My heart is stripped just for you(H2OVanoss)

Part 55 - Exhibition

I hope you enjoyed the happiness the two had. You know me too well, don't you? 😏😏😂 Enjoy ^.^
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(Delirious POV)
I should have said it. I'm so stupid, so so stupid. Like, why my lips felt glued together? Why couldn't I control it?

"I love you," I whispered to myself, feeling so sad.

Just like this. Three words and maybe everything would be different now.

I growled in frustration, closing my sketch book. I knew it was time to meet mister Sark, a person owning the gallery and a man who arranged my exhibition.

Closing the door behind me, I walked downstairs with my all my photos and drawings. I saw Evan with Sydney in the kitchen.

"So, I'll see you there?" I smiled at them, my voice shaking in nervousness.

"Of course!" Sydney smiled at me, while I pressed the sketch book to my chest.

"I already contacted Thompson and boys from work, just as you wanted. I'll be there with Luke just as he end at work," Evan informed me, and I nodded.

I'm not sure how this is going to end. Maybe he'll freak out.

"A-alright," I mumbled, turning myself towards the door.

"Don't worry, you got this," Sydney called after me, making me even more stressed out.

I took a deep breath, walking out of the house. There was already a man standing beside a car. He smiled at me, and I got a feeling that was the man who should have given me a ride.

"Jonathan," he greeted me, and I nodded my head.

"You must be mister Sark," I guessed, receiving a laughter.

"That's me, yeah. Hop in, we need to prepare everything before the crowd bursts through the door."

I got into his car, my hands already shaking. I tried to think about anything else, but it was so hard. I didn't know what consequences my decision would have, what he was going to think of me, what everybody was going to think of me.

We reached the big house, a gallery, in complete silence. Sark wanted to have a conversation a few times, but I couldn't concentrate. My stomach was in knots, my heart trying to jump out of my chest.

"Let me see what you got," he said, as we walked into his office.

Here we go.

I handed him my sketch book, the flash USB, where I had the photos. I watched him as he sat down, inserting the USB into his laptop, while he opened the book.

His eyes flew through the papers, I tried to predict his emotions, his opinion. I was so afraid he would reject me, because truth to be told I didn't think I was that good artist to have my own exhibition

"I-I know I need to work on-" I started, when he cut me off.

"These are perfect."

"Really?" I breathed out in disbelief.

"Yes! I love them! You portrayed so many emotions in them, love them."

I smiled widely, feeling so proud at that moment. Unexplainable feeling of satisfaction carried through my body, making me feel so good. Most of my worries and fears washed away, leaving me only with my doubts about what the others were going to think about that. Charm a gallery owner is one thing, but charm the normal people was sometimes much harder.

"Ok, let me prepare the exhibition. You can help us," he announced.

After a few hours it was done. We were just waiting for people to show up. I was looking at one of my photos, when I heard a footsteps behind me.

"Jonathan? There's somebody who wants to talk to you. He said it was really important," mister Sark said, and I followed him curiously towards one of the side room.

I saw Oliver sitting on the bench, his body shaking. He looked like a shit, his face bruised and beaten up, his clothes dirty and I saw a few stains of blood. My heart skipped a few beats, a pity, maybe even a guilt, washed over me. I wished for him the worst for what he had been doing to me, yes, but seeing him reach the bottom was so hard to watch.

"Oliver?" I whispered, hearing Sark leave.

"You have your own exhibition. That's really nice," he smiled at me.

"What happened to you?" I asked, sitting next to him.

"You need to hear me out," he started, his voice wheezy.

"You want to lie to me again? I'm over you, Oliver. We are done, you and me. You tried to drug me... again," I said firmly, keeping the distance.

"No, that's not what I wanted to say," he said quickly, looking around.

"Is Evan here?" He asked, and I frowned.

If Luke or Evan finds out, I'm dead.

"You're not suppose to be here. You need to get out," I said, standing up, when he grabbed my wrist.

"Jonathan! Just answer me," he said desperately.

"He's not. Now, get lost or I'll call him," I said, when he tightened the grip on my wrist.

"You don't understand. He did this to me," Oliver said, and I looked at him confused.

"What?"

"He didn't tell you? He waited for me in front of my job, he beat me up like a dog," he continued, and I felt my beating heart.

No! Evan wouldn't do it, he wouldn't. And even if he did, he would have told me about it.

"W-when was it? When did it happen?" I asked, trying to convinced myself that all of this are just lies.

"4 days ago. I-I managed to stab him, but look at me!"

The blood, the wound, it fits too well. Why would he went for Oliver? Luke lied to me as well.

"He was yelling at me that you're his property, that you don't deserve to see any other men but him. I-I'm not saying this to pity me, or to feel sorry for me, but to save you. He's dangerous, Jonathan, he's going to be your murderer one day."

"I'm nobody's property!" I growled silently, finally getting free off Oliver's grasp.

"I-I know I don't deserve any more chances with you, but I want you to be happy. Trust me in this."