Chapter 53

"Here." He handed me a towel but I ignored it and turned away. "No." "You’re going to be sick if you don’t dry yourself." The towel was still hanging on his hand. I turned back to him with a glare. "You know what? I’d rather be sick." His hand holding the towel fell to his side. His head was down as if he was able to feel guilt. "I’m sorry." My eyes widened, shocked from his words. "I’m sorry I said those things. I went of out of line-" "Sorry?! Sorry doesn’t cut out for what you did." I yelled at him but I still tried to keep my composure. This isn’t really my territory to begin with. He raised his head and a scowl grew upon his face. I was taken aback for that. I thought he’s finally going to swallow his pride. Guess I was wrong. "Why? Because you think he’ll be good for you?" He walked towards me like a predator to his prey. It was almost scary. Stefano was not to be reckon with when his furious. "Did I ruin something you thought would be your future? Well, guess what? I’m going to ruin it again and again." I gasped. I narrowed my eyes at him as I frown. "What exactly do you want? Why did you bring me here?" "You’re not going to play games with me anymore, White." He glowered down at me menacingly. He gigantic figure wasn’t really helping at all with what I’m feeling. "You were the one who played games with me first. You left that night, Ranallo. You have no idea how I felt." I said as I pointed my index finger at his chest. "I already told you how I feel about it but then you suddenly planned to leave me without my knowledge. Now you don’t have any idea how I felt about it. I hope for us to have a chance, Avery but you blew it off." Right now we were already screaming our throats out in the middle of his flat. If there were other people actually living here, they would come and circle us. "I was trying to explain myself but you didn’t let me. You walked away. You forced me to stay, Stefano. You’re acting like a selfish jerk. You don’t know how much I wanted to go home and be with my family. I’ve endured so much to get where I am now." "And yet you let me out on that fact. It seemed everyone knew but I don’t. Even my fucking friend Ashton knew. We could have talked but you just decided to drop that bomb." "It was hard for me to talk to you about it, not when you’re trying to work things out. How would you react if I said I would leave?" "I would have just been fine." "No you won’t. Just as I feared when you heard the news, you became a fucking asshole, demanding me to stay. You didn’t take it really well." He scoffed. "Yet here you are trying to live your life in college with another man. If I know any better he existed when you were about to leave me." "Bullshit!" I stepped towards him holding my ground even more. I gave him my fiercest glare. "We both know that’s not true. Cause if it is, I wouldn’t be ’begging’ to talk to you a week ago." I emphasised the words he used at the club when he was trying to taunt me in front of Nathan. He scoffed. "Are you really? Or were you trying to get a proper closure so you wouldn’t be feeling guilty leaving your ex lover while moving to another one?" "Argh!" I fisted my hair with frustration. "You are so infuriating! I regret having the guts just to fucking go after you so you could to talk to me. I don’t know you were there okay. Angela said you were out. If I have known I would have stayed away. And if still I would have known... I would still go after you." My voice trailed ending in a whisper. "You’re all I think about the whole damn time I’m here in New York. It pains me that I have no guts to actually come and talk to you. I regretted not making any move to chase you but then again it wouldn’t be right." I looked at him with my glassy eyes. "You are way out my league, Stefano Ranallo. I feel so small knowing that I might not be good enough for you. You knew my past and I’m ashamed of it." I looked down wishing the floor to swallow me whole. But I needed to get this out of my system. If I want to end this night no longer carrying a heavy heart, then I should tell him what I truly feel. But the blank stare he has, only makes me more scared and nervous. I don’t know what he’ll think, how he’ll react, but I will try. "When you refused to talk to me, I thought that was it. Everything is over. I was honestly heartbroken. But what could I do? It was all my fault. I was being a fool. I’m just going to accept that fact and move on." I looked at him again. "That guy... You were right. He was my knight and shining armor." I saw his jaw suddenly clenched. His scowl was back but much worse. "He helped me back then and was one of the reasons why I was still sane and survived military school." His face softens as he understood what I meant. But the blank stare was still there. It’s like he didn’t want to show his emotions. I looked anywhere but him, avoiding this uneasiness. He was being silent but I know he’s listening. I’m sure there are also a lot of things he wants to say but he made an effort to hear me out first. "I just want you to know... that night at your mansion. I wanted to tell you everything. Like probably what I’m doing now. And the fact that no matter how much of an asshole you are, I more than like you. And in the midst of thinking about you all day everyday, god, I’m falling in love with you." My voice cracked. I thought I’m going to cry but I hold that thought when he roughly grabbed my arm. It was quite painful but I didn’t protest. I looked at him confused. He wasn’t glaring nor scowling like he used to. It was just a frown. "You are so slow, White. I already fucking love you." With that, he slammed his lips to mine making me catch my breath.