"Talking"
'Thoughts' or anything that is written in cursive form.
* * * * * *
Both of us flinched at the new voice as we look behind us and saw a blonde dude smiling at us. We blinked our eyes in surprise.
"Luke?"
"Hi, Danny! Did you missed me?" Luke smiled at me.
"How the hell did you get in here?!" My dad suddenly shrieked as he points his finger at him.
"By using the front door, of course," He smirked at my dad.
Ah, crap. Not again.
'I must have forgotten to lock the doors again. Fanculo.' My dad cursed inwardly, making me cringe inside.
Well, meet my best friend, Luke Adams. A typical 19-year-old American lad with an attention span of a 5-year-old kid, who has a great addiction to anything that is colored in maroon. He quitted school for quite some time and the reason goes something like this: "It would be boring without my cute bestie," is what he said. Stupid, I know.
He's an ultimate drama queen with his constant dramatic remarks and his childish tendencies. But second best to my Dad, of course. Nothing beats that man when it comes to stupid and petty things. He's also a stubborn ass and a filthy rich hoe, being the son and the sole heir of their family's multinational company. The Royal Spade Inc., although he acts like freaking gigolo, most of the time. Anyways, I've known this guy for a very long time, since the time both of us had enough shit of nursery school. I was five at that time and he was six, I don't know who approached who first but the next thing I know, both of us were surrounded by a bunch of crying 4-5-year-olds for gods knows what. Since then, people had tended to stay steer clear away from us, especially the kids.
And he's been my best pal ever since.
Well, ever since he's not being a total dick and shit. And considering the great dislike he had for my dad, I think it's highly unlikely. Okay, dislike may not be the right word to phrase it, it's more like hate, borderline crazy. The same goes for my dad. And they've been like that since the day I've introduced the two to each other.
'And that incident will forever ingrained in my brain, damn it.'
"Danny, baby! I've missed you! Japan was so boring without you! Ah, but I did bring some cute gifts just for you!" Luke squealed as he proceeds to hug me, obviously ignoring my dad's pointed glare.
"I didn't bring you any since you have your own money anyway," He said frigidly to my dad. My dad only gave him the middle finger.
Seriously, these two...
Luke only blew him a raspberry childishly as he tightened his hold on me, accidentally touching one of my bruises making me cry out in pain.
"Holy shit! Sorry! I didn't mean to hug you that hard-what the fuck?!" Luke stared at my body in horror, finally noticing my cuts and bruises painted all over my body.
"What the hell, Danny? What the fuck happened to you? Who did this?!" He cursed as he took off his jacket and wrapped it around me securely.
"That's what I would like to know too," My dad inserted as he took a bandage from the first-aid kit. He then cleans my wounds first before applying some disinfectant and ointment on my cuts and bruises and wrapped the bandage securely around my stomach and torso. Of course, he did that after haphazardly throwing the jacket away from me. This made Luke scream at him though, something about it being branded and expensive as shit. I didn't care about the details.
"Please, I know a real clothe when I see one. That was just plain rags," My dad scoffed.
"What rags?! You-"
"Are you hungry, Snow? I've prepared your favorite earlier!" My dad gushed, pointedly ignoring Luke. His tense atmosphere earlier is now gone which I find as a good sign. Having him depressed is really not good for both of us.
I was about to say "yes" when I heard his thoughts.
'Heh, this is payback, bitch. Serves you right.' My dad thought childishly making me sigh in return.
Ah, I hate my ability at times like this.
"Yeah, I'm hungry," I sighed once again. My dad only smiled widely at me as he ushered me towards the kitchen.
"Hey, don't ignore me! H-hey! Damn it!"
* * * * *
"So who did this to you, Danny?" Luke asked before throwing a grape into his mouth. My dad was glaring at him from the side as he keeps on stealing fruits from my plate. I sighed at this and pushed my plate closer to him since I'm done from eating, and because it's annoying to keep flicking his hands away since he keeps on coming back.
"It was the De'Oro gang..." I muttered under my breath since I know what their reaction is gonna be. Ah man, this is such gonna pain in the ass. I can't help but scratch my head a bit at this.
"What did you say, bambino?" asked my dad, leaning closely towards me.
"I said, it was the De'Oro gang but they're the one who started it. I just wanted to buy some snacks but they suddenly blocked me..." I muttered loudly this time, pouting slightly. He suddenly went rigid as he silently stares at me like a freaking weirdo, making me worry a bit but I saw him gritting his teeth and clenching his chest, face flush red.
Oh.
Oh.
'No! Emilio, do not fall to his endearing charms! You mustn't, no matter how cute-wait, did he said De'Oro?!'
"Did you say De'Oro?! Isn't that the gang from the South? Aren't they known for human trafficking and drugs?! What the hell, Danny?! How the fuck did you get yourself involved with them? Those guys are bad news!" Luke stared at me as if I was stupid or something. I rolled my eyes at him in irritation.
"I'm not! They were the ones who keep on bugging me!" I huffed, feeling annoyed. I mean, what the hell? I was just doing my business and those bastards suddenly gang up on me, how is that supposed to be my fault here?
"Oh mio dio...what am I supposed with you, Snow?" sighed my dad wearily as he pinched his nose in worry.
"Wha...I...I'm s-sorry," I grudgingly muttered, frowning at the side. I crossed my arms and sulk at the side, unconsciously jutting out my lower lip, making me look pouting instead of grudging.
Seriously, I didn't even do shit to provoke them this time...
.
.
.
-okay, maybe spitting at their leader was rude but they're the ones who started it! I was just buying some snacks when they suddenly attack me. What am I supposed to do? Let them beat me into a pulp and possibly being done worse? No way in hell I'm letting them do that to me!
"Gods, aren't you the cutest!" Luke suddenly gushed from my side, making me snapped out of my thoughts as he suddenly grabbed my cheeks and started pinching them tightly. The fuck!
"What the hell!" I hissed darkly at him, pain blossomed on my cheeks as I slapped his annoying hands away but that only fired him up even more, and started pinching my arms instead.
"The fuck! Stop it, man!" I hissed at him.
What the hell happened to the serious talk earlier? It amazes me how short Luke's attention span is, like wow.
But that doesn't mean I like it though.
"Awww! You're hissing like a cat! How cute!" Luke laughed but I saw at the corner of my eyes, my dad staring at him murderously.
Oh boy.
Someone is gonna get himself killed tonight.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when Luke suddenly pinched my lips, making it look like a fish.
"Aww, look how cute you are! It makes me want to gobble you up!" He gushed while rubbing his cheeks to mine. I saw my dad growling darkly, hands clenched tightly, and being the good friend and son I was, I pushed Luke away from me. That way I can prolong his death.
Maybe.
I can feel my cheeks burning in pain and embarrassment. Geez, the things I do for these annoying bastards.
I puffed out my red cheeks and started rubbing them in annoyance, trying to ease the throbbing. But apparently, this action of mine forced the two to went into a comatose mode. They went suddenly silent and stared at me like a freaking mannequin.
Okay, NOT creepy at all.
I was about to slap them in the face to snap them out of Lalaland (and for scaring the shit out of me). But suddenly, they started to move hauntingly slow towards me with their heads tilted down.
And I wasn't scared shitless at all.
Really.
They suddenly took hold of both sides of my arms. I only stared at them in confusion for their weird and synchronized actions but something was warning me at the back of my head.
Then I saw their eyes.
Merda.
And all hell breaks loose.
"OH, MY GAWDS! DANNY~♡"
"PICCOLA MIA!"
They squealed in delight like a freaking fan-girl, taking turns pinching my already abused cheeks.
"What the-will you guys cut it out already?!" I hissed darkly at them, trying hard to look intimidating but utterly failing with my cheeks blushing furiously, making me look the exact opposite.
"Aww! My baby Snow is sooo cute! Quanto prezioso!" My dad gushed, already forgotten his anger and worry towards my actions earlier and Luke's sudden appearance.
"Shut up, you perverted old man!" I yelled at him.
"Ahahaha, Danny is such a baby! A very cute, big baby!" Luke teased.
"Fuck you!" I scowled at him.
"Gladly. But I'll do the fucking instead," Luke smirked while blowing kisses towards me. I only stared at him in disgust.
"Not on my watch, mister! My son is too cute and innocent for that!" Dad suddenly intercepted as he hugs me protectively while glaring warningly at Luke. Luke only raised his hands in a surrendering manner. I'm pretty sure I heard my dad growled animalistically but that's impossible.
...right?
I stared at my dad, who was busy glaring at Luke, his face screaming bloody murder. There he goes again, him and his overprotectiveness. I can't help but inwardly rolled my eyes at this. I can even feel his inner turmoil.
'Seriously, why is he friends with my cute son? He's nothing but trouble! Look at that untrustworthy and annoying two-face smile of his. Quel figlio di puttana-okay. Calmare, Emilio. Your son is still here. You can't touch him. Business face, business face.' My dad thought as he schooled his face into a calm demeanor. But I knew better.
It's just the calm before the storm.
And I am caught in the middle. Again.
Damn it.
"I think you prolong your stay already, Luke. You should probably get going now. It's getting late. It would be a shame if some unwanted anomalies would befall you. Imagine the horror!" My dad suddenly exclaimed worriedly as he puts his hand on Luke's shoulder while giving him a concerned look. But Luke only smiled at him fakely.
Ah, not again. Damn it.
'Did he think I'll fall to his pathetic act? What a shame.' I heard Luke thought condescendingly.
I sighed wearily at the side, already worn out with their annoying and loud thoughts.
"As much as I find your concern quite heart-warming, I would have to decline, Mr. Mendez. Since I quite enjoy my stay in here," Luke replied as he propped his chin to his palm, smirking a little.
"Oh, but surely your parents will be worried sick if you won't come home early," Dad smoothly replied while faking a smile.
"Nonsense, Mr. Mendez. My parents wouldn't mind since I'd already notified them about my whereabouts. Quindi non preoccuparti." Luke replied smugly.
Dad and I stared at Luke in shock since this is the first time we heard him speak Italian. I got to say, I'm impressed. To think he learned some Italian words just so he can communicate easily with us.
If only that was the main reason though and not just some petty excuse, like learning the language just so he can easily trash-talk and curse at my Dad in his native tongue.
'What a waste of time and effort.' I deadpanned inwardly.
"But surely, for someone of your caliber, has somewhere important to go to. Like going to hell. Ah, perdonami, I meant to say home." My dad said sweetly while his demeanor screams, "I. Don't. Want. You. Here. And. I. Hate. You." vibe.
The two glared at each other while still adorning their overly sweet and sickening smile and fake calm aura. And being the only mature and sane person here, I took the initiative to stop their pointless bantering that can seriously lead to maiming each other.
I knew because it happened before.
"Why are you guys speaking so formally?" I asked out loud. The two only blinked at me as a reply.
"Figures," I muttered before sighing lightly, "I'm going up first and rest. It's tiring watching you guys flirt. Dad's right, Luke. You should go home already, see you tomorrow," I let out a yawn, ignoring the two's yell of denials and protests about them not flirting.
"Mio Dio! Not in a million years, I would never!" Dad gasped, feeling scandalized with his hands on his chest.
"Over my dead body! Even the thought sickens me!" Luke protested.
The two yelled at the same time and glared hatefully at each other. I shake my head in amusement to their pathetic denials, silently trudging upstairs, already longing for my comfy bed. But before I could reach my room, I heard something crashed downstairs, followed by my dad's screaming.
"Nooooooo!"
"Dad? Is everything okay down there?" I bellowed, my hand hovering close to my closed room.
"Y-yeah! Everything's fine, Snow! Nonti preoccupare!" Came my dad's shaky reply. I forced myself to hear his thoughts.
'My poor baby!'
Oh.
One of his precious vases must have broken, that'll explain the noise earlier.
"Oops. Sorry about that, don't worry. I'll buy you a new one. It looks cheap anyway," I heard Luke said indifferently.
"Fottuto figlio di a..." I vaguely heard my Dad but I didn't hear the rest of it. I was about to enter my room when I heard my dad screamed again.
Seriously, what the hell is happening downstairs?
I was about to go down again when I heard my best friend yelped loudly like a dog and cursed darkly.
Ah.
Those two are at it again. Seriously, they're like cats and dogs. They always on each other's throats since the day I've introduced the two to each other. I sighed as I shake my head tiredly.
Those two can kill each other for all I care, I don't give a damn. My priority is my much-needed sleep.
I finally entered my haven, inhaling the calming scent of old books and lavender. I look around my room to check if something went amiss. You can never be so sure, right? Besides, every time I went out, there's always something going missing. Like my art materials or my clothes. (Courtesy of my ever-annoying father and perverted best friend.)
I stared at my wonderland-themed room in fondness. My room was painted in a very bizarre fashion that would surely make Picasso cry in shame (just kidding). On all, each corner of my room held enormous bookshelves, all packed with books. Old and new. My desk was put to the side, full of art materials. My floor was littered with dozens of drying paintings while my bed was pushed towards the window as the moonlight illuminated it brightly.
I smiled at the perfect and untouched state of my room. I can't help but sigh dreamily as I trudge towards my bed and plopped straight at it, face down. Not even bothering to close my door and changing my clothes. I closed my eyes and let the darkness engulfed me into dreamland.
Ah. Questo è il paradiso.