My Bestfriend's Father (Spooky)

Chapter 30

Oscar

Bed rest for three months is killing me. Tito is out handling all Los Santos shit while I'm home doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Cortez is always at work or Anna's house. Hermione is either at school or trying to help Tez with his school work. So here I lay, in bed, watching the same reruns of 'That '70s Show' over and over again. Hermione refuses to let any Santos business talk in the house because apparently it stresses me out too much and makes the healing process even slower. How the hell do I keep up with what's happening on the streets if she won't let me! I can't make calls and god forbid I walk outside by myself for more than five seconds.

I can't even step foot in the backyard to smoke without Hermione running outside with me. I don't mind being with her but she's making me feel helpless. I get she's trying to help and take care of me but I need to draw the line when it comes to my smoke breaks. Those are the times I do all my thinking. But then again she has done nothing but help me and Cortez since she started staying with us. She cooks, she cleans, she helps my son with homework, and she even does our laundry. She would be a great addition to the family, permanently. It's actually been a month since the drive by and I've learned so much about her.

Her favorite color is brown, her middle name is Grace, she loves to bake, she thinks gangs aren't that bad, she loves low riders, her favorite music is the oldies, her favorite food is arroz con pollo, she loves blue raspberry jolly ranchers, and she's allergic to the cherry jolly ranchers. I've never met anyone in my entire life that's allergic to cherry flavoring before. She knows a lot about me too.

My favorite color is red, my middle name is Cortez, I love to cook, I actually want to leave the gang life later on in my life, I love low riders too, we have the same music taste, my favorite food is Dosa, I love flan, and I have no allergies. She seemed to be really interested in getting to know me better. Not getting to know Spooky better which is for the best. Usually girls fell for my looks or bad ass attitude or my teardrop but not Hermione. She didn't give a fuck about those things. She actually wanted to meet me, Oscar Cortez Díaz, Cortez's father. She didn't see the teardrop and think I'd kill her, she didn't think gang life when she saw my Santos cross. And that's one thing I love about her. She wanted to know me as a human not just arm candy or street credit.

I got up and snuck out the back door lighting a cigarette. I sighed in relief, it was nice to have my quiet time. "Oscar baby!" See what I mean, within the five seconds of me lighting this cigarette she's already on my trail. "Baby what did I tell you about smoking while your recovering! It's not good for your blood pressure." She nags but I know she's only doing it for my health and safety. "I know Mione but it helps me think." She crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow at me in that motherly way all women do. "Most people get in the shower to think but I guess I'll let it slide because I know your not most people. By the way I'm making stake with beans and rice for dinner tonight." I smiled at her before she kissed my nose and walked back in the house.

Sometimes I wonder why she is the way she is. Hermione is so good for my family. If it wasn't for her I'd probably be dead. Cortez would most likely be so involved with Los Santos that he would never be able to finish school. I feel like I can't live without her anymore. She's accepted me for me and loves my kid, what more could I ask for.

"Hey dad!" I hear the back door swing open and Cortez walk over to where I'm sitting on a bucket. "What's up homie?" He sighed with a slight smile. "Do you think Hermione is gonna be with us forever?" Why the hell is he asking that? I don't even know how to answer that myself! "Look, I don't know if she will or won't. She's got her whole life ahead of herself. She could stay or she could go to college. It's not really up to me, she's got to make that decision all on her own." Now that I'm thinking about it Hermione and Cortez could be leaving so soon. It's their last year of High School. They could be leaving me for college sooner than I anticipated.

I guess I need to make a decision too. Do I want her to stay for me or let her go so she can make a good future for herself. I can't offer her anything besides a washed up gang leader, a run down house, and a son her own age, and a bad neighborhood to live in. Or she could go to college and make something amazing of herself. She could be a better person away for this place. She doesn't need me or this place holding her back. But I do love her but I can't be selfish.

Cortez walked back in the house with his shoulders slumped slightly. Maybe them leaving this hood would be what's best for both of them. I can't leave because of Los Santos but they can get out. I'm stuck here until I die or become a complication. I can't leave this place because Los Santos is the only thing protecting the neighborhood from The Prophets. If the homies found out I was leaving I know for a fact that one of them would tell Cuchillos. If she found out she would put a green light on me herself.

I couldn't allow myself to put Hermione and Cortez through that shit. I don't know what Cortez would do if he had to burry me at his age. Dios mío, what would Hermione do if I wasn't here to protect her! That girl would get in more trouble than I care to think of. But if we aren't together when it time for her to leave then she won't have anything or anyone holding her back. She would have no reason to stay and she could get away from the hood.

"Oscar it's time to eat! Get your ass in here, I've called you fifteen times already!" Hermione yelled out the window. I think now I know what I need to do to keep my family safe. I just hope they don't hate me when the time comes.

Edited October 6th, 2021