Snap Out Of It

A week had passed since Greg returned from jail and Laura was already looking like a shadow of herself.

''Go and tell your mysterious gang-affiliated ex-boyfriend to come and save you from me,'' Damien would say, anytime he was humiliating her.

It didn't take too much to upset Damien, and he would pounce on Laura as if she stole from him.

On the other hand, Greg was trying to thrive. He was trying to get his business back on its feet.

''I'm glad you eventually came out of your dazed state,'' Pedro said one time. He was tired of having to babysit Greg. A grown man. For the number of days Greg spent in depression, it took a lot from Pedro not to kick him out to live in the streets because Pedro was the only one footing the bills in the house. Greg was incapacitated and was not doing anything to get back on his feet at the time.

Now he had taken a quick job that could fend for a place for him to live for the time being. So he left Pedro's house.

''Forget about that bitch. Don't ever think about her again, because she's not worth it. Think about what she has put you through,'' Pedro told Greg the day he was leaving his house. He helped Greg convey his luggage to his new house, so he seized the opportunity to give Greg a pep talk.

''I'm not a kid, Pedro. You don't have to sound like you are scolding me,'' Greg queried.

Pedro shook his head.

''You know I'm not querying you. Just do the right thing, Mr. Wiseman,'' Pedro said and clicked his tongue angrily at Greg. 

Greg rolled his eyes. 

''You are running your mouth because I had a small setback. You know, ordinarily, you are no match for me. And I have forgotten about Linda,'' Greg replied.

''Indeed,'' Pedro said with a scoff. 

''Seriously, what do you take me for?'' Greg asked. ''You expect me to keep that sort of person in my mind after what she did to me? Apart from the fact that I went to jail because of her, the humiliation, Pedro. I lost my damn house. I swear, if it's not Mr. Ban behind it, then who would do that to me? But it's all good. I am not going to dwell on my misfortune,'' he ranted.

''At least you are trying to make some sense because your depression of late has been pissing me off. But you went to jail, and it's a pretty big deal, so I allowed you to feel sad in peace,'' Pedro replied.

''Yea. Thanks, but no thanks,'' Greg answered. 

While they were moving Greg's items inside his new apartment, Greg almost did something that would have made Pedro suspect him. He was going to lift a huge couch all by himself.

He had already lifted it halfway and saw Pedro's eyes squinting in surprise before he quickly put it down, pretending as if he could not lift it.

''What was I thinking doing that? Come on and give me a hand,'' he said to Pedro casually.

Pedro laughed sarcastically.

''Prison has made you delusional, right? You think you can lift a ton because you had a couple of fights with your fellow inmates and won some,'' he said between chuckles. 

Greg smiled sheepishly and grunted.

''It must be the tea I drank earlier that's giving me the impression that you know? I am invincible,'' he said with a laugh. 

''Ah, you had better watch out. By the way, all eyes are definitely on you after what you did at the wedding. You might need some real luck and prayer since you are deciding to continue living here. I suggested that you skipped town, but. I mean,'' Pedro said with a shrug.

''I am not leaving my home for anybody. I have forfeited my fiance, and my house, now you want me to exile myself, just because?'' Greg asked.

''It's not just because, anything, Greg,'' Pedro said. ''After all that drama at the wedding, do you think you don't have arch-enemies now? You think because you were able to floor all those gangsta's so you are invincible?'' he added.

''At least I didn't look for trouble,'' Greg said.

Pedro turned his neck slowly to look at Greg while he tried to put his house in order.

''You literally made me drive you to that man's wedding so that you could unleash your venom, yet you say that you didn't look for trouble. Were you invited to that wedding?'' Pedro asked.

''What was he expecting? That I would just let him go with my fiance like that? I'm not a coward, at least I put up a fight to indicate that,'' Greg replied.

''I agree, but, my point is that you looked for trouble. How can you say you didn't?'' Pedro replied.

''I didn't because he took my lady first. In fact, he started this as soon as he made that disgusting advance at her years ago, the one that sent me to jail in the first place. So, he started it. Not me,'' Greg explained.

Pedro shrugged.

''If you say so then. Who am I to say otherwise?'' He asked. ''I'm leaving. I have to see the ladies tonight at the club. Should I pick you up later?'' He asked Greg.

Greg shook his head emphatically.

''Thanks. I am not interested,'' he replied and Pedro scoffed.

''You need not turn yourself into a wallflower because you have been to jail. Step out of your shadow and enjoy life,'' Pedro said on his way out of Greg's house.

''I will enjoy life in solitude. Everybody is not the same,'' Greg said but Pedro slammed the door at him because he was not cut out to listen to Greg's dull point of view.

''Boring ass cunt,'' Pedro said as he let himself inside his car and sped off. 

Greg smiled. He was happy to be alone with his thoughts at the moment.