Forbidden Love

ONE – The Request
Luxell arrived at Mr Darwin’s house on time. Last night, Mr Darwin –his old pal—called him after dinner and asked him to come to his house on the next day. It was so strange because Mr Darwin almost never talked to him directly except about business. Luxell swept the view inside the house. Nothing’s change since his last viewing –about three years ago. A stewardess welcomed him and asked him to go to the reading room.
There, Mr Darwin has waited, sat down calmly on the carpet called tatami. His hand were mixing a green liquid, looked like a Japanese green tea, slowly. He noticed that his guest has come.
“Morning, Luxell. It’s been a while since our last meeting, isn’t it?” said Mr Darwin to Luxell without looking at him. “Sit down, please.”
Luxell just smiled then nodded slowly. “Yea, I guess. You just talk by phone lately to Sean. Don’t say that you wanna hug me now.”
Luxell took one cigarettes from his pocket then started smoking. He doesn’t care where he is, he always smokes and he’ll die without it.
Mr Darwin looked calm and wise as always. He looked so comfortable sitting on tatami. Like it or not, Luxell has to sit on that things too, though he preferred leather chair, of course. There, they can see the garden that Mr Darwin took care by himself. Luxell always felt better by looking to the flowers in Mr Darwin’s garden. It looked pure, just like a baby born. There’re rose, orchad, chamomile, and the others.
“You still smoke, don’t you? Hassels, isn’t it?”
“Yea, my fav. So, do you have something for me? I kinda curious ‘bout this meeting. Well, you a busy man, anyway. It’s kinda strange for you to set a meeting with me.”
“We’re old pals, aren’t we?” Mr Darwin poured the tea into Luxell’s glass. “The sky is clear today so just take your time. Drink it, it’s healthier than your Hassels, I’m sure.”
“That must be bitter,” said Luxell. “Sorry, I better die than having that tea.”
Mr Darwin smiled then drank the tea without complaining.
“Flowers always looks beautiful, aren’t they? This garden, I built it myself, take care of it everyday and these flowers now just like a family to me, just like you and your brother. So, why have you found your own flower?”
Luxell stared at Mr Darwin straightly.
“I know where this conversation heads up. Marriage. No, I won’t have girl beside me. I’m a gangster, Darwin! Love is not my subject! Besides, a girlfriend will be my weakness. Gangster has no family.”
Luxell threw his cigarettes out then took a new one.
“You can die anytime and anywhere, Buddy. Why don’t you change your mind?! You’re 32, Xell!”
“So what if I’m 32? I’ll die without marriage!” asked Luxell. He looked straight to Darwin’s eyes.
“Don’t give me those sight. This is the reason why I called you. I’m old now, Xell, I’m not young anymore. I’ll die soon, I knew it… Just do it for me, okay?”
Mr Darwin looked serious. Luxell knrw this guy, he was so persistent. When he wanted something, he would do everything to get it. And he’s old now, yea he’s old and maybe this was his last will. Luxell grabbed the tea then drank it.
“It’s bitter, really,” said Luxell, planned to get out of this conversation but he failed. Mr Darwin looked so serious. He didn’t smile.
“Man, what happened to you? You never tell me anything, big guy, and suddenly you ask me to find a girlfriend! Shit!”
Mr Darwin sighed. “I had this, this headache… Doctor said that maybe it’s cancer and I don’t have much time left. You’re my pal, you’re my man, and I’m also your business client, so just do it, take it as my last will.”
Luxell didn’t say anything. He was shocked to know about this.
“You’re not gonna die, are you? I can find you a best doctor!”
“I am, Luxell. Just like your brother, I’m gonna die. Maybe his wish is same like mine. Easy for you to get girls, maybe you can get as many as you can. But that’s not the point!”
Mr Darwin stood for the first time since they met today. He walked to his garden then touched one rose, smiled.
“My son will help you. He has many girlfriends, maybe you can find one. I’ll ask him to meet you at Tre tonight.”
Luxell shaked his head. “I can’t believe this. It’s like you’ve hide it so long from me. You’re fool! You can’t believe the doctor just like that!”
“I do, son. I do.” Mr Darwin said without looking back.
“Ok, I’ll do it. I promise. But I don’t think your fucking little son will help me out. His girls are bitches.”
“No, not all of them. Few of them are good.”
Luxell stood, felt sad to see his friend’s back. He knew that Darwin wasn’t lying. Maybe it’s true that he has cancer inside his head and maybe this will be the last time for Luxell to see his old friend’s back.
“Okay, tonight in Tre. Tell your son, he better find me a good one so I can fulfill his father’s hard will.”
Mr Darwin didn’t turn his back although he knew that Luxell gonna leave after saying those words. For him, It’s always hard to say goodbye… His best friend, Ken, who was also Luxell’s brother also died without saying anything to him. He died on an explosion.
“Luxell, if I die, please take care of my son. And take care of yourself.”
“You better get well, I don’t wanna lose good pal like you. You’re not gonna die, dummy. I’ll take you to the best doctor.”
Mr Darwin tried not to cry but his tears won’t hold back. Luxell will always be his good friend, brother, and son. After saying those words, Luxell left the place, left the old man alone…