I'm sorry it's taken so long to post this next chapter; I hope it was worth the wait. Read and review please.
Knock Knock
Chapter Six"Mierda!" [Shit] He swears rubbing both hands over his face, his frustration and sadness role off him so I walk over and wrap my arms around his waist nuzzling my face on his chest. His arms come around me holding me to him and we stand there sharing strength, understanding and love. Eventually the beast that is my empty stomach makes itself known. He picks me up and sits me on the huge Island bench, kisses my forehead and starts pulling things from the fridge.
"Mi hermana, Sofia was five years older than me and from before I could understand him mi abuelo taught me to take care of her. I grew up in abuelos gym learning street fighting, boxing, judo, Brazilian jujitsu and systema. Any time I wasn't at school or at the gym I was in mi padres shop helping him fix everything from clocks to toasters to cameras. When I was about six we were walking home from school when a pedófilo tried to abduct mi hermosa hermana with a knife. I managed to disable him but not before he put a slice in Sofia's face." [My sister, my grandfather, grandfathers, my fathers, paedophile, my beautiful sister] He stops measuring ingredients into a bowl and demonstrates a line across his cheek.
"Mi familia was grateful it wasn't worse and abuelo was proud of me but I always felt like I had let her down because she got hurt. A week later I started learning knife fighting and abuelo gave me my first knife. I still have it." [My family, grandfather, grandfather] Hector stops mixing the ingredients in the bowl and pulls a knife out of his boot. Showing it to me the blade is three inches, the hilt is made of wood that was once beautifully shaped and polished but now showed signed of wear but overall is well cared for.
Putting it away he continues "It took six months for her scar to heal completely and for some of the redness to go down. She was still considered the most beautiful girl in our town and abuelo, who was a respected member of the community and would walk with us to and from school until he died when I was nine. The week he was sick, before he died, he made me promise over and over to protect Sofia. He was delirious with pain but in the lucid moments all he would talk about was my protecting her. By then I was a black belt or master in every martial art I'd been taught but knifes have always been my thing. A week after abuelos funeral a group of bastardos followed mi abuela, madre and Sofia home from the markets. Padre and I got there before anything truly bad happened however it was very difficult for me to see the bruises on them. I felt like I failed and I was frantic with worry about how I would protect them." [grandfather, grandfathers, bastards, my grandmother, mother, Father] The whole time he's been talking he's been preparing a skillet and pouring the batter he'd made on it and now he pauses to flip the pancakes.
"When I was ten Sofia fell in love with a gang leader, Ernesto. He encouraged her schooling and protected her when she was out and about. I joined as a way to continue to protect her but for the first time I was able to share the duty of protecting her." He slides a plate to me with a pancakes topped with ricotta cheese, slices of banana, cinnamon and drizzled with honey. I eat sitting on the Island bench and he eats leaning against the counter in front of me. It's quiet except for the moans I make with every mouthful. When we're finished eating he continues talking as I wash the dishes and he dries.
"My best friend, Emmanuel was our next door neighbour. We went everywhere together. He would work with mi padre in his shop and be my water boy at the gym. He was never interested in fighting. He begged me not to join the gang but I was blinded by the opportunity of having more protection for Sofia." [my father] He takes a deep breath and blows it out.
"I was eleven when I came to the conclusion I was gay. It was a confusing time for me especially since it was extremely taboo in our community. I struggled with it until I shared my secret with Emmanuel two years later. He was the only one I ever told and he was very supportive. A year later he told me he was also gay and that he loved me more than a best friend. This was when our friendship turned into a relationship. We had to keep it secret or risk being shunned by our community. We had to be very careful about where and when we showed our love for one another." After putting away the last dish he takes my hand a guides me to the living room and pulls me down to the couch beside him.
"Two years later Sofia and Ernesto married, she had finished school and was working as nurse at a local hospital. She was protected. I was in love and for the first time I let my guard down. Six months after they married, she was pregnant."
His muscles are fraught with tension. "Six months later, one month before she was due to give birth she was killed by a rival gang. It was completely unexpected, there was no threats, no warning, no unrest and suddenly she was dead and we were at war." Tears run down his face uncontrolled and unnoticed.
"I failed. I failed to protect Sofia and her bebé. I failed mi abuelo and everything he taught me. I failed mi familia. I let down my guard and was distracted by my relationship with Emmanuel and Sofia and mi sobrina or sobrino paid the price." [baby, my grandfather, my family, my niece, nephew] His eyes were glazed in memories and tears.
"That was the start of a gang war. Ernesto was out for revenge. He tried to get me involved but I was determined not to let Emmanuel down any more than I already had. Unfortunately, mi abuela was hit by a stray bullet and killed three months later and not two months later there was a drive by at the shop mi padre owned, he and Emmanuel were working." [my grandmother, my father] He stands and starts to pace the length of the living room.
"Mi padre was killed and mi madre was distraught, she was in a deep depression before dying in her sleep a month later. Emmanuel got hit in the arm and the leg, luckily it missed any arteries or organs however I didn't take it well. I went on the hunt for the people in the car and killed all five of them. Then I returned to Emmanuel and begged him to forgive me, to be my life partner and marry me when it was legal. We made plans to move to America to set up a shop like my fathers and find a surrogate to give us children to fill our house." [my father, my mother] He wipes his hands over his face, brushing his tears aside, then runs his hands through his hair before grabbing handfuls and giving it a tug.
"Stupidly I relied on my, my…reputación." [reputation] He struggles to find the correct English in his emotional state.
"Street cred" I offer.
"Sí. I relied on my street cred to ensure Emmanuel's safety." He takes a deep breath and then slowly releases it.
What did you think? Was it worth the wait?
What do you think happens to Hector and Emmanuel?