The Beast's Roast

3

Later that night Carlos woke up to the sound of footsteps, he opened his eyes slowly, Maya was still asleep on his bed, he yawned, got off bed and looked out his door, a light was on down the hall, he put his slippers on and walked slowly towards it.

His father was sitting at the kitchen table looking over some papers, he had his glasses on, his brown hair was messy. He always ran his fingers through his hair when he needed to think, he had a pen in his ear and a calculator next to his hand. He noticed Carlos staring at him.

Oh, hey son, I thought you were asleep - he said almost whispering, his voice was raspy but in a comforting way, almost soothing.

I was, but Maya's snoring woke me up - Carlos was standing at the end of the hallway that connected to the living room, his arms crossed, his body leaning against a wall.

his father chuckled - she gets that from me. I am doing some work, why don't you join me? - he pulled a chair up next to him and patted the seat - i have some coffee brewing up. I'll let you have some if you want

Carlos looked at his father as he thought about it. Situations like these made him feel conflicted, he didn't get along with his father most of the time, but that was when he wasn't in his five senses, because when it came to moments like this when he was completely lucid, he was the father that Carlos remembered. He ultimately decided to take him up on his offer, mostly because of the coffee. His mother never let him have any because she worried it would make him short, but it couldn't hurt once in a while.

He walked towards his father and sat down on the chair next to his, as he did his father stood up to pour the coffee in two mugs.

No cream, no sugar. Pure black coffee, that's the way a man drinks it - he grinned as he poured, once he finished he walked back to the table and sat down next to his son, placing a mug in front of him. - Salud!

Salud!

Carlos smiled as he sipped his coffee, he didn't mind the bitterness, but he did prefer some cream and sugar on it.

He took a pause to appreciate the moment, sitting with his father. The dim lights provided by a table lamp that sat next to them, and the sound of the keys clicking as his father typed on his calculator. Moments like this were scarce ever since his father's addiction began. Most of the time all you could hear were screams, cries and hits. But right now all you could hear was quiet.

So, what have you been up to lately? Anything interesting happening in your life? - his father tried to make conversation as he wrote down on paper

um, not really, just school stuff, homework, all that...stuff - he looked down to his mug as he spoke, holding it with both hands as a little kid does

Huh, i remembered life being much more interesting at your age, you know, parties, alcohol - he made small pause and looked at his son with a smirk - girls - he raised his eyebrows as he said that

AY DIOS PAPÁ - Carlos's face turned red, he covered his mouth as he realized he had screamed, worried he would wake Maya up- sorry, i just got shocked - he whispered and looked at his dad who was laughing at him

Why so red? Do you have a secret little girlfriend? - he was grinning from ear to ear

What? no, i don't even think girls are interested in me?

He was lying, a lot of girls in his grade had come on to him before. He was a tall, latin kid with brown curly hair, and although he was not ripped, he had a pretty toned body which girls first noticed on P.E. class after he hit a growth spurt in 12th grade. He just didn't want his father to pressure him into doing something which he had no interest in doing. Especially not with the way things worked in his home life.

You have to be kidding, you're a good looking kid, i should know, you look a lot like me - he grinned as he pointed at himself with his thumb and winked- and let me tell you, your old man had girls making a line to get with him

Carlos was aware he looked like his father, his mother would always tell him that with a smile, it was one of the things she loved most about him, but now with the way things were at home Carlos had come to hate those resemblances, sometimes when he looked at himself in the mirror he would get this awful stomachache and a strong desire to rip his face off and change it for someone else's. And having his father point it out as a positive thing made his stomach hurt a bit, but he didn't want to ruin the moment so he just smiled softly and kept the conversation moving.

Oh yeah, but I only had eyes for your mom. - he smiled softly and let out a chuckle - she actually hated my guts

Really? i didn't know that - Carlos sipped his coffee, he scrunched his nose and put the cup down -Now that i think about it, i actually don't know how you two met

Oh, it's a great story. A little cliché, but great nonetheless. You see, we were in high school, almost off to college. I was a mess, I drank and partied like there was no tomorrow, reckless, rude and the ultimate class clown. And your mom, well she was the opposite, a bright young lady who had aspirations in life. And son- he paused and looked up at the ceiling with a smile- i'll never forget the first time i saw her. She walked into the classroom, her long black hair loose and flowing with the wind, her hazel eyes behind her silver square glasses, her bag hanging from her shoulder and her brown skin shining with the light - his eyes softened, his smile grew as he spoke. - you know in movies when everything moves in slow motion?- He looked at Carlos with a smile- well, that happens in real life too son, i know because it happened to me.

Carlos stared at his father, he hadn't seen him like this in a long time. everytime his mother came up he would get mad, change the subject and hit him in the back of the head. But not tonight, this time he was open to remember, to share. Hearing him speak about the love of his life made Carlos less afraid of loving, he saw that love wasn't just pain, it was happiness, and wonder. He leaned back as his father continued.

I walked up to her, flirting, showing off and well, she got annoyed and asked me to leave. I may sound egotistical here son, but that had never happened. Maybe it was the thrill of the chase, I don't know. All I knew is that I needed her to pay attention to me. So everyday I would do something to make her see me, show off in gym class, buy her flowers, leave notes on her desk. Nothing worked, so I gave up. Until one day SHE came up to me. She sat next to me before class started and said "why do you always act like that?" I was confused "like what?" i said, and you know what she said?- his son shook his head, he chuckled before continuing- "like an idiot"

Carlos let out a chuckle - no way - he looked at his dad with a smile

Oh yes way, i just sat there like a moron,staring at her. She told me she didn't understand why I always made a fool of myself instead of just talking to her. And so we talked, she was extraordinary, she could read me like an open book, we fell in love, she made me a better person.- he paused and looked down- That's what love is, son, making each other better.

Carlos looked at his father and frowned, he opened his mouth to say something, but he couldn't think of anything to say. This conversation made him hopeful at first, but now the sadness and hesitation had returned to his head. Why do beautiful things have to be finnate? sure the love his father felt was still there, but now that the person that love was for is gone. What was the point of keeping it if the only thing it did was cause pain? Maybe it would be better for the both of them if they learnt to forget.