UPSIDE DOWN

~ 18 ~

Oscar

I've been trying to convince myself that everything is going to be fine, for the past four days that's all I've been trying to do. 

I hate my father, I hate him so much. Santiago was never really like my father, he was never so. 

He was selfish and he hated his two sons, he hated how we were never perfect enough for him, he hated how we couldn't fit into his image of a son, he hated every aspect of us. 

And we hated him just as much, in fact even more than him. 

I was 8 when I saw him and mama fighting, the first time I saw him raise his hand on her. The first time I saw my brother defend mama resulting in him being beaten up. 

I tried to stop dad, I tried my best. Fabian just kept telling my to go to my room and lock the door and wait for him to come. 

That was not the first time he tried to protect me, I understood that, and it was definitely not going to be the last. 

I first got slapped when I was 9, there's only so much that Fabian and mama could protect me from. Even though I'm not really Eliana's child, she still took me in and treated me like her own. 

She never made me feel any different from Fabian. My biological mother died, well, she was killed by my dad after I was born. 

He had an affair with her and eventually refused to accept her when she was carrying me, after she was born, he killed her and I was left with him and his family. 

I never really knew much about my mother growing up, I didn't notice that I was not Eliana's child only when I was 7, Fabian sat and explained me the whole thing then. 

There's a lot that has happened in my life and now that my parents are finally getting a divorce, Fabian decided to send me away. Again, to protect me, like he always has. 

But I will always worry about him, no matter the distance or time. 

And today I met someone, the famous Sylvie Bernardi. I've only seen pictures of her, and heard many stories of us when we were younger. But I don't really have much memory about it. 

And after meeting her, I can definitely say that she has aged well. She's so beautiful, and the way she caries herself is an inspiration. 

I have heard stories about her, and how she was away, and about her family. Life was certainly not easy for her. 

But I don't see that on her face, her smile, it's soo carefree, her voice, the best in the world. And her laugh, though I've only heard her giggle here and there, it's honestly the best voice in the entire world that I've heard. 

Her eyes though, they show the pain, the darkness behind her effortless smiles and laughter. That spark in her eyes, it seems to have been lost. It's a shame really considering how beautiful her eyes are. 

"Earth to Oscar, hey, what are you thinking?" I hear that voice again, pulling me out of my thoughts, as I pull my gaze towards those eyes again. 

"Sorry, just zoned out for a minute, what were you saying?" I reply back, not wanting to tell her about what was going on this jumbled up mind on mine which can't seem to stick to one thought at a time. 

"I was asking if you wanted to get gelato" She said with that same smile perched up on her face. 

"Is that even a question?" I raise my eye brows indicating a yes, my love for gelato is an incomparable for of devotion and passion. 

"Yes, ok, guys it's time for gelato on the request of today's special guest" Matteo announces and everyone places their napkins back on the table and makes their way out of the restaurant.