Chapter 24: chapter 24

It was late at night and Rodas was driving me back home. It felt so short, the amount of time I spent with him at his home. I lost track of time. Five hours felt like five minutes.I had never talked so much in my life, I kept blabbing and blabbing in front of him and he just kept listening to me without complaining. A constant smile played around the corner of his lips, while his green gaze never left the sight of me. Usually, I would be embarrassed but that day was different. I opened up that door that I had always kept closed and hidden somewhere inside me and he let me see a different side of him. Softer and more expressive. The surrounding seemed to have turned colourful even though the walls were pitch black. I felt a lot lighter and a lot more loved. ..."Rodas!""Yes, Sunshine!" He replied almost immediately, with a straight face. I could never. My cheeks felt hot just by hearing that surprise pet name from him and I had to pause for a moment before speaking again. Embarrassing."There will be a Piano show, I'm going to perform..." I told him. He glanced at me with a smile."Really?" "Will you come to watch?" "When?" He stopped the car in front of my home and turned to look at me."Sunday Evening!" I answered. He thought for a while, fingers drumming over the stirring wheel. I hoped he would say yes but at the same time, I would have understood if he couldn't make it. I knew he is busy.He reached for my hands. I knew his answer by the worried look on his face."I can't promise you, Angel..." I understood. Yet, my shoulder dropped along with my heavy heart. He held the back of my head gently, the pair of green gazes carried guilt."It's ok..." I said softly, rubbing his shoulder but my voice betrayed me. Those two words came out barely in a whisper and sounded upset.He nodded and leaned over to kiss my forehead. "Good night!" He whispered.I paused for a moment, biting my lower lips and then in a quick way I brushed my lips over his. He chuckled at my action. "Was that a kiss?" He asked me."G-Goodnight!" I stuttered, pushing him away and quickly getting out of the car.I headed inside the house without looking back.----Mom and Dad were busy. So, only Liam was able to come with me for the piano show.Rodas didn't show up. At first. But when I was halfway playing a song on the stage, I caught a glimpse of him walking towards the front seat. My eyes widened immediately. He took a seat and gave me a thumb signal. I looked away realising all lights were on me at that moment but my smile didn't fade away. The gloomy feeling disappeared somewhere, my fingers cheerily danced over the black and white keys. When it ended, the audience stood up and cheered for me. My eyes landed on Rodas, clapping his hand with a proud smile on his face.Five minutes later, I met him backstage. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a hoodie with his hair down over his forehead. He looked kind of cute. "You came!!!" I ran into his embrace. "Well... I didn't want to disappoint you," he replied, cupping my cheeks. "Thank you!" I was so attentive to Rodas that I didn't realise another person was also with him. It was only when that person coughed awkwardly, I turned my head to look.The person smiled at me."He is Rei... I brought him with me." Rodas introduced him to me."I've been wondering what was so important for Rodas to leave his meeting halfway and come here... Now I understand. This motherf- ughhh" Rodas punched the side of Rei's stomach and didn't let him finish his words. "Don't curse!" He scolded Rei.Rei Shrugged making an innocent face.I was surprised to see this side of Rodas. I had never seen him being friendly with other men. Whether he was ordering around or having a stern expression. I was glad he have a friend to hang out with. "Elora?" I turned around to see my brother Liam taking large steps towards me. His eyes narrowed and looking at Rodas and Rei with suspicious expressions. Liam threw his arms around me."Who are these thugs?" Liam's words had no filter. Rei laughed awkwardly."I just tagged along... I have nothing to do with them," he was quick to defend himself. Rodas was calm. He knew Liam was my brother. It was just that I hadn't told Liam about Rodas yet, so my brother's protective mode was on and rising."Um... Liam. He is Rodas. " I said, pointing at Rodas. "And he is Rei..." "And who they might be?" Liam asked."Uh-" "I love your sister!" Rodas interrupted me, straight and serious. I widened my eyes at him.Liam looked at me with interrogating eyes. "Well... Yup. He is my boyfriend." I mumbled."If you'll excuse us for a bit..." Liam said and pulled me to the side. "What's wrong with you Liam?" I said irritated, snatching my hand away from him."He looks dangerous!" "He is not," I replied but Liam didn't buy it and kept giving me suspicious eyes. "Ok... He is a bit dangerous but Rodas is nice" Liam turned to look toward Rodas and then back at me."Are you sure you're not being stalked and blackmailed?" I laughed. "Nooo!!!" "Ok... So does he go to college?"I pushed Liam's back with my both hands, making him exit the backstage. "I'll tell you when I get home. I promise!" "You sure?"I nodded before turning to go back to Rodas and Rei.I, Rodas and Rei had dinner together that night and it felt like Rei was a lot like my brother. He makes some very cheesy jokes and laughs himself while no one does. He kept irritating and teasing Rodas just like Liam does to me.Moreover, he seemed like a very caring and nice guy. Rodas told me that Rei took care of him many times and that he is someone whom Rodas can rely on. At home, Liam got concerned when I told him about Rodas. He wasn't impressed by the idea of me dating someone from the mafia world."What if something happens to you?" I told him he shouldn't worry and that Rodas will be there if something were to happen. "Just so you know... You can always back off if you sense any danger, Elora... You don't have to put yourself in danger for someone who has always played with danger... You might also get the people around you in trouble. You're still young. I want you to have a normal happy life" What if I listened to him that night? Would my life have been different now?