Chapter 77: chapter 77

Rodas's POV-------------------"Don't be stupid, Rodas!" Zeco says angrily. It's been ages since the last time he's gotten this mad at me. His face is red and his eyes burning.It's kind of scary.Jeremy is quiet, eyes glued to his shoes. Maybe he is considering my decision but he may be just being scared of his boyfriend."I won't get sentenced for too-" Zeco kicks down a chair."That doesn't matter!" "I must do it Zeco..." "They don't have a single clue. Those officers... They have been like that from the start. They say they are close to putting us behind bars but they never do. You've never paid attention to it. So, why now?""If I'm starting again... Well, that sounds ridiculous but... If I'm going to try living differently then I must cleanse my life. Even if it is just for a bit" I try to explain but Zeco lets out a mocking laugh. He picks up the chair and gently puts it back in its place. "Going to those fucking cops and kneeling in front of them will just tarnish your life even more.""If I go to Elora like this now... It'll not be fair for her. It'll mean that I'm just deceiving her" "She didn't tell you to go and surrender, did she? And if you do this, she will be alone Rodas. You don't make sense at all" "I genuinely want to make an effort" I mumble. "I've hurt her enough" Jeremy jumps down from the counter. "You should talk about it with her Rodas and if your decision is still the same then we are going along with you" I shake my head. "You'll stay" Jeremy frown. "What do you mean?" "You'll take care of the things while I'm gone and when I come back... We will start a new one. We will get rid of all the illegal things and-""Do you really think like that Rodas?" Jeremy asks furiously, his eyebrows knitting together. "We have done all the things you've done... We are equally-""Someone has to stay behind, Jeremy. You said you and Zeco will take care of things when I'm gone" I raise my voice. Jeremy shrugs and does not say anything."You know what Rodas?" Zeco comes to sit beside me and puts his hand over my shoulder."You should go..." I smile and nod eventually."But make sure you come back and keep your word" Jeremy adds.I hesitate but pull them for a hug anyway."Take care you two and don't fight" "Just go to her, You Stupid. We will inform the boys" Jeremy kicks me on the leg. Damn. For a few seconds, it felt like we were back in the small alleyway covered in dirt but with a smile on our faces. -------I step inside the music club and I'm shocked. I thought she would be teaching some grown-ups but turns out she would be teaching lots of kids. Well, good for me too. The kids make faces when they see me. I walk to the corner and take a seat all under their curious and scared eyes. "Come here!" I call a boy sitting on the side. He hesitates but slowly comes to stand in front of me. "Wanna hear some funny stories?" "You don't look like you've got funny stories to tell" he answers and that makes me laugh. "Trust me..." I say. Slowly, a group of kids start taking interest and they surround me in no time. In a few moments, we are the loudest in the room. "Mister... Who are you?" A girl asks, putting her chubby cheeks between her palms. "Let's see..." I pretend to think. "Rexy the storyteller?"They laugh again."You're so funny" they shout but then they go silent all of a sudden. I'm confused and when I follow their gazes, Elora is standing at the front. The kids slowly scatter away and that's when her eyes fall on me. I can tell she is shocked. The way her eyes widen and her jaw clenched just by seeing me. I smile at her and wave my hand. She rolls her eyes in annoyance. "What are you doing here?" She asks."This uncle has so many cool stories to tell..." One of the kids interrupts."We are not here to learn stories," she says to the kid with a scary smile on her face. The kid goes silent immediately but I think Elora is being cute here.She walks away. The kid sitting in front of me turns around and makes a face, "She is so similar to that angry cat in your story" I immediately cover his mouth and tell him to not utter any more words. I'm just making it worse. Two hours. For two hours, I sit in the back and watch her elegantly teaching the kids piano lessons. Did she dress up for today? She looks amazing. She always does but watching her play the piano has always been a different kind of ecstasy, especially when she is dressed this cute. I can never get enough of it. I guess I'm so lucky to see her play the piano before going behind the bars. "Are you going to stay there forever?" I'm knocked back to reality by Elora's rough tone.I look around.The kids are gone."Why are you here!" She asks again."I've something to talk with you" She bites the inside of her cheeks and nods slowly before walking out of the room. We step inside the elevator together. She doesn't look at me directly neither can I but our eyes are glued to each other through the elevator mirror.My palms feel sweaty and the air feels thick and hard to breathe.Her lips look so beautiful right now and I can smell her cologne getting sweeter with each passing second. The unusual silence between us is driving me crazy.I swallow and hold onto the edge of my hoodie. I'm crazy.If I give in to my feelings right now, I'll probably make her even more mad. But she's -The elevator door opens and she walks out. I sigh in relief and follow her.I open the door of my car and wait for her to get in. She unwillingly does. "Should we grab lunch on the way? Aren't you hu-" "Drive straight to the apartment, Rodas!" She says sternly."Right," I drive silently. I wonder if she will still be angry once I tell her about my decision.