He hummed a song as he stepped out of the shower. he'd just called his office and gave others here and there. he sometimes wished he could book a quick flight back to where he stayed before his dad's death. he wished he could go back to the past but he couldn't.
Now, here he was, burdened and running an illegal business, that was his legacy and getting dressed to go meet a lady who'd effortlessly taken his mind off everything.
as he wore his shirt, he heard a knock on his door. the person who knocked entered the room before he could answer. it was his mum. her knock on the door was just a sound to alert him of her presence, not to seek his permission to enter the room.
"are you going somewhere?" came her hushed, guilt-ridden voice.
"obviously" he replied icily. he hadn't forgotten about the part his mother played in the death of his dad. in fact, ever since he found out, he hadn't spoken a word to her
"it's been long since we spent time together" she said
"I don't have time for that"
his mom kept quiet for a while. tension was evident in the air and it made him feel suffocated
"how long will you continue to blame me? how long will you continue to loathe me?" she wailed
"I don't know" he said curtly "I have somewhere to be"
"I'm your mother. I love --"
"I said I have somewhere to be!" he yelled shakily. his annoyance with his mom had taken every ounce of his self control.
"I love you, Lorenzo" she yelled back, tears pouring from her eyes. "I made a mistake. just one mistake. how was I supposed to know that it would cost your father's life?"
"no mom!" their shouts filled everywhere now, he couldn't stop. "you did it twice. you slept with that bastard twice"
"I didn't know.... I'm sorry" she said between tears
"I have somewhere I need to be. if you would excuse me---"
"till when? till when are you going to stop blaming me? I said I'm sorry"
"who then should I blame? Giovanni loved you and you did..."
"it was a mistake. I lusted just for a second"
"you ruined my life!"
"Lorenzo---":
"do you know what I've been through since dad's death?" he growled "I wasn't ready for this! I wasn't ready to be a don"
"but you didn't care. you just had to ruin everything"
his mom came closer, she stretched her hand, wanting to touch him but he recoiled.
"stay away from me" he ground his teeth
"you might end up repeating my mistake and you'll regret not forgiving me!" she shouted
he still tried to keep a rein on his temper. he didn't want to lash out or say something he'd likely regret.
he'd worn his shoes, so he grabbed his watch, key and stormed off, leaving his mom to stare at his back in bewilderment.
*******************
she got down from the car when they reached the venue of the fountain
"you know when to come get me" she said to her driver
"yes boss" he drove off
it was easy to find Lorenzo today because there were very few people around. he sat at the edge of the fountain, with his head bowed down. as she approached him, she noticed that there was something bothering him.
"hi" she greeted, sounding as cheerful as possible, as she stood in front of him.
he looked up at her with a gaze she couldn't read. then suddenly, he pulled her in and wrapped her in his arms.
she was so startled by the action that she stiffened.
"please just stay that way for a moment" he said sadly.
slowly, she raised her hands to hug him back, giving him the least type of comfort she could offer.
after what she guessed was two minutes, he released her from the hug, but still held her hand, which made it impossible for her to turn away from him.
"let's meet like this frequently" he said
she didn't answer, couldn't answer. she knew he was handsome, but looking at him up close wasn't allowing her to form a coherent thought.
she simply nodded
"what happened to you?" she asked lamely. her heart certainly wasn't helpful. she silently prayed he wouldn't hear it beating so loudly.
"I felt really down the weather"
"did anyone hurt you? physically, emotionally?" she wasn't hiding her concern "you can confide in me"
as she still stood facing him, they locked stares. he didn't answer her questions, he just held her gaze with such an intensity that she forgot to breathe. she felt movements in her belly. were they butterflies? what was a simple stare from a gorgeous guy doing to her?
their electrifying moment was cut short when someone splashed water on them.
"my mom cheated on my dad" he suddenly said.
"goodness!" she exclaimed after she inhaled deeply. "why? when?"
he attempted to laugh. it sounded very humourless
"before he died"
she gasped. poor Lorenzo. that was like a magnified hurt. "I'm so sorry"
"I found out after my dad died. I can't forgive her" his voice broke. "I feel this tightness in my body whenever I go home" he said "that's why I'm eager to meet you"
"I'm so sorry, Lorenzo" she didn't wait for him to do it this time. she hugged him. she felt really sad because she lost her dad too. she felt the both of them were kindred spirits, connecting in a deeper level.
"if that makes you feel better" she said "my dad's dead too"
"I'm sorry about that too" he said after they had detached from the hug.
she smiled, teary eyed
"I guess, now we have a lot of things in common"
"we do" he had a solemn expression now. "Bianca, I don't know if you feel the same way, but I don't want to stop seeing you"
she gulped. what direction was he heading to?
"I need someone. I need....a friend"
she didn't know why she felt disappointed after he'd friend zoned her. they were apparently friends. she couldn't yet understand what she felt for him and she certainly didn't want complications.
"I feel the same way" she forced a smile "now enough with the dreary vibe. let's do something else"
"like what?" he asked
"like this" dipping her hand into the fountain water, she scooped a handful and splashed it on him.
"I want to race you" she teased
"no objections" he scooped the water and began to chase her as she ran.