Mafially Yours

37

That night created unbearable tension, at least for me. He didn't show any emotions, as usual. Having Fred in my room trying to kiss me and having Huncho drunk at night trying to kiss me too was too much for the three of us to handle. However, I had to act fine because I wasn't sure if Fred actually wanted to kiss me or he was simply thankful for standing up for him and I also wasn't sure if Huncho remembered the night at all. The morning silence set up the mood for the rest of the day. I was bored. I knew it was time to ask Huncho for anything to do in my day. The house was quiet but everyone was moving. When I went downstairs I saw Fred feeding the dogs and Huncho in the kitchen making his breakfast. He was only wearing grey sweatpants with socks allowing me to see his tattoos for the first time. His back was facing me as I analyzed the small tattoo on his back and the couple little ones on his arms. I couldn't really see them from where I was. I waited for him to finish and leave the kitchen so I could make my own breakfast but with time, I felt like he was doing it on purpose to take his time because he knew I wanted to make my breakfast. When he finished doing his sandwich, he stood there, turning to face me, leaned on the counter with his sandwich in his hands and started eating.

I let out a long breath of annoyance and got up to do my own. I took out an avocado from the fridge to make an avocado sandwich. I took out the vegetables and walked to the sink, right next to where he was standing, to wash them. I blinked a couple of times, trying to avoid his eyes but I could feel his gaze burn the side of my face. With every bite he took from his sandwich, his gaze on me was left stronger and more obvious. I turned the water on and washed the vegetables, ignoring his tall body shadowing on me. When I finished I put everything on the side and realized that I needed a plate from the cabinet right above the counter he was leaning on. I tried to reach from where I stood but couldn't. I looked at him looking at me.

"Can I–uh–take a plate?" I asked.

"A plate?" He asked, taking a bite, "sure!" He shrugged with his mouth full, not moving at all from his place.

I huffed and tiptoed, opened the cabinet and groaned to get a plate. On my way back, I fell on his chest, trying to catch the plate before falling. I looked up into his eyes that were staring at my lips. I was paralysed for just a second, letting our breaths mix as if the moment was frozen. But I quickly stepped back and returned to doing my sandwich, trying to catch my breath without showing I lost it. He kept staring at me as I did my breakfast. He was standing there with his arms crossed just watching me, sipping on his whiskey glass. I was sitting on the kitchen bar and pretended not to see him.

But that wasn't the only awkward encounter for us that day. Aside from what happened with Fred, sitting on the table at dinner to eat together, I was socializing with everyone but I knew Huncho was staring at me. I caught him a couple of times and even if I looked at him, he didn't look away, as if he didn't care about me catching him staring. And after dinner, I waited for him to open a conversation with me for hours, but he never did. Fred, on the other hand, was completely avoiding me. His eyes were searching for me at times but when they landed on me, he forced them away. I didn't understand why this could be because I was scared to know the truth I kept avoiding even thinking about.

"Elena, come!" Marco yelled at me from across the room. I looked back at him standing at the door of the dining room.

"What?" I smiled. Marco always made me feel like a child who simply wanted to have fun.

"Just come," he insisted and went back into the dinning room.

When I walked in I saw him, Sanchez and Fred standing at the two edges of the table with cups put in a triangle shape. I instantly knew what they were playing.

"Damien and Huncho don't want to play. And Fred and Sanchez want to lose together. So you have to be my partner so I can prove to them I am better than both of them combined."

"What makes you think I don't know how to play beer pong guys?" I smirked.

Marco started laughing as soon as I finished my sentence, Fred just avoided my gaze and Sanchez widened his eyes.

"You know how to play?" Sanchez yelled.

"Of course! This was my favorite game in any gathering in university." I explained, taking one ball and throwing them the other. "Let's see who starts."

I insisted on drinking every shot they scored against us. I started to feel dizzy but I didn't mind it. We were equalizing every shot but since they started first, Fred was playing the last shot. This was the first time he looked into my eyes for that long that night.

"Let's go man, bring us the victory!" Sanchez said, rubbing his hands together.

Fred shook his head and looked at the last red cup on our side. He shot and missed it.

"Fred!" Sanchez yelled and did a whole 180 around the room, making me and Marco giggle, knowing that if we scored we would win and if we didn't we both would have to play again.

"Let me," I grabbed the ball.

"All yours!" Marco stepped back, having full faith in me.

I looked at Fred and smirked. I looked at the cup and without hesitation, I threw the ball. It landed right in the liquid causing me and Marco to cheer, high-five each other and jump in happiness, and making the other two groan in anger.

"Loosers!" Marco yelled and started laughing.

Huncho walked in the room, probably wondering about all the screaming. But he didn't say anything when he saw us playing.

The thought of the morning about wanting to do something with my day rushed back in my brain. I walked towards Huncho.

"Can we talk?"

He looked down at me, without blinking, he nodded, turned his back to me and walked out. I followed him to the living room. We sat on the couches and he looked at me, waiting for me to start talking.

"I was wondering if I could go and look for a job."

He raised his eyebrows as if I grew another head.