We'll End Up In Hell Boys

After we had a little bit of fun running away from Cidro and Keri, we eventually had to stop because Keri needed to get back to work. “Cidro take me home, I need to rest!” Jino requested and his son nodded. “Well guys, see you later!” he added and they both walked away. I wanted to meet his family, but I didn't want to bother them.

“Now what? How can we get back? Keri took the car keys and I’m pretty sure she won’t give it to us after you mocked her and made her feel embarrassed.” Roy remarked and I rolled my eyes. I’m the bad guy, now?

“Sure, it’s my fault! It’s not because we don’t know the roads here, and we might end up in a shady place. No, not at all.” I said and my tone laced with sarcasm. Roy rolled his eyes while Lance and Dorian grinned. After a minute of walking, we saw Cidro and Jino in a car about to cross us but I stopped them by waving my hands like a crazy psychopath yet I did not care. “We need a ride home,” I smiled and they both laughed and let us hop in. Thank God this car had seven seats.

As Cidro drove, Jino turned around to face us with a smile. “Why don’t you come to my place and let my wife treat you to a fancy meal? As thanks for everything. Besides, you are a fun group to be around and I feel like I am 20 again.” He suggested and all the boys looked at me, almost instantly. I frowned.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked with narrow eyes and then it clicked. “You want me to give him an answer?” I asked again and they nodded. “I don’t know why you are asking me this but absolutely, we would love to come. Besides, we don’t have anything better to do than to hide-” I said but then realized what I was about to say. My tongue split, Dorian’s eyes widened, Lance face-palmed himself, and Roy, well, he just stared at me without commenting, as usual, he must be laughing really hard on the inside. Just great.

“Hide?” Cidro asked as he glanced at me through the mirror, and I let out a forced laugh. Jino tilted his head and waited for my explanation.

“Hide from our boredom, we are new here and my best friend is in college at the moment and she won’t be home until later, and your future wife has work to do.” I covered up with a smirk. I just knew that my comment about Keri will make him feel embarrassed and forget about the hiding part. My point was proved when the car abruptly stopped near the road. With no warning, and as a result, I hit my face with the back of Jino’s seat.

I had my seatbelt on, but I was not sitting probably. “Not again!” I winced as I felt my forehead bound. It hurt as bad as when I bumped my face into Dorian’s legs. Cidro looked at me with an apologetic smile, and I sighed while rubbing my forehead to ease the pain. “Next time… wait, there is no next time with you or Keri driving the car. This supports my point that you were meant for each other. Bad drivers, live happily together.” I exclaimed and the boys nodded with teasing smiles. He just ignored us and drove again, but this time, he didn’t dare to talk.

“Are you okay though?” I felt Dorian’s hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at him. As he saw me, his hand went to my forehead and caressed it gently. “I’m guessing it’s still hurting you?” he said and I shook my head.

“No, the pain stopped. Thank you.” I replied and felt a blush creep its way to my cheeks.

“Are you sure? Because it’s still red,” he added and I looked in the mirror and sighed.

“I am, no need to worry.” It was refreshing to have someone to worry about you, however, I was no going to admit that out loud.

Roy patted my shoulder and I looked at him. “Too bad, Diva, you already did!” he said, and my eyes widened as I realized what I did. This day keeps getting better and better.

“Just bury me here, where no one can find me, please!” I cried in an exaggerated tone and they all laughed, except for Dorian. He seemed genuinely concerned and I liked that. “Jino, what kind of woman is your wife?” I asked to change the subject, and it worked.

“Well, it is hard to explain who she is because I won’t stop for hours. You will meet and know her in about five minutes. Just a fair warning, she’s a hugger.” The way he talked about her made it clear that he loved her from the bottom of his heart, his eyes reflected adoration, and I saw Cidro smile at his dad. It must be nice to have a loving family. I used to have one, who loved me for a short period of time, but they died and left me all by myself. They were not even my biological parents, to begin with, and I didn’t get the right amount of time to bond with them properly, which made me the introvert person that no one wanted to hang out with. I felt very lonely when I was staying at the orphanage, and after my adoptive parents died. They left me huge sums of money that I have no intention of using on myself unless of an emergency. However, staying with the boys, Isa and Keri made me get a glimpse of what it was like to have a real family. I also got the feeling that Jino, Cidro, and his wife would be a great addition to my ‘family’.

“We’re here,” Cidro announced. We all looked at their house through the glass and it was nice and well-kept. The garden upfront was small, yet beautifully organized and it made me feel like I have reached a tiny Eden. “Ma!” Cidro called in a loud tone as we stepped out of the car. A woman, assuming it was his mom, came running with a kitchen knife in her hand and a panicked expression on her pretty face.

“What’s wrong? Is it an attack?” she asked as she looked around, and Jino shook his head to calm her down. After a minute, her eyes landed on us and she smiled. “And who might you be? Excuse my outbreak, I am used to people attacking our house. As for the knife, I was making food and it's a good thing I made a lot. Anyway, welcome!” The sudden change of her facial expression amazed me and the boys.

As for what Jino told me before, she was a bear hugger, not just a hugger. I felt my lungs scream for space when she embraced me, still, I did not have the heart to tell her so I hugged her back. “I’m Divana, nice to meet you.”

“Ola! My name is Belmira Paz, you must be friends with Cidro, right?” she asked and hugged Dorian who awkwardly smiled, then Roy who hugged her back with delight, and finally Lance who didn’t show any emotions on his face but I could tell he was nervous and didn’t know what to do.

“Actually honey, they are my friends. I stayed with them last night. Cidro just met them a while ago.” Jino corrected her with a pout, and he looked so cute I would not have recognized him if I didn’t see his sweet side. He acted differently in front of his wife as if he was… what’s the word?

“Whipped,” Cidro commented and he hit the nail right on the spot. Exactly.

“Shut up!” Jino yelled and chased after him. It was hard to believe that they were a 50 years old father and 28 years old son, and let us not forget about the fact that they both were mafia members. ‘Bad guys’ can be good too.