my boo - jamal turner

Welcome Home

Lani pov

I smiled as I gazed at the framed photos of Cesar, Oscar, and me, reminiscing about the joy we once shared. Those were different times, but now we had to focus on the present.My daydream was abruptly interrupted by a bang on my door, making me jump. Turning around, I heard a snicker and Gustavo, a fellow Santo, saying, "Sorry, bubs, but your little friends are looking for you outside." I smiled at him before leaving to see what they wanted.Running down the steps, 

I noticed the fellow Santos observing my friends, waiting for Cesar and me to join them. "Salad, you coming?" I asked. He looked down, shaking his head, "I'm just gonna chill here with the crew, sorry." I nodded, a bit confused, before walking off. "Hey guys," I greeted my friends. Monse kept looking back towards my house as we walked towards the shops. "Everything okay?" I questioned. Monse, with an attitude, went quiet. "Everything's fine, quit badgering, Lani," she snapped at me. I put my hands up, pretending to surrender. "Geez, sorry."

Inside the taco shop, we sat, listening to people complain about the wait for their orders. Monse's voice snapped me out of my daydream, "Hey, are you and Cesar gonna join the gang?" I shrugged, looking up to see Jamal staring at me. I smiled, slightly blushing, "I mean, it's in my destiny, not like either of us has a choice." Monse rolled her eyes at my response, "Don't act like you can't choose to leave." We all turned to look at her. "They don't have a choice, and it's none of your business what goes on anyway, so quit badgering, Monse," Jamal snapped. I mouthed a quick thank you before looking down again.

My phone rudely interrupted our lunch with its obnoxious ringing. I offered an apologetic look before picking up. "What?" I questioned Sad Eyes on the phone. "Outside the taco shop, we're leaving." He hung up before I could reply. The entire table looked at me, disappointment evident, especially from Monse. I shrugged, "I'll see you guys later, I guess." I got up and walked out to find them indeed waiting, but this time in Dad's impala that had been handed down to Oscar. "Why are you driving this?" I asked Sad Eyes. He smiled, shrugging, "We're going on a drive."

I felt someone shaking me, and I turned around to see Cesar smiling. Confused, I looked around to grasp where we were. "Ossie said he didn't want us visiting while he was in jail. What are you two doing?" They exchanged a smile before hopping out of the car. I followed behind, holding tightly to Cesar. My mind was still wondering why we were here and what was happening.As we came to a stop, unable to contain my curiosity, I turned to Cesar. "Hey, are you thinking about joining?" I asked hesitantly, knowing the complexity of our circumstances. Cesar glanced at me, uncertainty in his eyes. "I don't know, Lani. The future is unclear, and there are so many things I need to figure out," he replied, his voice reflecting the weight of his contemplation. We both nodded, growing even more curious and anticipated, waiting for the events to unfold.

After what felt like an eternity, we continued to sit on the ground, waiting for Sad Eyes to return. Suddenly, we heard laughter, and we turned around to see him approaching. I looked at Cesar, and we both exchanged shocked glances. The anticipation had built up, and the reality of the moment hit us. Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw my brother in the flesh. Unable to contain my overwhelming emotions, I ran towards him and jumped into his arms. "Ossie, you're home!" I exclaimed, my voice choked with both joy and relief. He smiled warmly as he kissed my forehead, and a sense of nostalgia overwhelmed me.

"Your 5ft ass hasn't grown any bigger since I last saw you, bubs," he teased, and I playfully pushed him away, laughter echoing in the air. The simple banter felt like a comforting melody, a reminder of the times when everything was simpler. "Hey mano, you been safe," he said, pulling Cesar into a tight hug. Cesar, normally reserved, nodded, his eyes reflecting the unspoken bond between brothers. The weight of uncertainty seemed to lift momentarily as we embraced in that reunion, feeling like kids again, devoid of the complexities life had thrown at us.