Broken

21.4 Francesco De la Cruz

Spring 1998, Pizzeria Sunny Morning

Francesco's fingers tipped restlessly on the bar's surface.
He tried to focus.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Stay calm.
The last time he had felt like this... it was about four years ago already. He didn't think it would still bother him ever again this much.

He lit another cigarette.
"Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were at a wedding?", Alejandro's voice startled him.

"Oh - hi. We left early", Francesco said.
"Good that you're back already. Can I stay at your place for a while? Rita kicked me out for good."

Francesco almost chocked.
"I'm surprised she didn't kick you already long time ago", he said with a smirk. "My condolences."
"Asshole", his friend replied casually, while going to sit down next to him. "So, can I stay?"

"Actually I'm not staying myself there anymore", Francesco said. "I broke up with Rosa."
He felt that itchy feeling slowly crawl back into him. Leaving Rosa had been surprisingly easy, but leaving Luca was a different thing. He didn't know how to deal with that.

Alejandro stayed quiet for a few minutes. Francesco felt his view resting at him. And he noticed his fingers had started to do that dance again.
"Get up", Alejandro broke the silence.
"Huh?"
"We get a cab and go to that Irish pub in Newcrest."

"I'm not gonna sing Karaoke", Francesco laughed. He couldn't believe his friend was serious.
Alejandro turned around.
"Yes, you will. You'll scream all that shit out of you, until your throat is sore. No stupid bitch is worth it losing your head over them again. Not that Paris chick, and definitely not Rosa. Now get up."

Francesco sighed, but followed him reluctantly.
"How about we go to Myshuno tomorrow", Alejandro said on the way out."Maybe it's time to take the offer and go major."
"Nico's gonna kill us", Francesco chuckled.
It would definitely complicate things with his son, but maybe a fresh start was what he needed now.