APATHETIC (Mafia and Roses - # 2)

Chapter 5

ALEJANDRO’S POV.

Walking out of the room I and Kiki had designed for mini us Six years ago, I meet my mom in the hallway and the glass cup in her hand falls to the tiled floor.

“I saw wrong, right? You didn’t just come out of your son’s room, right? Alejandro, you are my son and I just want you to accept the fact that you have wallowed in your pain for the last five years and that’s enough. I am only respecting your decision of keeping the memories of your son. Your dead son. Alejandro you have to accept the fact that he is dead and his mother is now with another man, she has moved on. Even the mother isn’t feeling the pain of a mother. She without thinking of her son has moved unto her boss who is ready to marry her. You have Lucy now.” My mom rants and I place my palms on her shoulders.

“I never got to see my son once and Kiki might just be doing all she is doing right now in France just to get back at me, I believe that.” I reply.

“Son, it will be good if you wake up now. If she really loved you as she had claimed to while you two were still together then she wouldn’t have rejected you when you went to France few months after she left just to beg her to return to you. She is such a cold hearted young lady who pretended to be good one just like her mother!” She retorts.

“Aunt Phoebe did nothing to you back then and now, it wasn’t Aunt Phoebe’s fault that Dad was in love with her and as for Kiki there’s nothing you would ever say that would erase Kiki from my heart. That woman had and still have a pure soul. Her innocence and willingness to help others has made everyone think of her as an easy target . Even though she has moved on, I know somewhere in her heart that she is hurting for Tito our son that we never really got to touch or see grow old. Even though I sometimes have this sentiment of hate in me towards her, I still can’t find a place in my heart to do hate her.” I tell my Mom honestly and she moves her hands to take mine off her shoulders.

Holding them, she nods and gives me a hug.

“I really want to understand you son, but I also can’t bear to see my own son hurting. Please give Lucy a chance to help you. Open your heart to Lucy, she was once the woman you loved so much. You can love her again and she is willing to stand by you.” She says and I nod.

“I will try.” I reply.

“You shouldn’t try. You should absolutely begin to let go of that woman.”

“Okay. I need to talk to dad.” I answer and she nods.

“Okay, go talk to your dad and meet me downstairs. I have a meeting with you and your friends.” She tells me and I give her a hug before walking away from her.

I hear her scream one of the maids’ name to come and sweep away the shattered pieces of the broken glass cup before walking into my father’s room.

“You are here.” My dad says as he acknowledges my presence.

“We need to talk.” I say.

“Okay.”

“How did you handle Phoebe loving Brantley without betraying them both?” I ask as I sit on his bed and he sighs.

“Love can’t be forced. I accepted the fact that the woman I love is now happy and that also made me happy. You know when it comes to the Costa family, marriage is a business expansion. I was forced by my parents to get married to your mother and although I hated her at first because I couldn’t get myself to love her as much as I did love Phoebe. But as time went on and we spent time together even though they were filled with fights and arguments, I was gradually moving on plus I had you my son.” My dad says and I nod.

“In other words, you are telling me that if I spend more time with Lucy I will forget Kiki?” I ask.

“Do you actually want to forget her?” He replies my question with a question.

“No, I do not. She changed me, gave my life more meaning and…”

“Turned you into a fool for five years afterwards.” My mom cuts me off as she walks into my dad’s room.

“Erica, you shouldn’t get between our conversations. This is a discussion between my son and I. You shouldn’t eavesdrop.” My dad replies her and she frowns.

“We all need to talk downstairs and it is right now. Alejandro would be fine and Lucy would help him get over Kiki in his heart just like I helped you get over Phoebe.”  My mom says and walk out before any of us can reply.

“At a point son, you would have to let go of her. If you do not your love might end up becoming so much hate, so much revenge and so much self-destruction.” My dad  says as soon as the door is shut.

“I know I said I do not want to forget her, but it is just for the fact that I should remember love doesn’t really exist and everyone isn’t a constant. I will never love another woman and doesn’t mean I would love Kiki again…” I say to my father, but it seems more to me like a self-assurance.

“Do what’s best for you my son and I am always here to hear you out.” My dad says and open his arms for a hug.

Hugging him, he wraps his hand around me and pat my back.

“Thank you Dad.” I say as I disentangle my hands from his body.

“I love that you trust me a lot.” He tells me.

“Well, I always did. I just hated you and mom when I was young because you two weren’t really there for me.”  I reply.

“We had issues then, but I am sorry I wasn’t the father you really wanted.”

“It is fine now dad and you are the kind of father I want.” I reply and he smiles.

“Be happy from hence forth son and enjoy being apathetic. It also helps to run the mafia and company well.” He advices and walk out with his arms folded at his back.

Walking out after him, we both descend the stairs in silence and everyone is seated in the living room except for my mom who is seems too excited enough to stand. I walk towards where Lucy is seated and sit next to her as I give Joe a questioning look to which he just shrugs as he also doesn’t  seem to understand what this meeting is all about.

“Thank you everyone for being here. The sole reason for this meeting is this.” My mom says as she jingles a bunch of keys.

“Erica.” My dad says and she smiles.

“Well, this bunch of keys is a gift to Bianca and Mike, the happy ones. I just thought it nice to help your relationship. You know this a house I and my husband built together and you do not have all the privacy you two might need. Who knows, if you two live together for few months you might even consider getting married and another nice fact about this house is it is very close.” My mom says with a broad smile and my dad looks at me.

“Aunt Erica? Are you serious?” Bianca asks with a very wide smile.

“Yes of course my dear Bianca.” My mom replies and she moves to hug my mom.

“Thank you Aunt Erica.” Mike says and my mom smiles at him.

“Congratulations, Mike and Erica.” Lucy says.

“You are so happy sis and I am also happy for you and Mike.” Joe says as he stands up to walk away.

My dad pats my shoulder and also move for the stairs.

“Instead of the driver taking us there, I will drive you two there myself and show you your beautiful home.” My mom says and Bianca nods as she moves to hold Mike’s hand.

What I do not seem to understand is the reason behind Mike and Bianca moving out of my parents’ penthouse. I know my mom’s gift seems nice, but I know my mom well enough to understand the fact that she would never really do anything that nice for someone especially someone who was so close to Kiki even if they aren’t close anymore.

“Why are your brows creased? Aren’t you happy for one of your best friends? I mean, It feels good to have a home to oneself especially with the woman of their dreams. Mike seems happy about it and I think Bianca feels the same.” Lucy says as she sits beside me on the lounge.

“Lucy, I know you are trying your possible best to keep me company and to fulfill the duties my mom must have asked of you but I would really appreciate if you do not talk about dream woman. It reminds me of the woman I really love.” I reply and stand up.

She grips my wrist, thereby stopping me from moving. Standing up too, she lets go of my hand and move to stand in front of me.

“As someone who is in your life to help you forget the woman who hurt you so bad and broke your heart without thinking it wise to understand that all you did was to protect her and the one you two had created, I would also appreciate if you make my six months work in your life effective by not bringing up the name Kiki as the love of your life.” She says firmly and I look at her before moving for the stairs.