Chapter 16

[Niño Smith's Point of View]

After the struggles and fun yesterday. I saw Santino and Zoe holding each other's hand. They're in love.

Is it too late to tell?

I called Kenneth for an assistant.

Damn, I'm sure a traitor for not telling earlier about this!

Am I?

Bro pick up, pick up.

"Yo Bro, It's positive. She is Santino's long lost sister."

"Are you sure? Can you investigate again?"

[End of Niño Smith's Point of View]

[Kenneth Jones's Point of View]

"Yes, Niño that's right! and Santino will not get sad anymore!"

"I think it will get worse."

"Wait for what? Why?"

"It looks like, they're in love with each other"

Damn, I have further investigation this stuff. Now what?

I groaned

Oh, wait!

"Niño, I've got a better Idea."

[End of Kenneth Jones's Point of View]

[Kelly Sherman's Point of View]

"Babe where are you two going?!"

I shouted Niño while he was being dragged by Kenneth

"Sorry babe, I gotta go! I-i promise!"

"Are you trying to ditch our date today?"

"No, I swear I will be there after our investigation"

"Investigation about what?"

"Something important" he shouted until they are gone.

"Ugh, what kind of investigation is that?!"

"Isn't the girls now?" I said so to myself.

"Oh, you're so dead to me babe!"

I ran to find Zoe in school but she's nowhere to find. I called her and glad she picked up in no time.

"Hey, Kelly?"

"Where are you?"

"Umm, what were you doing?"

"Where are you now?"

"So you were looking for me? Wait, what's the rush? I've been watching you running the whole time"

"Great!" I ended up the call and saw her with Santino in no time.

"Why didn't you call me?"

"I don't know, you were in a rush?"

"Like wow, bonjour bonjour! Why are you with Santino now huh?" I teased her.

"Oh, guess what?" She said as she holds Santino's hands.

"O-M-G W-T-F I love you! You've grown so much my little princess! We were just high school back then huh!" I said as I hugged her and then she laughs while Santino was smiling.

But suddenly,

Someone clears his throat "Zoe"

"Oh" I didn't expect that.

"Look I gotta go," I said then left.

"Looks like it's love war"

[End of Kelly Sherman's Point of View]

[Nicholas Collins's Point of View]

"Nico?"

"What are you doing" I hold her hand dragging her away from that man

"Wait! what are you doing?" Zoe shouted

Forcing me to stop.

"Let my girlfriend go, Nico"

The echoes dropped as I let go of her hand.

Let my girlfriend go

Let my girlfriend go

Let my girlfriend go

I turned my way to her.

"Zoe, I need to tell you something"

"Now you showed up after I'm having a relationship with Santino?"

"Zoe-"

"What's with the sad face, Nico? What are you gonna explain to me that you realized and regret everything and that's why because you're sorry--"

"Stop it, Zoe. You don't know everything about him-"

"No, I know everything about him. The memes from teacher's faces? He did it! I know that! His past, his depression, his life!"

"We need to talk," I said in my angry tone

Suddenly, her tears fell as she looks at me.

Did I hurt her? With my sudden tone?

"Santino, will you give us a time?"

"I understand, you two need closure and make things right."

"Santi-"

"It's okay, Zoe"

"Let's go, Zoe"

Before I could start walking, I heard her saying to him that would break my heart.

"Santino, trust me you know I love you"

I walk away while Zoe tries to catch me.

"Nico, wait"

I thought, staying away from Zoe was to cure my heart that is being secretly in love with her.

But then,

She loved me.

"Nico wait!"

Secretly

I knew she loved me

But I didn't believe that's why I ended up dating Keisha and I thought, dating Keisha could make Zoe confess to me or to save our friendship. But nothing happened and I did not only break Zoe's heart but our friendship too. But she was already cured, by loving Santino.

And for Keisha, I fell inlove but she broke my heart for cheating, over again.

If there's only a chance. A chance to make everything right and also, the revelation behind Santino.

"NICO!"

[End of Nicholas Collins's Point of View]

[Niño Smith's Point of View]

We're running like hell! MAN! AM I SURE ABOUT THIS? IS KENNETH SURE ABOUT THIS?!

I stopped running and I got a sudden split from mud.

"Oh boy! Oh boy I hate muds!" I shouted disgustingly

"Come on now let's go!" Kenneth shouted as he helps me to get up

"No Kenneth, I was wondering. What if, were wrong? What if they are not really something related?" I said looking at him while cleaning myself.

"What? It's true! Do you know many times I tried to sneak up a.m's at the office? 31 times for 3 years, Secretly let's add to that! and I found the birth certificate of Zoe's mother from the historical documents. Thanks to the survey though but do you remember when you told me the surname of Santino's mother was?"

"N-no?"

"It was Flores!"

"But what if---"

"I saw Santino's broken family picture frame. It does look like Zoe from his Father"

"Oh man"

"We're doing this for our friends now come on!"

We ran and ran until we could find Zoe's house. Thanks to the survey I have here holding.

[End of Niño Smith's Point of View]

[Santino's Point of View]

I hope Zoe is going to be okay after their talks.

As I was waiting for Zoe to come back.

I opened my book for our Second-semester midterm examination.

After almost an hour of studying

"Son" It was like the voice of my Dad.

I heads up and to see, and it was actually my Dad called me.

"Son"

I don't know but I feel forgiveness already. I feel love. I feel like about to cry. I feel like hugging my Dad. But my madness can't be bought.

"What are you doing here?"

"Son, I miss you. Please come back now"

"you shouldn't be here!" I Stood up

"Son, at least for once, Forgive me" He cried manly.

"I know I made things worst, but it doesn't mean I can't be changed"

"Son, I want you back. Please forgive me"

He added as he holds my arm.

I think this is the only words I want to hear from my father. This is what my heart wants for the broken family.

Thank you, Zoe, for teaching me the word forgiveness, by heart.

I hugged my Dad saying "I'm sorry" I cried back.

Suddenly, Someone tapped my back I thought it was my Dad, but it feels like it's from someone's hand.

"Santino, my son" I heard a woman's voice.

I turned back around to her.

And it was...

Zoe's Mother?

But, what did she just call me?

"Aw my son!" She hugged me.

"Santino" she cried

I was

shocked.

I can't even explain what's going on.

"Dad?"

"Yes son, She is your Mother. Your Mother is alive" My Dad smiled as my tears fell.

I broke apart from the hug and say

"You're Zoe's Mother" I said shakingly

"I i can't be your son"

She chuckled as she was wiping her tears

"What do you mean I can't? You should be happy"

"I-i mean I should, but-- wait-- Dad is this another woman now?" I said in my angry tone

But suddenly Niño and Kenneth showed up

"No Santino, It's true"

"Bro, I've been Investigating this for like 32 times!"

"There you are!" Kelly shouted madly as she was walking right through here.

"Oh Babe! I got a flowers for you. Excuse me guys."

"You're all dirt! What happened?!"

"Not here" Niño said and holds Kelly's hands and dragged her out of this group.

"Kenneth, Thank you. Please" Zoe's Mother said.

Kenneth nodded and leaves

"Kenneth!" I called him but he didn't turned back.

"Son" My Dad called as he was waiting for me to say.

"Son, honey. I am so happy. You know what, Zoe and Santino are close friends. Such a coincidence"

"N-no, you don't understand"

"Z-zoe is my girlfriend"

"WAIT WHAT?! Oh no! Zoe didn't tell me about this"

"She was going to tell you, in the right time but" I sighs.

I covered my face up to my hair as I was pinching it hardly "I'm so confused right now!"

But suddenly, a familiar sweet voice,

"M-mom?"

And it was Zoe.

"Zoe, why didn't you tell me about you and Santino?"

"And why did you lie about my Father's death?"

"Come on mom tell me!" Zoe shouted as the other students staring

[End of Santino Auburn's Point of View]

[Nicholas Collins's Point of View]

Staring at the gray clouds and waiting for it to rain before I could go back to my class.

[Flashbacks]

"Rooftop right! You could have told me that we should talk here so I would never shout you passing our fellow students, staring at us, gossiping that they'd think! We argued because I was jealous to Keisha!"

She didn't mind shouting me here in the rooftop, no one will ever hear it anyway. I didn't even face her while she was shouting at me. I just keeps staring at the cities. I just don't know what to say first but,

"Now what Nico?! After all I've been following you-"

"Zoe, I love you"

Did I just say that clearly to her?

"Wha-what?"

"Let me get this straight things up, you know how I love going straight to the point."

"Go on" she said as she crossed her arms

"You can't be together with that guy Zoe."

Zoe chuckled and says "I'm sorry, Nico. I love him"

"Tell your mom I'm sorry after you heard this."

"What?"

"Your Father is alive Zoe and your Father

Is Santino's Father."

"You're confusing me!"

"He is your Brother"

"I didn't know I have a brother"

"Now you know-"

"Look! This is not the right time to prank me. I'm sorry we're not senior high anymore Nico, we're college graduating already"

"You think I'm pranking you?"

"If you're telling me this because you want me to break up with him then fuck you!"

"Wait what? Hey, do you remember the guy that you called your father? He was a random guy Zoe"

And then suddenly she hit me from my arms, chest and back to my arms and chest again as she was saying,

"You're selfish Nico! What happened to you?! What did you learn from Keisha?!To be selfish?! To be a brat like her?! Are you trying to cheat her? With me?!"

Then lastly, "I won't be fooled" she hit me from the face.

Did she really hit me on the face?

[End of Flashback]

[End of Nicholas Collins's Smith]