บท 11: Unexpected improvement of relationship and visits to the Corleone
In the apartment, Lorenzo woke up much earlier than usual, finding himself in the unusual position of walking to work alone, since his friend Adam was in the hospital.
To be honest, Lorenzo's attendance at the factory was purely to fulfill a task assigned by the system. By completing it and earning 15 XP, he met his goal. The task required him to work there for at least a month. After fulfilling this obligation, Lorenzo planned to enlist in the military.
With roughly a month left before potentially heading off to war, Lorenzo was determined to forge stronger connections with those around him, especially Deborah, whom he harbored feelings for...
Before setting off to work, Lorenzo stopped by the deli. He exchanged greetings with Fat Moe, a familiar face, and requested, "Fat Moe, could I get a sandwich, please?"
"Alright," Fat Moe responded, promptly attending to Lorenzo's order.
Being a regular, Lorenzo felt at ease in the deli, albeit today he found himself scanning the room hopefully for a glimpse of Deborah. He even peeked through the bathroom's peephole, hoping to catch sight of her in the backroom, but to no avail. Disappointed, Lorenzo sighed, realizing he wouldn't be able to visit the deli in the afternoon as he had plans to travel to Long Beach. There, he intended to seek assistance from the don of the Corleone family.
Just as Lorenzo was about to withdraw from the peephole, the bathroom door swung open. Turning around, he found himself face-to-face with Deborah.
Lorenzo let out a sigh, realizing he wouldn't be able to make his usual afternoon visit to the deli since he had plans to go to Long Beach. He needed to seek the assistance of the Corleone family's don, and this might mean missing the chance to see Deborah, the woman he cherished.
Just as he was about to close the peephole, the bathroom door swung open. Turning around, Lorenzo's gaze fell on Deborah.
Before he could utter a word, Deborah's eyes met his. He was awkwardly perched, squatting with one foot on the wood.
Deborah's surprise was evident as she asked, "What are you doing up there?"
Lorenzo scrambled for an explanation, stammering, "Well, I just... was sitting here..." He struggled to find any plausible reason, especially in front of the woman he adored.
"Sit there? Really?" Deborah couldn't help but laugh, her amusement clear. "You couldn't come up with anything better than that?"
Lorenzo fell silent, awkwardly jumping down to the floor, now standing closer to Deborah.
"You were trying to spy on me again, weren't you? But found I wasn't in the backroom," Deborah said, her chuckle laced with amusement.
Caught in the act, Lorenzo could only admit with a resigned sigh, "Yeah. I was just hoping to see if you were in the backroom, just to catch a glimpse of you."
Deborah gently shut the bathroom door, turning to face Lorenzo with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Do you really prefer sneaking peeks through a bathroom peephole like some creeper, rather than watching me dance openly in the room?" she inquired, her gaze fixed on him, genuinely interested in his answer.
"I'd much rather watch you dance in the room, honestly. This place? It's a bit on the smelly side," Lorenzo replied without hesitation.
"Then why are you here?" Deborah pressed, stepping closer in the cramped space, her approach seeming to challenge him.
Meeting her gaze squarely, Lorenzo's response was earnest. "I just wanted to check on you. After that, I'd leave; I'm already running late for work."
Deborah saw the honesty in his eyes and couldn't help but smile, clearly entertained by the situation. Lorenzo, usually so strong and formidable, presented a different side of himself in these moments.
The memory of Lorenzo standing up to Max, a friend of Noodles, lingered with her. She had started to see Lorenzo in a new light after he had dealt with Max, a person she had little affection for. In her mind, it was Noodles' association with individuals like Max that had led to his downfall...
"So, you just came to check on me?" Deborah continued, her tone playful as she saw right through Lorenzo's discomfort.
"That's right..." Lorenzo admitted, then realized Deborah was just having fun at his expense, her smile giving away her amusement.
The moment Deborah was within Lorenzo's grasp, he instinctively pulled her closer by the waist.
Caught off guard by Lorenzo's sudden embrace, Deborah's amusement quickly turned to surprise, then to a flutter of nerves. Her heart raced beneath her thick, black coat.
With Lorenzo's face so close she could feel his breath, Deborah's anxiety peaked. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice tinged with fear over the possibility of his intentions escalating, worried he might silence any protest with a kiss.
Her mind raced with thoughts, yet all she found was Lorenzo's intense gaze locked onto hers.
Lorenzo seemed to take in every detail of her face — from her lips to her eyes — sensing her nervousness sparked by his bold move.
Then, releasing her waist, Lorenzo spoke firmly, "Remember not to provoke a man like you did today. In the hands of someone less restrained, you might have found yourself in a dire situation."
Confused, Deborah responded, "Provoke? I never meant to provoke you."
Lorenzo's chuckle was soft, his eyes still fixed on hers as he said, "You know exactly what I mean."
The room fell silent. Deborah acknowledged she had been toying with Lorenzo, never anticipating such a reaction.
To her astonishment, Lorenzo gently took her chin in his hand, locking eyes with her as he spoke. "You're lucky, young lady, that you're dealing with a man who knows self-control," he began, pausing for emphasis before continuing, "With someone else, they might become so enchanted by your beauty that they'd lose all sense of reason... and might act recklessly towards you."
While his words carried an intimidating undercurrent, Deborah couldn't help but see Lorenzo in a different light, finding a rugged charm in his concern and self-control.
If Lorenzo had surrendered to his impulses, losing himself to his desire, Deborah might have resented him. However, his demonstration of intense attraction paired with restraint, coupled with his protective actions and words, truly made an impression on Deborah at that moment.
This complex mix of feelings ignited a mischievous urge in Deborah to further tease Lorenzo, eager to witness his reactions and enjoy the playful tension between them.
Looking up into Lorenzo's eyes, still feeling the gentle pressure on her chin, Deborah teased, "I'll try to remember your advice, Mr. Self-Control."
Lorenzo couldn't help but let out a chuckle at her response. "You never do learn, do you, young lady?" he observed with a mix of amusement and affection.
Deborah's laughter mingled with his, lightening the atmosphere.
With a warm smile, Lorenzo added, "Just make sure you're only this way with me, alright?"
Feigning confusion, Deborah asked, "What do you mean?"
Lorenzo saw through her act but chose to play along. "That you'll be playful and flirty only with me. You shouldn't be this way with other men."
Deborah responded with a smile, leaving Lorenzo's statement hanging without a direct reply.
Lorenzo offered Deborah a parting smile as he walked past her, leaving her alone in the bathroom. He couldn't help but wonder if her silence meant her heart still harbored feelings for Noodles. However, a robotic voice in his head broke through his thoughts, announcing, [Ding! Congratulations, the host managed to increase the relationship points with the potential lover: Deborah +5.]
This unexpected notification brought a chuckle to Lorenzo's lips. It appeared that his restraint and respect towards Deborah—choosing not to take advantage of the moment—had indeed paid off.
Exiting the bathroom, Lorenzo was met by Fat Moe's curious gaze. "Where'd you wander off to? Your sandwich is ready."
Gratefully, Lorenzo took the sandwich, handing over the payment. "Thanks, Fat Moe. I've got to hurry now, or I'll be late for work!"
"Have a great day!" Fat Moe called out, watching Lorenzo hurry out of the deli.
Deborah, emerging from the bathroom moments later, caught a glimpse of Lorenzo leaving. A secretive smile danced on her lips as she watched him go, her thoughts a whirl of what had just transpired between them...
---
At the arms factory, Lorenzo was in his element, assembling weapons with remarkable speed. His proficiency was no secret among his coworkers, who had long since grown accustomed to his swift and skilled hands.
After working until 3 PM, Lorenzo's shift came to an end. He left the factory behind and made his way to the train station, embarking on a journey to Long Beach, New York. The trip stretched over dozens of miles, far from his starting point.
The journey by train was lengthy, a testament to the slower pace of travel compared to what the future might hold. With the train making occasional stops, it took Lorenzo quite some time to finally arrive at his destination.
Once he set foot on Long Island, Lorenzo sought out the Corleone family mansion. With a bit of help from friendly locals, he was able to find the mansion in just about half an hour, ready to seek the help he needed.
Standing before the grand Corleone family mansion, Lorenzo couldn't shake off a hint of nervousness. After all, he was about to meet the iconic characters from "The Godfather."
As he made his way to the gate, a guard spotted him. "Hey, who are you?" the guard called out, his tone wary.
Lorenzo replied with a burst of confidence, "I'm Lorenzo Lupo. I know Tom Hagen. I have an appointment with him."
The mention of Tom Hagen's name seemed to change the atmosphere. The guard, now with a flicker of recognition, glanced at his colleagues before reaching for the residential telephone, used specifically for internal communication within the household.
The guard made a call to verify Lorenzo's claim — to check both his identity and whether he truly knew Tom Hagen, and importantly, if there was a scheduled appointment with Hagen.
After a brief wait, the guard received confirmation, nodded to his colleagues, and turned to Lorenzo as the gate began to swing open. "Come in," he said, motioning Lorenzo forward.
Gratefully, Lorenzo stepped onto the property and was escorted through the mansion by the guard. He took in the surroundings with an appreciative eye until they arrived at their destination: Tom Hagen.
Tom greeted him with a warm smile, expressing surprise at Lorenzo's youth. "Lorenzo? You're quite younger than I expected."
Returning the greeting with equal warmth, Lorenzo couldn't resist a playful remark, "And you, Mr. Hagen, are younger and more handsome than I expected."
Tom chuckled at the compliment, giving Lorenzo a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Save your flattery for Don Corleone," he advised, amused by Lorenzo's charm.
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