Meeting you in the City

Chapter 10: Family

I observed Salvy and his family as we were eating. They seem to be lively. It showed the deep bond that the three of them share, and I enjoyed their company and liked the food. This taste made me remember someone. I never had food that taste so good until Salvy’s soup. I have been to the most excellent restaurants. I’ve tasted the most luxurious foods that Muerte and other men offered me, but none of them satisfy my taste. They all disgusted my appetite. They all made me sick that I wanted to vomit.

“Astra?”

“Astraaaaa!” Salvy called to me as I was back to myself. My thoughts seem to fly me away. I can be like this; I can’t let my mind and feelings be involved. It will jeopardize our safety. I never let my guard down, and that’s why no one has gotten to me yet except that time Salvy found me. So I should never lower my guard down, or they will get to us. Even the slightest doubt will lead them into our necks.

“Astra, don’t you enjoy the food we served? Does it not taste good?” Salvy’s mother asked

“I-I it’s not like that maám this is the tastiest food I had for a long time. It made me remember something.” I grin

“Actually, it’s someone,” I added as I glanced at them, who was all looking at me.

“Why?” I asked

“First of all, I’m glad that you like my cooking second, don’t call me ma’am. Call me Camille.”

“Camille, that’s a nice name, maám.”

“Oh, I mean Camille.”

“You know I like you; you’re interesting.”

“Do you really like the food”

“Yes, I do. To the point that It made me remember someone dear to my heart.”

“Really, it’s that good?!” The lovely woman smite the dining table in the excitement that she feels

“Oh, you handsome young man, you flutter my heart,” Camille commented as her eyes were shining. Jeez, this family is just so bright. I love them.

“You should come and eat with us all the time Astra.”

“I would love that Camille, your husband is fortunate to have you.” as I winked at her.

“AHH! Young man, you’re really charming. I’m sure all the ladies are into you,”

“Why if I were just any younger, I would go head over heels for you.” I feel fluttered

“Honey, did you just ignored me? Are you leaving me?” The man questioned with a sad face.

“Hey, young man, you may just have good looks, but this woman is mine,” said the man with his threatening voice, and I can’t help to chuckle at his behavior.

“Astra, don’t feed mom’s ego. It’s hard to handle,” Salvy noted, and I chuckled at their remarks.

“Hmmm, at least there’s one person who appreciates my cooking. You don’t even compliment them.” Salvy just rubs the back of his neck while awkwardly laughing as Camille keeps complaining about how they treat her

“It’s good, ma it is. We just don’t say it.” Salvy’s father tried to calm down the jabbering woman

“Really, honey? Oh, you!” she said with a high-pitch in her tone while gliding his hips as the man nod in reply; he then looked at me with a smirk celebrating the victory of keeping his wife. The sweet woman now sat as she calmed down with a delighted look on her face.

“Astra, who do you remember from it, Salvy” she turns her attention back to me.

“My mother, I forgot how the food she cooked to taste like, but when I tasted yours, it made me remember her.” I never eat the same again. Nothing just tastes good. The feeling of disgust and fear that I’ll be poison. Nobody compared to her cooking. I miss her. I haven’t Admit it to myself all these years, but I do.

“It felt like I’m home, I’m back where I belong,” I uttered; I was full of the feeling of loneliness I ran from a long time it overwhelmed me.

“If you don’t mind me asking, where are your parents,” she asked

“They are gone” I can feel the pain coming to me again as I recall the events

“Well, you don’t have to worry. We’ll be your family from now on.” Camille stated...Family huh?

Salvy’s POV

“Well, you don’t have to worry. We’ll be your family from now on.”

Family is a word that means so much to you, isn’t it Astra? His head slowly rose, his eyes softened at those simple words like he’s about to cry. A glimpse of happiness was seen in his eyes as it also told us the pain he had to feel all these years. I never saw him like this.

“Th-thank you,” he plastered a thankful smile.”

“Don’t worry; you can always go here.”

“Astra, you are home now,” Astra excused himself, and I followed him outside; he could not hold it anymore as he shed tears. He was showing his feelings to me.

“Salvy… your family is wonderful.”

“Astra, they are your family too.”

“I’m glad I meet you.”

“Let’s go back inside,” I invited, and when we were there, mom ran and hugged us. Seriously this woman is unstoppable, and I guessed all of these feelings were just too much for Astra to handle.

“Camille and sir, thank you for welcoming me,” Astra whispered as ma hugged him.

“Hahaha, silly boy, call me Reed. You’re now our family,” pa said as he reached for the boy’s head and gave a knuckle blow to his head. Astra, being confused, tried to get away, but no one escaped the death of my pa’s knuckle, and he eventually gave in to the man affection as he smiled brightly.

Astra’s POV

It was time to leave as I thanked the La Vida family. They followed me through their doorstep to send me off. They hugged me once again, and honestly, it’s a touch I want to keep feeling, it reminds me so much of my family, and I’m so thankful for them for letting me think that I was home once in a while as I know that I can’t really stay and just let their lives be in danger.

“Astra, come back soon, okay, and bring Coco with you this time,” he said as he waved me goodbye making sure that I’d bring my precious dog next time. I wave him goodbye as well as I smile. I enjoyed the dinner. I hope to be here again some other time.

Not long after I was outside, the feeling of restlessness was brought back to my body. My instincts tell me something was off that I should have left Salvy, but I was also nearing the warehouse where the rest of the gang will meet and tell me reports. Do I just miss him? Do I just felt home that I wanted to stay there? Either way, it keeps bugging me, wanting me to return. Shortly I arrived at the warehouse where they were waiting for me.

“HEY, BOSS!!”Chico greeted happily as the others followed and formed a circle around me

“Is Salvy home?” Yoru asked, but I did not answer anything. I was busy thinking.

“Did you meet his family? Is he safe” something suddenly struck my body, letting me feel petrified. No, this cannot be right. Salvy.

“Something is not right,” I said as I ran back towards where I came from, not looking back.

“Salvy is in danger!”

“ASTRA, WAIT WHERE YOU ARE GOING!” Yoru shouted. It was the last thing that I heard. All I thought about was Salvy on my way back to him. I ran as fast I could to reach him in time. There is something terrible happening in here. I can feel it.

Not this time, I would not be as helpless as before. I lose one before I’m not going to lose the family that I have now. I am not going to lose you, Salvy. Please don’t take him away.

“Salvy, just hang on!”

“ARGHHHHH!” I shouted at the tiring pace I was in. This was the fastest I could go, but It was killing me. It felt like I was running out of time. No matter how fast I ran, I was not going anywhere. It felt hopeless.

“Salvyy!!” I shouted as I was nearing my destination.

“Stupid!”

I’m not like this. Why can’t I think straight when It comes to Salvy.

“You can take him from me too. Please take everything but not him.”

“Just wait for me, Salvy” I was nearing his place, and my legs couldn’t stop running, just barging entirely into the door.

“ASTRA! WATCHED OUT”

“YORU?! WHAT ARE YOU DOIN..”

“GET DOWN ASTRAAAAA!!!!” It was Yoru, Yoru shouted as I took cover and suddenly rifles were flying towards me from a black car as the gang covered me and shot them as well

“Sa-Salvy”

“SALVYYYYYY!!” I shouted as I saw pieces of broken glass scattered on the floor. Was I too late?

“SALVYYYYY!!” I called once again no response Salvy’s not here anymore, then why the f*ck. Am I here? What the f*ck am I supposed even to do here? I’m just wasting time.

“Salvy…” Salvy was not here. They took him. They took my family away from me again.

“Salvy, I was too late.”

“Get yourself together, Astra!” he shouted; Yoru shouted as they chased the car that shot me.

“Ha!” I stopped losing myself, and it took me back to my senses; I started to look for evidence on who could have Salvy. I checked every room, cautiously walked through every side of the house, preparing for surprise attacks until I heard some commotion in the closet in a room. The door was open; It was wide open like someone purposely opened it to lead me there. There. There was Camille and reed tied up to each other. I quickly ran to them when I felt a presence “there you are, ha! Bingo,” I said to myself as I lured him out from where he was hiding and promptly reflected a knife coming for me, but there was another one coming from me, and my body just moved on its own as I was used to this I pulled out the gun and shot him with my trigger.

“Ha...ha..no, they saw,” I panted. They saw me, Salvy’s family saw me pulled a trigger, and all at once, those eyes, I recognize those eyes; it was the looks of people who were scared of me. I scared them I’m a monster. It’s just like that; it just took me 8 seconds to aim and pulled the trigger, and afterward, the blood ran down, and I didn’t care. I don’t have feelings when I shoot. I’m a monster.

“HMMMM!!! HMMM!” Camille screeched. Trying to scream as duct tape covered her mouth, I turned around and gasped at the knife aiming for my heart a little too late as it was near me. The man pressed harder as I was fighting the grip he had. I kicked his balls and kicked him away from me as I hurriedly stood up from the ground and now the one wielding a knife.

“Impressive as always, aren’t we, Astra.”

“No, wonder why you’re his favorite.”

“It’s not a secret why they were frightened by you, aww.”

“Look at them even you’re family thinks you’re a monster now,” he said with a smug tone and face as he simper.

“Why them it’s me that you want, isn’t it? Am I right, Victor”

“No matter what you do, you can’t just be better than me, ha pathetic, aren’t you.”

“You’re pathetic, hahaha!” I laughed maniacally

“Grrr! I’m better than you, Astra. You’re just none other than a traitor!”

“Hmmm? And what are you?” I smugly smirk at his remarks. He then ran to attack me, and I came for him. We exchanged blows when he jumped out the window.

“VICTOR, YOU COWARD!” he jumped into the car that the gang was chasing, and I saw Salvy tied up looking at me. He was so scared his eyes were so scared.

“SALVYYYYYYY!!!!!” I called him as the car fastly vanishes from my sight

“Sa-Salvy!” I was kneeling.

“I’m sorry” I looked at them, ashamed after they welcomed me, and this is what I had brought Salvy’s family danger; I’m just a threat to their lives; I shouldn’t have been so naive to think I could have a family once more I’m so foolish. I couldn’t even protect their son after he saved me. I’m useless. I went near them slowly as they were struggling with the look of wanting to get away from me. I know I’m used to it. I untied them and walked away.

“Astra” I glanced at her terrified face. It made me feel weak.

“Camille… I’m sor...”

“Thank god you’re safe” he hugs me tightly while crying; that’s right, we’re family now...family, they did not run away from me. Was it worth having a family? I can’t be here in this place any longer. I should not be involved in their lives in the first place. I knew, I always knew that this would happen, but why?! Why did I want it so bad?! A family I wanted, this is not worth it. I would rather be alone than let them live the risk of being involved with me.

“I’m sorry… this is all my fault. I will bring Salvy back” the girl tightened her hug and sob once more as the man was beside us, comforting his wife.

“I know you will, Astra, so, please...Please bring him back to us.” she holds my hand tightly before letting me go.

“Bring him back to us, Astra.”

I brought them back to the sofa and gave them water. I should not waste my time, but I could not just go and find Salvy without knowing where to look. I also need the backup of my gang. As I was waiting, I stumbled upon a phone; it was Salvy’s phone.

“Camille looks like it’s Salvy’s. I’ll check it,” I informed her and immediately browsed; he left a recording on he knew I would find this; it was for me to hear. I listened carefully to the man that was talking until I listened to what I was looking for.

“HAHAHAHA, are you Astra’s little boyfriend.”

“Well, you’re so unlucky. Muerte only wants Astra for himself.”

“And I can’t wait to see his face surprised once he finds out his little toy is gone.”

“That so sad I wanted to get a taste of him as well, but it looks like I wanted to taste his blood more HAHAHA” he’s a lunatic

“I can’t wait for your boyfriend to be dead.”

“So I’ll take you with me to play.”

“You look more beautiful, and hmm, you smell so good, your skin so soft.”

“DON’T YOU TOUCH ME, YOU MANIAC!” Salvy… I hope you are unharmed

“Oh, HAHAHA, we’ll have plenty of time.”

“Take him away, Muerte said to leave him alive HAHAHA.” I knew it. He was in Muerte’s hands all along. Maybe it’s time to go reunion with the old man, hmm… Be ready for what’s coming at you, Muerte.

“You’ll see.”