What Am I Going To Do Without You? (Part 2)

“Love you, Titi,” Juan called to his aunt. ‘What am I going to do without you?’ Juan said to himself.

Isa was wondering the same thing herself. But eventually, the day came.

Juan Escobedo was going to the Naval Academy. He had graduated high school. He had good grades. He was an athlete, playing offensive tackle for the football team. He had even planned to walk on the Navy’s football team. However, there was something bigger than football that he cared about and loved.

~~~

“You ready, soldier?” Derek said.

“You’re dropping me off at the airport?” Juan questioned.

“Yeah. Your aunt has to work.”

“Can I at least say bye to her?” Juan said.

“Go ahead. I’ll wait in the car.”

Juan walked to her slowly.

“Sobrino, call me when you get there, sabes que?” She said.

“I will,” Juan said, nodding.

“And don’t get caught up in those cochinas over there, all right?”

“I won’t,” Juan nodded again.

“I love you, Juanito,” Isa kissed him on the forehead.

Juan kissed his aunt on her full pouty lips and said:

“Te amo, Titi.”

Juan picked up his bags and left. This would be the last time they would see each other for a few months.



A few months later…

“Yeah, you looked good. Real good… with those shorts on in your cheerleading practice. It damn near distracted me,” Juan said, via FaceTime. She giggled.

“You want to see what’s under these? I know you boys were looking…” She said, with a coy smile.

The other line rung on FaceTime. It was his aunt. He cursed, and said…

“Baby, take a rain check on that, all right? I got something to do…”

“Okay, my roommates are being nosy anyway. Time to study for me,” She said.

“See you later.”

After Juanito settled in the Naval Academy, he did, in fact, walk on the football team as a lineman. He would also lose a lot of that weight from high school from training. As a result of that, he also got a girlfriend. A cheerleader named Coco. He thought about his aunt’s teachings. He wondered if Derek actually knew. His phone rung. He promptly picked up. It was Isa.

“Juanito.”

“Titi. I can explain. I was talking to my girlfriend plus I had practice…” Juan got interrupted.

“I don’t… wait, what?” Isa said.

“Football practice. I made it as a walk on.”

“Oh, mi sobrino! You better get me tickets!” Isa said.