CARL.

The glass door slid open, compelling the bells above it to chime as I stepped into the café. Aroma of freshly brewed espresso and pastries floated in the establishment creating a savory ambience.

I strode to the counter, where a lady seemingly in her late thirties, was scrolling through her smart phone. A bored look had settled on her features.

"Excuse me." I started, causing her to tear her gaze from the screen of her device.

"Yes. Welcome to café Marino. What would you like to have this afternoon? We have a variety of coffee. There's Americano, Espresso, Machiato, Cappuccino, Mocha and Piccolo." The lady explained.

"Umm...actually, I'm here for the job." I replied.

"What job?" She looked startled.

"The barista job that I had applied for three weeks ago. Yesterday, I got a call informing me that I had received the job."

Her brown eyes lit up, "Si. Si. I remember now. Remind me your name again?"

"Carl Mendez."

"Nice to finally meet you Carl Mendez. Thank for coming." Her lips stretched into a warm smile which resulted in wrinkles crowding the edges of her eyes.

"My name is Miss Nora Marino. Let me give you a brief history about this place. This beautiful café was built by my abuelo then he passed it down to Papa and after his death, it was passed down to me. " She detailed with a smile on her visage.

"You know, my papa loved this place so much. He would always serve customers with a proud smile on his face. I miss him so much." She reminisced.

"I'm sorry..." I started.

"No don't be sorry. Cancer should be sorry for taking him away from me. "A frown sat on her face. "Anyway Carl, I don't want to keep you all evening with my boring stories." She picked out an apron and handed it to me. "Time to get to work." She instructed.

For the rest of the evening, customers streamed into the café, making orders and I brewed their coffee exactly as they wanted. Miss Marino was on her phone most the time, only glancing up a few times to give me instructions. By the time I was done tending to the second batch of customers, my back and legs were sore.

Only twenty more minutes to the end of my evening shift.

"Carl, do you think I look fat in this photo?" She suddenly directed a question at me then placed her phone in my vicinity. In the photo, she was dressed in a yellow, knee-length sleeveless dress. She looked nice.

"No. I think you look fine."

"Are you saying that to make me feel better? I know that I look like a balloon in this photo. It's no wonder nobody has swiped right." A frown caressed her face.

"I actually mean it. You look nice." I replied while fixing a mug of coffee for myself.

"Then why is nobody swiping right? No guy has asked me out on a date. Do you know how long I've been on tinder? Five months! I'm old and fat. Nobody would dream of going on a date with me. " She was self loathing.

"Miss Marino...I think those guys are blind to ignore someone as beautiful as you. They're missing out." I comforted her.

A girlish grin coated her features, "Yeah. You're right. They don't know what they're missing out on. You know, all my life I've felt ugly and unwanted. Every guy would always choose my sister. She was the prettiest. I envied her a lot, growing up. I still do." She paused. "Do you have any siblings, Carl?"

I didn't have any siblings. I've always wanted a brother or sister. Someone to play and paint with. Someone to talk to about my deepest secrets.

"No. I don't have a sibling." I whispered then sipped the steaming beverage.

"Must have been sad growing up alone." She empathized.

"It was.. but I managed." I took another sip of the steamy beverage.

"You know, as much as I envied my sister, I loved her. She showed up for me in more ways than one. It's why I am hosting her son. He's an exchange student, just moved to town from Italy." A gleeful smile embraced her visage as she talked about her family.

I wonder if I feel the same way about my own family. Am I proud to be part of it? Of course I'm not. Because I can't be myself around any of them. I have to hide my real self. Have to play the part of being a perfect son. I have to smile even when deep down I'm crumbling. Every waking day, I live with the fear of them finding out about my darkest secret someday.

That fake video was proof of what the consequences of my coming out would be. The hatred in my mother's eyes was enough to shatter my heart to a million fragments. The disappointment in her voice erased all the good things she had said about me before. My very existence became poison to her.

Suddenly my phone started ringing, fishing me out of the lake of thoughts that I had capsized in. The caller ID revealed my mom.

Speak of the devil...

"Praise God mom." I greeted like the righteous little son.

"Praise God, my son. Where are you? Why aren't you home yet?" She interrogated.

"I'm actually...working on my art project." A lie exited my mouth. It was better if she didn't know about my new job.

"Really? I called the security guard at school and said there's no one in the art room. So, where are you?"

"Mom.. I'm at a friend's. We are working on the art project together. He was helping me out with a few things."

"Who is this friend? Can I speak to him?"

Oh shit! She's gonna find out I lied then I'm gonna be grounded for God knows how long. I have to think fast.

"Mom, he just went to the bathroom..." I slurred. "I'll let you speak to his mom." I handed the phone to Miss Marino then mouthed 'help' and she winked.

"Hey, Carl's mom. Your son is such a brilliant artist. My son, Lorenzo, adores his work it's why he called him over for some art work." She confidently lied to my mom. She was a natural.

After the conversation, she handed me back the phone. "Carl, come home as soon as you're done. Dinner will be served by 8. You have 30 minutes. " She instructed.

"Yes mom.. I'll be there." I hang up afterwards.

"Geez! You have quite a mom. Reminds me of my own mom. She had a thorny stick up her ass, that bitch. Wish she's the one who died instead of dear dad." Her comment triggered a chuckle from me.

"The bitch caught me smoking when I was 17 and gave me an ass whooping...." She continued narrating her story as I attended to a customer.

It was 7:30 when I finished my shift.

"Will see you tomorrow, Miss Marino."

"You can call me, Nora. We're past the formalities. Have a good evening, Carl." She waved with a smile.

"You too, Nora." I waved back.

***

The cold evening breeze nipped at my skin, causing goosebumps to splash on it. I hugged myself in an attempt to generate some heat. Judging by the roaring thunder, thick dark clouds and windy night, a storm was fast approaching.

Street vendors hurriedly packed their merchandise to evade the wrath of the approaching storm. I hurried along the paved way in an attempt to outrun the coming storm.

Unfortunately, my luck ran out.

Because suddenly, it started raining heavily. My efforts to look for a shelter were futile because I was quite a distance from the town. There was no building in sight. Not even a shanty. My clothes were drenched with water and had stuck to my body like second skin.

All the taxis that I had signaled to stop, were full.

Despair taking over my being, I resumed walking in the rain which didn't hesitate to batter my skin. A slap of thunder caused my eyes to shut with fear. I was horrified of thunder storms. When I was a kid, I would sleep with my mom during a stormy night. I would bury my face on her chest and she would protectively put her arms around me. "Mommy's here. You don't have to fear." She would say, while running her hand soothingly through my hair.

She was my superhero. My anchor. My strength.

"Hey!" A yell blasted me from the nest of memories I was in. I turned to locate the source of the voice and my eyes landed on a red Lamborghini. I didn't need a car dealer to know that it was Gavin's car.

"Get in!" He yelled, while opening the door for me.

"I'm perfectly fine. Thank you very much." I yelled back then continued walking.

"You're gonna get sick! Now get in the damn car!" He ordered.

"Or what? Gonna run me over?" I defiantly shot back.

All of my senses were telling me to get in his car. But that little voice kept reminding me that I should stay away.

"Carlito, please get in the car. " He pleaded but I ignored his pleas and continued walking. Suddenly, I felt hands grabbing me. Before I knew it, I was carried bridal style in his arms.

"What the fuck! Put me down now!" I yelled in the storm, throwing my legs in the air but he ignored me and instead, shoved me in the passenger's seat. Then locked the door and hurried to the driver's seat.

"This is wrong. You've taken me against my will." I yelled while trying to unlock the door.

"Stop being dramatic." He warned.

"Says the guy who just took me against my will." I fired back.

"So, you wanted me to let you get sick? Because that's what would have happened had you remained a minute longer in that storm."

"I prefer to get struck by lightning than to sit in the same car as you."

"Seriously Carlito, you hate me that much?"

"Yes. I hate you so much. Your presence suffocates me." The words ran through my trembling lips.

There was a moment of silence as his eyes rested on mine. As though trying to confirm what I had just confessed. Then, he reached for something in his bag. It was a dry tee-shirt and pair of pants.

"Here, put these on before you catch a cold." He started the car and switched on the AC, causing heat to spread in the car.

"Thank you.." I didn't have any come backs for the guy. I mean he was trying to be nice and there I was, being rude. What if there was some good in him?

Maybe underneath the narcissistic bully, lies a kind guy.

"Don't look." I warned while taking off my wet tee-shirt.

"Nice tits." He complimented after stealing a glance at my bare chest.

"I told you not to look, perv!" I yelled causing him to laugh. I put on his dry clothes which reeked of detergent. Sweet smelling detergent. I tugged the baggy tee to my nose and gave it a long sniff.

"Hey. Did you just sniff my tee?" His question prompted a blush to stain my cheeks.

"Pfft! I would never sniff your clothes. Even if they are the last clothes on the planet." My statement triggered a chuckle from him.

"What were you doing out here, anyway?" He changed the topic.

"I was working. "

"You have a job? That's nice." He was acting too friendly. It was strange.

"Why are you being nice to me all of a sudden? Did someone dare you into it?" I fired.

"Carlito, can't I be nice out of my own free will? " He smiled, his focus not leaving the road ahead. Something about his smile got my heart dancing wildly.

"No. I mean for as long as I've known you, you've always been mean and bad. So I find it very hard to believe that you've suddenly become the good guy." I ranted.

"What if I'm tired of being the big bad wolf?" A cute pout graced his lips.

"Bullies don't ever change. " I rolled my eyes. "I think that being a bully is a result of a terrible childhood. I'm guessing one of your parents was abusive.."

"You know nothing about my life! So don't you act like you know me!" Anger was clear in his speech.

Looks like I had touched on a sore subject.

"I'm sorry if my words hurt your feelings." I managed an apology. "You're right, I don't know you so I don't have a right to judge you so harshly. I'm sorry." I added.

He didn't say a word.

Silence blanketed us. The only sound was that of the rain drops as they assaulted the windshield.