Chapter 64 Bitter revelation
Chapter 064
RAVENNA
I was finally ready for the event after spending three days locked up in the healer's quarters.
Three whole days of staring at white walls and counting ceiling tiles whilst my ankle joint was being fixed.
Dorian had paid for the entire treatment as an apology for Darius being an asshole, and I was grateful for that.
Now I wanted nothing more than to step out and feel the world again, to breathe in fresh air that did not smell like medicine and antiseptic.
All my efforts to convince Samantha to accompany us had proven completely useless.
"I need to finish an assignment that's due to be submitted tomorrow morning." Samantha responded moving tongue couch in the room and setting up her computer on the table in front of her.
"Ohh Samantha, we both know you've no assignment to submit tomorrow morning. So cut the crap and tell me the reason you don't want to come." I stood akimbo, my hands crossed staring at her.
"Well, the truth is I'm sick." She replies firmly.
But even after her confession, I knew Samantha well enough to recognise when she was deflecting from attending somewhere she did not want to be.
As Dorian and I walked towards the party venue, he suddenly asked, "Is Samantha not coming with us?"
"No, she is not," I replied, glancing at him sideways.
His face fell immediately, disappointment written all over his features. "Is she sick? Did something happen to her?"
I shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Sam told me she was sick, but I know she was lying. She just did not want to come, that is all."
Dorian's steps slowed considerably, and his voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Is it because of me? Did I do something to upset her?"
"I am not sure about that," I answered honestly. "Samantha has never really been a party person, you know that. She prefers quiet nights with books and tea over loud music and crowds."
Dorian stopped walking abruptly, right in the middle of the pavement, causing me to halt as well.
He stood there looking down at his feet, his shoulders slumped in a way I had never seen before. "I cannot do this anymore," he muttered, his voice thick with frustration.
I reached out and touched his hand softly, feeling the tension radiating from him. "Tell me whatever you are hiding, Dorian. Just say it. Whatever it is, I will not judge you."
He sighed deeply, the sound coming from somewhere deep in his chest, and finally met my eyes. "I need to apologise because I have been harbouring genuine feelings for Samantha. Real, serious feelings. I have been quietly crushing on her since the school year began, watching her from across rooms and finding excuses to be near her."
I blinked at him, surprised by the raw honesty in his voice. "Dorian—"
"My friendship with you," he continued quickly, as if he needed to get everything out before he lost his nerve, "it started with an ulterior motive on my part. I wanted to get close to Samantha, and I thought becoming friends with you was the best way to do that. But you are very brilliant and funny, and I genuinely like being your friend too. I hope you are not angry with me."
I laughed, the sound surprising even myself. "I am not angry at all, Dorian. Actually, I think it is quite sweet that you have been pining after her all this time."
His eyes widened with relief, and he let out a breath he had been holding. "Really? You are not upset?"
"Not even a little bit," I assured him with a grin. "But you need to tell her how you feel. Properly. Not through me."
He ran a hand through his hair nervously, his usual confidence completely gone. "Could I have Samantha's contact information? Her phone number? I know it sounds pathetic, but I have been too nervous to ask her directly, and every time I try to work up the courage, I end up chickening out."
I could see his hands trembling slightly, and it made me smile. "You are completely whipped, Dorian. Absolutely gone for her."
He sighed dramatically, though a small smile played at his lips. "When a boy has a reputation of being a playboy, he gets whipped mercilessly if he eventually falls in love. Everyone watches and waits for him to fail."
I grinned cheekily, suddenly curious about something that had been bothering me. "Is it the same for Darius? Does he get whipped when he falls in love too?"
I did not know why I was suddenly asking about Darius's love life, but something deep inside me needed to know the answer.
I felt like Dorian would be more helpful since we were now on the same path of being hopelessly interested in people who seemed determined to keep us at arm's length.
Dorian's expression shifted, becoming more thoughtful and serious. "Darius is really a complicated being, Ravenna. He is not someone you can understand easily. But beneath all that ice and anger, he has the kindest heart I have ever seen someone have. He just does not show it to many people."
I stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue whilst my heart beat a little faster in my chest.
"He is not really interested in relationships and love matters these days," Dorian went on, his voice careful.
"But I know he was in one once, a serious relationship. The details are not really clear to me because Darius refuses to talk about it entirely. Anytime I accidentally bring it up or mention anything remotely related to it, he gets angry. Twice he has taken his anger out on the furniture in our lounge, breaking chairs and punching holes in walls."
I nodded slowly, absorbing this information whilst a strange ache settled in my chest.
I wanted to ask more questions, wanted to dig deeper into who this mysterious person was that had affected Darius so deeply, but the noise coming from the party stopped me.
We had arrived.
"It's time to party."