Chapter 30: Smashed to tiny pieces

Leandro was arranging his school materials when he heard a soft knock. When he opened the door, his mouth and eyes were opened wide in shock.

"Jovanni...!" Leandro uttered as Jovanni almost collapsed into his arms after opening the door. "What happened to you!" He asked while helping Jovanni sat on the bed.

"What happened to you!" Leandro anxiously asked again as he saw Jovanni's withered and distressed look.

Seeing Leandro's worried face, Jovanni's defense was completely broken. His tears started creeping down. "My father saw the photo that Carl posted."

"That kissing photo with Vianna?"

"Yes. My father was angry. He beat me up. He told me to stop my study, but I refused, so he disowned me and beat me badly."

Leandro was mad. How could a father do this to his son? Of course, he knows that it wasn't good, but it was just a kissing photo, not a video scandal for heaven's sake!

"Your father is too narrow-minded. Jovanni, him disowning you is not your loss. You are self-supporting. You can live without them. Don't worry, we are here. We will help you."

"But that wasn't the worse." Jovanni said as his tears were racing down.

"What do you mean?"

"When I went back to Kirt's apartment, I saw him kissing a beautiful woman... It turned out that... they have engaged three years ago..." Jovanni weakly said amidst his flowing tears.

Leandro was frozen for a moment.

"...Kirt... He's engaged..." Jovanni murmured. His tears were flowing down revealing the extreme pain he was feeling inside.

Leandro was enraged, speechless, and helpless for a while.

"...Jovanni..." Leandro called, not knowing what to say and how to comfort his friend who was emotionally and physically battered.

"Leandro, tell me. Am I this easy to bully...? Do I deserve this pain... Do I deserve these sufferings...?" Jovanni asked in between faint sobs.

Leandro's heart was squeezed. He was just looking at Jovanni yet he felt his pain, how much painful it is for Jovanni himself? It was probably painful beyond words!

"No! You don't deserve a single ounce of those pain and sufferings! Jovanni, hold on and be strong. Okay? Everything will be fine. You will be fine!"

"But I am exhausted..." Jovanni replied as he slowly lay down on Leandro's bed. "Leandro, I feel too tired... the strength that was left in me... was depleted while braving myself in front of Kirt... and his fiancee... I feel too tired, I almost couldn't reach here... almost..." He added while closing his eyes.

"Jovanni...!" Leandro called, but Jovanni didn't respond.

Jovanni was still conscious but had no strength left, so he just closed his eyes.

Leandro panicked. He unbuttoned Jovanni's top to make him feel comfortable, but what was revealed was Jovanni's battered upper body. Leandro was terrified. He immediately took his phone. His hands were trembling as he dialed King's number.

"King, come back immediately! Jovanni...he is..."

Leandro tried to explain the situation to King in broken words. King, who was out with Gio, drove back in full speed. They rushed upstairs as soon as the car stopped.

"Jovanni!" King and Gio anxiously called, but Jovanni was unresponsive. King immediately picked him up.

"Let's bring him to the hospital!" King yelled carrying Jovanni.

Gio immediately opened the door wide and assisted King. Leandro was confused about what to bring, in the end, he only took his phone and rushed downstairs.

In front of the emergency room, Leandro was sitting anxiously. Gio was pacing back and forth while King was smashing his fist on the wall.

"These bastards... These bastards must pay!" King yelled. Some of the people turned their heads towards him.

Leandro pulled King to the bench.

"King, calm down."

"How could I calm down. Leandro, Jovanni, he was not only beaten by his crazy father but was also played by that bastard Kirt!"

"I know, but his safety is our main concern for now."

"King, we should get even with Kirt. He is too much. How dare him to treat Jovanni like this." Gio said. He too was infuriated.

"Definitely! I am not Enrique Garcia if I cannot get back at him. That bastard must pay!"

At night break, Jovanni was transferred to the private ward that King arranged for him. Thankfully, there was no severe internal injury.

King sent Leandro and Gio back since their final examination wasn't over yet. Jovanni was sleeping soundly. An IV drip was injected at him. He was accompanied by King all night.

Lying on the couch while staring at the pitiful Jovanni, King was thinking of possible ways to retaliate against Kirt. They can do nothing against Jovanni's father since Jovanni himself would never harm his abusive father, so Kirt will take all their vengeance.

Early morning on the next day, King went back to their boarding house to change his clothes. Jovanni was still sleeping, so King asked the nurse to watch him.

It was still early, but Gio and Leandro were already up.

"King, how is Jovanni?" Leandro asked.

"He's still sleeping soundly. Probably because of the medicine..."

"Poor Jovanni..." Gio said, shaking his head. There was a moment of silence in the room. Their faces were gloomy.

Later, loud knocks were heard. Gio stood up and opened the door. An imposing figure was standing outside that suddenly boil Gio's blood.

Gio immediately threw a punch on that imposing face, but he was kicked hard and was thrown inside.

"Kirt Valdez, how dare you show your face here!" King roared, but like Gio, he was also kicked hard. Leandro stood on the side, worried. Gio and King were preparing for a joint offense, but Eman, Carl, and Earl emerged on Kirt's side with three other strong men. The narrow hallway was crowded.

"I am not here seeking trouble. I am here to get Jovanni!"

"How dare you!" King yelled.

"Kirt Valdez, Jovanni is living with you. "Leandro said. "How come you're looking him here?"

"Don't fool me." Kirt said as he went inside the room. Looking in every corner.

King and Gio were subdued by those three strong men. Leandro tried his best to fool Kirt. There was bad blood between them since Kirt nabbed Yanna and Jovanni was forcefully taken, so King and Gio's assault was still reasonable.

"He didn't come back here since he started living with you." Leandro said. "The last time we talked was yesterday noon."

Kirt looked at Leandro carefully, then he looked at Jovanni's bed. It was empty. He touched it and found that it was dusty.

"So where did he sleep last night?! We're is Jovanni now?!" Kirt yelled.

"Kirt Valdez, you are living with Jovanni. It should be us who are supposed to ask you this." Leandro replied. "Where is Jovanni? Kirt Valdez, what happened to Jovanni?"

Kirt was fooled by Leandro. He went out without saying a word. Leandro sighed, but Gio and King were fuming.

"We need to transfer Jovanni to a safer place." Gio suggested.

"But he is still recovering." Leandro answered.

King was thinking for a while. "Let us take him to my elder brother's apartment."

"But he's still in the hospital."

"We will waive. He has no severe internal injury. We can just bring him to a follow up check up next day." King said. He was afraid that Kirt might come back to them after failing to find Jovanni, so they must secure Jovanni while Kirt is not yet following their every move.

Kirt drove to Jovanni's hometown. It was still early, so there was only less vehicle on the highway. He drove in full speed and reached Jovanni's house in an hour. He knocked on the get and called many times before an old woman came out.

"Good day. I am looking for Jovanni."

"Jovanni? Young man, who are you?" The old woman asked.

"I am Jovanni's friend. May I know if he's here"

"Jovanni cannot come back in this house anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"His father disowned him."

"Excuse me, could you please tell me the details?!"