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DREAM LIFE

Soon after, he walked out with his new €750 Diesel leather jacket.

Another time, in Stockholm, dressed in a Bob Marley collection adidas tracksuit and new running shoes, he was looking for several pairs of sunglasses. Typically, he knew exactly what he wanted: the latest special edition Ray-Bans with a unique lens and shape that he felt suited his face perfectly; the latest US$600 Dior Biker glasses, for stylishly wearing on his bike; and new Oakleys.

But the sales assistant clearly felt this customer couldn't afford all the glasses. ‘Which pair are you going to take?’ he huffed.

‘All three’ Rafael replied. The guy raised an arrogant eyebrow. ‘Ah, this is going to cost more than US$2000,’ he said condescendingly.

Rafael’s hackles shot up. ‘Fuck you, my friend. What’s the problem? I can’t buy three pairs of glasses? Should I buy one pair now, come back tomorrow?’ Rafael pulled the cash from his pocket. ‘This is more cash than you will ever have,’ he said, waving it in his face. ‘Now I’m gonna buy three, I’m gonna pay cash. Do you have a problem with that or should I go to another shop?’

The sales assistant changed his tune.

I think my face looks like a Brazilian bankrupt. They discriminate a lot against me. Maybe because of the tattoos, they think I’m a criminal or something, or they think I come here just to bullshit, just ask the price and go. And then when I start saying, ‘This, this, this, and this’, they say, ‘How you gonna pay?’ and I say, ‘Cash’. ‘Which ones you gonna take?’ and I say ‘All’. Fuck, they get crazy.

– Rafael