I'll Never Call You Maestro

I'll Never Call This Chapter 14

There was never such a strong urge to hit Antonio as Romano was experiencing now. But there existed a table between them that limited said violent urges. Romano hid his face behind a golden menu and flexed his balled-up fingers upon his thighs. His teacher was across from him, just as fidgety and tense as his pupil. Everything went from an awkward "Let's at least try talking to one another" to "I can't even look you in the face" type of awkwardness that sunk in as soon as the mood from outside changed with the inner scenery of the restaurant.

Avant La Floraison was unfathomably sappy on the inside. This was a restaurant for lovers. Couples in every booth leaned close to each other's ears and whispered fondly of their partners. Some lifted food off their plates and spoon-fed their significant other. What the hell was Antonio thinking, taking Romano to a place like this, what if he got the wrong idea? That's probably it then, Antonio wasn't thinking at all. The idiot.

It wasn't an ugly sight to the eyes if you subtracted the people, as the employees had cultivated every wall and table to perfection. Maybe it was nice having the senses lavished with sweet aromas and a myriad of white flora sprouting from long, clear vases. A live harp fluttered in and out of Romano's eardrums, melodically. He could get used to this if there were a few sweet cherry tomatoes on a shiny platter for him. But with Antonio? Forget it.

Being around him made Romano so... hyper-sensitive and aware of things like the upping heart beat in his chest and the highway of thoughts in his mind, which may or may not have been consumed by the face of a certain someone. Every syllable that came out of Antonio's lips from that mellow voice seemed to make something vibrate in him. It felt disgusting, it felt fearfully new to him. It felt amazing, but he would never admit it.

Romano slammed a fist on the table.

The lit candle and flower vase between them rattled, and Antonio jumped and peered at him cautiously like meeting the eyes of an aggravated wild dog, his ruby lips stretched into a tight smile. Romano caught his anxious stare and all too quickly felt like the blood was leaking from his head and into his face. His reactions were always painted right there on his cheeks, and all he could do to hide them was divert his olive eyes Earth-ward as swiftly as they had met with the Spaniard's green. All the curses in the world; the blush was still visible.

"What is it, Roma?" Antonio slid a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed his fingers along his hairline. His chocolate tangles looked so fun to run fingers through, or stroke, or- stop! Romano forced himself to cease the flushed ganders he took at his teacher.

"Come on, let's study this crap, eat some food and go! I can't sit here all day, I'll die of boredom and you will be the one to blame. You! And my brothe- no, somebody will sue you! We, the Vargas family have a lot of money that can run you dry!" His throat burnt after the release of pent-up frustration he had thrown into shouts, and the Italian leaned forward and snatched at the water glass near his arm to chug it all in one go. Pairs of eyes turned to look at Romano and Antonio with scold flavoring their tongues. Shit! Ignore them ignore them ignore them.

The man across from him gaped, and surprisingly, his smile lit up and a playful gleam flashed in his glass emeralds. Somehow, Romano had done something good, because his outburst eradicated the awkward silence and reminded Antonio of his motivations and goals for that day- to tutor Romano so that he may excel at Español! Now Antonio didn't have to feel like he was failing as a teacher!

"Yes! Definitely, let's get this tutoring started. I've brought with me some of my finest tools..." Antonio had along side him a small yellow pack brimming with textbooks, picture books, and even popular Spanish novels by demand. He really stocked up his gear for this T-T.
Over-enthusiastic much?