Chapter 17: chapter 17

Rodas's POV------I've spent my childhood navigating every street in the town.Being born into a broken household of a drunk man and an abused woman, there was no food and a peaceful place to sleep. I found myself thrust into the ugly side of the world where survival became my daily struggle. I've seen and experienced the worst phase of life that most could scarcely imagine. For me and some more boys, the street was an unforgivable playground devoid of warmth, comfort and security. Nights were spent huddled in doorways, and roadsides. Yet, with the boys, it was more bearable than the place I was born into. We would laugh off the hungry stomach. We witnessed the shattered lives of fellow individuals who lost and surrender themselves to the plague of addiction, their eyes coated over by numbing despair, the vulnerability that drove them to give up the will to survive but we stuck together, we three. Me, Zeco and Jeremy. The gang members lurked everywhere, fighting for the territory. Their clashes before our eyes. The echoes of gunshots became an eerie symphony, inviting us day by day into the darker world.Soon enough, their claws reached our neck and not long after we found ourselves dancing on the palms of those who live in the dark, doing things for them in exchange for few cash. Things that could send us to the last point of our life. At some point, I remember even thinking about not doing those types of work but the smell of cash was addicting and Zeco and Jeremy didn't want to spend another day with an empty stomach.I was 16, Zeco was 17 and Jeremy was the youngest when we were presented before a man. The man in his forties with white hair and beard. A pair of blue eyes that looks angry all the time.  Everyone called him father and the men under him were called Sons. Father said he loved our work and asked if we wanted to become an official part of his family, there was no way to reject his offer, for we knew we would not be out alive if we do that, that's how their world worked and now my world. Day and Night, I buried myself in work. Fighting, killing and establishing dominance over other gang's territory - from a poor homeless kid, I became a being even I don't recognise. Body covered in ugly scars of knives and bullets, a hideous monster that lost the way of going back to being a human.But she wasn't. Elora Rose Green stumbled into my heart like an unannounced storm. She was the first person who made me turn around and look at her for the second time. She was a tender flower surrounded by light and not meant for the darkness that creeps around me. So, I didn't step close to her, afraid she might wither away. The lonely bench outside her piano practice room became my frequent afternoon space every Sunday-"Boss!"I pause and look behind my shoulder at Z who walks in with a frustrated face. I have an idea why he would be like this so early in the morning. "What happened?" I ask anyway."She threw away her breakfast. I'm worried she hasn't eaten anything since yesterday!""I will go... Thank you, Z"Z's eyebrows twitch and he let out a nervous laugh."Well... It's kind of weird to hear you call my name like that!" I chuckle. "Why? Doesn't everybody calls you that nowadays""Jeremy doesn't call me that!" He mumbles.I walk to him and pat his back."Alright, Zeco... Fine now?"He nods and walks away with a shy smile. I don't know how he has grown up to be this big. Even bigger than both me and Jeremy when he was the smallest when we first met in the alley ten years ago. It's been ten years huh?I call Jeremy who always takes time to pick up, no matter how many times I scolded him, he never listens. Guess, I really should be more strict with him. I relax into a casual shirt and trousers before heading toward the room from where most of the noise is coming. As soon as I open the door, the blasting music makes my ear numb. Only she knows if she is really enjoying herself or trying to annoy me. I quickly catch the remote that comes flying toward me just before it hit my face.Guess it's the latter one. "Get out of here!" She yells to my face.I put the remote on the table and lower the volume of the music system. "Too much noise pollutes the environment... Haven't read about that in school?" "GET OUT!!!" She climbs down the bed, face red with anger, a cute troublemaker who only makes me want to tease her more.She try to push me but she also knows better that she wouldn't be able to make me move even a step. I catch both hands behind her back and pull her closer to my chest. She looks up, pointing her angry nose at me. "Why don't we go for a walk and look around the place?" I ask her.She looks away and I find myself forcing her to look at me again. "I don't wanna go... So get out!" "I will make Liam come sooner!" Her eyes widen with small glitter of hope. I don't know if she remembered or if Rei has told her, but she is been asking about Liam frequently. So, I took the chance. As for now, I don't wanna think about Rei. I let her go and walk to the door."Are you coming or not?" She hesitates, grabbing the edge of her shorts and I couldn't help but notice how her beauty never fades away even when she is in a messy state. Her hair bun is coming loose over her shoulder without care, and the pair of frustrated brown eyes are deeper and darker. Her thin lips are dry and chapped but even all of those are nothing but undying beauty for me. The urge to touch her and trap her beneath my arms makes my stomach twist.She walks past me through the door and looks over her shoulder. "If there's no garden... I'm coming back here!" She warns.