The Devil with a Halo (On hold)

Chapter 31 - Smoke

--Smoke --

"Kyla? Why are you crying?" I heard Diego's distant voice but it soon became clear as he puts his hand on my shoulder.

I touched my cheeks and in fact, they're wet, but when did I start crying?

"Kyla..." He suddenly held me in a tight embrace and pressed my head hard against his chest, his voice was calm but had an undercurrent of panic. "I am so sorry I wasn't here, are you okay? Do you need anything? Shall I call Ryan? Do you--"

"Diego, shush. I am fine, promise." I tried to reassure him but it didn't work. "I am really fine, I wasn't having a flashback, I just swayed into emotions when I thought about papa." I half-lied. It indeed felt like a flashback, but not like the last time.

"I know what happened was...tragic." He said after taking considerable amount of time to think his statement through.

"Oh, do you?" I let out a bitter chuckle. He looked strangely dejected by that but I didn't care. 

"Do you want something? Water..or anything?" He asked, after a minute. He was deliberating a lot today, something he don't do often.

"If I remember correctly, there should be a Dunhill in your back pocket along with a lighter, how about you give me that?" I hadn't intended to say that initially but, something..like a craving, so suddenly took over my mind and heart, I couldn't stop myself.

"You're seriously asking me for a cigarette?" He sounded just as surprise as I was with myself.

"Well, last time I checked despite your efforts of hiding it, you're still very much addicted..So..." I shrugged, the surprise was gone but the craving did not.

"And why would you say that?" He smiled a little, probably finding it all very amusing. I, however, did not.

"You think I don't know where you went that day leaving me alone in parking lot after your near enough face-off with Erik? An ex-smoker can smell smoke from 10 miles away." 

"I am sure that's an exaggeration." He almost let out a chuckle, but his eyes were serious.

"Not in my case." I shrugged again, but it was to shake the restlessness off.  

"Nice to know you're still a sneaky little bitch after all these years." He smirked and handed me a cigarette. I was quite amazed by the fact that he gave me one without any hassle. But more than amaze, I was grateful. 

The cylindrical roll of tobacco felt strange in my hands, but it also gave me a familiar feeling I didn't realize I was longing for.

"Shedding off the manners, Osorio?" I put the roll between my lips, as he lit it. The Cartier lighter only brought back more memories.

He lit one for himself and took a long puff..god damn this smoke and this handsome man. I thought, taking a puff of my own.

"I missed this, I thought I'll never get to smoke with you again." He shrugged, stretching his left arm as his dragged a puff from his right, an old habit which always made me smile.

"You just want me dead with cancer." I grinned, not really caring about the consequences because the smoke was much more relieving. 

"Awful, Kyla. I'll never want that."He made a face.

"Yet you easily handed me this." I waved my cigarette in front of his face, enjoying as the smoke enveloped the little distance between us.

"Because that's who you are, darling. You can take Villarreal out of your name, not out of your soul." That hit me hard and with that realization dawned upon me.