chapter 6: adoption homes

[ i apologize if there would be any errors ( grammars, spellings and such more ). ]

THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW

10 years ago

"Romeo, I told you that you mustn't stay in the library at this time." Romeo's mom said.

"I'm sorry, Mommy." Romeo apologized, thinking he won't see his crush, Juliet ever again as he pouted then his mom smiled.

"Come on, your Dad is waiting for us at home." Romeo's mom said as they both walked home.

"Hello Daddy! My mom and I are home!" Romeo exclaimed as he ran to his dad.

"Aww, great to see you two back home, Romeo." Romeo's dad said as they both hugged and the mother walked closely towards them.

The both of them released afterwards, Romeo immediately went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water and he saw something in a counter.

"Divorce.. papers." Romeo read on what is said on the paper then both of his parents gasped and ran towards him.

"Oh no, you're not supposed to see that." Romeo's Mom panicked as she grabbed the papers.

"Let me see that, Melinda." Romeo's dad said in confusion as Melinda refused to show him the papers.

"Right now is not a good time to talk, Le-" Melinda said then Romeo's dad grabbed the paper from her which made her cut of her sentence.

"Why would you make a divorce, Melinda?" Leon asked in confusion as tears started coming out of his eyes.

Melinda was speechless and started panicking on what to say to her husband. Romeo, in the other hand, had no idea on what is going on so he just stared at both of his parents, pouting.

"I a-am cheating on you wi-with another guy." Melinda explained which made Leon cried.

"I swear I didn't mean to do all this I-" Melinda continued to explained as Leon cutted her off.

"What happened to us? What happened to our vows that we made? What about our son? Do the both of us mean special to you?" Leon asked as he continued crying.

"I-It's complicated, besides I did that for the three of us so that we could l-live our lives like this." Melinda explained as she tried to walk to Leon but he kept walking backwards.

"And do you really think that out of all solutions, you cheating on me with another guy will help us have a better lifestyle?" Leon shouted as Leon startled.

"Pl-Please let me explain and not infront of Romeo-" Melinda said as Leon cutted her off again.

"Even though you will explain things, nothing will change since you already planned on getting a divorce with me!" Leon shouted.

"I am not planning on getting a divorce with you! Pl-Please Leon, let's s-sort things out in an adult way and not infront of Romeo!" Melinda shouted back.

"I don't wanna waste my time on discussing with someone I love, finding out she is cheating on me with a random guy." Leon said.

"Leon please-" Melinda said then Leon cutted her off.

"You have until tomorrow morning to pack your things, after that you can leave my house immediately." Leon calmly said.

"You can't do this Leon, this will affect us especially Romeo." Melinda said.

"Well you should've think that before cheating on me with a random guy, Melinda." Leon shouted.

"It's not a random guy, it's my boss from work." Melinda sighed.

"Luke?? That's what makes it worse!" Leon said as Melinda continued to cry.

"Mommy, Daddy.. please stop fighting." Romeo said while pouting.

"I'm sorry Romeo-" Melinda said as she walked towards Romeo then Leon cutted her off.

"Don't you ever go near to my son, Melinda." Leon said.

"Romeo's my son too, Leon!" Melinda said.

"Look, like I said, I don't want to waste my time with someone like you. Come on Romeo, let's go upstairs." Leon said as he grabbed Romeo and they slowly walked to upstairs.

"Leon! Romeo!" Melinda shouted as Leon and Romeo went upstairs leaving Melinda crying.

Leon brought Romeo to his room as he started crying again.

"Daddy, what happened downstairs? Why are you and Mommy fighting?" Romeo asked.

"Don't even think about it Romeo, alright? Let Daddy handle this problem." Leon replied as he kneel down infront of Romeo then he nodded.

Several hours passed by after the fight Leon and Melinda had. Melinda started packing her things after dinner as Romeo watches his mother, crying in her closet. He slowly walked towards his mother as Melinda faced at him.

"Mommy, are you gonna leave us?" Romeo asked.

"No no, i mean, somehow. But, why did you say that Romeo?" Melinda asked as she stuttered.

"You don't have clothes anymore in your room, anr it's all in your bag." Romeo said as he pouted then Melinda hold Romeo's hands.

"Maybe for the mean time, baby. I will come back soon once me and Daddy are okay, alright?" Melinda sighed as they both looked at each others' eyes.

"Before I leave, can you promise me two things?" Melinda asked then Romeo nodded.

"First, I want you to take care of your father. I know for now it will be very hard for him, but please don't leave him alone." Melinda said.

"Of course, Mommy." Romeo said as he nodded.

"And lastly, I want you to keep this." Melinda said as she stood up and grabbed something from her bag.

Melinda walked back towards Romeo and gave him a bracelet.

"What is this, Mommy?" Romeo asked as he looked at the bracelet.

"It's a very special bracelet f-from your great grandparents. It's also a very rare one, so you must keep it at all times." Melinda explained.

"Also, you are not allowed to wear this at school or anywhere and you should not tell anyone about this, okay?" Melinda said.

"Yes Mommy." Romeo said as he smiled then the both of them hugged.

"I'm gonna miss you, Romeo. I love you so much." Melinda said.

"I love you too, Mommy." Romeo said.

Timeskip to the next day. Melinda left the house, saying goodbye to Romeo and Leon. Even though Leon is very mad, he still happened to cry because the love of his life left him all alone with Romeo on his side. Romeo comforted his father with a hug. The next two weeks, everything seemed pretty normal for the both of them. But apparently, Leon had a hard time on doing the things Melinda usually do for Romeo. The house has been more than quiet than before. Because of Melinda gone, Leon also decided to find a job for their financial needs.

Couple days later, Leon got accepted on his new job as a janitor. With his new job, he had less attention to Romeo than it was before. There are even times that the both of them have nothing to eat and drink because of Leon's new job. Six months has been passed, and things were all the same between the two until Leon thought of a hard decision to do.

"Romeo? Are you in here?" Leon asked as he knocked the door on Romeo's room.

"Yes, Daddy. Here let me open the door." Romeo said then he opened the door and Leon smiled at him.

"Do you mind if we will talk about something?" Leon asked as he sat down on Romeo's bed.

"Sure, what is it about?" Romeo asked then Leon sighed.

"You see, with your mother gone, and I, myself, taking care of you has been really tough. Especially with my new job I am working right now." Leon said as Romeo nodded.

"I also hope you will understand me as your father." Leon continued.

"What is it, Daddy?" Romeo asked.

"I'm taking you to the adoption homes for you to get adopted to another family." Leon said then Romeo raised his eyebrows.

"Are you leaving me too, Daddy?" Romeo asked as he pouted.

"Somehow but it's not like that. I really want the best of you and I want you to have the lifestyle. But with me, being very busy at work and your mother with another man, we cannot be able to managed you well." Leon explained then Romeo sighed.

"I promise I will keep visiting you, Romeo. This will only be temporary, I promise." Leon sighed.

"Sure, I guess." Romeo said.

"I'm sorry Romeo that you have to go through this. Daddy is just around in the corner, okay?" Leon said then Romeo nodded.

After Leon and Romeo's talk, Romeo started packing his things, thinking if this is the right decision to do. But he eventually had to do it so that he won't have a hard time with his father. Days passed by, Leon brought Romeo to the adoption homes and afterwards left him all alone. Romeo felt empty deep inside, he wasn't used to in a life where his father and mother aren't there for him.

A year passed after everything that happened, Romeo is still the same all alone and empty. His father barely gave him a visit and when he does, he immediately leaves because of his job. Until he didn't had the time to visit his son. Melinda, in the other hand, hasn't visited Romeo ever since the day she left their home. He noticed that there was a couple going inside the adoption homes, and asking if they could adopt one of the kids in their place. The workers agreed and showed them, the kids in there.

The bell rang which means it's already their lunchtime. All of the kids immediately stood up and ran to their cafeteria, Romeo, in the other hand, slowly stood up as his assistant called him.

"Romeo? Do you mind sparing few minutes of your time before having lunch in the cafeteria?" His assistant asked then Romeo nodded and slowly walked towards them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Greene, this is Romeo, he has been in this adoption home for a year now." The assistant said as Mr. and Mrs. Greene smiled and Romeo slowly looked up at them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Romeo. My wife and I are planning on adopting you, i-if that's okay with you." Mr. Greene said as he looked at Romeo.

"I, for sure, know that Romeo will be a perfect choice for you two. He's very kind and genuine, but he's a shy type of-" The assistant said as Mrs. Greene cutted her off.

"You don't have to describe him for us, we already read your adoption book in your front desk." Mrs. Greene said.

"I apologize, Ma'am." The assistant sighed.

"So what do you say, Romeo or should I call you, Rodolfo?" Mrs. Greene asked as the three of them looked at Romeo waiting for his response.

"Does Daddy know about this, Ma'am?" Romeo pouted.

"We tried contacting your father but we haven't reached him for over six months already." The assistant said then Romeo sighed.

~ mj <3