The Crime Lord

New Friends

"I have a visitor for you, Robert Joan Mancini."

When the prison warden called out my name, my innocent face became perplexed. I stopped the activity of breaking the stone and dashed to the warden.

I trailed the warden with staggered steps, my legs still aching from being completely bullied by members in my room the night before. My body was slammed to the floor several times for failing to do what the seniors ordered. It was excruciatingly painful for me, and my body was so thin that it felt like all of the bones were breaking.

But, there's one thing I like about the residents of block G. 28. They are thoughtful and concerned about what has happened to me. They pranked me and then asked me to tell them what happened between me and Luvita. Their expressions were symphatize, and they didn't appear cruel as they listened intently to my story.

Even though it was only one night, I began to have the impression that the people in block G-28 weren't so bad. They also warned me about the G-28's ruthlessness, but they protected each other. So, I could say that I was fortunate to be allowed to join with them at the G-28.

We entered a room at the front of the prison, where I was still following the warden's lead. A woman in a small white hat sat pensively staring at the right side from a distance. I immediately came to a halt, the woman was Luvita. I was apprehensive about meeting the woman who had changed my life.

"Sir... I'm sorry, but I don't think I can meet with that lady."

I said quietly while hiding my face so Luvita can't see me.

Instead of fulfilling my request, the prison warden embraced and pushed me hard.

"Be thankful that there are still people who want to see you. You can ask the guys on your block, no one has wanted to come to see them since they arrived. Not even Monti, the son of a great businessman, receives any visits!” exclaimed the warden firmly.

The last sentence piqued my interest, and a desire to discover who the real Monti was arose in my heart. The way he said that Monti's father is a businessman, show that he is not a poor child like me. 

When my footsteps approached Luvita, the male warden ordered her to sit again. She was standing when she saw my face. I really hate her.

"Fifteen minutes," the warden said to Luvita. He then stepped behind Luvita and waited for us to finish our conversation.

Luvita looked at me with regret, tears streaming down her cheeks. I immediately looked away, unmoved, given that Luvita was a liar who had trapped me in this prison.

"Robert, can you forgive me?" Luvita inquired.

"Can forgiving you makes all change?" I taking a deep breath and looking at the woman, then said, "am I going to be free?"

Luvita remained silent before lowering her head and sobbing. When the warden who accompanied me noticed this, he gave me a code to calm Luvita.

"Sir, our conversation is over," I said to the warden, i really lost my respect for Luvita. I can't face her too long. I fed up with her drama.

Of course, it frightened Luvita, who looked up and shook her head. But, I was unconcerned, and as soon as the male warden approached me, we leaving the visiting room.

"Robert! Don't go, please!" Luvita yelled while I walked away, I swear every people in this room, looking at me like we're in the romance movie.

I returned to the prison yard to break more rocks. There’s Monti was sitting under a tree next to my tree pile. With a smile on his face, the man waved his hand at me. I was immediately reminded of the warden's statement that Monti's father was a businessman.

"Look at this cheerful expression! Someone already misses you after only one day!” Monti concluded, throwing a small stone at me, "You're really lucky!"

That sentence was enough to prick my heart, there was a longing and sadness in Monti, who was probably waiting for his family to visit.

"If it had been the orphanage's caretaker or a friend who was there, I would have felt very lucky," I joked. "Unfortunately, it was a woman who framed me."

Monti was stunned, his mouth wide open as he stared at me.

"Are you kidding me? That lady? What brought her to see you? What is the point?"

"I don't know," I replied, chuckling, “She just sobs and begs me to forgive her. I didn't want to waste time on someone like that, so I left her right away. After all, forgiving her doesn't change my life, I'll be here for another ten years." 

"Wait a minute, what?!? Ten years? Oh God! I just heard this! You didn't tell us your sentence last night! Rodrigo, who shot a cop, only received seven years! They really take away your power, buddy!" Monti expressed his concern for Robert.

I used our conversation to find out about Monti. it's the right time to asked about his case. He hadn't told me much about the case or his family.

"And how about you? You haven't told me about your case. I hope we can be friends and talk together because we aren't that old," I asked and I was cautious, fearing Monti would be offended.

"My life isn't exciting, Robert. I used to steal to get attention because I was a thief. My parents were never interested in me, especially when they were divorced. You could say I was born into a wealthy family. I've been to prison several times, and every time I get out, they scold me severely, this does not make me sad. I'm actually relieved because it allows me to see them together and communicate with them, even if the sentences that come out are they blame each other. My life is too bad and toxic for me to be happy. Happiness comes from noise. It's unfortunate that they no longer care about me. I have three years to serve, and I've been here for three months,” Monti concluded. He smiled as he turned to face me.

I was moved by Monti's story, which revealed that even children from wealthy families can become trapped in the underworld.

"Monty, you know what? I feel like I'm beginning to accept my fate. Thank you for your story just now, it hit me hard enough. Life is never fair," I concluded.

"Yeah, I—"

"HEY! WHO SAID YOU HAD TO STOP WORKING?!"

Monti's sentence was abruptly cut short by the screams of a large and tall warden pointing at us. We immediately rose from our positions and broke the rock again.

Then, we exchanged glances and laughed, as if we had found a new spirit. I extended my hand to Monti and said, "Friend."

Monti smiled lopsidedly, nodded, and warmly accepted my hand in his.

He exclaimed, "Friend!"