillow over her face and turned

her back to her friend sitting on the edge of the bed.

—We have to decide about the building on Saudade Avenue, girl. Did you forget? Nana nudged

her.

—What time is it? she asked, her voice muffled under the pillow.

—Almost half past ten, and we have to be there to talk to the owners at noon. It's kind of far,

Nana corrected.

Clara sat up in bed and took the cup offered by her friend, groaning when she took the first sip.

—Can you believe I was having an erotic dream? she said, smiling.

—Oh, gross. I touched your hand, and you masturbated? Nana got up from the bed, making

a face of disgust.

—No, silly. You interrupted me, you interrupted me just when he had his head between my

legs, damn it.

—I dreamed about Tom Cruise today too, nothing so erotic, but it was nice. Who did you

dream about? Oh, was it Cris, from Coldplay? Nana clapped her hands, excited.

—No, no celebrities this time. I dreamed about the stuck-up CEO from yesterday's party.

—Really? Wow, I didn't see him very well, but is he that hot and dreamable? He seemed pretty

ugly to me. Although you do have a thing for ugly, old, young guys...

—Oh, get lost, I'm not like that. Clara laughed and threw the pillow at her friend, who moved

away and let the pillow hit the wall. I didn't really notice him that much either, to be honest. He

wasn't really handsome, he had something, I don't know, he's different. He's not handsome, but

he's beautiful. Do you understand?

—Ha ha ha, I know how it is. Rich people have that, they must be handsome or convey an

image of beauty because they're rich.

—No, that's not it. I can't explain it, I just know it wasn't because he was rich. He has a kind of

square face, a dimple in his chin, a crooked tooth. He reminded me of a guy I dated once in high

school. The guy had a certain something, ah, I can't explain it.

—The only thing I remember about the millionaire is his cologne. It was definitely Fulgor, by

Travis. I can recognize a brand name cologne from a distance.

—I hated his perfume. It was sickening and lingered in the bathroom. He probably doesn't

even like it, but since it's expensive, he insists on buying it.

—I think rich people spend money on frivolous things to compensate for the size of their

dicks. Could you tell if he had a big dick?

—How should I know, Nana? Are you crazy?!

—I was in the bathroom with him, duh.

—But I left right away. Do you think a man like that would want anything to do with mere

mortal cleaning ladies like us and let us look at his glorious dick? They both laughed at this, at

the strange direction the conversation was taking. With them, it was always like that, the subject

was fruitful and could go anywhere.

—You know Gloria? Well, she only goes for rich guys, my dear. She pretends to be a

model, and when she was in college, she was a high-class escort for a while in the capital.

—But she's beautiful, Nana, and stupid. What's so funny about getting involved with someone

just because she has money? I think I'd even hook up with a rich guy.- You've never dated a rich guy? I have, but not like Gloria, you know, I dated a guy once, I met

him at a party, I think when I was twenty, I don't remember very well. We

kissed, and he was a great kisser. When we left, he asked me out so we could be more comfortable

somewhere private. I figured we were going to a motel, right? But when I got in his car, my jaw

dropped, girl, it was imported and I had never been in a car like that before. He was super

gentlemanly, opened the door and everything for me to get in, and then asked if I minded going to

his house. I said no. Girl, he lived in a house that

looked like a castle! I said, damn, what is this? I couldn't even concentrate on sex because his

house was so beautiful. He had a hot tub in the backyard, can you believe

? Luckily, I was wearing beautiful, sexy lingerie, and he was a little drunk. I came, I think out of

joy at seeing so many fancy things.

The two of them burst out laughing.

—Didn't you go out again after that?

—What would I have to talk about with a guy like that, Clara? I don't even remember how I got

home after that, I just know I never saw him again. I remember, his name was Rick, I don't

know if it's short for Richard or Ricardo, but it was a cool experience and I always remember

him for being so polite and shy, you know, he seemed like a little boy getting laid for the first

time.

—The one who went out, and had money, at least more than me, was Gustavo. Do you remember

him?

—That asshole Pagliatte? Oh, I hate him, that guy is a worse deadbeat than the two of us put

together, that's for sure. He was, or is, the restaurant manager. Clara, it doesn't count when the guy

thinks he's the shit. He was full of himself and thought he was hot stuff, you know, what a piece

of shit.

—That's right, I never dated anyone with real money, and I never even thought about it when

I dated someone, but Gustavo was amazing in bed, girl, and that dick?

I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it when he ripped off my clothes. It makes my mouth water

just thinking about it.

—Luckily, we're warriors and we never back down when the monument is big, right? Nana

winked, and they both laughed. "Our family would be shocked if they heard our conversations,

and my mother would be turning in her grave." Nana made the sign of the cross on her chest.

"And speaking of monuments, get up because we have a huge post-construction cleanup

waiting for us, girl." Nana warned her and went to her own room to get ready.