Chapter 8 (part 2)
“Everyone, I need to say something!” Mom suddenly announced, smiling
widely. A shade of burgundy lipstick accentuated her lips.
“I want to thank everyone for coming tonight! We always appreciate
when we have returning guests. For the new faces, I hope you all will become new
friends. Also, I want to thank La Mariposa restaurant for the extra food for
free! Thanks, Guillermo!”
Guillermo, wearing a white dress shirt and black pants, pushed away
from the table and coughed. He ran his fingers through his wavy hair before
getting the courage to say what was on his mind.
“Essence, I thank you for inviting me and the opportunity we had to
reconnect after these long years. On behalf of La Mariposa, it was no problem
donating extra food that we weren't using.”
Mom nodded. Curi knew Mr. Guillermo had been more than generous to her
family, even offering to help with the rest of the catering. But Curi’s mom had
turned him down because she didn't want to take advantage of his kindness.
Guillermo had to wait several seconds to continue. He
kept wiping his hands on his shirt and breathing out short breaths. His mouth
moved slowly but Curi couldn’t make out any words except I regret.
“There hasn't been a day I haven't thought of what if,” Mr. Guillermo
said.
Curi stood still with her glass of tea in her hand. A droplet of water
from the tea’s condensation slid down her hand, but she was too busy being
confused. Where was Mr. Guillermo going with this? Wolfeman stayed silent
letting the scene unfold. She guessed his curiosity stopped his need to start
trouble.
“Thought of what?” Her mom asked. She looked concerned by the long
pauses and his unwavering gaze. Dad held her hand out of comfort.
“About us,” Mr. Guillermo whispered.
Dad's eyes just about bugged out of his head. He probably didn't know
how to handle this sudden confession without violence or violent words. He
tried to keep his emotions together, for the sake of the party and not to
embarrass his family.
“I never thought it would take a chance encounter for us to meet at
the restaurant for my feelings to resurface again.” Guillermo regained some
strength in his voice, “I don't think you ever saw me beyond your tutor, but I
had feelings for you then. I had wanted to ask you out on a date.”
Mom blinked for a second. It was rare for her to be without words.
“Did you seriously think about saying this all night?” Dad asked, his
forehead wrinkled and his hand gripped the tablecloth tightly.
”I...” Guillermo coughed. “During the whole stolen baby conversation,
I thought surely if an inane conversation like this can go on, that I could
reveal my feelings. I know I'm a shy guy
but never when it counts.”
Mom blinked again.
“Guilly, I would have gone on a date with you if you had asked then.”
“Really?” Guillermo asked, eyes wide.
Curi didn't know what to think of this development, so she did nothing.
She had guessed, and her perceptive father probably had too that Guillermo once
liked her mother. With all his nervous fidgeting, he may have still liked
her.
“Aye, little Curi this party is full of surprises.” Wolfeman nudged
her, laughing.
She frowned and ignored him,
only focused on her mother's response.
The gossip trio had perked up considerably due to Guillermo's sudden
confession. Naomi, Essence's nurse friend, seemed relieved that the attention
was off of her.
Curi's hands felt sweaty, wondering why her mom prolonged her answer.
If Mom even considered leaving the family for some guy she knew back in
college, Curi knew she would lose all respect for her.
Her mom folded her hands behind her back, ruffling the material of her
dress a bit. “Yeah, I liked you then, but I'm married now...SO BOY BYE!”
Guillermo ruffled his hair again both pleased and disheartened.
What had he expected? His confidence left him. Curi hoped he could see very
plainly that her mom loved the family she had now.
“Gosh, Essie- I mean Essence I can't deal with you.”
“That's cool I can't deal with me either,” Mom replied.
Dad finally managed to piece together his words because the little
show Guillermo had put on made him grit his teeth in disgust.
“Get fresh with my wife again and I will deal with you.”
Guillermo held his hands up in a sign of surrender. “¡Ha, socorro!” he joked. “No worries that ship has
sailed. I just never had a chance to admit that to her.”
“Don’t fight let's just enjoy the party!” Mom cheered and her husband
nodded to lighten the mood.
Guillermo walked to the drink table with his head held high but with
what seemed like a broken heart. Curi did not care too much about her mom’s old
friend, but she saw the way he gripped his shirt tightly, as if for comfort.
“I don't think I would have the guts to sit back down after revealing
to a married person that I had once had feelings for them. I would have gone
home at this point. To be honest, I wouldn't have confessed at all!” Curi said
to Wolfeman.
“Ain't that something? The guy was rejected and accepted at the same
time,” Wolfeman mused.
“This is the most talking you have done in a while, Mister Wolfeman,”
Curi said, realizing it.
He smirked.“There's something to talk about, little Curi.”
“I am going to go, but don't cause any trouble while I am gone!” She
set her empty glass of tea down and narrowed her eyes at him for good measure.
“Sure thing, Mom,” he mocked, not at all threatened.
Curi thought Wolfeman was a cool guy, but tonight he just got on her
nerves.
If there weren't going to be any more interruptions, then she would probably
try to get ready for bed because the party had been going for a while.
A pretty melody floated in the air, some type of jazzy song with no
words that Dad liked. Curi hummed along to the music, remembering a time Dad
and her had sang at a dinner party. He dressed strangely but he was a great dad
none the less.
Maybe she would get a sweet roll before heading to her room. When she
walked past the end of the snack table, she saw the Kisaragi's preparing to
leave.
“Oh, I must thank your parents for inviting us newcomers to their
gathering. We have enjoyed our time here, but it's getting late and I work this
weekend,” Mr. Kisaragi said. He looked a lot like Toki though his face showed
slight age and the ends of his hair curled at the end.
His wife put on her coat and asked Curi to pass along her thanks.
Despite the stolen baby fiasco and spontaneous love
confession the couple had enjoyed the party? It was
beyond Curi what they
enjoyed, but if they said they did she believed them.
“Thank you all for coming, but may I ask where is Toki?”
James Kisaragi put his newsboy cap on and fastened his tie. “He's
still here because he said he needed to speak with a friend quickly. He can
meet us at the car when he's done.”
“Actually, our house is nearby, so he can walk home. I don't want to
stop his fun. He seems to open up when he's around here,” Mrs. Kisaragi
commented, her voice smooth and confident like a news reporter.
“Okay. Would you two like a plate to take home?” Curi offered politely.
“Aw, no thank you! We are good. Good night!” Toki’s parents said in
perfect unison.
Curi waved goodbye to them. She absentmindedly wondered if she should
have encouraged them more to take home leftovers, or forcefully handed them
food. If she ran outside now, she might be able to give them some sweet rolls-
“Oof!”
Curi rubbed her shoulder. Her thoughtfulness had run her into someone.
“Whoa! I bumped right into the person I was looking for,” Toki said.
She asked, rubbing her shoulder, “Were you looking for your parents?”
“Nah, I was looking for you and Cooleo. I don't know why he got so
upset. I was only giving him advice, which is a good thing. Don't you think
so?”
Curi tried to find a good choice of words. “Well, when I went around
introducing you to a lot of the guests, I think he had cooled down but didn't
know how to tell us he wanted to join us. He kept looking at me at dinner.”
“Oh really?” Toki asked.
“Yeah, I guess you wouldn't have noticed with all the laughing you
were doing! I don't know who’s worse you or Mr. Wolfeman.”
“I couldn't help it! Sometimes, I laugh out of awkwardness or if
something's funny!”
Curi folded her arms. “So, which one was it?”
He only smiled.
She shook her head such a Toki
response.
“The music playing… What’s it called?” Toki asked her.
Curi titled her head. “Oh, I don’t know. It’s some jazz song my Dad
likes.”
“I was asking because my mom is a singer. She does shows and stuff at
restaurants and festivals, and she loves jazz music. This might be a good song
for her set.”
“Really? I want to hear her sing. I will ask my parents later what the
song is.”
“Cool.”
A short pause manifested. “Yeah.”
“Anyway, let's find Cooleo. I should confront him, so I don't leave
the night on a bad note,” Toki said, starting to tap his foot.
“I mean I don't see a reason why. It's obvious he's being distant, so
he might just need space.”
“Curi, come on, the sooner I confront him the sooner he can stop being
on edge.”
Curi sighed but followed him into the living room. In the hallway, she
saw Ophelia walking in the opposite direction. The woman strolled over to
Wolfeman handing him an Andrews’ party flier. What they were talking about Curi
couldn't pick up, but Ophelia gave her musical laugh.
Toki and Curi found Cooleo on the couch, watching TV with the
businessmen who seemed to only move in a group. A rerun of sports highlights
went on commercial break, as a sneaker commercial took its spot.
They faced the back of Cooleo's head. Before they made their presence
known, Curi coached Toki.
“Okay, Toki so when we go in confront him gently. We don't want to
hurt his feelings.”
“Of course,” he nodded.
Curi braced herself. “Hey Cooleo,” she sung.
Cooleo with a neutral expression turned around to see them. He
acknowledged her with a gentle nod and looked at Toki expectantly.
Toki frowned.
“Hey, Cooleo you need to get your junk together and stop being on the
defense! You are mad over something so minuscule? Geez, I am sorry for
interrupting, but you didn't even like the girl. So, stop acting like you want
to bite my head off every time I look at you!” Toki exploded. “You try to act
cool, but you look like an idiot right now. Did you think I was trying to annoy
you?”
Curi had to force herself not to gape. What the heck, Toki!
“Oh, did you say something? Just as I thought only someone
insignificant,” Cooleo coldly retorted. He turned away, content with ignoring
him.
The tone of Cooleo’s words was chilling.
“He could be on
his way to becoming a Wolfeman himself one day,” Curi thought. They both
liked to avoid their problems and dismiss people.
So much for Toki's confrontation!
Curi and Toki walked away to a small 3-seat couch. Curi cut her eyes
at Toki after he plopped down.
“Toki! What was that? I told you to confront him gently!”
Toki gave no apology. He crossed his leg, trying to get comfortable.
His black dress shoes shined under the living room light.
“You're too emotional, Curi. This is exactly what he needed: cold hard
facts.”
“You know the way you went about it hurt him!” Curi sighed. She kept
her voice leveled, but irritation seeped through. Why did Toki have to be so
rude? “You act like you can't understand other people's feelings. I know
Cooleo's a jerk, but he's sensitive.”
Toki looked at her plainly.
She couldn't stand when people just stared at her.
“What?” she snapped.
“You are too emotional, Curi,” Toki repeated and frowned in
disapproval.
“Well, you're too unemotional at times!” She threw her hands up. Maybe
Toki just didn't want to understand.
She got up ready to leave, but Toki grabbed her wrist until she
flipped his hand away.
He sighed.
“Curi, stop I already have one person mad at me. I don't want you mad
too.” His face appeared neutral, but she saw the
sadness in his eyes. “I am used to making people happy, so it's tough
for me to handle when people are upset with me. I like the direct approach, but
I guess I am too blunt.”
“Oh, Toki,” she murmured. “That guy,” she gestured a thumb in Cooleo's
direction. “…Is hard to deal with, but he's not a bad dude. He's in his
feelings right now, and the root of it is more than us interrupting that love
confession if you can even call it that.”
“Yeah.”
“Whatever is making him mad, we will find out later,” Cur finished.
For a moment, Toki and she didn't say anything.
“That guy with all the hair, in the black fur hoodie? What's his name
again?” he asked.
“That is Mister Wolfeman. I am surprised you don't remember with all
the trouble he caused.”
“Do we need to keep him away from any full moons?”
Curi shook her head. Toki and his humor!
Toki grinned, “That's funnier than you laughed.”
She rolled her eyes. Life was a little more fun with his humor. She
hoped Cooleo would start acting like a friend again. Cooleo was the cool, Toki
made sure they had fun, and she was the mediator between them. They had a great
acquaintance going on, soon they could even become friends, the type where it’s
mutually understood. Curi second-guessed at times whether or not the two cared
about her as much as she did about them. Whatever the case she didn't want
Cooleo's stupidity to mess everything up.
----
Chapter 8 was a little long, so I split it up. We're getting closer to the end.
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