*****
Javier stormed out of the building in anger and got into his car, speeding off with the intention of going to Elvis’s house to check on him. However, Helen ran after him, waving for him to stop the car, which he did. He rolled down the window but didn’t get out, waiting impatiently for his mother to speak.
“Javier, you’re leaving already? You haven’t had breakfast,” she said. “Come inside, I’ll make your coffee just the way you like it.” She said with concern.
“I’m not hungry, mother,” Javier replied. “I just want to see Elvis.”
Suddenly, Fabby emerged from the building and started walking towards them. She flashed Javier a smile as she got closer. “Grandpa wants to see everyone in the sitting area,” she said before running back inside without waiting for Javier’s response.
Javier’s mother motioned for him to get out of the car, and they both entered the building. As they pushed the door open, Javier saw everyone gathered around Grandpa Inder, who was seated in the middle with his hands folded. This was the usual protocol whenever there was a serious issue to address – Grandpa Inder would call everyone together and resolve the matter, no matter how difficult it was.
Javier slowly approached and joined the circle, while Helen did the same, standing closer to her son with her hand grasped behind her back.
Inder cleared his throat when he saw that everyone was present. He shifted his gaze to Carlo, who was fuming with anger. Then he looked at Javier, who seemed indifferent to the situation. Inder shook his head before he began. “Carlo…you are wrong! Regardless of where Elvis was found as a child, you shouldn’t have taunted him with that. Never! We consider him a member of this family. Calling him an orphan is wrong! Because he now has a complete family to call his own. A father, a mother, a brother, a sister, cousins, and grandparents.” He pointed out sternly, keeping his gaze fixed on Carlo.
Carlo hung his head in shame, but deep down, he had vowed never to accept Elvis as his family and had planned on making his life miserable as long as he remained here. Carlo finally raised his head when he saw Grandpa shift his gaze to Javier, and his heart leaped in joy as he anticipated Grandpa scolding Javier for slapping him because of a total stranger.
“Javier was right to correct you, Carlo. As an elder, he was trying to guide you and expected you to act more mature. I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Grandpa said, smiling at Javier. “Javier has never laid a hand on you before. For him to do that today, it’s clear that you crossed a line. I advise you to take his correction and not do it again. Now, apologize to Javier, your brother.”
Carlo clenched his fists in anger and gritted his teeth when he heard the word ‘apologize’. When Grandpa’s words didn’t go in his favor, he angrily tried to walk away.
“Don’t you dare move from here!” Grandpa’s loud voice made him stop in his tracks, his chest heaving with rage. “Apologize to your brother,” Grandpa commanded, giving him a hard stare.
Carlo stood still, not moving an inch or saying a word. After what felt like an eternity, he finally turned and started to approach Javier, but Javier raised his hand to stop him.
“Grandpa, I don’t want his apologies. They would be meaningless because he clearly doesn’t want to do it. But he should apologize to Elvis because his words really hurt him,” Javier said, looking at Grandpa the whole time, and Grandpa nodded in agreement. “He can stay if he wants, but under certain conditions. First, he should stay away from Elvis. Second, he should be mindful of what he says around Elvis. Third, he should treat Elvis with the same respect he gives to me.” Javier added before walking away without looking back.
As he reached the door and tried to open it, Javier was surprised to see Olivia standing there, holding her luggage and chewing on bubble gum.
“Hey, baby,” she said with a smirk, running to kiss him.
******
“Please drive faster, I’m begging you,” Natalie kept yelling at the cab driver. She felt like she might suffocate from anxiety at any moment.
“Ma’am, do you want me to fly you up in the sky before you’ll be satisfied that I’m driving faster than I’m supposed to?” the cab driver retorted, feeling tired of Natalie’s constant nagging.
“Do whatever you want, just take me to the market!” Natalie screamed even louder this time. But the cab driver ignored her and focused on his driving, not saying another word to her.
After what felt like forever, he finally stopped at the market gate. Without wasting any time, Natalie got out of the car, threw some cash at him, and ran off. The cab driver didn’t feel offended, as he understood that she was in a hurry. He got back in his car and drove away.
Natalie sighted a huge crowd gathering in front of her shop, as she ran like a psychopath approaching them. She stood in front of them with her arms spread out. With a bloodshot eyes, “You all should leave my….” Before she could finish her statement, another fight broke out again, as they pushed her aside. She fell against the wall, hitting her head in the process which gave her a cut on her fore head.
No body cared about about her as everyone were engrossed in the commotions happening. She watched in horror, as she felt dizzy with her vision blurred, she saw one of the thugs ran out and came back few minutes later with a stick of fire and began aiming at his opponents as he approach him to it.
He began waving the fire stick in front of him, as the guy anticipated his intention, he quickly charge towards him and push the stick away from his hand and the stick fell on one of Natalie’s paintings board, which caught everywhere ablaze.
“My shop!!” Natalie let out a nerve breaking scream as she watch her shop burning down to ashes with everything in it. All the crowds began to run away and no body tried to stop the fire from expanding.
Natalie summoned all her strength and pulled herself up from the ground, then began running toward her burning shop. However, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Natalie turned around with dazed eyes and saw Elvis staring back at her.
“Natalie, are you okay?” Elvis asked, shaking her shoulder.
“My-My shop…” Natalie sputtered, choking back tears as words failed her. Tears continued to stream down her face as she pointed to her burning shop.
“Don’t worry, I will fix everything,” Elvis reassured her. But Natalie pushed him away and attempted to run into her burning shop. Elvis quickly grabbed her again. “Natalie, get a hold of yourself,” he screamed at her.
Natalie burst into loud sobs, trying to free herself from Elvis’s grip. But he pulled her into a hug, and she fainted, almost falling from his arms.
“Natalie, wake up!” he screamed, shaking her shoulder in fear, but she didn’t respond. Without wasting time, he slid his hand under her knees and carried her to his car, driving her to the hospital immediately.