My Biggest treasure

6

What else did he give? After all, he had no life anymore.

Nothing.

Until he met her. Precisely Alexa. Yes, he had confirmed it. if there was a God, he had black and satirical humor to cross destinations that should never even be on the same astral plane.

Another's dish is always the most appetizing, right?

No. And he had already been repeating the same unknown for almost two months. He never happened to her. And Alexa wasn't Luke's first girlfriend. Santino had counted three girls before her, and without taking into account what he had called "the one-week guarantee dates"; because that lasted and the relationship did not give for more. All of them, girlfriends, friends, or "friends with rights" was nothing more than a herd of immature girls, crazy and without the least sense of personality.

All except Alexa. Always making a difference, beyond the peculiar tone of her hair or the lively shine of her eyes or the softness that could be felt in the touch of her or her white skin ...

-Four hundred and fifty or five hundred?- Shis's distant voice reached him through time and distance.

-Five hundred what?- Santino answered almost robotically. So far and shallow that it seemed he was listening to her for miles, instead of just a couple of feet from him.

The palm of a hand slapped the desk. A rattle that had the power to bring him back to real-time. Santino looked up, slightly surprised by the sound. His eyes, still sleepy, collided with the confused and puzzled look of Shis Lux, second-degree cousin and main shareholder coordinator.

-Ducks- he replied, simulating a slow and stupid tone in his voice- I can be here all bloody day talking about incongruities and you don't even listen- His voice tried to sound serious, but to Santino, it seemed more like a crude imitation of a scolding. Shis was one of the few serious Lux, he might appear to be stern and straight as a rule, but deep down he was soft like steamed bread. However, the expression of this moment was a bit worried - Is something wrong? ... you seem more awake than usual. I could even say that your dark circles reach up to the chin.

-Nothing. Is nothing.

Shis crossed his arms, shaking his head.

-Sure, so the reason why you're hanging around with your mind in the clouds while I try to count the loss ratio for this year is nothing, right? –He shrewdly agreed. Santino didn't answer anything, he only managed to rest his head on his right hand- Is Luke still getting in trouble?

-No- he cut off the sentence, stopping his attention on the folder in front of him- Do we have a missing of five hundred Ryo?

-Looks like it- Shis shrugged- I need to double-check with the accounting department. Lately, Tobi's airhead has a bad way of putting too many zeros. It doesn't matter much, if things get complicated we call for an audit - he drew a confident smile - that's how we've stayed afloat for the last three years.

–Hmmp

His cousin stifled a yawn.

-Anyway- he breathed, stretching his back lazily. He dropped into the chair across from him. His face reflected a perfidious attitude, and according to Santino's experience, he was afraid to see that kind of grimace – You know what you need? some entertainment out of here. You live it within these four walls almost all day, even the janitor has more freedom than you

-It's my obligation

–But you also have rights, live your life and get rid of here even a little bit – Shis got up intently. He went to the coat rack, taking his bag and his. He threw the garment at her, in a casual gesture - Get up and let's get a drink, just like old times.

-I can not. I have an engagement tonight.

-Ahm right ... dinner with the great Madd-all-idolize-me-as-your-God.  Your father ... er, my uncle had been mentioning him all week, Tobi and I had bet he would get to the hundredth sentence by today. Of course, if he hadn't gone on a trip, I would have won – shis laughed selflessly – But I didn't say we were going out at night.

Santino looked at the clock on the wall. half-past four.

-You must be crazy. I can't, I have to go to the airport at seven, because of my parents.

–And? ... it would be just a couple of beers, I'm not going to get you drunk like the day of graduation. Besides, I will drive, lest the mania of murdering the first inanimate object that crosses your path is hereditary.

XXX

-You're late- a voice muttered from inside the alley. The silhouette of a young man his age, thinly cut white hair, and a terrifying smile, showing uneven teeth, emerged from the silence.

-A bloody setback- Luke approached the boy, his hands inside his pants pockets. He glanced at his back.

-Did you bring it?

The young man nodded, handing her an object wrapped in a paper bag.

–Luki –the one who spoke this time was Krisel; a girl, a year younger than Luke. Long reddish hair and thick-rimmed glasses – You had me worried, why didn't you reply to the message I sent you yesterday?

-I was busy- she answered dryly, opening the brown bag and carefully examining the contents. Ignoring her annoying gestures.

-We thought you wouldn't come- the boy with the lanky white hair muttered- I even thought you had already backed off.

–I never cower, Gio.

–I supposed it –said this –Although I still don't understand how someone like you could be interested in joining the "big leagues"... I don't mind doing it. I don't have a recognizable last name or money to spare, why you ...?

-Because I want to prove myself- Luke's dark orbs scrutinized the shiny back of the C-55 semiautomatic she was holding in his hand- I know I can accomplish great things.

A canine smile, devoid of all feeling, forced itself to the corner of his mouth.

Big things.

And he drew the gun.

XXX

"Damn it what you're saying is true!" Shis's sour voice echoed from the bar area. The tone was whispery, as it was beginning to be perceived after the initial barrier of three beers — And damn if I didn't care!

On the right side of him, sitting on the bench with a carefree gesture and a serious and worried face, as Santino. He held a half-empty jar, resting his elbow almost reluctantly on the bar.

"Hmph… if I told you, it's not for you to make a f*****g scandal," he growled.

He took a sip from the mug, tasting the sour, icy taste of draft beer. The second jar so far.

"Are you f*****g crazy ?!" –Shis peppered him with a sign of apparent bewilderment.

He did not reply. That question from his cousin was as obvious as the dark circles on his face.

"She's your brother's girlfriend!" He, ”he breathed. He didn't raise his voice, but it seemed to Santino that he had yelled into his eardrum, "What the hell are you thinking of ?!

Again the answer was only in his mind and he did not leave there. He had lived with the same dilemma for more than three months, first feeling and interpreting his fixation on Alexa as purely s****l interest, a simple taste, and nothing beyond. And the weeks, days, and hours told him how wrong he was.

His attentions, his gestures, his… everything. All increasing like the weight of an avalanche and he began to think of her in another way, in something more than the perverse and strange idea that led him to masturbate that night in the shower.

Something more… intense.

-I do not mind.

"Sure, that's what you always say." Shis finished the last bit of his drink in one gulp. "There are a thousand more women!" Why exactly do you want to sleep with her ?!

"I don't want her for that specifically, you idiot." She…

"She's Luke's partner and for almost two years," Shis completed. "And she's only sixteen, she's just a girl!" What kind of sick are you ?!

Santino could have hit him. He didn't want to, there was too much unquestionable material.

"Seventeen," he breathed out lost in thought. He asked for another jar — she will be turning seventeen on Sunday.

Shis rested her chin on the palm of his hand. His face was still uneasy.

"But she's Luke's," he said, almost spelling the pronoun.

"She is not a property, she is a human being." Santino lowered his face, gazing distractedly into the jar. "Besides, he doesn't even care."

Shis sighed wearily, feeling like someone talking to the most foolish person in the world.

"Hmmm ... well, she does," she finally agreed. "You can tell that your brother's" affectionate "treats her like something that was pulled from her nose, but that's not your business.