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“Let’s swap, so if he comes back, then you can sit here.”
Cristina, my savior. She clearly sees that I’m uncomfortable with Alberto and offers to sit next to him, but then he seems happy with his friends as he cheers as one of the matadores somersaults over one of the bulls.
Then before I know it Papá is stepping over the crowd to come sit with us. The seat that Alberto once occupied has now been filled, and curiosity gets the better of me as I look back to see if he has noticed. He has, tilting his head to the side. Maybe now he’ll leave me alone, but the bulls are just part of the festivos. It’s a weekend of fun and activities, I just have to make sure I avoid him for the rest of it, especially seeing as today’s the last day.
After the fireworks, it’s time to see the band play, but they won’t play as long as they did last night, seeing as it’s the last day of events. Cristina went with some of my other cousins to see the DJ. They’re playing the latest music, which is cool and great for my age group, but I love watching the live band perform.
They tend to play anything from eighties music to present day, a performance never to be missed.
I go around and get a couple ofbocadillas6 de calamaries and food that I tend to get in NY whenever I visit Little Spain market.
Now we’re at the street party, I’m still trying to get away from Alberto. He takes my hand as I’m at the bar, and says that he needs to talk. He’s taking me away from the band. Panic sets in me, as a memory flashes in my mind about when I was back in Japan. I turn to tell him that I need to go back. I’d left my family, but then someone catches my eye.
I notice that ahead of me is mi abuela. She’s running as if someone is chasing her and screaming, while taking off her clothes.
“Alberto, look it’s Abuela.”
“What’s she doing?”
Everyone’s ignoring her, because they’re most likely slightly or even completely intoxicated. I just need to get to her.
“She’ll be okay. Someone will see her and bring her back,” he says while stroking my arm before grabbing my waist and pulling me in the opposite direction. He has the look of a man who’s determined to get what he wants.
My brain scrambles and my mind whirls a hundred miles a minute.
Why did I let him lead me away from everyone? Why won’t he let go of my hand?
I shake my head in protest. “No. Alberto, I need to go to her.”
He’s ignoring me, and I’m fighting him with all my might. I never should have come out here in the woods with him. I never should have left my family.
1 celebration.
2 Sunflower seeds.
3 Come on.
4 Here.
5 I’m sorry.
6 Squid sandwiches
37
Diego
Alump forms in my throat as I think about going to the office. Mi abuela said that she would come along, but I don’t need her to be there to hold my hand. The lawyers and my father and Jorge are enough for me to deal with first thing on a Monday morning.
This time I won’t let my emotions get the better of me, if anything I’ll act as if I’m going through any other business transaction, just like I did in Japan.
I heard from Ryota that there have been no new cases of the drug, nor kidnapping, but word on the street is that Hiroshi’s cousin wants to pick up where Hiroshi left off. It seems that there is always someone who wants to be more powerful and take over the shit that someone leaves. Ryota’s on top of it, and he sends his regards. My associate is with me, but I’m thinking maybe he needs to go to Tokyo to see if he can be of some help in any way. I don’t want Aoto nor his family to think just because we’re business partners, that I’m not supporting them by other means. Then again, I worry about Leticia being in Cobeña with no protection. Maybe I should go to her, and he should go to Tokyo to be on the safe side.
I look at the reflection of myself in the mirror as I leave my bathroom at the back of my office, ready to meet Papá and Jorge. Today’s going to be a tough day, but I’ve been through worse. When Papá told me that he couldn’t stand the sight of me and I had to leave home, I was only five. If it didn’t give me the strength to be the man I am today, then I don’t know what did.
My hands start to shake as my bloodshot eyes reflect back at me.
“Don’t!” I warn myself. And as I close my eyes and think of Leticia’s sweet body in the palm of my hands it gives me a sense of peace. One only she can give me. I take out my phone from my pocket and then send her a message. It’s strange, because apart from the first few hours when I left, she hasn’t sent me any. I expected her to send photos of the festivos and stuff, but nothing.
