Charter 63
Alessia.
Angelo said he would be stepping out to make a phone call to Kelvin but it's been half an hour already yet he’s not back. I don't know if I was supposed to get worried. I know it wasn’t his first time in New York. I mean mafia men visit almost half of the countries in the whole.
However, what added to my worry was the fact that he wasn’t picking up his call. “What’s wrong? Why are you pacing around the room like a pregnant woman.” Mom asked as she walked down the stairs.
“It’s Angelo. He told me he’d make a phone call but he hasn’t been back up till now.” Mom stared at me in thinking before pulling me with her to the couch. It was almost evening time.
“Don’t worry. I know he’d find his way back. He’s not a small child. And besides he looks like someone who knows what he’s doing. When called me the other day, I didn’t expect him to come with you.”
My brows shoot up in confusion. “He called you? When was that?”
Something flickered in her eyes as if she wasn’t supposed to say what she said. “He called me a few days ago that he wants us to persuade you to come home.”
“What?” I jolted up to my feet in shock. “Listen, Alessia.”
“Wait Mom you mean to tell me Angelo was the one who asked you to tell me to come home? You didn’t do it willingly?” At this point, I don’t know what else Angelo was hiding from me. I didn’t expect him to see me as a lowly person like that. He kept on disappointing my expectations of him.
“No. He was the reason why we realized we needed you back more than anything. Your Dad and I have been wanting to reach out to you but we were too scared to do that considering how we behaved toward you the other day. But trust me, we wanted you back.”
“What did he tell you?” I asked as calmly as I could muster. Getting angry won’t solve the case.
“He just said good things about you that you need us more than anything. He said we shouldn’t risk the opportunity of being with our daughter. He said all sorts of emotional things, Alessia. Before we could reach out, your call came through.”
Okay, I think I had mixed feelings about all this. I don’t even know what to do regarding Angelo. Sometimes he makes me angry and sometimes he makes me worried. Like now. I called his number again. “Pick up the damn call, Angelo!” I mumbled.
The phone went silent without him picking up. “I will be stepping out,” I said to Mom heading to the door.
“Wait—” I was already at the door to listen to what she had to say. I left the house and walked down the street. I decided to drop him a text message.
Me: Tell me where you are else I will make sure you spend the night outside! I hit the send button and bite my lip waiting for a reply. None came.
Me: Are you kidding me? You thought I wouldn’t be able to right? Don’t reply to me and see wonder!
A reply didn’t come even after my threats. Anger surged through me. I wonder where he ventured into.
Me: Suit yourself! Don’t come anywhere near my house! I smashed my finger on the send button and slipped the phone into my pocket. Immediately I did that, my phone buzzed making me rush to fish it out.
Angelo: Don’t panic. I’m still alive, wife.
I was supposed to find his skeleton emoji a joke but it only doubled my anger. Me: I don’t care. Just tell me where the fuck are you! We need to talk!
I tapped my foot on the pavement continuously waiting for his reply. Instead of a text, his call came through. “Tell me where the fuck did you go? It’s been an hour already. What’s taking you so long to talk to Kelvin!” I bombarded all at once.
“Hello?”
“I’m waiting for you to finish your rant.” He replied. I rolled my eyes. “I am not done. Let me see you face-to-face first. For the last time, where are you?”
I didn’t stop hissing as I climbed up the stairs. Why would he make me use the stairs instead of the elevator? Angelo has a lot of weird ideas that I don’t know where he gets them from. I was already panting hard by the time I reached the end. I pushed the door and entered. I found myself on a spacious floor.
Me: Where are you?
Angelo: Behind you
When I turned around, I found him standing a few miles away from me, hands stuffed inside his pocket. He was dressed in a different outfit. Not the one he left the house with. I ran up to him and charged at him by hitting him on his chest. “Why did you make me climb the long stairs? And why are you here!”
I hissed out, hitting him more. He didn’t dodge nor did he say anything. The only expression he gave me was a smirk. “Is your mouth glued? Say something!”
“I want you to finish punching me to your heart's content.” He replied then finally dodged the next punch from me.
I stopped to inhale and exhaled out. “Why are you here then? A hotel.”
“I met someone here and decided to tease you before I leave.”
My eyes squinted at him. “Someone?”
“Yes. Someone you don’t know.”
I looked at him suspiciously. “I don’t trust you.”
“You do. If you don’t you wouldn’t even climb the stairs. Aren’t you scared of someone kidnapping you?” He folded his arms across his chest and took a step closer.
“Why would I? You will be responsible for it. You called me here.” I shrugged my shoulder. “But I was worried. You left for almost an hour.” I said as a matter of fact.
Angelo snaked his hand around my waist, pulling me in, making my palms land on his chest. “Yeah. I met someone somewhere before coming here.” I looked at him waiting for him to tell me more. My hand dropped from his chest at his words. “I met your mother.”
**
Mom’s eyes darted between Angelo and me. “Is everything okay?” She asked.
Angelo and I shared a look. “Mom, Dad. I have something to tell you or should I say ask you. Which I’m sure you guys know already.” I started. It was their turn to look at each other. However, I noticed the nervous look on their faces.
“I know you two are not my real parents.”
Mom’s eyes widened while Dad shut his eyes. “Yes. I found out a few days ago. And I don’t hold a grudge against any of you. Although I don’t know their side of the story, I can’t neglect all the support and care you give me. I have a lot of questions to ask but I feel like it would be better if I get the answers from them. I’m meeting my mother tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry, Alessia.” Mom started crying. “We didn’t mean to hide the truth from you. You are everything we ever wished for. You are the daughter that takes away the pain of loneliness from our lives. I’m sorry.”
Dad joined in too. “We are sorry for not telling you anything.” I got down to the floor and held both their hands. “I’m not angry at any of you. I know you had your reasons. I’ve gotten the best parents any child would ever ask for. Because you gave me everything that I can’t pay back no matter how hard I tried. I love you two and will continue to.”
Mom was the first to pull me in for a hug before Dad joined in. We cried in each other’s arms. Mom wouldn’t stop apologizing. To be honest, I felt some inner peace having the discussion with them.
After crying our eyes out, Mom fed us with a full table dinner. I have forgotten Mom has a way of cooking more than one meal for dinner. She wouldn’t stop filling Angelo’s bowl with rice. I could feel the tension rising in Angelo. I winked at him right after we exchanged eye contact, holding myself from busting out with laughter.
“Eat up. I will make you fat before you leave this city.” And then my laughter unleashed itself. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Mom’s words felt like a threat to Angelo. If only she knew the history of my first encounter with him.
After dinner, I walked Angelo to the guest room where he would be staying. “Make yourself comfortable, if you need anything don’t hesitate to reach out,” I said forming my lips into a thin line.
Angelo didn’t say anything only scoffed. “Goodnight then,” I said turning to leave. “And where do you think you are running off to after making fun of me?” His jaw clenched and unclenched.
“To my room of course. And at some point, you deserved to be tortured by my Mom. You can’t get accepted so easily.”
“Oh, I see.” His eyes roamed around the hallway. “Come here.” I didn’t get time to react to his words when he held my wrist and pulled me inside his room.