Mr. Vincenzo | 18+

twenty-seven

e l o i s e

I didn't dare ring the doorbell or enter the password. I just stood outside Vincenzo's door, numb. A person passed by twice, looking at me as if I was a weirdo to be standing like this here. I wiped my fresh tears with the back of my hand. Should I tell Vincenzo?

I shouldn't. He'd be so hurt.

But what if someday Mom called him all that to his face?

Would Eveline Rodriguez manipulate Aryanna as easily as she did Mom?

The door opened and on the other side stood Vincenzo in no more than a grey shorts, looking at me with a frown and overwhelming worry.

What if Aryanna thought of him that way too?

"Eloise..."

My tears burst forth and the next I knew, I was being pulled into a warm chest by gentle arms. Vincenzo didn't speak but he just caressed my hairs and kissed my head. He was so delicate as if he couldn't bear the thought of hurting me and it only made me cry harsher. I was wailing at this point but I didn't care.

This man? Eveline Rodriguez was accusing this man to be a monster? This man to be cruel enough to rape his own daughter?

"Shhh, baby, I'm here."

He would utterly shatter if Aryanna ever thought of him like Mom did now... like how Eveline Rodriguez wanted them to.

"Vincenzo," I sobbed in his chest.

"Let's get inside first, okay?"

I nodded. Just as I heard the beep of the door locking, I threw myself at him. He stumbled back a step but managed to hold the both of us. He caressed my head and back, running his palm in repetitive motions and hushing me with sweet words. It only brought more tears.

This... this was Vincenzo, not the lies Eveline Rodriguez was spreading.

"What happened, baby?"

I shook my head, then pressed my cheek back to his chest, clutching his torso tight.

He cradled me close. "Do you know your tears are not keeping me sane? Just tell me and I'll break his fucking face."

I spoke nothing. How, in what words do I explain to him that I wasn't crying for myself but for him?

"Did something happen at your home?"

It did, Vincenzo.

I shook my head.

"Is it your ex then?"

How could it be? You made me forget him like he was no one, like I didn't spend years trying to forget him.

"Do you still love him?"

"I hate him," I didn't even need a second thought to know.

Vincenzo sighed and just continued soothing me with his actions.

This was it. This was my chance. I should just ask him. It was just asking the same question. We were already on the topic. I could just ask and get away with any questions like I was I thinking about Eveline Rodriguez? Why did it matter if he loved her or not?

But what if he thought I was getting clingy and turning into a leech he didn't want? What if—stop.

"Do you love your ex still?" I finally ripped the band-aid off for once and all after wondering and questioning for days. I could give him reasons for my question now. When will this opportunity come again?

He played with my hairs. "I've had a few relationships. It was just casual, trial and error. Love was never on the cards."

"It wasn't casual once."