31 Chapter 31: No One (1/2)
”Ha, i'm perfectly fine, there's nothing wrong with me.”
She rolls her eyes,
”Who are you trying to convince? Yourself?”
My knees wobble a bit,
”I said i'm fine, stop trying to-”
She slaps my arm,
”Get your shit together or i'm leaving.”
A strange tingly feeling pumps though me.
”Leave? Leave me?”
'Am I losing her?! Is this it?! I swear, if she leaves i'm gonna kill-'
”No you idiot, leave as in go back inside.”
”Oh,”
I feel so stupid.
”I knew that.”
She puts her blade back into its case and takes my hand in hers,
”What's bothering you?”
I sit on the grass and pull her down into my lap.
”This place just brings back so many bad memories. Can I tell you about it?”
I pull her closer and rest my jaw on her soft shoulder.
”Of course, you can tell me whatever.”
I breathe in her scent and wrap my arms around her,
”I was probably 16 years old,”
***
[5 years ago]
”Ya es tarde. ¿Dónde has estado?”
(It's late. Where have you been?”
”Out.”
I throw my jacket on the floor.
”Has estado dando vueltas alrededor de ese chico otra vez, ¿verdad?”
(You've been going around that boy again, right?)
I suck my teeth,
”What's it matter to you?!”
”Cuida tu lenguaje!”
(Watch your mouth!)
”Whatever, i'm leaving.”
”Qué? You just got home.”
”Yeah well i'll leaving again.”
I pull the door open,
”Espere,”
(Wait,)
She rushes towards me with a bag,
”Sé que no has estado comiendo a Ricardo.”
(I know you haven't been eating Ricardo.)
”So what?”
”So,”
She shoves the bag in my hands,
”I made you a snack for a later.”
I try to hide a smile. Even though I treat her like an ass, she still treats me like a toddler.
”Thank you mama.”
I bend down and kiss her cheek.
”I'll be home in time for school.”
I should've stayed home with her. I should've hugged her. I should've loved her harder. I should've been a son. But I didn't, instead I pushed rock. I neglected her pure intentions as a mother and decided to be a low-life piece of shit.
”Well well, look who decides to show up.”
”Shut up Jay.”
He throws his arm around my neck,
”We just got a huge shipment today. From now on you'll have to sell double your amount.”
I push him off of me,
”That's what I came here to talk to you about...”
His smile drops and he glares at me.
”I've been thinking lately and I don't think I should do this anymore. I got a part-time job at my uncles food truck so I don't have to sell anymore.”
He stares at me for a few seconds then begins to laugh.
”Whew, good one Rico.”
”I'm serious Jay, I can't keep this up.”
He clenches his jaw like he always does when he gets upset,
”Pft, you think you can back out now bitch? Don't be stupid.”
I shove him,
”Don't call me no bitch, and I said that i'm done so yeah, I think I can back out.”
He pushes back,
”This ain't no game Rico, this real life.”
I push him harder than before,
”It's your life, not mine.”
”This is your life too. You came to me. Remember that.”
”You think this was my choice, you fucking idiot?! I don't work for you, I work with you. Remember that.”
”You think you're the shit huh? Just because you gotta little job? You'll see, he'll never let you just quit. He owns you bitch.”
I punch him clean in the face.
”Nobody owns me!”
He touches his busted lip,
”You bitch!”
He charges at me but I dodge him. He might be bigger than me but i'm faster.
I kick his legs and he falls to the ground. I pin his arms down with me legs and punch him as hard as I can, making sure each one harder than the last.
”Hey guys, sorry i'm late-WOAH, WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?!”
Layla pulls me off of Sanjay.
His face is bruised and bloody but he doesn't seemed fazed at all.
”Somebody wanna tell me what the fuck happened?”
Jay spits out blood then laughs,
”Rico here wants to quit.”
”Is this true Ricky?”
She looks me in the eye.
”Yeah. I don't needa do this shit anymore. I've gotta real job.”
She sucks on her bottom lip,
”Well let's go talk to my uncle. Whatever he says goes.”
”But my meeting isn't till next weekend.”
”So? I'm his niece, he loves me and I love you, so he'll have to talk to you today.”
”I guess it won't hurt to try...unless he kills me of course.”
”Oh don't be such a pussy, let's go!”
***
”Where the fuck are we?”
”His cabin in the woods. I'm pretty sure he's still working but not from home.”
”Why? Is someone after him?”
Layla giggles,
”No idiot, he just wanted to spend some time in the woods.”
She walks into the large cabin and I awkwardly follow her.
”Why hello my beautiful niece. What brings you by?”
He catches my eye,
”Ah, I see. Go ahead and talk son.”