As we entered the hall, it went silent exactly like the first time, when I met Dante. Every eye was on us as we entered; every bloody eye in this hall was on us. I have experienced the spotlight on me in both good and bad situations, but this was an entirely different level. The excitement was getting the best of me, and my head was high as I entered the hall.
We started greeting a few delegates, and the crowd started forming around Dante and me. I greeted a few well-known faces, and Dante introduced me to a few. This is so much work at a party, and I never worked this much at any party. We were sipping champagne and indulging in talking, but I felt tipsy. Dante was side-eyeing me for no reason. "Don't drink too much." He whispered. "I know my limit." He gave me that look. "It's your fifth one, Rowan." No wonder I felt tipsy so soon. These idiots who surrounded us were the wrong crowd; they were forcing me indirectly by calling the waiter again and again. I looked at Dante, who was holding the same glass for the past 20 minutes or so. He was acting like he was drinking, but he wasn't, and I was gulping like water.
I huffed and scanned the hall for a change. I saw Tristan and his parents. I thought of walking to him for a small talk, but their glare stopped me from moving. I scowled at them, not getting why they were glaring at me. I mean, all three of them for no apparent reason. I approached Dante and whispered. "The Sawyer family is glaring at me for no reason," I complained, and I don't know why I did that. Dante's eyes fell on me, and he met the Sawyer family with the same glare, who averted their eyes immediately. I scowled harder this time. "Ignore them," Dante said nonchalantly. I tried to follow his words, but I still felt their eyes on me. "What's their problem with me? I didn't do anything." I spoke a little louder, interrupting the conversation that was going on. Everyone looked at me with a questioning gaze. "I tried to be friendly with him all the time, but he was always full of attitude," I grumbled, and Dante chuckled at that. "The result of being too friendly," Dante murmured, and I sighed at that. "Being friendly is not a crime." "No," Dante agreed. "You can't match every mindset; Rowan and some people will be fucked up for no reason or some reason." Dante further added. I huffed; I don't know what he was implying. "A few people approach you with an agenda." "Like, what?" With a baffled tone, I asked. "It could be anything," he replied once again, vaguely. I groaned louder, gaining attention once more on me.
I was tipsy; I forgot to press the control button most of the time. Dante was beside me, not moving an inch from me. "I told you." He grumbled, and I chuckled at that. We were at the food section. Dante didn't plan to have food, but when my stomach growled louder, he gave in, reluctantly. He is too much in everything, too picky. Apparently, he doesn't like to consume food at parties; occasionally, only if the food falls on his list, then only he will give a thought to have it or not. Give me a break? I would never miss the food part.
I started with what I liked, what I didn't try for once, and what was familiar. My plate was almost full; I reluctantly left the few items for the next round. I saw Dante, who was groaning, grumbling, and displeased when he saw too much oil on an item. Finally, he selected only three food items: pale, green, and pathetic. Dante's eyes fell on mine, and he chuckled as he saw my plate, which I ignored. We sat in the chairs and started to have the meal.
Now, I felt more eyes on me. They were on my every move. I momentarily met a few crowds, who had a displeased look on their faces, glaring and angry. Dante was immersed in consuming and greeting whoever was greeting him. One or another person was always showing up wherever Dante and I were. I also observed how they were directing envious emotions at Dante. This is fucking ridiculous. All the draggers were directed toward me, and I don't know why I started to boil at that.
I tried my best to ignore it and stopped myself from complaining. I finished, and Dante was waiting for me. I didn't feel like consuming more; the rage that was in me had occupied my stomach completely. Dante was eyeing me from time to time, not getting the shift in my mood. We started to walk toward the exit.
"Everyone is fucking glaring." I couldn't hold back, so I told him. We halted the steps; momentarily, he met the crowd, who were still directing their glare at me. "I am not getting why." The voice came louder, and the hall went silent at that. Pin-drop silent. "They are sending draggers only to me, and I know fucking why," I shouted those words, watching the crowd, and a few eyes averted, feeling shame. "I didn't snatch anyone's fucking toy. We are dating; you all should suck the news sooner." Once again, it came louder. "And fuck you all." Dante, with a smile, started dragging me out of the hall, and I didn't miss the chance to show my middle finger to them. Well, it sucks to be them. Damn them.
We were in the car; Dante burst out laughing. "We will be on the news thanks to you; especially your video will be everywhere." I was still fuming at the reaction I got in the hall. "I fucking hate them." I groaned louder. If we were targeted together, things would never get me, but this glare was for a whole different reason. Like, I fucking snatch something from them. "Cool down, will you?" "I will. Stop the car near the grocery store." Dante looked puzzled but obliged.
The car stopped, and I dashed out of it, straight to the grocery store. Dante was tailing me. When I entered, I walked straight to the alcohol section, grabbing a few beers. Dante let out a long sigh while he watched me, and I chuckled in return. I grabbed the whole case and walked out; Dante made sure of payment.
"We should head to the beach." As we entered the car, I spoke. "Rowan," Dante groaned. "We are heading to the beach," I informed him firmly. "This was supposed to be our second date, and it's ruined. I want to make it memorable in the simplest way. So, beach," I shouted, and Dante shook his head in return. "Beach, it is."
The car started moving; I faced the window, watching passing trees and vehicles. The climate was cold; the air was hitting my face, making me shiver a little. "Close the window, Rowan." I ignored him. Dante draped his coat around me, and a smile crept on my face.
As the car stopped, I took the case and walked toward the shore, and as usual, Dante tailed me. I hummed in contentment when I saw the waves. It feels so good, different from Bliss Island. The waves always take off the weight that is on your chest and hug you tightly. No validation required, no judging, no pressure to prove anything; you can just be you and enjoy the moment.
I sat near the shore, and Dante was beside me. I handed him a beer, and I started sipping the same. We were silent, enjoying the view. Dante was quiet, too quiet, and I didn't know how to take the quietness, whether positively or negatively. "I like things to be simple. Date to be simple." I broke the silence. "Don't mix business with pleasure," I added, thinking of the whole thing that happened a few minutes back. "I know what you were doing, building contacts for me. I thought it was a date." "It was." He spoke softly. "Sorry." He added. "The whole event turned into something else." I chuckled at that, thinking of my punch line to them. "Beer at the beach, cool date, right? No one around us, only us and with us. Does it make sense?" I grumbled, not knowing what I was speaking. "It does," Dante replied. Maybe I did make sense, or we were already tipsy.
I leaned back a little, grabbing another beer. "Looks like our date is going to finish in a few bucks. I am low maintenance." I informed him proudly, and Dante smiled at that, making me flutter a little. "Yes, you are." He nodded, still holding the same can. He didn't even finish one, and I am already at the third one. I rarely get drunk like this when I am content at the moment, which I am, by the way; I don't have an explanation for that. When I feel secure, once again, I feel that, especially around my family, Davis and now, with Dante. When I feel happy, strangely I feel so happy and proud of myself. Now, I feel all the above. I have never felt every emotion in one situation, and I am feeling it now. This is so wrong and fake, yet it felt right. Things should never feel this way: so happy, content, and secure in a fake relationship, and I am feeling everything around him. This is always the case; when I was around him before, so many things confused me, and he evoked many unknown emotions in me. Today is the same case; he was not a constant presence in my life. We met at a party; we were friends for nearly a year, and he vanished. When he returned, he didn't contact me for some reason.
I wanted someone or something. I wanted an escape, seeking desperately for some escape route, and I latched on to him. I could have depended on someone who was around me from my birth. I should have sought help from someone who was around me, but I didn't do that at all. Out of desperation or impulsivity, I dragged Dante, and he didn't complain. I can't name the thing I feel around him—so many things out of the box, but it still makes sense somehow.
If he is far, I feel so lost, empty and lonely even though others are around me. It doesn't fill the space; the need I feel only his presence could. When he is near, I feel like my life depends on him completely. I feel down with his absence, and things don't make sense. This is not how I should have felt when I knew him for only a year or so. I should not act all putty when he is around. He is not my strength. I should not depend so much on him. The silence always screams something, mummer things.
"I will always protect you from now on, irrespective of being present in your life." Dante finally broke the silence, and I wanted to choke at the words. Would he leave me once again? The thought hit me harder this time. Or maybe he was talking about our fake relationship once it came to an end. I didn't know what he was implying, but the word 'protection' made me more miserable. "I don't want your protection." I spat the words harshly. The emotions got the best of me; I just couldn't hold back. He sat silent at that, no rebuke, not angry at me, just silent. I hate what I am feeling right now, fucking messed up, and this always happens when we are together. In silence, things talk, mummer and push me into more misery. I have never felt peace when we are together, especially in a moment like this. I don't know why I dwell on these things, but I do. Always, I do try to listen to murmurs and whispers, but not a word is horrible.
I stood from the spot and started walking along the shore, thinking. Trying to make more sense of the situation. Dante was tailing me, behind me at a close distance. I could feel him, but never his emotions. I can't read him, especially his emotions. I tried and failed. He hides it well, unlike me. We walked in silence, no destination in mind, just us. Only us. I am content, and I don't want any intrusion from anyone. I am not able to decide whether for now or forever. I chuckled at my sudden ideology. Sudden shift in my mood. For a few minutes, or at least for 20 minutes, we just walked in silence, along with the waves. Me gulping the beer, and Dante was closely watching my every move. We had to stop; it's not our destination, but we had to return to reality, and we walked back.
We sat in the car, and Dante groaned when he saw me. "You are too tipsy, Rowan." "Thanks," I mumbled, closing my eyes with a sigh. "You are staying alone; can you manage?" "I am a bloody adult." I retorted to him. I really don't feel like going to my place. "That's debatable." "That's funny. I am senior over here, and take me to my damn place." "As I said, that's debatable. It's the weekend; stay at my place." Dante decided, and I didn't argue. I had the same idea, but I was shy to reveal the same. Only once had I visited; no, twice, but I didn't explore his mansion. It's so cold and not so welcoming, surrounded by deep forest, yet I crave to visit his place once in a while. Strange.
The car stopped in front of his mansion, and I got out. Dante followed me. "You've got to be kidding me?" Why this guy hates me so much is beyond me. "What are you doing here?" Dante's dad barked those words. "Go away," I grumbled at him, and he was taken aback. He turned toward Dante and spoke. "Tell him it's my mansion, right now." He shouted at Dante. "Not now, Dad." He gritted his teeth at that. "What is he doing here, Dante?" "Sleeping." We both spoke in unison. "Why does he need to sleep over here, in my damn mansion?" He shouted. "It's not the first time; we have slept together before. Tell him." I shouted at Dante, and his dad was furious hearing my words. "You slept with him before? When? Dante." He shouted at Dante. "Dad, it's not what you are thinking. We just slept, only sleeping." Dante grumbled, and his dad sighed at that. "Well, the guest room is not prepared." "I am sleeping in Dante's room," I informed Dante's dad, just to get on his nerves. I didn't plan to sleep in the guest room. Both were taken aback at that. "Are you?" Dante spoke, with his eyes wide. "You are?" Dante's dad tried his best to digest the news.
I started climbing the stairs, ignoring them. "He is sleeping in your room, and you didn't utter a word in return. You never let anyone sleep at your damn sanctuary." He started shouting at Dante. "I thought you were just getting on my nerves, but you are really dating him? Our rival?" He spat the words. "Can't you give me a bloody break, Dante? And you bloody crossed your 20s just a year back. Give it a year or two, and so many offers will crawl towards you." That's it; I am done listening to his bullshit. "Dante," I shouted from the top of the stairs. "Right, excuse me, Dad." He started claiming the step. "You're already smitten by him, moron. This is my mansion, my rules, and you are my son. I am not letting this bullshit continue. Did you hear me?" He was shouting at the top of his lungs. Dante closed the door harshly, just to send the message to his dad. "Don't do that; it's my fucking door and my mansion." The words could still be heard; I think he was near the stairs.
As we entered the room, Dante spoke. "You should get freshened up; grab whatever you want in the closet," Dante informed me, and I nodded at that. I approached his closet and started to go through it. It was neatly organised, unlike me. I was afraid to even touch it, knowing what I would do if I didn't get my choice of clothes or things that didn't fit me. I tried my best not to disorganise anything, handling things with care. It was a few minutes; I didn't find a pair that would fit me. I groaned and started shuffling through his things. "Do you need any help?" "No," I answered without wasting a second. Finally, I found something, and I yelled in triumph at the task. Dante chuckled, watching me. "Leave the mess and get fresh up." I nodded and made my way to the bathroom.
I slowly entered, observed everything around the bathroom, and didn't rush for anything. I stood near the door and watched everything. His bathroom had been modified: a wide window, so many things on the shelf, a towel neatly draped on the rack, and everything was shining. The green colour oddly matched the view in front of the window; it was wide and so cool.
One by one, I started removing my clothes, and in no time, I was under the shower. I let the water flow and stayed put for a while, completely forgetting about everything. It was a few minutes, and I wrapped a towel around my waist. While rubbing my hair, I moved to the wide window to take a glimpse of the forest. I leant on the window, mesmerised by the beauty of the forest. It was dark, but it was a full moon, and the charm in the forest on a full moon is at a different level. I completely forgot everything for a while, leaned on the window and enjoyed it. "Rowan, are you ok?" I came out of the daze when I heard the voice, but I didn't reply. My voice was stuck on the thing I was feeling while watching the view. Once again, familiarity hit me, like always.
"I am entering." Dante entered hastily, and his steps halted at the door for a few seconds. I couldn't take my eyes from the window, no matter how hard I tried. Dante approached and stood beside me, watching the same view. "It's beautiful," I uttered the word, still awestruck and in shock. "It is." He agreed. "You modified the bathroom?" "Yes." I hummed in return.
"You will catch a cold." Reluctantly, I tore my eyes from the forest. "Get dressed. Are you starving? I can inform the chef to prepare some light food." I shook my head at that. He gave me space to get changed and walked out.