Mi Amor - Oscar 'Spooky' Diaz/On my block Story

36

Since we told my parents I was pregnant, things had changed so much, it was almost hard to keep track.

I wrapped up summer school, got my high school diploma, and my belly grew more each day. Honestly, I was beyond excited to meet my little girl. I couldn't wait to hold her in my arms.

Oscar's life had taken a major turn too. He stuck to his promise to turn his life around for me and our baby. He left the Santos and, well, he got jumped out. And not just a little—he was barely hanging on to life. It took him weeks to heal, but once he was good again, he enrolled in a cooking program, chasing his dream of becoming a chef.

We were living in a small apartment not far from Freeridge, just far enough to be out of the gang's immediate reach. But whenever we'd visit my parents, the tension was thick. The Santos hated Oscar for walking away, and they didn't keep it a secret.

That's when we decided to leave Freeridge for good. Oscar found a place in Portland, where he could open the restaurant he always wanted. And above it, we'd have a cozy little apartment. We were set to leave in just a few days. It felt like everything was falling into place.

The only problem? Cesar.

With Oscar out of the picture, Cesar had stepped in to lead the Santos. But ever since then, things between him and Oscar had gone downhill. Oscar wanted him to come with us, to leave this life behind, but Cesar wasn't having it. We tried talking to him, begging him to join us, but it was no use. So, today, I was trying one last time to talk to him alone.

"Don't you get why he did it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I don't get it!" Cesar snapped. "First, he makes this dumb deal with 19th Street—those kids are playing us, they don't want peace. And then he bails on his own deal like a coward? He took the easy way out."

"Easy?!" I shot back. "Did you see him after they jumped him out? He almost died! It took him weeks to recover. He did it for me, for the baby, for our future. And that deal? He did it for you, too, Cesar. For the Santos, for Freeridge, for all of us. He wasn't trying to hurt you, he was trying to protect us."

Cesar rolled his eyes. "What does he know about what's best for me?"

"We're getting out," I said softly, trying to stay calm. "We've got enough money to leave, and we want you to come with us. It's the best thing for you."

"I don't give a damn," he shot back, voice cold. "My life is here. With the Santos. That's my real family."

I took a deep breath, keeping my cool. "Is it still your family when they find out what happened to Cuchillos? It's only a matter of time. And even if you trust the Santos, there are others out there who wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet in you. Oscar's worried you don't see how fast everything can spiral."

"I can handle it," he said, turning his back to me. "Oscar's dead to me. I don't have a brother anymore."

With that, he walked away, leaving me standing there. Men. Why did they have to be so damn difficult?

I sighed, then turned to walk back to the car. But then I saw a familiar face.

"Hola, Gorgeous," Sad Eyes called out, leaning against the tree.

"Hola, Antonio," I replied, a little caught off guard.

He smiled, looking me up and down. "You look great. Seriously, that baby bump suits you."

"Thanks," I smiled back, trying to shake off the tension.

"So, how's everything been?" he asked, stepping closer.

"You mean, since you helped beat up my boyfriend—the love of my life and father of my unborn child?" I couldn't keep the sarcasm out of my voice. "Yeah, I've been great. Thanks for asking."

Sad Eyes rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on. The key word is 'almost.' I had to do it. It wasn't just me. He knew the consequences when he jumped out."

There was a pause before I spoke again. "Still, you could've gone a little easier on him. He was your best friend, your brother in the gang, and... you could've done it for me."

Antonio grinned, his eyes flickering with something I couldn't quite place. "Maybe I hit him harder because I was thinking about you."

I raised an eyebrow, not sure if I should be amused or annoyed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged. "Finally got a little revenge for the fact that he snatched you from me."

I watched him walk toward the house, his back turned to me.

"Antonio..." I called out, a bit too late.

He turned around with a smirk. "I'm serious. If I'd claimed you earlier, maybe that would be my baby now, and you'd be mad at Spooky for going too hard on me."

He shrugged again and disappeared inside the house. I stood there, trying to process everything. Then, I shook my head and headed back home.

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The next few days, I spent mostly packing. Oscar helped, though his mind was still on trying to convince Cesar to join us. I knew he didn't want to give up on his brother.

Since my pregnant belly wouldn't let me do much lifting, Oscar suggested I head to Portland first. He'd follow later with the truck and bigger items. I agreed and left, starting our new life in Portland, one step closer to what we'd dreamed of.

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