'Til The Day You Fall

VII: Forbidden Fruit

"Not on my watch, boy!"  I said as I slam the ball on Milton's hand so it can't get into the ring.

 "Nice one, brother!" he cheered and clapped me on my back.  "But still, the score is mine." he claimed before laughing out loud, his eyes wrinkling. 

 I laughed and shook my head.  "Balls before bros, bro."

 "Isn't it, bros before hoes?" he asked before throwing a Gatorade at me which I caught and drank. 

 "Thanks." I wiped the sweat from my face and sat on the bench.  "Speaking of hoes, what is the real score between you and that fruit?" I asked casually.  It's because since they hugged last week, I've only just asked about this matter now. 

 "Lou is not a hoe, Kilt." he responded with a serious look on his face.

 "Hm, you look serious, huh?"  I asked with a raised eyebrow and my gaze followed him from his position until he was sitting next to me.

 "We're... friends."

 I snorted and dribbled the ball I'm holding.  "Friends, my ass."

 "No, I'm serious. I mean, I admit I like her,  but it's too early to jump into a relationship. I want to get to know her better first."  he admitted and looked away from me.  "Besides..."

 "Besides, what?"  I asked and took a big gulp of drink only to spit it all out at what he said.

 "Don't you like her?"

 "The f***? I, Kilton Algarotti, do you think I will like that fruit? Oh, come on, bro. Don't make me laugh."  I laughed and laughed... and laughed.

 "I just thought that you are interested in her."

 "No. I mean, you were right. I only remember my past because of her. My stupid past."

 "It's not stupid brother, and I'm sorry again because I've been insensitive. It was stupid of me to remind you about it like that even though I know what you've been suffering from."

 "Nah, it's all in the past and I won't feel bad for you for such a superficial reason."  I grabbed the back of his neck and bumped my forehead against his.  "Just be happy always, my brother."

 Always.

 "THE YEARLY CONTEST is coming and I want you to stand as one of the judges on behalf of me. You are one of the selectors for the competition next week."

 "And what do I know about being a juror, dear aunty? That's not my thing, okay?" 

 "You haven't yet made up for your sin against me, Kilton." she reminded me.

 I groaned at that.  "Tss, fine, but only because I love you."

 "Fair enough."  she grinned at me and I narrowed my eyes at her.

 "Next."  I said boredly with my chin on top of my hand and while fiddling a pen on the other.

 The woman who had just sung Roar came down in tears. I mean, she's making my ear hurt, what is so wrong with that?  Sometimes even if it hurts, it is better to hear the truth than the lies that you have long believed, only to know the sad truth one day.  I've always been an honest person.  I do not sugar coat my words.

 A nerdy guy went up the stage and I grinned.  "Hey, I know you."  I looked down at his paper and marked it as a pass.

The judge next to me saw what I did.  "B-But he hasn't even---" she complained. 

 "Eh, I know him, I heard his voice before."  I replied to the judge next to me who was one of the School singers Stacy.  A typical high class girl.  Not my type.  I raised my thumb to Nico, who had helped me get back at Cantaloupe.  Now, this is his reward.

 "Thank you!" he shouted and punched the air and I just shook my head. Everyone stopped when he almost fell off the stairs, but he recovered and bowed. 

 "Pft. What a weird guy."

 "Next, please!" Diego, the gay guy who once made a move on me, said. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against them, but I'm just really into va****s and not d****.

 My bored expression was replaced with interest when I saw who came up the stage with a nervous expression.  Is she really nervous?  Surprise, surprise there.

 "What's your name, darling?"

 "Lou River."

 "Cantaloupe."  I said out loud with a grin making her glare at me.  "Are you lost? Did you hear I'm a judge here so you're here?" I taunted her with my chin on top of my palm. 

 Okay, was I seriously flirting with her knowing that my Brother is falling for her? S***, bad move, Kilton.

 "What are you going to sing, Lou?"  Stacy asked gently.

 "Never Enough."  Lou replied, not bothering to look at me again.

 "Show us what you got." Diego said boredly.  I can't blame him, we've been sitting for hours and listening to those who want to get in.  There are tone deafs, those who just really have the guts, and somehow we have very few choices.

 I stared boredly at her as the music started.

 I'm trying to hold my breath

Let it stay this way

Can't let this moment end

You set off a dream in me

Getting louder now

Can you hear it echoing?

Take my hand

Will you share this with me?

'Cause darling, without you

All the shine of a thousand spotlights

All the stars we steal from the night sky

Will never be enough

Never be enough

Towers of gold are still too little

These hands could hold the world but it'll

Never be enough

Never be enough

We are all stunned to say nonetheless. Who would have thought that she was hiding a beautiful voice despite her shouting voice?  Man, that explains why she can hit the note easily.

 I chuckled inside my head at my stupid thought.

 For me

Never, never

Never, never

Never, for me

For me

Never enough

Never enough

Never enough

For me

For me

For me

 I heard the gasp of surprise and applause from those next to me and I will never admit it, but her voice got me hooked up.

 I was snapped out of my thoughts when the judges and the audience clapped.

 "Thank you."  Lou thanks everyone.

 "It's a yes for me." said Diego.

 "Yes."  Stacy said and they both smiled before they looked at me.

 "You have a nice voice." I complimented honestly. Like I said, I am an honest person. "Congratulations."

 She clapped and smiled.  I saw how her face lightened up lit up f****** Christmas tree,  making me smile, too.

 "Thank you. Thank you!"

 Seems like our paths crossed once again.

 Most of the time, I am training to strengthen my strength, but sometimes, I prefer to be alone and read a book or two.  Don't judge me. Maybe anyone will get tired of stretching their body to death, right?  And our training is much more intense.

 Some may be wondering, why the heck am I still training if I have no intention of inheriting the Mafia?  Simple.  Because I want to sympathize with my brother.  I can't let him be the only one to suffer.  It's the least I can do for him and besides, training is fun.  The fact that you can actually protect yourself and someone you love without depending on other people is already the prize.

A few months from now and I only have one semester left before graduation.  Am I excited?  Maybe.  Maybe it’s not exciting to lead thousands of employees, but who isn’t excited to get big deals?  And who doesn't want their parents to be happy with them? Nervous?  Sure.  I was nervous that I might do something that Dad would not like. I'd hate to disappoint him.  Man, being the first born is the hardest thing in the world especially as an Algarotti.  Many eyes were fixed on me, many would wait for me to make a mistake and fall. Sucks for them that even if I fall, I will still crawl using my hands. 

 In this world, one can overlook the good things you did because of one mistake in just a snap and it's just sad.

 I heard giggling in front of me and I rolled my eyes when I looked up and found them looking at me.

Girls.  Always the suckers for handsome boys.

 I ignored them and instead refocused myself on what I was reading.  A few more minutes later and I felt someone sitting next to me and I felt slightly annoyed.  Okay, I am one of those readers who doesn’t want anyone bothering  me while I'm reading. So what?

 "Look, I am not inter---" I cut myself off when I saw who sat beside me.  "Oh, it's just you."

 "Why? Is it bad to read in the library?"  Cantaloupe said sarcastically without looking at me and instead began to open the book she was holding.

 Book of Arts.  Why am I not surprised?

 "Don't you read Romance books, like some other girls?"  I casually asked that I took my eyes off her and looked back at what I was reading,  but the words are not registering in my mind anymore. 

 "I came here to read and not to chat with you."

 "Fine, Sheesh, you're so cold."  I said.  "Milton has no taste."  I whispered to myself.

 "What did you say?" she asked, annoyed and with her brows knitting together. 

 "Nothing." I said and gave my reading altogether.  My concentration is now gone thanks to this fruit.  "So, you and my brother, huh?" I teased her, she ruined my peace, so why would I let her read in peace? 

 "We are friends." she simply replied with her eyes fixed on the book.

 "That will soon turn to lovers, I presume."

 "Whatever the consequences, that does not concern you anymore."

 "You know, now that I think about it, maybe you're always rude to me because you have a crush on me? And you're actually using my brother to make me jealous?"

 She looked at me with disgust written all over her face. "Crush, your face. Don't make me puke. Be quiet there."  "

 I laughed at her reaction.  "That expression is offending."  I pointed to her face while gesturing to my body.  "Who wouldn't want a piece of this?"

 "Me."  she said without smiling before standing up and leaving. 

 "Well, that was offending."  I muttered to myself and glared at the people laughing.  "The hell are you laughing at?" I ran after Cantaloupe with the book in my hand.  I walked beside her until he stopped at a shelf and returned the book she was holding.

 "I mean, it's just a theory of mine. It makes sense, you know?"

 "Well, I'm not asking so please, just don't say that again."

 "Well, I am handsome. I'll have you know."  I snorted and gave the book I am holding to the book keeper passing by.  "Thank you, Mary." I smiled at the woman.

 Mary just smiled back at me and I turned back to Cantaloupe just in time to see her getting a book from the top shelf and because she was small and I was taller than her, she didn't notice the books on top of the book she was going to pick up so quickly I acted.

 I closed the gap between us and wrapped my arms around her head to protect her from the falling books that are actually thicker than I thought because f***, I felt them on my head, my arms and shoulders.

 "Are you okay?"  I immediately asked him when the fall of the books was over.  I checked her head and face for injury.  "Who's the fool who puts the books in there?"  I asked in annoyance and promised myself that I would find out who had done it then and then feed every page of the books. 

 "I'm just fine."

 I stopped and noticed how close my face is to her face.  Just a little closer and I'll be able to kiss her. I gulped and my hand froze on her cheek. My thumb started caressing it subconsciously as I stared at her face.  I stared at her brown eyes, nose and her lips and I had the sudden urge to lick my lips and just kiss her right then and there.

 How would it feel?  How would it feel to actually kiss another girl after years of not doing it?  Will I like it? Will I... be addicted to it?

 I didn't realize that I am slowly leaning closer to her, aiming for something forbidden.  Something that is already meant to be someone else's.  Someone... not mine.

 As soon as our lips parted, I was stunned and immediately walked away. Stupid! You're so stupid, Kilton! Almost.  I almost betrayed my own brother!

 "Cantaloupe."  I called out her name with a sigh. "You are now officially a forbidden fruit."

 Literally.