PART FOURTEEN 2/2

'Love isn't there to make us happy. I believe it exists to show us how much we can endure.' — Hermann Hesse.

Ξ GU,OD Ξ

I entered Rico's room, caught off guard by the amount of people in the room. His abuelito, Monse's squad, Oscar and Jasmine were present. "Is this even permitted?" I questioned, shocked. The teens shot me a guilty look. "We really wanted see how Rico was doing." Ruby replied. I nodded, before shifting my attention to Jasmine who stared at the little boy in sorrow. I walked up to her, placing my hand on her arm. "Are you okay, Jas?"

Her eyes never once left the kid as she replied. "I'm doing okay. I'm still having nightmares, though." I rubbed my hand up and down her arm in a soothing manor. "Just remember that it'll all be okay. He'll wake up before you know it and return to his happy, bubbly self." Her upper lip silently lifted up into a sad smile.

"Sindya, can I please have a word with you?" A familiar low voice spoke from behind me. I twisted my neck into the direction, my eyes landing on Jose, Rico's abuelito. "Of course." As we walked past the squad who was accompanied by Oscar, he intensionally brushed his hand against mine. My eyes flickered over to him, being greeted by a wink he sent my way.

My heart fluttered at the gesture and left a red tint on my cheeks. He was surely going to make my 'healing' journey much harder than I'd ever thought, yet I couldn't wait for all the teasing I had coming my way.

Jose closed the door behind him as we stood in the hall. I gazed down at him in anticipation, since he was shorter than me. He noticed my expression and slipped a sigh from his thin lips. "I need you to promise me something, Sindya."

I frowned, yet nodded. "Okay, and that is?"

"I need you to take care of Rico for me when I'm not around." I folded my arms across my chest, confused as to where this conversation would lead to. "I already do that."

He sighed heavily and ran his tanned hand through his white hair. "Not like that— I'm dying, mija. (dear)"

My breath hitched in my throat. "I-I thought you said you were doing better!?" I shrieked in frustration. "I went to the doctors and they said my lump grew back. It's spreading rapidly." Tears spilled from my eyes, rolling slowly over my cheek. "Why am I losing everyone?" I whispered. He entwined my hands with his. "You will not lose me, mija. I'll be right there, in your heart."

I shook my head. "Why does everybody say that!? You'll be dead, Jose!" He placed his hand on his chest, pretending to be hurt. "Ouch."

"Sorry." I uttered softly.

"Look," he paused, shooting me a sad smile. "I trust you and Oscar can take care of Rico. I don't expect you to watch after him everyday — his auntie lives not far away from here, she can watch him too — but he loves you two. I don't know how you managed to do that in a time stamp of merely eight months, but he really does." A small smile found its way to my lips.

"I will. Thank you for everything, Jose." I cried silently while embracing him tightly. "I will protect him with my life. So will Oscar. I know it." He pulled back from the embrace, studying me. "You and that cholo will make such beautiful, stubborn babies. If you want, don't be shy to name one after me." A laugh effortlessly rolled off my tongue.

"I'll think about it." I joked. He placed a kiss on my cheek before turning around to leave. "I've got to go now, I've agreed to go bowling with a few old pals of mine. Te quiero, mi hija. (i love you, my daughter)"

"Te queiro más (i love you more), Jose." I watched his retreating figure before entering Rico's room again. That man was anything you'd never expect from an old man. He never phased to bore me. I could see why his amante (lover) loved him so much. He was literally a ball of happiness that managed to clear up every darkened aspect of your life. He was a true blessing.

✞

The front door opened and closed. "Monse?" I called out, thinking it was her. Silence filled the house. "Monse..?"

I grabbed the bat in the corner of my bed and proceeded to walk down the hall. "You won't die.. you won't die." I reassured myself. I turned around the corner, lifting my bat up in the air — ready to strike. "Aye, aye!" Oscar shouted as he grabbed the dangerous object out of my hand.

"What are you doing here!?" I questioned, slightly flustered. "I need your help with something.." He entwined his hand with mine and led me to the living room. A baby not much older than six months sputtered in the stroller that was placed on the table. "Oh, hell no!" I shrieked, backing away. "Sin, I need your help. I'll die if I do this alone." His eyes bored into mine, desperation and hope filling them.

"Who's baby is this?" I tiredly asked while running my hands through my ponytail of braids. "Sad Eyes. I had him pick something up in the East for me. His girlfriend came by my house later on and told me to watch her daughter since she was going out with her girls."

I shook my head and bursted into a fit of laughter. "What's so funny, fool?" I rested my hand on my aching stomach due to laughing. "It's funny that you have to watch that baby and not me, machito. (tough guy)."

Loud wails suddenly filled the house as the baby fiddled in the stroller. Oscar gently picked her up, slowly rocking her back and forth. "It's alright, pequeña (little one). It's alright." I sashayed towards them, gazing down at the baby engulfed in his strong arms. "She's beautiful.."

"Yeah," he said before pausing, shifting his gaze to me. I was too engrossed in the little child that reminded me of Rico to notice his stare. "Just like you." I rolled my eyes, a playful smile staining my lips. "O, please, that is the most cliché pick up line ever." He chuckled lowly.

"I won't stop saying it until you realize how mesmerizing you are." His voice sounded lower, much more serious. I studied him for a while. The teardrop tattoo he was known for covered the highest point of his cheekbone. His chain hung loosely around his neck, clanging against his chest ever so often. His eyes stared at me with a passion so deep, I couldn't even understand. "Thank you for giving me another chance." He softly spoke.

"You don't have to thank me." I retorted, my voice breaking due to the intensity of the stare I still managed to feel. "You apologized. You manned up and owned your shit. I should actually thank you but I'm a bad puta and bad puta's don't apologize." He playfully nudged his shoulder into mine as he still held the baby.

"You're still crazy as ever, mi cariño. (my baby girl)"

✞

"What else do you need?!" I shouted in frustration at the baby who kept sobbing. "Your diaper is clean, I've fed you, what else do you need?! Is it attention!?" I cooed in distress. "She's not gonna talk back, you know that right?"

"Then you try consoling her, big guy." He rolled his eyes as soon as my sarcastic comment rolled off my tongue. "That's exactly how you're gonna call me when I get you into my bed."

"Pedophile." I hummed as I retreated back to my room. "I'm only three years older than you!" He chuckled.

"Three years too old!" I shouted back, a smirk forming on my lips.