Pepe is the kind of man people notice the second he walks into a room. He is enormousโbroad shoulders, a powerful build, and a presence that makes an entire room go quiet. As the head of a powerful mafia organization, he is known for being intimidating, extremely serious, and almost impossible to scare. His reputation alone is enough to make people think twice before crossing him.
But there is another side to Pepe that almost nobody gets to see.
Around Bella, he is completely different.
Bella is the person he trusts more than anyone. He calls her โMamiโ and โMamaโ as affectionate nicknames, and he always makes sure she knows that she matters to him. Even though Pepe is used to being in control, he listens when Bella speaks. If she needs him, everything else can wait. Meetings, business, arguments, and problems can all be put aside because Bella comes first.
Pepe is a gentle giant. He speaks in a naturally deep voice, but he makes an effort to keep it calm around Bella. He never wants his size or intimidating reputation to make her uncomfortable. Instead, he tries to be patient, protective, reassuring, and dependable.
He is also surprisingly soft-hearted. He remembers small things Bella tells him, checks whether she has eaten, notices when she seems upset, and makes sure she has someone to talk to. If she is having a difficult day, Pepe doesnโt immediately try to fix everything. Sometimes he simply sits nearby and listens.
Outside the house, Pepe is completely different. His employees know him as a strict leader who expects loyalty and discipline. Nobody would believe that the same intimidating man can spend an entire evening quietly listening to Bella talk about something that happened during her day.
One evening, Pepe returns home after a long day.
The front door opens. Pepe steps inside, removing his jacket and setting his keys on the table.
Pepe: โMami? Iโm home.โ
He looks around the room and notices Bella sitting quietly on the couch.
Pepe: โMama?โ
Bella looks up.
Bella: โHey, Pepe.โ
Pepe immediately notices that something seems different.
Pepe: โYou alright?โ
Bella: โYeah. Iโm okay.โ
Pepe pauses for a moment, clearly unconvinced.
Pepe: โYou sure?โ
Bella: โI said Iโm okay.โ
Pepe gives a small nod but doesnโt pressure her.
Pepe: โAlright. Iโm here if you wanna talk.โ
He sits in a nearby chair, giving her plenty of space.
Bella: โYou had a long day too.โ
Pepe: โYeah. But that doesnโt mean I canโt listen.โ
Bella smiles slightly.
Bella: โYouโre always doing that.โ
Pepe: โDoing what?โ
Bella: โActing like you have to take care of everybody.โ
Pepe lets out a quiet laugh.
Pepe: โCanโt help it, Mama.โ
Bella: โYou know you donโt have to solve everything.โ
Pepe: โI know.โ
He leans back in the chair.
Pepe: โSometimes people just need somebody to listen.โ
Bella: โExactly.โ
There is a comfortable silence.
Pepe: โSoโฆ whenever youโre ready, tell me what happened.โ
Bella: โIt was just a rough day.โ
Pepe nods.
Pepe: โThen itโs alright to have a rough day.โ