Before the slight scent of chocolate mints hits ISAAC's nose.
And ISAAC has a sinking feeling that's worse than the Titanic must have ever fucking suffered.
The swift glance upwards justifies ISAAC's worst fears as ISAAC catches sight of a head of black shiny hair and a pair of green staring eyes.
It is KYOLINE DIEGO herself. Why does ISAAC have to run into this woman again?
ISAAC starts to step back.
Can ISAAC slip around the back of the stand loaded with the ciabatta and the focaccia and be outta here before she realizes it's ISAAC? Shit, ISAAC should have put on ISAAC's black hitman costume. It's a lot simpler to stay incognito in the dark. Fuck, what in the devil's name is the world coming to when you gotta put on your hitman gear just to go shopping at the local store?
"Is him, sis, ISAAC'm telling you," the squirrel trills.
Christ, the annoying little shit is her brother?
They both turn around slowly and stare straight into ISAAC's eyes. "Kid, I've got you mistaken for someone else," ISAAC stammers.
He thrusts out his chin. "No, ISAAC haven't." He inserts a finger down. "You've got my Lucky Charms in your basket."
"Why the devil are you looking at what's in my basket? My shopping is private."
KYOLINE DIEGO looks sternly at ISAAC. "When has the contents of a supermarket basket ever been private?" The tone conveys that she knows ISAAC is lying.
"See here," grunts ISAAC, folding ISAAC's shoulders back. "He stole the cereal off me. He's obviously learned light-fingered habits from his big sister."
"I didn't take anything, KY, I swear. It was the last one on the shelf, and I took it out, and then this guy tried to grab the box away from me."
Her expression mirrors surprise. "He did?"
"Uh-huh. And when I wasn't going to hand it to him, he growled at me.".
KYOLINE DIEGO's mouth falls open as she flicks her eyes toward ISAAC. "You growled? At a kid? Over a box of freaking cereal?"
"Yeah, KY, he did. He's a greedy-guts with no manners," the stupid squirrel adds.
"You're the one with no manners," ISAAC barks at the kid.
"Says the man with zero manners himself," KYOLINE DIEGO interrupts.
Why the devil is she taking his goddamn side? And why the devil should ISAAC care so much? "ISAAC've got plenty of manners," ISAAC answers, unable to suppress ISAAC's defensive note.
What, such as the last time we spoke and you misrepresented yourself to me? Playing on me as if I was in grave danger and required to answer all of your invasive questions—when the whole time, you could have merely told me that the KASH MANCHESTER instructed you to bring me in."
ISAAC opens ISAAC's mouth but then snaps it shut, not knowing how to respond to that.
"Don't worry, DAMON, we'll stop by PELLA's house on the way home," KYOLINE DIEGO soothes. "She always has some Lucky Charms, and ISAAC'm sure she won't mind lending us a box." She tosses her hair over her shoulder and turns back around to grab some focaccia.
And ISAAC finds that her ignoring and acting like this is pissing ISAAC off. And the moment she's unsure, the obnoxious squirrel thumbs his nose and wiggles his fingers at ISAAC.
ISAAC can sense ISAAC's blood pressure rising. Count on KYOLINE DIEGO to be part of this entire debacle. What in the world is it about this woman that makes ISAAC's cool, calm, and collected façade feel like a bulldozer just crashed into it?
ISAAC watches as they approach the checkout to pay and load groceries, and at the end, KYOLINE DIEGO gives the cashier a big smile as she thanks her. And as ISAAC watches her smile, ISAAC finds herself thinking why ISAAC such an annoying prick at times and why ISAAC's interactions with this girl tend to be strained. And ISAAC starts to wonder what it would be like to receive another of those beautiful smiles from KYOLINE DIEGO. Because she does have a lovely smile…
She's so much of an enigma ISAAC wants to unravel. She puts on these big, big smiles for everyone, but ISAAC knows there's more going on underneath, especially with her shoplifting problem and the problems VINCENT DANZA mentioned. KYOLINE DIEGO and her brother then leave the store without another word. And ISAAC finds ISAAC'sself wishing ISAAC had a little more time to talk with the shoplifting girl.
KYOLINE DIEGO –
TENZ JER'SEY took KYOLINE DIEGO out for lunch the other day, and now he's bringing KYOLINE DIEGO to work. They pull up at VINCENT DANZA's KASH MANCHESTER, and they go in together, but their conversation is cut short by a screech of sound. Because when they cut around the corner and onto the main floor, they're met by his ma's voice screaming that she wants to have a word with TENZ JER'SEY.
"Okay, I'll catch you later," KYOLINE DIEGO grumbles while KYOLINE DIEGO shakes KYOLINE DIEGO'sself loose from his grasp and whirl on KYOLINE DIEGO's heel.
"Hold on a minute, KY." He seizes KYOLINE DIEGO'sarm. "You've got ten minutes before you're required to report for duty. Come on and meet my ma."
"I don't think that's a good idea." "How are you ever going to get her to like you if you never spend any time with her? She just needs to get to know you a little bit, and then she'll begin to realize all the great things I see in you."
And as he gives KYOLINE DIEGO his special smile, KYOLINE DIEGO gives in. "Let me just get something from my locker." He nods with a grin as KYOLINE DIEGO flee to the staffroom out back.
"You're early, Ma," KYOLINE DIEGO hears TENZ JER'SEY say.
"I wanted to spend some time with my favorite boy before my birthday party starts…"
KYOLINE DIEGO groans. TENZ JER'SEY never told KYOLINE DIEGO that it's his ma's birthday—or that she's throwing a party at the KASH MANCHESTER tonight. Tossing KYOLINE DIEGO's bag into KYOLINE DIEGO's locker, KYOLINE DIEGO has no idea what KYOLINE DIEGO've done to deserve this? If KYOLINE DIEGO'd had any idea that TENZ JER'SEY's ma was going to be coming here, KYOLINE DIEGO would have flat-out refused this extra shift, even if it would cause KYOLINE DIEGO to lose out on the desperately needed cash. Because TENZ JER'SEY's ma brings iciness to a level beyond that of the iciest temps at the North Pole. She flat-out hates KYOLINE DIEGO. Despite TENZ JER'SEY's assertion that most of it is in the head of KYOLINE DIEGO.
But whenever KYOLINE DIEGO catches sight of her, she overlooks KYOLINE DIEGO. Or if she does deign to look at KYOLINE DIEGO, all KYOLINE DIEGO gets out of her is a dirty look. KYOLINE DIEGO's friends argue all mothers are hard to impress; but if questioned KYOLINE DIEGO, Italian mothers are a different species altogether. For them, taking care of their beloved boys is like going for a very risky sport—they invest endless energy into the task of this one cause and would even lay down their life if the situation calls for it.
Glancing at the reflection in the mirror, KYOLINE DIEGO adjusts KYOLINE DIEGO's outfit—a beautiful piece of garment in a hue called Metallic Melody.
Straightening up and tucking in KYOLINE DIEGO's shoulders, KYOLINE DIEGO walks back onto the central floor. But as KYOLINE DIEGO approaches, KYOLINE DIEGO can clearly hear his ma's not-so-sweet tone ringing out above the KASH MANCHESTER.
"Why you so angry, Ma? I don't get it. What is it?" TENZ JER'SEY is trying to soothe her.
"What's going on?" she snaps. "I'll tell you a secret. Marjorie Martinelli called me and told me that Elsa Liabardi's ex-aunt's cousin's wife's best friend just saw you at a restaurant with that God-awful girl who's a slut like her hooker mom?— "
The word slut rings in KYOLINE DIEGO's mind.
"Ma," TENZ JER'SEY interrupts, "KYOLINE DIEGO's mom is not a hooker. She's an escort."
"Oh please, her mother can call herself whatever she wants but everyone knows what she really does when men pay her."
"Ma, you've got it wrong?— "
"How dare you have me hear it from Marjorie Martinelli of all people?" she roars. Oh jeez, Marjorie is the worst gossip in town. "The shame! Have you no respect for your own ma? I raised you to be better than that, TENZ JER'SEY."
"Ma, KYOLINE DIEGO's a good girl."
"A good girl," she derides. "What, with parents like hers! Everybody knows that KYOLINE DIEGO is nothing but a gold digger who thinks that her ticket back into our rich mafia community is by being a whore just like her mother."
"Ma, why don't you just give her a chance and give yourself a chance to know her."
"What, like you let her suck you off in the back of your car? Don't think I don't know how she gained access to you in the first place!"
KYOLINE DIEGO winces, a hot flash of heat spreading up KYOLINE DIEGO's face. KYOLINE DIEGO has never actually done this in his car, but it's quite evident that she doesn't particularly care for KYOLINE DIEGO. And now everybody else in the KASH MANCHESTER is aware of this too, as her voice carries so far.
"Why don't we all go out to eat one evening so you can talk to KYOLINE DIEGO decently?" TENZ JER'SEY is suggesting.
KYOLINE DIEGO gazes off down the hall and grabs her by the wrist, cuffing him around the ear. "I have no desire to have anything to do with that girl."
"Ma, you are wrong. KYOLINE DIEGO does not engage in such work like her mom." "Oh, for goodness' sake. Like mother, like daughter. She spread her legs so that you would notice her. Why would you even look at a girl like her? You are a catch, while she is not even as precious as the trash in the street gutter."
Anger and frustration swirl within KYOLINE DIEGO.
"I'm not having that girl anywhere near me or our family. Think about what you're doing to our reputation after all the years your father spent building it up! Keep away from her, TENZ JER'SEY. I know her type. She'll get herself pregnant just to trick you into marrying her. Don't ruin all the plans I have for our family." KYOLINE DIEGO is wondering what plans she means….
"You just have to take a liking to her, Ma."
"I know her type, thank you very much," she snarls. "I knew her family before her dad betrayed the organization. And let me tell you, KYOLINE DIEGO is just as much of a whore as her mother is."
TENZ JER'SEY let's out a sympathetic little laugh. "I know you don't really mean that, Ma."
Er, doesn't she? She's quite darn convincing in her damning of KYOLINE DIEGO. Occasionally, KYOLINE DIEGO really does have to wonder at TENZ JER'SEY's observation skills.