Chapter 351 - Three Hundred And Fifty-two : Weird Family

The third point of view:

"Hey, can I borrow your cell phone for a moment please?" Pedro asked Emerald with uncertainty. 

The man seemed like a nice guy compared to the many he had seen in there. It was definitely no joke that Sakuzi was a mafia lord and these seemed like their base. Sure, they were treated nicely in here but Pedro was uncomfortable. He literally knew nobody here nor their intention. How long were they even going to remain here?

Emerald gave him a questionable look.

He explained, "I think I lost mine earlier and my girlfriend must be worried about me,"

"Sure," Emerald handed the phone to him without second thoughts.

Giving him a thankful look, Pedro put in Isabella's number and turned to the side as he placed the call.

However, there was no answer at the first ring. 

"Come on, pick up," Pedro stood uncomfortably on his feet as he anxiously waited for her to answer. Even to the sixth call, there was no answer.

"Thank you," He handed the phone back to him.

"She didn't answer?" Emerald asked out of sheer curiosity. 

"Yeah," He shrugged, "Maybe she's busy with something, I don't know," 

"Do you want me to send a message to her place?" 

"You can do that?" he was surprised.

"Yeah, of course,"

"Oh right," It finally occurred to him that Emerald was under Sakuzi.

"No, don't worry. I'll love to explain everything to her by myself," He added under his breath, "After I get a new phone,"

"You don't have to worry. I'll get a cellphone for you. You shouldn't be out with your father searching desperately for you," Emerald said, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. 

Pedro tipped his head to the side with a deep sigh as he asked," You like my mother, don't you? " 

Emerald's brow raised interestedly,

"And if I say I do, would you give me your blessings?" he asked on purpose. 

"Why not? You're better than a father who tossed me into a van," Pedro pointed out. 

He smiled wryly, "Well, I would be so happy if your mom and I are possible?"

He frowned, "Why would you say that?"

"Your mother hates me. She would never be with me," He told the young man. 

"Why? Because you're her one-night stand?" 

The man looked surprised, "H-how?... " 

"She didn't tell me much but I'm not a kid nor is it hard to figure out what happened with the attraction between the both of you,"

"Attraction my butt," Emerald laughed amused.

"You love her, don't you?" Pedro asked the man, their eyes connected.

"With every fiber of my being," Said Emerald as he stared him straight in the eyes too. 

He was speaking the truth, Pedro discovered. Those eyes of his were sure and sincere and caring. 

"Then give her time. My mom doesn't stay angry forever, and if she truly likes you, I don't see why you both can't be together. The past is the past," 

"It would have been nice if you were my son," 

Pedro's eyes enlarged, surprised.

"But I like you regardless," Emerald ruffled his hair playfully. He breathed, "You should look around, no one's going to hurt nor stop you," And with that being said, he left. 

"Well, it's now or never," Pedro decided to go explore the mansion. He wondered how someone could live here without getting lost all the time. There were so many rooms that he lost count of how many he crossed and had to ask for directions in case he decided to return to his starting point. 

This mafia was different from what he anticipated and watched in movies. He had expected to be unnecessary fighting, bloodshed, and gambling, but here, they behaved as if they were one family. Moreover, weapons were not left around carelessly and there were a lot of rooms with restrictions which he guessed had serious stuff going on in there.

He finally found himself in a kitchen which might as well have served as a canteen. There were a lot of men chattering away and the foods were served buffet style.

Honestly, Pedro wasn't exactly hungry since his stomach was still knotted with tension from earlier - he couldn't believe all this madness happened in one day. 

"You might have to take that with the sauce," 

Pedro was startled when a voice said from behind him. He turned to meet a strange girl. A beautiful strange girl. 

"Don't you know that?" she said, flashing him a warm smile. 

"Huh?" Pedro shook his head to make sure he wasn't dreaming. 

"Take this," the girl took his hand resting on the buns platter, "And collect the sauce with it," She guided his hand to dip the bun in it, "Then put that into that cute mouth of yours," she began to lift his hand to his mouth when Pedro took back his hand and fed himself. He had been lost in thought earlier that he didn't realize he had been standing in front of the display buffet for minutes already. And now, here he was. 

"Mmm," His eyes widened as the richness of the sauce exploded in his mouth. 

"Aha, told you," she was proud of her suggestion. 

"Taste good," Pedro nodded his head in approval. 

"I'm Olivia," She stretched her hand out for a handshake.

"Pedro," He accepted the handshake with a smile. 

"Wait a minute here," Olivia stepped closer, "I think you got the sauce on your lips," She already stretched her hand to get it off him but Pedro shifted his body back to dodge her.

"Oh, I got it," Pedro wiped it off his lips with his hands, "Thank you for telling me,"

"You're welcome," She shrugged, lips pursed.

Pedro turned to the buffet and served himself the buns and the sauce with some fruits and a can of water - purposely ignoring the tempting drinks on display. It was no surprise Reina was a drinking goddess, it was so readily accessible here.

Moreover, as much as Pedro had a bit of trust in Emerald, he still had to be wide awake to take care of his mother - he was the man of the house.

He took a seat and wasn't surprised when Olivia followed him too. She seemed like good company amid the fact she was quite tactile, above all, Pedro was happy to find a kid his age here.

"Why are you sitting with me? Shouldn't you be with your gang members?" he asked, even though he was wondering why a beautiful girl like her was in the gang. 

"You're so silly!" Olivia laughed at him. 

"Did I say something wrong?" He frowned. 

"Nope but it was quite funny because the truth is that I'm Valentino's relative?" 

"Who's Valentino?" 

Her brows furrowed, "You don't know Valentino? The man who is the current leader of this gang?" 

"You mean Sakuzi?" 

"Oh right!" She exclaimed and tapped her head, "That's what you guys call him," 

"What don't you call him Sakuzi?" he was eager to know. 

"Because Sakuzi is a title given to the leader of the Falcon Gang. So to explain, even his predecessor was called Sakuzi. This is why we are called the Sakuzi clan, we are under his reign. 

"Wow, that's an eye-opener," He marveled, "So you're part of the family who would join the business soon? Or are you already...?" 

"Nope, the family business is optional. As much as our family might look intimidating, no one would force you into what you don't like. But I'm not in yet. I'm still contemplating the way to choose," she revealed to him, then said," You must be the new boy Emerald pulled a huge fuss for,"

"Huge fuss?" Pedro was astonished by that revelation. 

"We are not too trusting of strangers because of what we do. But Emerald's words were obeyed since he's second in command to Valentino," 

"And you trust me?" he wasn't too sure about that since it was his first time here. 

"Yeah," she answered almost immediately, "You don't have that bloodlust, it's almost like you're a ray of sunshine which is kind of a refreshing feeling to have around here," she added, "And did I forget to say, I like you," 

Pedro choked on his meal, what the hell was that? The only person who he had seen so audacious was Isabella. To know there was another person like her wasn't so comforting - was that a trend for girls these days. 

"I'm so sorry," He choked and gulped down a glass of water, tears burning his eyes. 

"Did I say something wrong?" Olivia asked him, brows raised in confusion. 

"No, you didn't, but I don't think that's exactly proper for a girl to say that to a guy on their first meeting," 

Olivia leaned closer from across the table, "I'm not an ordinary girl and I'm the type that knows what she wants and I get it," she said, determined. 

Pedro knew he was now in deep trouble. He had to make things clear else Isabella makes it for him. 

"I have a girlfriend and I like her with the whole of my heart," 

"I don't care," Olivia said

"Well, bad choice. She would make you care," He advised her to steer off. 

"She sounds scary, I like scary," 

Immediately Olivia said that, Pedro began to wonder about her sexual orientation and he couldn't have been happier when his mother called him over. This family was filled with weird people.