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There were so many nice private schools around the area, yet Geppetto missed all the registration deadlines. Carlo had to go to public school.
First couple days at school, all the kids were eyeing on his fancy suits and leather boots. They wore oversized t-shirts and preowned shoes. Their parents worked in the mansions. Cooks, drivers, butlers, gardeners, and cleaners.
They asked what his parents did. Carlo straight up said he had no idea. His mom was gone long before he could remember, and his dad was rarely home.
They got excited. “Where is he now?”
“Italy. Probably.”
“That’s so cool!”
That’s not cool at all. Carlo thought, pouting his mouth.
He would trade that clean empty mega mansion with a pool, theater, and gaming room for a cramped rundown apartment plagued by spiders if dad would be home more often.
The bullies targeted him for his “rich kid outfits” during the first week. But he was then rescued by Romeo. Romeo was one grade ahead, well liked because of his integrity and considerate nature. The two soon became good friends.
Romeo was much taller than Carlo was. There were a couple times he unconsciously rested his hands on Carlo’s head.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Oh, uh, sorry…”
He later admitted it just felt natural to put his palm on that height after Carlo forced him to tell.
“…Damn you.”
“Sorry… ”
Carlo often invited Romeo over to stay at the Geppetto mansion. The mansion stood on acres of private land. Dozens of rooms and corridors formed a maze inside.
“May I use the restroom?”
“Yeah.”
Romeo came back minutes later.
“Carlo… where’s the restroom?”
“Oh…”
Carlo led him this time.
“Whoa, it’s bigger than my dorm.”
“Your dorm?”
“Yeah, and I shared a room with three other kids.”
“Well… if you like you can sleep at my home.”
“Really? But what about your father?”
“He’s never home. He wouldn’t care.”
“Oh… I see. That’s very nice of you. Uh, why are there two toilets?”
“That one is a bidet. It’s not a toilet.”
“Oh. What do you do with that?”
“Uh… you wash your… Why are you asking me this?”
Carlo felt embarrassed and turned angry.
“Ah, sorry. I’m just curious.”
They stared at each other. Then they both burst into laughter. The laughter echoed between the bathroom tiles.
Ever since then, Romeo often stayed overnight at Carlo’s place. The nuns at the orphanage gave him weird looks whenever he left the place humming.
“That kid is gonna knock someone up way too early one day.” They shook their heads.
The two boys developed their own tradition. On Fridays, they ordered pizzas and watched movies together. One time Geppetto was home when they were eating Domino’s. Geppetto frowned his brows and told them there were so many better pizzas out there.
“It’s not your business what we eat.” Carlo told him.
“I would like to try them.” Said Romeo.
“Oh? What’s your name, little friend?”
“Romeo, sir.”
“Hmm. I see Romeo is a better boy here.” Geppetto said, looking at Carlo.
Carlo turned his head away, tearing a pizza crust in rage.
Feeling revengeful toward his father, Carlo always picked the flavor Geppetto hated the most whenever he was at home. Geppetto never shared their pizza. A tongue too fancy to stand the cheap dough. But Carlo would eat them right in front of his face.
The two boys weren’t too interested in academics. They rather did skateboarding and parkour on the streets. They shared traveling and urban exploration contents and promised themselves they would do their own adventures in the future.
They got into street fights with other groups too. Bullies from higher grades loved to pick on them. But after one incident, they found themselves no enemy.
A group of high school kids cornered them at a skateboard park. The mood was tense. A fight was about to happen…
Some men in suits came tapping on the high schoolers and asked them to leave. The men wore sunglasses, black ties, and black suits. The high schoolers got intimidated and ran off.
“Who are they?” Romeo whispered.
“I don’t know.”
One man came to Carlo and greeted him with a hat tip. The man asked them to proceed with whatever they were doing. They felt uneasy so they went home. They felt those men tailed them some distance away.
Carlo questioned his father about it. Geppetto kept avoiding the question. The two boys did their own research and dug up a mafia clan called Trinity. Some of Geppetto’s belongings had the symbol of the clan. Carlo pressed him about it again, with all the information printed and displayed.
“They have a lab researching robot techs. I work in the lab. Nothing too dangerous.”
“Nothing dangerous then why did you hire people to stalk me?”
“You need bodyguards. Wealth attracts danger. It’s not about the clan. Don’t worry about it, son.”
Carlo didn’t know his father too well, but everyone seemed to agree that Geppetto was not the type to get himself involved in real danger. The boys decided not to worry about it further.
After the incident, Geppetto hired a new butler to raise the boy’s security. It was hard to tell what ethnicity Gemini was. The boys guessed he was Asian. He looked young. They wouldn’t be surprised if he said he was fresh out of high school. Geminni was very talkative. On the way he drove Carlo back and forth to the school he could talk about everything from weather in Sicily to the mysterious subglacial lake.
“Did you know cricket fighting was a thing in ancient China? Gee, why would they do that? Crickets are symbols of good luck and fortune in the culture. And in some places they still eat crickets! Fried crickets! That sounds terrifying!”
Thanks to his catering to details, Carlo was able to register into a private high school. Romeo wouldn’t be going with him. The tuition was too high. They still hung out after class. On weekdays, Romeo walked miles to Carlo’s school and waited for his last class to end.
It was hard for Carlo to get along with the other rich kids. Some of them found Carlo too feral with his “public school vibe”. Some of them assumed he was prideful because of his beauty. A few peers approached him but later turned cold once they realized he wasn’t reciprocating romantic feelings with them. The athletes were the hardest to get rid of.
“Hey Carlo! Wanna see me kick some asses? We’re having a match tomorrow.”
“Uh, I have other stuff.”
“Are you still with that kid from middle school? Dude, come on, he’s not good for you.”
“I just got stuff to do.” Carlo quickly escaped those jocks.
He knew that there were rumors about him and Romeo dating. The gossipers wouldn’t miss the scene of a tall handsome guy from another school showing up almost daily. They were more than hyped once they found out who Romeo was waiting for.
Carlo wasn’t bothered by the rumors. He enjoyed it rather. Still, he didn’t like how the rich boys talked down about Romeo. They kept trying to convince him to date someone who also had a wealthy background—better be one of them, of course.
He complained to Romeo about how persistent the athletes were.
“Well, if that makes it easier, I can pretend that we’re dating.”
“I don’t want you to pretend.”
——I don’t want you to just pretend.
He realized what he wanted to say. He looked away, blushing.
“I want you to just… be yourself.”
Romeo caught that. He could probe Carlo further, but he got nervous himself and also turned his head away.
Awkward silence was between them. Carlo’s phone rang. He was glad someone saved them from the silence. But when he saw the name, he dropped the phone away.
“Who is it?”
Carlo frowned. Didn’t answer Romeo.
The phone went into voice mail.
“Carlo, it’s your father. I will be home soon. I will talk to you then.”
“Your father is coming home!”
Romeo thought Carlo would be joyful. But he seemed upset.
“… I’m going to sleep.”
“You don’t want to see your father?”
“I don’t care.”
“Hey, don’t say that.”
“I asked him so many times when he’s coming back and he never said shit. Now all of a sudden he’s showing up. He thinks he could do whatever he wants and, and, I won’t do anything about it.”
“Carlo…”
“You can join me. You don’t have to greet him. He’s not your father.”
“I will stay here.”
Carlo rolled his eyes.
“Of course.”
He wasn’t surprised. Romeo was like a pup, always wagging his tail to everyone. Carlo would prefer if Romeo treated others cold and only warmed up to him.
He lied on the bed but couldn’t fall asleep. He heard the door opening. He couldn’t help but walk to the stairs, listening to the sounds from downstairs.
“Good evening, Mr. Geppetto.”
“What a lovely surprise. You grew a lot.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“There’s no need to be this polite. Make yourself at home. Carlo isn’t with you?”
“He… went to sleep.”
“Oh. I see… Were you eating these?”
“Yes. Sorry I was going to put them away.”
Romeo started picking up the paperboards. He thought he should give Geppetto a good impression… But why? So that Carlo’s father would approve of him? But they were not dating… yet…?
“No, leave it be. We have staff who will clean this.”
Geppetto sighed.
“I told him not to order from this place again.”
Carlo couldn’t hold back.
“What’s wrong with it?” He said, coldly.
“There you are! Come give your father a hug, will you?”
Geppetto put up his arms, looking for a hug from his son.
“No.”
“Are you angry at me?”
“No? I’m not… yeah. You never texted back.”
“I’m very sorry. Come down here. Tell me all about your new adventures.”
Carlo remained on the top of the stairs, silent.
“That’s too bad.”
Geppetto put his hands down and looked at Romeo instead.
“Little friend of Carlo, would you care to give me a hug?”
“Sure…? Sure?”
Romeo felt being caught off guard. He hadn’t had anyone calling him little for years. At this age he was already taller than Geppetto. He leaned down to let the man put arms around him.
“Thank you.”
Geppetto held Romeo firmly. For a prolonged time. Maybe a bit too long…? Romeo turned and looked at Carlo like asking for help.
Geppetto didn’t look at Carlo. He didn’t need to. He knew Carlo would feel salty father was giving hugs to his friend but not himself. Compared to those cunning gangsters he had to deal with all the time, playing triangulation on these susceptible boys was easy as cake.
He would like to spend more time with his son. However, he would prefer Carlo hating him for being absent. He would make sure Carlo stayed ignorant of what he was doing back in Italy.
Carlo walked down the stairs, making heavy slow footsteps to express his anger. Geppetto knew he had the boy once he heard it. Carlo stood a few steps away, reluctant to go closer. Geppetto knew he had to nudge the boy.
“I’m really sorry about the text thing.”
His apology sounded sincere. His arms wide open, expecting.
Carlo stepped forward into his arms in silence, head still lowered. He let the man hold him but refused to hug his father back. He hated that he once again let this man get away with little to no consequence.
Several months later, the boys gather together to celebrate post graduation. Romeo found a job at a local non profit. Carlo didn’t want to rely on his father anymore, so he also got a barista job. (The owner was overjoyed about the customer boost brought by him.) They also started their urban exploration hobbies together.
They laid on the huge sofas waiting for the pizza delivery. Gemini took his week off, so there were only the two of them at the house. The TV was showing world news. The Italian police were investigating a series of murders of high profile mafia leaders around a certain region. There were five potential candidates who competed to be the next “Il Capo dei Capi”, boss of the bosses. All five of them were killed. Thirteen other high up members were also murdered.
“Which clan is it?” Carlo asked.
They both looked it up on their phones. Romeo dropped his phone when he saw the name.
“It’s the Trinity.”
Carlo called his father. As the tunes kept on playing, his expression grew more and more anxious.
“He’s not answering.”
“Try again.”
Another two calls unanswered. Carlo put his phone down, shivering.
Romeo reached out and held his hand.
“Maybe he couldn’t answer right now. Try texting.”
Carlo kept having typo while entering the short message with fingers shaking.
‘Are you alright?’
Someone started typing on the other end. They held their breath and waited.
‘On my way home’
Another message followed shortly after.
‘Be there soon’
The two boys looked at each other.
“Are you… sure that’s him?” Romeo asked.
“I don’t… I don’t…”
“Listen, listen, Carlo!”
Romeo grabbed his shoulders and held him upright.
“If whoever shows up isn’t your father, you will tell them we’re just the staff!”
“Why would I lie to them?”
“Because… they might be here to kill you… Tell them you’re not his family.”
“No!”
Carlo shook his head.
“No! I’m not doing that! He’s my father! I’m not telling them he’s not!”
“Calm down!”
“...” Carlo shutted but panted.
“I’ll go check the locks. Do you have weapons here?”
Carlo nodded.
“Good. Go get them. Meet me at the front door.”
They met at the foyer. Carlo brought several firearms with him.
“Do you know how to use it?”
“Yes. Gemini taught me about it.”
Romeo chuckled.
“He doesn’t seem like the type.”
The mood eased a bit.
“He sure doesn’t. And you?”
“Yeah I’ve learned it before.”
They agreed they would hide the weapons and see how things went first.
After a period of silence, Romeo spoke.
“Hey, if we didn’t make it—”
“Don’t say that.”
“I just want you to know that…”
He paused for a second.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They smiled at each other, thinking the same thing: if they were to die here, at least they would die together.
Another period of smothering silence passed by. Romeo had been peeking through the front door curtain. He sighed in relief when he spotted a familiar figure.
“It’s your father.”
He turned and smiled at Carlo.
Carlo jumped and kissed him. It was a very short kiss, but it was directly on his mouth.
Romeo went stiff after they parted. His eyes widened. His brain was completely blank for a moment.
Geppetto was a few steps away when the front door opened. Carlo rushed to hug him, face buried deep into his chest.
It had been years since his son greeted him passionately. Geppetto seemed overwhelmed. He hesitantly put his hand on Carlo’s back.
“I thought you were dead!” Carlo’s scream was muffled by his vest.
“Oh, Carlo…”
“Why didn’t you answer the phone!”
They could all hear some squeaking noises from the old man’s spine.
“Son, I’m touched to learn how worried you were about me, but you are breaking your father’s bone.”
“...Sorry.”
Carlo took his hands off, head lowered. It was the first time Romeo saw him vulnerable like this.
“It’s all good.”
Geppetto gave him a soft pat on the head. Carlo wiped his tears with elbows, trying to appear tough in this state.
“We ordered pizza. I don’t think you want to eat those, so maybe—”
“We saw the pizza delivery. I sent them back.”
“What?”
“I figured it’s time for you to develop some real taste. Dinner should arrive soon.”
Carlo was too offended to come up with any word.
“What is it with the guns? You boys have to be careful with those.”
Romeo was shocked he spotted the weapon. He pulled the gun from where he hid it.
“We thought there might be danger.” He answered.
“There isn’t.”
“But dad, people died!” Carlo refuted.
“I am aware of that.”
“How can you be so calm? There maybe—”
Carlo was to argue more but Romeo dragged his shirt. Without emotions clouding his thinking, Romeo was able to put the pieces together faster.
“You were behind all the killings.”
“That is… not incorrect.”
“Why?”
“It’s a long story.”
Geppetto turned to his son. His tone was soft. Eerie amidst a topic like this.
“Judge me all you like, but I did it for you, son. You’re safe now.”
Carlo thought he meant their lives were safe. His father would never tell him what the thugs said when they spotted Geppetto’s photos of him. Geppetto had the plan brewing for years, but what triggered him to do it was the inappropriate jokes they said about his son.
“…You’re a murderer.”
It was impossible for Carlo to hate his father, but he still dropped his voice coldly.
“And you took my dinner away! You devil!”
“Whoa, whoa, chill pal! Dinner’s here!”
“Gemini? I thought you were on vacation.”
“I did! It was fun in Florence! I also sneaked to Greece for two days.”
“Did you kill people?”
“Whoa! Be careful there. We have the NDA signed. I'm not supposed to say anything!”
Geppetto shrugged. “Gemini is just the secretary.”
“Who knows how to fire a gun.”
“Hey! Can never be too careful when you work for the gang. Anyway! Here’s your pizze: Prosciutto e Rucola, Quattro Formaggi, Margherita the classic, and Capricciosa for the capricious boy, said the boss.”
“...I didn’t say that.”
“Oopsie!” Gemini covered his mouth, ironically making it clearer that he revealed something he shouldn’t.
The food was put on the coffee table. Carlo stared at the prosciutto slices on the pizza, sticking his tongue out in disgust. Romeo looked at him, recalling the kiss from earlier.
Carlo noticed his stare.
“What are you… nevermind…”
Soon Carlo recalled the kiss himself and turned his head away. Romeo grabbed a pizza slice in haste, off setting the awkwardness.
“Uh, this is the best pizza I’ve ever had!” Said Romeo.
“...You fucking traitor.” Carlo was disappointed at him.
Carlo then took one bite himself, and desperately saw his father smile in victory watching his face change.