Thy Will, Not Mine

Chapter {39} Antonio

In all my years, I could have never fathomed that such a situation would unfold right before my own eyes. It was an unexpected circumstance involving two significant individuals in my life: my closest friend and confidant, who also happens to be the one person I considered my brother and the woman of my dreams. They were in an embrace, and this sight triggered a surge of anger within me and had to restrain myself from resorting to physical aggression towards Giovanni.

In an attempt to address the situation, I called out to Destiny, "Amore." The hug between the two of them, although it may have lasted only a few seconds, seemed to stretch on indefinitely in my perception. My hands were tightly clenched at my sides, reflecting the intense emotions coursing through my veins.

As soon as Destiny caught sight of me, she responded with one of her radiant smiles. She gracefully approached me, and the simple act of gazing upon her beautiful face had a soothing effect on my agitated state. The throbbing veins on my temple subsided, but the vivid memory of their embrace continued to haunt my thoughts. I resolutely clenched my jaw, determined to maintain composure in front of Destiny.

Giovanni, acknowledging the tension in the air, also made his way towards me. Despite his approach, I managed to restrain my immediate reaction. Destiny, however, seemed to detect the unease between us, evident by the furrowing of her brows when our gazes met.

"Amore, what was happening here? You both look... Happy," I asked, pulling her to my side as soon as she reached my side, she was radiating joy. From the glow in her honey orbs to the smile that stretched it's way across her face.

What was happening in my absence?

Before Destiny could award me with an answer that would hopefully erase the vivid images that were flashing through my mind, Giovanni was in front of me, roughly hitting my back like would do whenever he was in a good mood and that triggered me into action.

With quick swiftness, I seized him by the collar of his shirt, leaving him utterly incapable of responding in time. In the blink of an eye, he moved from being within my grasp to being forcefully pressed against the lockers. A small crowd gathered as onlookers halted in their tracks, their eyes fixated on the chilling spectacle unfolding before them. The expression on Destiny's face was one of sheer horror, as she bore witness to the unsettling tableau.

Giovanni's eyes widened with astonishment, indicating his surprise. I was fully aware that he possessed the ability to engage in a fight with me, yet I had believed that he respected me—or at least that was my perception—until the moment he dared to hold my Destiny in such an compromising embrace.

"Nio, what are you doing?" Destiny asked in frantic panic, not sure of what was happening.

But, I ignored her and keep my firm gaze on Giovanni, "Why were you hugging Destiny?"

Giovanni looked bewildered for a moment, irking me with every passing second and further fueling my anger as I awaited his answer.

"Bro, you've completely misinterpreted the whole situation," he answered as I pressed my hand ever firmly around his neck. His words wheezing their way through my firm grasp. "We were hugging because she introduced me to Christ, I am a born again Christian now so it was more of a welcome to the family of believers kind of hug," he explained as my hold gradually weakened till he just shrugged me off, distancing himself from me as he walked closer to Desiny.

Now, the joke was on me. Except, it wasn't funny.

"Oh, that's sorted then," I said keeping my gaze on Destiny, who was fuming. This was the first time I had ever seen a storm brewing in her soft brown eyes.

"That's sorted?" she challenged me, her words ringing out as a rhetorical question that caught me off guard. I Antonio D'Angelo, filled with trepidation, found myself intimidated by the delicate nature of my love.