'Til The Day You Fall

III: I Don't Eat Cantaloupe!

I RAISED MY EYEBROW as I watch Cantaloupe from the wall I am leaning against.  What is her deal, honestly?  What will she gain by doing that? Or perhaps she's been stalking me, she knows my every move and when she saw me enter the School she feigned to be still running? Yes, I am sure that's it. I smirked as I glanced at the CCTV facing the Oval.  

You are working hard, Cantaloupe.  Alas, the Devil works harder. 

I chuckled as I walked my way to the security room.  Impossible, just impossible that she had been running.  It's been what, three or four hours? It's just a crazy run like that.  When I got inside, I just nodded to the guard who greeted me. "Bro, I want to see the footage in the oval area for the past three hours. Thank you."

 "All right, Sir."

 I did not take my eyes off the monitor as he rewinded the events and when he finally played the footage, my eyes could not help but widen at the sight.

 "Forward."

 F****** A, she's been running for three hours!  The heck?! Who in their right mind would do that for a subject? Is she really stupid or what? Didn't she know that her stupidity will get her killed one day? 

 Stupid fruit.

 "Thank you."  I smiled at the guard and gave him a tip before exiting the security room and taking the road back to the Oval.

 I came near her with a scowl on my face.  "The hell do you think you're doing, you stupid fruit?" 

She snubbed me and even though she was obviously worn out she still tried to walk. "T-thirty five. Hah."  I heard her counted with a puff of air. 

"Are you even drinking?"  I asked her, but again, she disregarded me so I snatched  her by the arm to stop her.  "Can't you hear me?!" Though weak, she attempted to remove my hand from her arm.  

"W-why are you here?! I don't need you s–so get out of my s-sight." she started walking again but I can see her knees shaking. 

"Do you think he'll let you in because of what you're doing? You're willing to go this far for a stupid subject that you can take again next semester?" I asked incredulously while walking beside her.

 "Y-you don't know a-anything."

 "Oh, I know how stupid you are for doing this, Cantaloupe."

She turned to glare at me before walking again.  "How many times do I have to tell you that Lou is my name? We are not c-close enough for you to c-call me that."

 "I can do whatever I want."  I reasoned.

 "Shoo." 

 I raised an eyebrow at what she said.  What did she think of me, a dog?

 I frowned when I felt a drop of water on my skin and when I looked up large drops of rain drop. Goddamn. I looked at her and saw that the rainfall did not faze her and just went on walking. I pulled her to the bleacher, but she shrugged me off and walked back again. 

"Stop this, Cantaloupe! You'll just get sick because of what you're doing!"  I exclaimed to her so she could hear me because of the heavy rain. 

"You don't have to pretend you care!"  she shouted stubbornly. 

"Sh**," I held her by the arm and stared at her in the eyes.  "That's enough! You have nothing to prove by doing this!" 

"Why are you interfering with me, huh? You don't know me and I don't know you so just stay away from me!"

"Yes! Who do you think you are? You think I care about you? Stay under the rain as long as you want! Maybe you deserve this after all." I mumbled the last sentence, but then she heard me. 

"What did you say, you fool?" My ears rang at what she addressed me.  

"I told Prof James to make you run before he accepted you, in his class."  I answered her without looking away. All the fatigue on her face vanished and before I can move, she approached me and kicked me in the leg.

"Ouch! You—" 

 "You moron! Whatever did I do to you, huh?! You're the one who wronged me! You nearly ran me over!" she punches at my chest. 

"Oh, really now? Do you think I didn't know you planned to run in front of me to catch my attention? You want to get my attention because you have a plan! You're just like any other woman!" 

"What?! Why you! Hey, you don't even know me! Why would I do what you accuse me of, you jerk?!" 

She was about to kick me again, but I stopped her.  "You did it once, I'll not let you do it twice." 

"I don't know what you're babbling about!"  she growled angrily at me before walking away.  But later she turned around again.  "Just for your info too, you're not my type! You're horrible!" 

I was dumbfounded and all I can do is just stare after her retreating form.  What?  I am not her type? I am horrible?  Ha! This fruit. 

"And you are not mine, either! I don't eat Cantaloupe!"  I shouted after her. She did not turn around, but raised her middle finger. 

Let's find out how strong you are, fruit.  We are not done yet. Oh, we are just starting, Cantaloupe. Tonight is nothing compared to what I have in store for you.

"BROTHER, IS THERE any problem?"  Milton asked me while I was staring at myself in the mirror.

 I checked myself once more and flexed my muscles and c****d my head.  Nothing has changed, I haven't lost weight.  There is nothing wrong, but why? My face is ugly? Ha! Does she know how many women want to get into bed with me? 

 "Nothing, why?"

 “You’ve been staring at yourself in the mirror all day.

 I barked out a laugh and plopped my ass down on my bed.  "What is wrong with that girl, honestly? Is she blind? I am not her type? I am everybody's type!"

 I heard my brother's laughter, so I threw a pillow at him.  "Is it just because you're like that? Just admit that you're not her type, end of story."

 "No, Milt. She's just playing hard to get, I'm sure of it." I told him while scratching my chin. 

 "Whatever you say, brother."

 I looked at my brother when he never spoke again and he looked like his mind was elsewhere as he played with his fingers.  A sign that he is nervous about something.

 "What is it?"  I asked him as I removed my eyes from his fingers to his face. 

 "What?"  he asked me, a little bit taken aback. 

 "You're the problem, Milt. Aren't you telling me something?"

 He sighed and leaned back, staring at the ceiling of my room. His room was a typical man's room except mine's in order. You could say that I am a bit of a clean freak, so you won't find my room messy.  A habit that I inherited from my Father, I guess.

 "I talked to Uncle yesterday. He said he wanted to retire when he's sixty years old. He told me he wanted to live on a private island and die there." he confessed with a sigh and looked at my eyes and I saw fear in his eyes.  "He wants me to take over in two years, Kilt."

 I didn't answer and instead scooted closer to hug him. "It's okay, Milt."

 "I'm scared." he admitted, his voice wavering. A sign that my brother is indeed nervous and afraid. 

 I blinked back my own tears. Milton is making a big sacrifice, I know.  He will have to sacrifice a lot when he takes over the Algarotti Mafia in Italy.  He will be away from his family, his friends, and most of all, it will be dangerous for him to have a girlfriend or a wife because of the life he will lead. And what I fear is his safety as well, even though I'm sure he's safer there. Algarotti has its own share of enemies. Mafias, gangsters, cops, hell, even ordinary people.

 "Want me to take it for you?"

At what I said, he pulled away from me.  "No! Brother, you're the only one who can continue our business. We both know that Daddy and this family can only count on you. I don't want to take that away from you. I'm just scared maybe now, but someday I'll get used to it too. Trust me. "

 I sighed and rubbed his hair lovingly.  "I'm sorry, Milt. If I could just do it both, I would have done it. I hate myself that you have to go through this, lil bro."

 "I'm fine, Kilt. Really.  I promise I'll be okay. Don't worry." he reassured with a smile. 

 I smiled at him, but deep inside, I am disappointed with myself.  I can’t help my brother, all I can offer is comfort,  but he has to sacrifice his life for us.  Even if he says that’s what he needs to do, I can’t help but think that I should be the one in his situation, but what can I do?  Dad will literally kill me if I don’t inherit the family’s business that only the eldest son can lead. 

 But I'll be damned if I let anything happen to my brother. I will kill whoever hurts him if I have to. 

 "And then he smashed the ball and Bam! He hit his own face, instead!"  Milton continued and we both laughed, the earlier drama forgotten.  "The videos on the internet are so funny."

 We laughed as we got out of my car and together, we walked our way to the campus.

 "The f***?"  I exclaimed, and clenched my fists.

 In front of the School is a large banner that has my face in it, but what makes my blood boil and what makes others laugh is because they turned me into a woman with a wig and make up on.

 "Who did this?"  I asked no one in particular and looked around.  "Who the f*** did this?!" I bellowed,  beyond livid at whoever dared to mock me.  

 "What, is this not your type of game?"

 I turned around and came face to face with Cantaloupe with a big grin on her face.

 "You did it?"  I said irritably and approached until our faces were almost close.

 Instead of being afraid of my anger, she answered without taking her eyes off me, not in the slightest affected by my anger. "Yes. We're supposed to be fair. You played me, I'll play with you. Why? Do you not like it?" she asked in mockery before pointing to the banner and stared at me again.

 I composed myself even though my blood was boiling with anger and laughed.  "I mean, it's just so... childish."  I taunted her and grinned. 

 I won't show you how much you're making me angry, Cantaloupe.

 She raised an eyebrow at me.  "Oh? And you think making me run fifty times is an act of maturity? Think again."

 I heard snickers around me and I frowned.

 "If you want a game, I'll give you it. You can't intimidate me like the others you kicked out of here for thinking that you are God's gift to women." she taunted back and the crowd around us 'Ooh-ed'. 

 "Too early to say that, Cantaloupe."  I leaned down and refused to groan when I smelled her.  Damn it, she smells nice.  "The game is on."  I whispered and patted her shoulder.

 "Let's go, Milt."  I called my brother and walked back to my building.

 I turned to my grinning brother with a permanent frown on my face.  My mind was already working on what I would do next with that fruit.

 "What's wrong with you?" I asked him, annoyed by his reaction.

 He turned to me and my frown deepened because of the emotion I saw in his eyes.

 S***.  Don't f****** tell me...?

 "She's pretty awesome."

"How's my eldest?"  Mom greeted as soon as she opened the door and entered my room.

 I sighed and put down the book I was reading.  "Mom, ever heard of knocking?"

 "Knocking in my own house and in my own son's room? No."  she told me with a sweet smile.  She caressed my face and I leaned into her touch, accepting the kiss she gave me with a small smile. 

 "I missed you, Mom."  I kissed her hand and held it as she sat in front of me.

 "Aw, I missed you too, Kilton. Where's your brother? Let's go to the Mall." she questioned and blew out a tired sigh before lying on the side on my bed.  "The problem at our California branch also ended after a few months. I just want to rest with my sons."  she complained with a soft groan and I laughed.

 "Milt is in school, Mom. Where's Dad?"  I answered while massaging her hand.

 "Oh, went straight to the company. You know that man, sometimes I think he loves his company more than us." she stated out of the blue and I hinted a little bit of remorse in there.

 "Mom."

 She held up her hand to stop me.  "Hmp! I don't want to talk about the company while I'm here. Let's go for a walk. Just call your brother to follow us."

 "Will do."

Mom and I got in her car and talked on the road.

"Aren't you tired? Don't you have jet lag?" I asked her in concern, noticing the dark circles. 

 "I'm okay. I was able to rest on the way back. Don't worry about me, son. What I want to know is how is your brother? I heard that Francis wants to pass his title to your brother in two years. How is he holding  up?" she asked in concern.

 I sighed and looked out the window before looking back at my Mother.  My Mother is still as beautiful as she was when she's a teenager.  Others say that she hardly ages.  Others also said that I looked more like Dad and Milton looked more like Mom. Andrea Algarotti is a kind woman.  Well, until you piss her off, that is.  Even our Dad cowered back when she was angry.

 "Is there no other way, Mom?"

 She took my hand and squeezed it.

 "Being a leader of a Mafia is dangerous, sure, but I assure you that he will be protected there as a King.  You on the other hand, Kil, do you know that your life will be more dangerous?  Your Dad has many opponents in the company.  Some attempts have also happened in his life because of money.  Our business is as dangerous as being in a Mafia.  Why don't you take your own bodyguards now?"

 "I'm fine, Mom. I don't need a Bodyguard. I can afford to protect myself."

 She sighed and smiled at me.  "Hey, when did you guys grow up this fast? Soon you will be the leader of his family. After that, you will get married and have children." she said and sniffed and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

 "Stop being dramatic, Mom."

 "Shh, don't be a killjoy. Do you have a girlfriend now?"

 I looked out of the car, enjoying that I'm not driving for once.  "No. I have no time for that."

 "Kil, have you been seeing Dr. Wells?"

 My jaw clenched.  "I don't need a shrink, Mom. I've moved on. It's been a long time." I responded in a low voice, my tone laced with annoyance. 

 I felt her touch my arm.  "I'm sorry, Kil. You know Mom loves you so much, don't you?"

 "I'm fine, honestly."

 Am I?