Dante's POV
5 years ago
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I slowly touched my cheeks as tears threatened to fall from my eyes but as usual, I blinked them off.
I couldn't even recognized my own face. Then anger overcame me and I punched the mirror which made my knuckle bled but I didn't even feel the pain. The pain at the back of my hand was nothing compared to the pain I was feeling in my heart.
"What happened in here?!" My mother asked terrified as she approached me with my father behind her. My mother cried because of pity for me when she saw my bleeding hand. I started hitting myself which made my mother screamed in horror. She hugged me tightly to prevent me from harming myself any further, then I felt my father hugged me too.
"Son, don't do this to yourself. It's not your fault. It was an accident and we are not blaming you" My father said in a shaking voice. I knew they didn't blame me even for a second but I knew it was my fault.
"Dante honey, why don't we leave New York for some time so that we can forget about what happened? I think it will be the best for us" My mom suggested and I nodded. I needed to get out of here before I go insane.
"If you want son, we can go to Thailand to fix your burns. The doctor said we can still restore your face" My dad said but I wasn't ready for that. I felt like I needed to stay like this as a punishment because I felt like I killed my younger sister. It was my fault.
"No mom, just get me out of here" I whispered and she nodded her head in understanding.
The morning after that, we flew to Colorado through our private plane and when we arrived there, my parents tried everything they could to turn me back to my old self. They hired psychologist to help me with me depression. It helped me a lot and my nightmares decreased too but my usual happy self was still nowhere to be seen by my parents. But all that changed when I saw a beautiful girl who was happily riding a horse at the ranch owned by my father's friend.
She was so beautiful with her long chestnut brown hair blowing with the wind. But what caught my attention was her smile that could light the darkness.
"Dad, who is that girl? Do you know her?" I asked my father.
"I think she is a visitor of my best friend's daughter, Blair. She is from New York as far as I know. She attends the same school as Kelly"
He said as he began to walk to where Blair was standing to. She was watching her friend riding a horse.
"Hello Blair. Long time no see. I'm glad you visited your father during your summer vacation" My father said and she smiled.
"Yes Uncle Julio. Even though my parents separated, I still come here during my vacations" She said as she stared at me. I thought she was going to laugh at my face but she didn't.
"This is my son Dante, Dante this is Blair" My father introduced as and we shook hands. Then my father continued talking to her. After 5 minutes, the girl who was riding the horse happily approached us as the stable boy took away the horse.
"Oh my god! I'm so happy right now, at last I finally learned how to ride a horse" She said and giggled happily. She is really beautiful. Even though she wears glasses that never failed to hide her beautiful green eyes. Her lips looked so kissable and pink even though she isn't wearing lipstick.
"Yeah! I can see that you're enjoying" Blair laughed at her
"Anyway this is Uncle Julio and his son Dante.
They also live in New York like us. This is Cassia, my best friend and a classmate"
She extended her hand for a handshake to my father and when she extended her hand to me, I saw her stared at me, not particularly meeting my gaze but looking intently to my damaged face.
Then I saw pity and other emotions in her eyes. I was hurt because of the look on her face that instead of accepting and shaking her hand, I ran to our car and went inside.
Then the next morning, my parents went to a meeting. Even though we were here in Colorado, my father still manages the company and sometimes, he flies to New York and then comes back after he dealt with some things. I was left alone in our house with just the household help. I was in the living room, playing PlayStation when the doorbell rang.
I heard a maid talking to the people and my brows scrunched when I heard familiar voices. Then I saw Cassia and Blair at the doorway smiling at me.
"Hi. Sorry to intrude but Uncle Julio told us to come here and accompany you. We have nothing to do today but if you want, we can go out. What do you say?" Blair asked me reluctantly while Cassia on the other hand was still smiling at me. I frowned at her. I thought she was disgusted with my face. I guess not.
"Where do you want to go?" I asked them and that made them smiled excitedly.
"Well I don't have anything in mind. What about you?" Blair asked again.
"Me either. You can join me swimming if you want" they looked at each other and then giggled.
"Sure!" They said in unison which made me almost smiled at them but I stopped myself.
We played a PlayStation a little bit and when they couldn't beat me at all, they complained so we went to the pool. To my surprise, they both have swimwear with them. While we were at the swimming pool, I noticed Blake was keeping distance to me the whole time while Kelly on the other hand was now comfortable with me even though I was serious the whole time. I was just sitting on a nearby lounge chair while watching them swim. After Almost an hour in the swimming pool, the cellphone of Blair rang. She answered it but after that she was pouting.
"Sorry guys, I need to go home for a bit. My dad needs to get something in my room but they can't find the spare key so I need to go there and give them my key" Blair said apologetically. I noticed Cassia's eyes were in panic.
"I'm coming with you"
"Cassia, I will be right back. I have Macy so it will probably take 10 minutes" She said, referring to her horse. Cassia nodded and then Blair left us.
There was an awkward silence between us when Blair left. I couldn't find the right words to say to her to make her comfortable with me. When she went out of the pool and sat on the outdoor lounge chair far from me, I went and sat next to her but to my surprise, she transferred to the other chair.
I clenched my jaw at her reaction.
"Are you afraid of me?" I asked her through gritted teeth. Ever since the accident, I became sensitive and moody. I've never even smiled at all.
She shook her head no as she looked at her hands, rubbing them together nervously.
"Then why do you always have that panic look when I am near you?"
"I-I'm sorry but no. You got it wrong"
She said. I sat again next to her and this time, she didn't dare to transfer.
"Look at me and prove it" I commanded her sternly and she slowly raised her head to look at me.
Then our eyes met. I almost gasped at how beautiful this creature was in front of me. I had the sudden urge to kiss her right there and then which I've never felt in my 22 years of existence.
After how many seconds of staring into each other, she was the one who looked away first. I didn't know what came over me, I touched her cheek and made her looked at me again.