Amor Prohibido | r. martinez

seis

5 years ago

"Can we go to Disneyland for our birthday, O?"

"Yeah, can we?" 

"We can't guys, we don't have enough money."  The twins sighed and mumbled a quick 'Oh' before looking back at the Disney cartoon on the screen. 

Arcelia and Cesar were 8, turning 9 in 2 days, and they wanted something different for their birthday, not a barbeque at the park with Oscar's friends and their uncles and cousins. 

Arcelia has always been closer to Oscar, so she was on his lap while Cesar was next to them.  The three were all waiting for their mom to come back home, but Oscar did a good job in not letting them realize she's actually been gone for a week.

For a 15 year old, his life was more stressful than some adults.  He had to go to school, take care of his siblings, and run Los Santos.  It was a lot of pressure that basically ruined his dreams of going to Culinary School in Pasadena.

A few hours later, after the twins ate dinner and fell asleep, he tucked the two into their beds and was about to go to his room to finish his homework when he heard the front door open.  Instinctively, he checked for his gun in his waistband before walking out to the living room.

His mother stumbled in, looking exhausted and in a daze.  Oscar sighed in annoyance and went forward to help her before she fell and busted her head open, again. 

"Hey, baby.  I missed you and- the other kids."

"Their names are Arcelia and Cesar."  Oscar mumbled.

His mother nodded her head and smiled while leaning against her son and walking down the hallway to her bed room.  "Right.  How are they?"

"Good."  Oscar said bluntly.  "You can't just keep leaving us here, 'ama.  Están niños, they need you."

"I know, I'm trying to be better for them.  I wasn't gone as long this time."

Oscar scoffed and laid her down as she stared up at him.  "You were gone for a week again."

"I was?"

"Get some sleep, and try harder."  Mrs. Diaz nodded with her eyes closed and passed out on her bed while Oscar left the house to handle some business.

Come two days later, his mom was gone and the twins were watching Spongebob in the living room with a bowl of cereal in front of each of them. 

Things were a lot different when their dad was still alive.  Once he died, their mom got addicted and everything was left for Oscar to do. 

It was the twins' birthday and Oscar was starting to feel a little bad that they wouldn't get to do anything special like they wanted.  So, Oscar did the only sensible thing he could think of.

"Who's ready to go to Disneyland?"

"Oh, me!  Me!  Take me first!"  Arcelia jumped up.

"You aren't even tall enough!"

× × ×

"Oscar, Cesar's fatass ate all the ice cream again."  The 14 year old yelled from the kitchen. 

"No I didn't.  You ate the rest of it last night to put on top of your pie."  Cesar objected.  He was walking pass his sister and pat her head while she thought.

She really didn't remember eating pie last night.  "Oh yeah, huh?"  She mumbled.  "But can you still by some more ice cream?"

"Arcelia, that's the third tub of ice cream you ate this week.  And hurry your ass up before you're late to school."

Arcelia groaned and adjusted her jeans before running out of the house and calling shotgun.  She stuck her tongue out at Cesar and hopped into the front seat next to Oscar. 

"Arce, your feet can barely reach the floor of the car."  Cesar stated, looking down to see her legs kind of just dangling.  "This isn't fair."

"Cállate.  We're gonna be late."  Arcelia teased.  Oscar laugh and pulled out into the street while Cesar fell back against the seat in defeat.

The ride was quick since people recognized the red car and swerved out of the way like a cop and some sirens were right behind them. 

"Don't talk to any putos, Arce."  Oscar called out of the car. 

"No promises."  Arcelia said, and before he could say anything, she ran off and into the school.  Who am I kidding?  No guys even talk to me.

"Lies, I've seen like 4 seniors flirt with you.  You just don't realize it because you're awkward."  Cesar walked up behind his twin and threw an arm around her shoulder.  She didn't expect it so she shrieked before punching his shoulder.

She knew about his stomach and was not about to feel guilty for hurting him more.  "That's not even flirting.  That's them acting dumb so I can tutor- oh.  I see your point."  She sighed and shrugged her shoulders.  "It's not my fault I got put in higher classes.  I told Mr. Rodriguez not to put me in Algebra 3 and what does he do?  He puts me in the class.  La audacia." 

Cesar coo'd and squeezed her cheeks.  "Look at you, being a little math genius.  Smarter than Ruby."

"Ruby can suck a dick and choke."

Cesar sighed and removed his arm as they walked down the stairs.  "I'm sure whatever he said was in the heat of the moment.  Ruby wouldn't say or do anything to intentionally hurt you.  What did he even say?"

"I told you.  He talked bad about Oscar and called me a name."

"You can't protect Oscar.  I get that you love him, but the dude could literally strangle Ruby with his bare hands if he really felt like it.  What did he call you?"

"Nothing.  I have to get to math."  Arcelia told him, the bell ringing a second later.  Cesar sighed and watched his little sister run down the hallway to get away from him and his questions. 

"Hey, Arcelia."  One of the senior in the front class greeted with a smirk.  He looked her up and down with a quick swipe of his tongue over his bottom lip.  "Wanna come over and tutor me after school?"

"Not really."

Tbh, this was trash.