I yawned again, unbuckling my seat belt. My body felt lazy and stiff. I hadn't slept the whole night. I was so lost in my gloominess that I couldn't feel anything else other than depressed. My worst fear had become the reality and I lost touch with myself. I should have been nervous to meet Jeremy's uncle but I wasn't. I would make it through.
"Ready? You are going to be surprised." Jeremy said, opening the car door.
I nodded.
We got out of the car and I looked around with a frown. There were many people around in corners, like big guys-those types of muscular gym freaks. They seemed to be just around everywhere.
I was still looking around at those big guys as we walked in the open huge door. To my surprise, there were more big guys inside. What did his uncle exactly do?
"Jeremy!"
I brought my attention to the voice. A tall and huge man stood in front of us smiling. The first thing I noticed was his scar on his right cheek. It wasn't big but noticeable. It looked aged. He eyed me from head to toe and threw a teasing look at Jeremy.
"Uh huh, nothing compared to my brother." He spoke.
Jeremy quickly reached out to punch his uncle's shoulder lightly. "Don't be rude."
I just looked at them in confusion.
Jeremy turned to smile at me. "Kwan, this is-"
"I am Mario, his uncle." Mario introduced himself.
I smiled and nodded. "Hi, I am Kwan."
"I know. He told me about you. You look great just as he told. But young man, I doubt if you could be the one."
"Uncle Mario!"
I frowned. There was definitely something fishy. Mario didn't seem to like me at all.
"Come with me, Kwan." Jeremy grabbed me by the arm and dragged me upstairs.
The big guys were everywhere, greeting Jeremy with a smile. I was so busy looking around at the big guys that I had no clue where I was being dragged to. He took me to the huge balcony, luckily empty.
"Who are those guys?" I whispered to Jeremy quietly, staring at the entrance of the balcony.
"They are uncle Mario's people."
I frowned and looked at him. "Your uncle looks nothing related to you. And he also didn't seem to like me. I thought you said your uncle wanted to meet me."
He looked at me in embarrassment. "Please ignore him. I am sorry you feel this way."
I sighed. Before getting into anything serious, maybe I should tell him that I didn't want to take things further anymore. I was just done with getting hurt. I didn't want things to mess up. And I was not ready for relationship halfheartedly.
"Jeremy, can we talk later back home? I have to tell you something." I said.
He nodded. "I have to tell you something too."
I smiled. Maybe he was finally ready to open up. I opened my mouth to say something but from my peripheral vision, I saw someone walk in the balcony.
"Jeremy! You are here."
I turned to the person and frowned. He was in a cop's uniform, standing tall with a broad smile.
"Uncle! Uncle Mario was rude to Kwan." Jeremy complaint with a little pout. I was taken by surprise at his new side.
His uncle grinned. "Is it? Don't worry, I will scold him."
"Did you just come home now?" Jeremy asked, walking over to his uncle.
"Yes." He turned to face me. "Hello Kwan, I am Jack, his uncle." He smiled and outstretched his hand for me.
I frowned in confusion and shook his outstretched hand. "Nice to meet you."
Jack chuckled. "You must be confused since you met Mario as his uncle first. Let me introduce us properly."
"He is my real uncle, Uncle Jack. And that was his boyfriend, Uncle Mario." Jeremy smiled, throwing the bomb in a blow.
Boy-Boyfriend?
I was still processing when Jack started to laugh at my face. "I understand. Look at you. You look so shocked."
I composed my face and smiled hesitantly. So this was the surprise. "I am sorry but I had no idea."
"I know. I know. We got over excited when Jeremy told he found someone new. We just wanted to surprise you, that's all." Jack explained.
I glanced at Jeremy whose eyes were studying my face.
"Come, let's go in." Jack said.
The atmosphere was heavy in the house with all those big guy's presence. Jack was a cop and I didn't understand why there would be so many people in the house. We were served some fruits by Jack who had now changed into his home wear and looked much more comfortable. I was getting a little intimidated by Mario's glare from across the table. For some reason, that man didn't seem to like me at all.
"Mario, stop staring at Kwan and eat the fruits I give you." Jack scolded, tossing a grape in his mouth.
Mario broke his stare and I reached for the glass of water. I took a small sip and placed it down.
"So Kwan, Jeremy tells me that you are a high school teacher." Jack smiled warmly.
"U-uh, yes." I smiled back.
"What does your family do?"
"Um my mother is a doctor and dad a businessman." I said, taking another sip of the water because Mario's stare was back.
"What type of business?"
"Manufacturing and merchandise."
Jack raised his eyebrows. "Ah I see."
I smiled.
The meeting with Jack didn't last long as a sudden case came up and he had to leave immediately. A cop was a busy man after all. We were left with Mario and somehow, I managed to swallow down the food during lunch. I almost doubted if he had poisoned my food because of his icy stare at me all the time. I felt suffocated in the same room as Mario. I just wanted to leave as soon as possible. But Jeremy seemed reluctant to stay a little longer to 'bring me and Mario closer'. I had been trying to speak to Jeremy with my eyes, begging him to let me leave but he couldn't catch it.
"So, let's play some games. You must be getting bored." Mario spoke himself after dessert.
There. No, please.
"Sure. What?" Jeremy smiled happily.
"Wanna go shooting?" Mario smiled blankly at me and something in the way he looked at me was unsettling.
I nodded slowly. "Okay."
At the back of the mansion was a series of small cottages. We walked in one of them and I gaped at the view. It looked like a shooting range. Of course it was, with all targets. It peaked my interest up. I had always loved shooting. I watched as Mario drew out a revolver from the back of his pants with an excited smile.
"Oh, have you seen a real gun before?" He asked, turning to me holding the revolver near my face.
I frowned.
He let out a low chuckle. "No, right? This baby right here is Ruger 1707."
I nodded. Okay...And?
Jeremy rolled his eyes. "We don't know about guns. Just show us how you shoot."
Mario turned to aim the gun at the target with a smug smile which was definitely for me. He concentrated and pulled the hammer slowly. The distance between us and the target was of 25 meter. After a moment, the finger over the trigger pressed and I covered my ears at the sound of the fire. The bullet had perfectly hit the 8 number on the target. We could easily see it.
"Easy." Mario turned to us with the same smug smile. "Here, try Jeremy. I will teach you."
"Nope. Uncle Jack has warned us several times already. He told you not to hand me a gun." Jeremy stepped two steps back.
"Can I try?" I spoke. It had been long since I had practiced and I wanted to do it once.
Mario's mouth twisted in unsureness. "Well, I don't think you should try."
"I know how to handle it." I said, reaching out for the revolver.
"Be careful. It's sensitive." Mario complained as I took the revolver from his hand.
I nodded. I took my stance and looked at the target. A series of memories flooding back as I recalled the last time I had won a shooting game. I slowly raised my hand, aiming the gun. I held my breath. I pulled the hammer and concentrated. I pulled the trigger just I had found my aim and boom! Bull's eye. Well, not really bull's eye. But just at the space between 9 and 10. We saw it crystal clear. I smiled. I felt good. The last time I held an air pistol was years ago. And shooting with a real gun felt better and more adventurous.
"Oh my god! Kwan!" Jeremy exclaimed, holding me by the shoulders.
I turned to Mario and it was my turn to smile smugly. I handed him the revolver back. He was staring at me in shock. "It was by chance, right?"
I shook my head. "Played the game before. Topped at University. Selected for nationals but didn't go."
Mario blinked several times. "Seriously?"
I nodded.
"Wow!" Jeremy wrapped an arm around my shoulder, grinning broadly.
It was finally time to leave. Now Mario seemed frustrated, grumbling to himself. At least, I did something I liked. It was the only good thing that happened there. Uncle Jack was good too. We said our goodbyes and left. In the car, Jeremy seemed cheerful while driving.
"Your uncle Mario doesn't like me." I said.
Suddenly his face fell and he glanced at me. "I am sorry about that."
"Any particular reason?" I asked.
He sighed, brushing his fingers through his hair. He seemed suddenly nervous. "Uh..." He hesitated.
I waited.
"So...this thing I wanted to talk to you about."
"Yes?"
"Uncle Mario has a younger brother, Carlo." He stared ahead at the road as he continued. "He...he is my ex boyfriend."
I choked on nothing. "What! How old he is?" God.
"Not that old. Just turned 30 this time."
Oh. "Okay. Wait, how old is uncle Mario and Jack?"
"Uncle Jack is 36 and uncle Mario is 37."
I frowned.
"Let me explain. So...my grandfather married twice and uncle Jack is my dad's step brother. And uncle Mario is actually a gangster, like the main one. Like the boss. Their love story is straight out of fantasy." He chuckled. "You can imagine how it went. A cop falling in love with a gangster. Because uncle Jack came out as gay, my father kicked him out of the family. I met Carlo through uncle Mario and...instantly fell in love. I don't know but I fell so hard...My dad, he caught us in my room. And-and-" A hiccuped sob escaped from his mouth.
I was listening so intently that I didn't realize the tears streaming down his cheeks. "Jeremy." I called, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I am sorry. Give me a moment." He slowed the car down and parked it at the side of the road. He shook his head and pulled out a kerchief to wipe his tears. "Gosh. This is embarrassing."
I could only imagine if his dad did the same with him as what he did to Jack. I didn't know what to say so I just patted his shoulder as a sign of comfort.
"My dad kicked me out of the family too." He said quietly, staring at the steering wheel, chin quivering, trying hard not to cry.
My heart clutched at the poor boy.
"Carlo...he...he was asked to never see me again. He disappeared somewhere without informing me. Uncle Mario and uncle Jack knows where he is but they won't tell me. Carlo doesn't want them to tell. I don't know what to do, Kwan. I feel so helpless."
My heart clutched more. I could feel him. I could feel his pain. The worst part was that at least there was someone who knew about Carlo's whereabouts and still refused to tell. I could feel the helplessness. His pain was so relatable that I found myself tearing up too.
"Kwan, I am really sorry but I don't think I can date you." He muttered, barely audible.
Oh. That...that was what I wanted to tell him.
He looked up at me with wet eyes. "I am really sorry. I thought if I could find someone new, I would forget about him. I thought I would just use the new person in my life for the time being but I don't think I can do that anymore. You are too nice. I can't do this to you."
I blinked at him in utter speechlessness.
"I am really sorry. At least say something."
"I...-" I began. "-I wanted to say the same to you. I didn't think I was ready for a relationship too."
"Are you lying? I am sorry." He reached to take both my hands in his.
I shook my head. "No, I am not lying. I am serious. I wanted to tell you long ago but I couldn't find a good time."
"Oh god." He hugged me tightly. I hugged him back, both breaking down into our own sorrows.