Nothing Above You

Forty nine

Mateo Delacruz

I sit on the table, my heart racing in my chest as I study the atmosphere of the room. Something is definitely wrong. My mom eats the food in silence which is normal but the way she looks away whenever my eyes meet hers is not normal.

My father hasn't uttered a word as he silently eats his food too. He has a very serious look on his face, making it impossible for me to say something.

Looking down at my food, I barely feel the appetite. I look back at my parents before I decide to break the silence. "How's the work going?" I question, my dad turning his head to look at him. "Oh, so now you care about work?" He raises an eyebrow and a wave of guilt rushes down my body. I look at my mother for help but she shakes her head lightly before lowering her gaze on her plate.

"I have always cared. Just not in the way you do." I reply making my father's nostrils flare. His eyes scan me from head to toe as he places his spoon on the table. "Really? Enlighten me with how exactly do you care?" His voice comes out thick and my breath hitches at his voice, filled with disgust and disappointment.

"You told me you wanted to work under Enzo as his assistant, I allowed it. You told me you won't give me the information of his business, I didn't say a word." He stares at me before letting out a loud sigh.

"But how do you expect me to react when I see my only son hug a man in streets filled with people." I look at him, my heart dropping in my chest. I gulp, blinking multiple times as his words ring in my head but nothing makes sense. I open my mouth, to speak but he raises an eyebrow, stopping me from speaking. "And don't even dare to say that it was a formal hug. I know what a formal hug is and what isn't." The pain in his voice makes it difficult for me to breathe as the guilt of breaking his heart engulfs me.

He saw me that day. He saw me with a man. He is going to hate me.

"Dad, I wanted to tell you." I whisper with a shaky voice as I feel a lump forming in my throat. "I wanted to tell you." I look at my mother who has a pained expression on her face. "Tell what? Caring for business and getting intimate with someone for business are two different things." I look at my dad as the words leave his mouth, my heart shattering in many pieces.

What?

"Are you saying that me and Enzo are together because of the business?" I raise my eyebrow, my hands shaking as I rest them on my thighs. "Is that not.."

"Please." I warn, my vision getting blurry as I snap my head in his direction. "I love him and I won't allow you to label our relationship like that." I stand up from my chair, looking at him with so much agony. My father looks at me with wide eyes before the anger takes over him and he looks ahead. "I am in love with a man. I will continue to do so even if you don't accept it."

"Mateo, I will kick you out of the properties." He warns and for a second, I find myself thinking at how everything came to this. "I don't mind. Do as you please." My voice is calm, filled with confidence.

"If you really think I am going to leave Enzo just to stay in the business, you are wrong. That man has done so much for me and I won't leave him just because my parents can't accept the fact that I'm gay." The words leave my mouth as my chest hurts. It was the first time, I had brought my sexuality to my lips and heard myself acknowledge it. It felt like a heavy weight on my shoulder had lifted and I could breathe freely.

It felt beautiful.

"Mateo!" My dad snaps, getting up from his seat in a force. A sound of thud roams in the room when his chair falls on the ground. He comes face to face, his face only inches away.